17 Crafty Cat Hacks to Help Handle Your Clawminal Cat Child

Author image for Laurent Shinar
Laurent Shinar • Writer and Editor
Jul 8, 2026 10:15 AM EDT

Much like trying to hold on to an eel, cats are a slippery bunch and the moment you think you have mastered a weird or annoying behavior of theirs, they will find a way to make a comeback. So today I am sharing some crafty cat hacks that will hopefully help you stay at least one step ahead of your clawminal cat child.

It is not often that I will delve into the pages of Reddit's r/CatTraining subreddit as I truly believe there is little hope for a single brain celled orange cat to ever learn tricks, but this time I found myself looking for help to stop my feline lunatic from consistently making my life miserable. At this point I am his feeder and cleaner and his demands for both keep growing with each clawminal event. So you can imagine my delight when I finally found a collection of pawrents who similarly have been struggling and came together to share their very best cat hacks.

Finally an answer to the troubles that have been keeping me up at night, I thought to myself. And I was indeed correct. The ideas that these pawrents have brought forth are nothing less than genius and cover a wide range of behaviors and corrections all the way from the pawrent who leaves trash on the floor for her cats to play with, to the hooman who learned to outright ignore his cat child's clawminality as it fostered a positive reaction from the cat as they received attention. So no matter what your kitty has done to disrespect our authority in the house, and no matter how dire the situation might feel, I believe you will find some solace and cat hacks to help you amongst this list. 
 

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  • 01
    "I usually have trash on the floor. I'll have cardboard boxes and packing paper all over the floor." 9ming gmita t PA
    via LeoBigBoy
  • 02
    winterwoods My cat started pe ing on my bed when she was stressed out. So, I started feeding her treats on the bed often. This has turned into a highly enjoyable nightly bedtime ritual (I've even taught her to "sit" for treats) and better yet, she now associates the bed with food and no longer pes there. Ever.
    via missthatisall
  • 03
    Cheezburger Image 10643842304
    via LeoBigBoy
  • 04
    [deleted] Leaving treats hidden around the house whenever I leave. It means that my cat looks forward to me leaving instead of being anxious because he gets to go on a treasure hunt.
    via missthatisall
  • 05
    Cheezburger Image 10643841536
    via LeoBigBoy
  • 06
    Weekly Whisker Feline behaviourist & traine... Clicker train daily for a couple minutes. It calms down a wound up spindly wily feline soul so that everyone can blissfully sleep all night long.
    via missthatisall
  • 07
    Cheezburger Image 10643842560
    via LeoBigBoy
  • 08
    Yukimor Automod Wrangler If you have hairball problems, red wheatgrass can help with digestion. I keep my cat stocked with red wheatgrass, which is really quick and easy to grow, and it's eliminated 99% of his hairball problems.
    via missthatisall
  • 09
    Cheezburger Image 10643842048
    via LeoBigBoy
  • 10
    thatbtchshay Such a simple one but if kitty hated going in the carrier and splays out, turn the carrier so the door is facing the ceiling. Tuck kitty into a ball and drop into carrier bit first. Makes it soooo much easier
    via missthatisall

  • Ok, while this might work for this pawrent I need to stop right here and add a warning to all your feline pawrents who struggle to get your cat into the carrier as well. I have a feisty orange furball who never cooperates, no matter what the activity and certainly not when it comes to getting in the crate to go to the vet. So you can imagine that I have tried everything to get him in the crate including this. In my experience it went like this. Picked up the cat, cat looked confused still deciding whether to maul me for touching him, as we approach the carrier fear fills his eyes, and the second I try to ball him up and put him in there bottom first he springs into action, throwing claws and teeth in all directions. RIP my favortie sweater…
     

  • 11
    Cheezburger Image 10643843584
    via LeoBigBoy
  • 12
    DONTLOOKITMEIMN KED My 18 year old lady used to not drink much from her bowl but was always after my glass so I started pouring a decoy glass for her and she drinks so much more. So now she has her own set of glasses and I change them out as often as I do my own. It turns out that cats appreciate a nice fresh glass of cool water as much as anyone else.
    via missthatisall
  • 13
    Cheezburger Image 10643841792
    via LeoBigBoy
  • 14
    jazzhandler ⚫ 5y ago Pretty much the same as every other domesticated animal: repetition, respect, and repetition. Cats are much better at learning human words and stuff than most people give them credit for. I help them learn by respecting both their autonomy and their intelligence, and with an abundance of clear and consistent repetition.
    via missthatisall
  • 15
    Cheezburger Image 10643843072
    via LeoBigBoy
  • 16
    Brilliant Disk I do this in every apartment: I use one of the coat closets as a litter box room, completely remove the door from its hinges, and hang a blackout curtain in the door frame so it's a foot off the ground. They can get in and out any time, and it completely blocks out the smell. I just reattach the door when I have to move out. Everyone who has come to visit said they could not tell there was a litter box in the room even if it's been a few days since I've cleaned it. I've evangelize
    via Available-Maize5837

