Feline Querries and Responses on Cat Training and Cat Behavior

Q: Can you modify cat behavior with training?

A: Yes, training a cat is not as impossible as many cat lovers imagine it is. Cats are not as responsive to training as Spot or Fido are but they can be trained. Tasty treats offered as positive reinforcement is most likely the main procedure to train your cat.

Q: Why and how do kitties make a purring sound?

A: Adult kitties purr because they are happy and contented and to manipulate humans — Who can ignore a purring kitty? Kittens purr in answer to their mother cat’s purr to help bond them. It is mostly assumed that the purring is a vibration of the voicebox as air is pushed though it. It is also believed that purring is a voluntary action.

Q: What is the reason certain people 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 a reaction because their immune system is attempting to fight the enemy protein and creates histamines.

Q: How do you halt undesirable cat behavior such as clawing?

A: The best way to change 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 undesirable 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 adult 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 started using 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 difficult one. Cats like elevated places and they can find food or food odors 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 counters.