Feline Questions and Responses on Cat Training and More
Q: Is it possible to train a cat?
A: Yes, training a cat is not as hard as some cat owners think it is. Kitties probably are not as amenable to training as Fido or Rover are but they can be trained. Food rewards given as positive reinforcement is probably the best procedure to train a cat.
Q: Why and how do kittens purr?
A: Grown kitties purr because they are happy and contented and to manipulate humans — Who can ignore a purring cat? Kittens purr in answer to their mother cat’s purr to help bond them. It is mostly theorized 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 is the reason certain folks 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 an allergic reaction because their immune system is beginning to combat the foreign protein and creates histamines.
Q: How do you stop naughty cat behavior like biting?
A: The best way to halt 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 must do this at the time of the unwanted behavior.
Q: How do you litter train a cat?
A: You really shouldn’t be required to do any training for a cat to make use of a litter pan, 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 go to the vet. 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 counters?
A: This is one of the most asked about cat behavior problems and can be a challenging one. Cats like high spots and they can find food or food aromas on counters and tables. It is best to keep the counters clean and to use something like foil or double sided tape to keep cats off the tables.