Feline Questions and Answers on Cat Training and Cat Behavior
Q: Are cats trainable?
A: Yes, training a cat is not as impossible as most cat owners assume it is. Kitties may not be as responsive to training as Champ or Rover are but they can be trained. Treats presented as positive reinforcement is most likely the primary procedure to train your cat.
Q: Why and how do happy cats purr?
A: Adult kitties purr because they are happy and contented and to play on the emotions of humans — Who can ignore a purring kitty? Kittens purr in answer to their mother cat’s purr to assist in bonding them. It is mostly believed 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 individuals 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 develop a reaction because their immune system is trying to combat the foreign protein and creates histamines.
Q: How do you break unwanted cat behavior such as nipping?
A: The best way to halt 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 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 use a litter box, but if your previously litter trained 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 tables?
A: This is the most asked about cat behavior issues and can be a challenging one. Cats like high platforms and they can find food or food smells 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.
