Feline Questions and Answers on Training a Cat and More
Monday, September 28th, 2009 | Places
Q: Can cats be trained?
A: Yes, cat training is not as impossible as the majority of folks believe it is. Kitties may not be as attentive to training as Spot or Fido are but they can be trained. Tasty treats offered as positive reinforcement is most likely the main way to train a cat.
Q: Why and how do kittens make a purring sound?
A: Grown cats purr because they are happy and contented and to manipulate humans — Can you resist a purring cat? Kittens purr in response to their mother cat’s purr to assist in bonding them. It is mostly thought 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 makes quite a few 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 attack the foreign protein and creates histamines.
Q: How do you change naughty cat behavior like scratching?
A: The best way to stop undesirable 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 naughty behavior.
Q: How do you litter train a cat?
A: You really shouldn’t need to do any training for a cat to make use of a litter pan, but if your previously litter trained 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 veterinarian. 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 counter tops?
A: This is the most asked about cat behavior issues and can be a difficult one. Cats like elevated platforms and they may 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.