Kitty Q&A on Cat Training and Cat Behavior
Q: Are cats trainable?
A: Yes, cat training is not as hard as most doubters assume it is. Kitties probably are not as responsive to training as Fido or Rover are but they can be trained. Tasty rewards presented as positive reinforcement is most likely the surest route to train a cat.
Q: Why and how do happy cats make a purring sound?
A: Adult kitties purr because they are happy and contented and to manipulate humans — Can you resist a purring kitty? Kittens purr in response 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 some cat owners 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 attempting to combat the enemy protein and creates histamines.
Q: How do you curtail unwanted cat behavior like 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 use a litter box, but if your previously litter trained cat has begun 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 go to 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 the most asked about cat behavior problems and can be a tough one. Cats like elevated spots and they can find food or food smells on counters and tables. It is best to keep the surfaces clean and to use something like foil or double sided tape to keep cats off the counters.