  • Holy what? I think this hooman literally just revolitionized the cat litter game and no one has been talkingabout this. I had a cat who simply could not figure out how to use a litter box like a normal feline. I tried open tops, designer trays that look like eggs, square high walled ones. It did not matter what I tired either he hated it, or he used it improperly meaning either litter (or something far worse) would frequently be on the floor around it. If someone had told me I could sidestep all of that nonsense by giving him a cupboard to do his business in private my life would have been so much simpler. Honestly, I think this should be available at Ikea…
     

  • 17
    Cheezburger Image 10643842816
    via LeoBigBoy
  • 18
    Sakuko Armadillo I installed a little door into the guest bathroom, which will be the cats bathroom, so I have the litter boxes away from people and they have peace to do their thing.
    via Available-Maize5837
  • 19
    Cheezburger Image 10643843328
    via LeoBigBoy
  • 20
    No-Chest5718 My friends made a kitty door which leads to the gated area they made in their backyard for the sole purpose of being able to keep the litter box outside. Genius.
    via Available-Maize5837
  • 21
    ThinkPad NSAWLER
    via LeoBigBoy
  • 22
    Tabbycatwoman A few cat shelves in my bedroom and sitting room so they can have a place to relax as well as their cat trees.
    via Available-Maize5837
  • 23
    S THE HOUSE PRADA AGE
    via LeoBigBoy
  • 24
    McFoo43 Our 3 have a kicks catio, they frong LOVE it Occasionally a mouse or rat will decide it is just too attractive to stay out and 2 of the 3 are stone cold k rs, so an added benefit
    via Available-Maize5837
  • 25
    Cheezburger Image 10643844608
    via LeoBigBoy
  • 26
    Glitchykins8 Did this to our 2nd bedroom, also did our bedroom that covers two walls, and a small corner section in the living room. I want to do more but renting so I don't want to go too crazy yet with things like door or tunnels. (SOMEDAY)
    via Available-Maize5837
  • 27
    Cheezburger Image 10643843840
    via LeoBigBoy
  • 28
    tastyfriend Not a modification, but a sacrifice. It looks like I usually have trash on the floor. I mean I kind of do, but its for them I swear lol I'll have cardboard boxes and packing paper all over the floor for about a week after I get something shipped to me. Sometimes I'll spray it with catnip and watch all h, break loose.
    via Available-Maize5837
  • 29
    prime 7 pri
    via LeoBigBoy
  • 30
    luri 1920 Cats: don't react when they do something naughty (as long as is not dangerous of course) Source: my cat learn that if he slaps the fan electric cable it make an annoying noise that would make me move and pay attention to him even if I'm sleeping..... Smart little a hole
    via Kaibakura
  • 31
    ning PERFORATION TO OPEN TEAR AT PERFORATION PO OPEN free Listening free reading ne → prim CARRER-LEAVE IF NO RESPONSE ADDRESS SERVICE QUESTED WILLIAM BOARD TO OPEN TEAR AT R009 A4 USPS TRACKING VS 3341 5896 9000 5472 8614 3 video streaming prime prime prim
    via LeoBigBoy
  • 32
    clamskittles Get an auto feeder for cats. It will stop them from meowing at you at all hours of the night to be fed. I think they stop associating you with the food so they stop bothering you to feed them. It helps to avoid over feeding/eating since it dispenses the same pre-set amount every time. It is also just a lot easier to load the feeder once every two weeks rather than feed every day.
    via Kaibakura
  • 33
    9 NuTone 817 2
    via LeoBigBoy
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    Cheezburger Image 10643845120
    via LeoBigBoy
  • 35
    therealummmbrella L = C + 1 • L = Number of litter boxes C = Number of cats If you have 2 cats, get 3 boxes! And ideally the litter boxes aren't near their food or water. Speaking of water, invest in a water filter dish, especially if you have a male cat. It encourages them to drink more water, and removes hard minerals that can cause bladder crystals.
    via Kaibakura
  • 36
    Cheezburger Image 10643845888
    via LeoBigBoy

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