Kitty Q&A on Cat Training and More
Q: Can cat behavior be modified by training?
A: Yes, training a cat is not as challenging as the majority of cat people think it is. Cats most likely are not as attentive to training as Fido or Rover are but they can be trained. Tasty rewards presented as positive reinforcement is definitely the best means to successful cat training.
Q: Why and how do kitties purr?
A: Adult cats purr because they are happy and contented and to play on the emotions of humans — who can resist a purring cat? Kittens purr in response to their mother cat’s purr to help bond them. It is widely thought 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: What makes a number of 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 demonstrate a reaction because their immune system is trying to combat the enemy protein and creates histamines.
Q: How do you curtail bad cat behavior like scratching?
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 should do this at the time of the unwanted behavior.
Q: How do you litter train a cat?
A: You really shouldn’t need to do any training for a cat to use a litter box, but if your adult cat has started to avoid the litter pan you need to figure out why. 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 the kitchen counter?
A: This is the most asked about cat behavior problems and can be a tough one. Cats like elevated spots and they may find food or food aromas 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 Sunday, February 21st, 2010 at 6:04 am 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.