Feline Questions and Answers on Training a Cat and Cat Behavior
Q: Can cat behavior be modified by training?
A: Yes, cat training is not as hard as the majority of cat owners imagine it is. Cats most likely are not as amenable to training as canines are but they can be trained. Tasty rewards given as positive reinforcement is definitely the primary procedure to train a cat.
Q: Why and how do kittens make a purring sound?
A: Grown 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 assist in bonding them. It is usually believed that the purring is a vibration of the larynx as air is pushed though it. It is also believed that purring is a voluntary action.
Q: What makes some people are allergic to cats?
A: Cat allergies are caused by the proteins in cat dander coming from the cat’s saliva. The dander dries and becomes airborne. People with cat allergies have a reaction because their immune system is beginning to attack the foreign protein and creates histamines.
Q: How do you change bad cat behavior such as scratching?
A: The best way to halt undesirable 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 should do this at the time of the undesirable behavior.
Q: How do you litter train a cat?
A: You really shouldn’t have to do any training for a cat to make use of a litter box, but if your adult cat has started to avoid the litter pan you need to determine the cause. The cat may have a urinary tract infection in which case you need to visit the veterinarian. If it is just too dirty you need to keep it cleaner. If you have started using 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 one of the most asked about cat behavior problems and can be a tough one. Cats like high places and they can find food or food smells on tables and counters. It is best to keep the counters clean and to use something like foil or double sided tape to keep cats off the tables.
Bookmark to:
