A common misconception is that you can explain to or train cats to know what is undesired or forbidden. That works with dogs, it does not work with cats.
The only thing you can really do with cats is positive reenforcement.
Yeah, I also thought they’d remember the shooing and the handwaiving, and the spray bottle etc… They just don’t.
Or, perhaps, all the cats that I encountered had a learning disability…no way to tell 
I’ve never done any of those things in the 20 years I’ve had cats. I can only speak about our own cats, but all of them have learned to (mostly) live with us without doing the forbidden things (like climbing on the mosquito nets) just by redirecting and talking. It’s amazing how much of us talking cats can understand, just like dogs.
Exactly - that’s how mine learned what is good. With cats you have to try to ignore the bad and reenforce the rest.
Thanks for everyone’s perspectives.
I figure I might sit a kitten at some point, but I’ll do it in the U.S., where I can avoid tight living quarters and enjoy a relaxed setting.
It may be because I have years of experience fostering kittens and working with them at our local shelter, but kittens will always be far easier to me than puppies. They don’t have the destructive tendencies of puppies, can entertain each other, are born potty-trained. They do eat like savages and consequently are VERY productive in the litter box, so there is work in feeding and cleaning!
I’ve looked after kittens. They are wonderful. Sweet, soft and playful. Go for it!
Sometimes things work out: I promptly told the Hong Kong host that I would rather not look after a kitten as well and they appreciated hearing back quickly. Given their location, they’ll be able to find another sitter, happily.
Meanwhile, I got an alert yesterday for a sit in an Asian country I’ve not visited and applied. Quickly heard back from the hosts and we’re planning to video chat. They’re experienced hosts with terrific reviews, so I’m excited.
I was surprised to see an alert for a rare Asia sit without any applications yet and applied right away, after reading all of their reviews.
Coincidentally, this sit would be about the same time as the Hong Kong sit, because the hosts also are expat teachers traveling on a school break.