Feline Querries and Responses on Cat Training and Cat Behavior
Q: Can cat behavior be modified by training?
A: Yes, training a cat is not as challenging as many cat lovers believe it is. Cats most likely are not as responsive to training as Spot or Champ are but they are trainable. Tasty treats offered as positive reinforcement is assuredly the main means to train your cat.
Q: Why and how do kitties make a purring sound?
A: Grown kitties purr because they are happy and contented and to play on the emotions of humans — Can you resist a purring cat? Kittens purr in response to their mother cat’s purr to assist in bonding them. It is usually 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: Why are the reasons certain people are allergic to cats?
A: Cat allergies are caused by the proteins in cat dander originating from the cat’s saliva. The dander dries and becomes airborne. People with cat allergies have a reaction because their immune system is beginning to attack the enemy protein and creates histamines.
Q: How do you halt undesirable cat behavior such as scratching?
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 need to do this at the time of the bad behavior.
Q: How do you litter train a cat?
A: You really shouldn’t have to do any training for a cat to make use of a litter box, but if your previously litter trained cat has started to avoid the litter pan you need to find 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 tough one. Cats like elevated spots and they often find food or food smells on tables and counters. It is best to keep the counters clean and to use something like foil or double sided tape to keep cats off the counters.
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