You can encourage or discourage certain behaviors in cats, but they aren't trainable the way dogs are. Dogs are pack animals with an innate desire to please their pack members. Cats are solitary beasts with no particular desire to please anyone but themselves. "Letting a cat have his own way" isn't generally an option; it's a given.

That said, there are certain tricks and tools one can use to modify even feline behavior. For instance, if your cat gets on tables and counters where you don't want him, line the edges with wide, double-sided tape (like carpet tape). Cats HATE getting sticky stuff on their feet, so they'll stay away from the tape. Double-sided tape works, too, to discourage cats from clawing furniture.

Some cats just love to play with their water, and your boy sounds like one of them. He may outgrow it; he may not. Just put a waterproof mat (like a dish drainer) under his water bowl to prevent the splashed water from ruining the floor.

Climbing your porch screen? Don't let him out on the porch unless you're there to supervise.

Waking you up in the middle of the night to be fed? Stop feeding him first thing in the morning, or leave food out for him all night.

It sounds like Jasper and Jayden are already friends, so the only real issue here is whether or not you can afford two cats. Please, please, please remember that there is a LOT more involved in being financially responsible for an animal than just providing food, housing, and occasional vaccinations. Cats CAN and DO sometimes become ill and/or injured and require very costly veterinary care. You need to be willing to put money into a vet emergency fund for such situations - saving twice as much money for two cats. Be aware that an emergency, after-hours trip to the vet can easily cost several hundred dollars - much more if the emergency requires more than routine diagnostics, surgical intervention, or overnight care. I think Jasper would probably love having a sister, but only if you can afford to provide for two cats under all circumstances.

When you move, put Jasper into a large crate (borrow a large dog crate, if possible) with a litterbox, food, and water, and leave him in it until you have finished moving everything from your old apartment into your new one. He will likely be rather freaked out by the move, and you want him in a safe, secure place from which he can not accidentally escape during all the moving confusion. Once you and your possessions are safely in the new apartment and things are quiet, let Jasper out of the crate and allow him to explore his new digs. Put the litterbox in an obvious place so that he'll be able to find it easily. You can gradually move it to a more discreet location once he has become acquainted with your new home and is feeling comfortable and relaxed moving around it.

It sounds like a very exciting time in your life, and I'm glad you have Jasper, and perhaps Jayden with whom to share it.

Laurie

Laurie gave you excellent advice and how wonderful, you adopted a homeless kitten...When you describe Jasper, you described my Clancy, also an orange tabby..Getting a friend for Jasper is a great idea and just think, double the kisses...

You can absolutely train cats, what do you think Zigfried and Roy did? There is a book called Clicker Training for Cats by Karen Pryor. www.clickertraining.com

If the our cat got on the counter or table, I had a newspaper handy and slapped it down on the counter, which scared him off. The shaking pennies sounds good too. I really don't like cats in places we eat.

I think two cats is a lot for a 1-bedroom apartment. You'll have to deal with a lot of cat hair (but you're a Vacuumfreak, right? LOL!) and extra work tending the litter box daily. But it sounds like you already have taken in the other kitty, who probably doesn't have anywhere else to go. Also your kitties will need veterinary shots and attention from time to time, and for two cats it's even more expensive.

Make sure your cats have toys, especially a scratching box. The one my cat likes is made of corrugated cardboard and lies flat on the floor. They are at most pet stores

Of course cats know their names. Lots of people don't give cats enough credit, that's for sure!

You got lots of good advice, and you'll find that Jasper and Jayden will soon learn they are not allowed on the countertops or table if they are corrected every time.

Also, you'll find that if you fold a towel or blanket and lay them on the back of the couch or end of the bed.. where ever you want them to snooze.. they'll soon take to that. Helps with the hair problems.

Believe me,the spray bottle of water works wonders and it will not hurt the cat at all! I can just reach for it when my kittie is into something that she knows is a no-no and she runs.Adjust the spray so that it is a stream so you can aim accurately!LOL
My cat will not drink from anything but a bowl of water that I keep in the sink in my bathroom.When I first got her she would paw the water out of the water bowl(on the floor)until it was almost empty,leaving a soggy mess on the carpet,so I started putting it in the sink.She still does that and will sometimes paw the bowl until she turns it over.She will also drink from the faucet if the water hasn't been turned off good.I leave food out for her at all times and never had the problem of her waking me for food,just from bouncing across my bed and playing during the night.She is not as bad about that now though as she has gotten a little older.
Just be sure you have lots of toys and things for her/them to play with.My cat loves those little plastic balls with the bell in them.Get a scratching post and teach her to use it,saves the furniture.I have used mouse traps set under a piece of heavy plastic or newspapers in places where I don't want her to be,like furniture and counter tops.It works well and won't hurt the cat.There are also deterrents that you can spray on furniture,etc.to keep them off.Never a dull moment with a cat or kitten!......Lillie