Feline Querries and Responses on Cat Training and More

Q: Can cat behavior be modified by training?

A: Yes, cat training is not as impossible as the majority of cat owners imagine it is. Kitties are not as amenable to training as canines are but they can be trained. Tasty rewards presented as positive reinforcement is probably the best way to train a cat.

Q: Why and how do pet cats make a purring sound?

A: Adult kitties purr because they are happy and contented and to play on the emotions of humans — Can you resist a purring kitty? Kittens purr in answer to their mother cat’s purr to assist in bonding them. It is widely thought that the purring is a vibration of the vocal chords as air is pushed though it. It is also believed that purring is a voluntary action.

Q: What makes quite a few cat owners 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 develop a reaction because their immune system is attempting to combat the alien protein and creates histamines.

Q: How do you stop bad cat behavior such as nipping?

A: The best way to change 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 bad 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 pan, but if your previously litter trained cat has started to avoid the litter box 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 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 counter tops?

A: This is the most asked about cat behavior problems and can be a tough one. Cats like high perches and they often find food or food aromas 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.