Kitty Q&A on Training a Cat and More
Q: Can you modify cat behavior with training?
A: Yes, cat training is not as hard as the majority of cat lovers assume it is. Kitties probably are not as amenable to training as Spot or Champ are but they can be trained. Tasty rewards offered as positive reinforcement is definitely the main way to train your cat.
Q: Why and how do kittens purr?
A: Adult kitties purr because they are happy and contented and to play on the emotions of humans — who can resist a purring kitty? Kittens purr in response to their mother cat’s purr to help bond them. It is generally 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: Why are the reasons a number of 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 demonstrate a reaction because their immune system is attempting to combat the foreign protein and creates histamines.
Q: How do you change unwanted cat behavior like scratching?
A: The best way to curtail naughty 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 undesirable 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 pan, but if your adult 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 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 problems and can be a difficult one. Cats like elevated platforms 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.