Feline Q&A on Training a Cat and Cat Behavior
Q: Can you train a cat?
A: Yes, training a cat is not as hard as the majority of cat owners consider it is. Kitties probably are not as attentive to training as Fido or FiFi are but they are trainable. Tasty treats given as positive reinforcement is probably the best means to train your cat.
Q: Why and how do pet cats make a purring sound?
A: Adult cats purr because they are happy and contented and to play on the emotions of humans — Can you resist a purring kitty? Kittens purr in answer to their mother cat’s purr to help bond them. It is mostly assumed that the purring is a vibration of the voice box as air is pushed though it. It is also believed that purring is a voluntary action.
Q: Why are the reasons quite a few cat owners are allergic to cats?
A: Cat allergies are caused by the proteins in cat dander generated from the cat’s saliva. The dander dries and becomes airborne. People with cat allergies demonstrate a reaction because their immune system is beginning to attack the alien protein and creates histamines.
Q: How do you halt bad cat behavior like clawing?
A: The best way to stop naughty cat behavior is the same way the mother cat controls an errant kitten. This is by scuffing the cat. You firmly but gently grasp the cat by the scruff of the neck and hold it down until it calms down. You need to do this at the time of the naughty behavior.
Q: How do you litter train a cat?
A: You really shouldn’t have to do any training for a cat to use a litter box, but if your adult cat has begun to avoid the litter box you need to determine the cause. The cat may have a urinary tract infection in which case you need to visit the vet. If it is just too dirty you need to keep it cleaner. If you have changed litter you may have to change back or sprinkle a little catnip in the litter to attract the cat to the new litter.
Q: How do you keep cats off counters?
A: This is the most asked about cat behavior issues and can be a tough one. Cats like high places and they often find food or food odors on counters and tables. It is best to keep the surfaces clean and to use something like foil or double sided tape to keep cats off the counters.
This entry was posted on Friday, July 31st, 2009 at 1:02 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.