Feline Questions and Answers on Cat Training and Cat Behavior
Q: Can you train cats?
A: Yes, cat training is not as impossible as most individuals imagine it is. Kitties may not be as responsive to training as dogs are but they can be trained. Food rewards presented as positive reinforcement is assuredly the surest procedure to train a cat.
Q: Why and how do cats 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 is the reason certain 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 an allergic reaction because their immune system is beginning to combat the foreign protein and creates histamines.
Q: How do you change bad cat behavior such as nipping?
A: The best way to change 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 must 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 use a litter pan, but if your previously litter trained cat has begun 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 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 problems and can be a tough one. Cats like high perches and they often 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.