Feline Q&A on Training a Cat and More
Q: Do cats respond to training?
A: Yes, training a cat is not as impossible as many pet owners predict it is. Kitties may not be as attentive to training as Spot or Fido are but they are trainable. Treats offered as positive reinforcement is certainly the main means to train a cat.
Q: Why and how do happy cats make a purring sound?
A: Grown kitties purr because they are happy and contented and to play on the emotions of humans — Who can ignore a purring cat? Kittens purr in answer to their mother cat’s purr to help bond them. It is usually thought that the purring is a vibration of the voicebox as air is pushed though it. It is also believed that purring is a voluntary action.
Q: Why are the reasons a number of cat owners are allergic to cats?
A: Cat allergies are caused by the proteins in cat dander originating from the cat’s saliva. The dander dries and becomes airborne. People with cat allergies have an allergic reaction because their immune system is beginning to fight the enemy protein and creates histamines.
Q: How do you break unwanted cat behavior such as clawing?
A: The best way to curtail bad 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 make use of a litter pan, 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 go to the veterinarian. If it is just too dirty you need to keep it cleaner. If you have switched to 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 the kitchen counter?
A: This is one of the most asked about cat behavior issues and can be a difficult one. Cats like elevated platforms and they often find food or food odors on tables and counters. It is best to keep the surfaces clean and to use something like foil or double sided tape to keep cats off the tables.