Kitty Querries and Responses on Cat Training and Cat Behavior
Q: Do cats respond to training?
A: Yes, training a cat is not as impossible as some people believe it is. Cats probably are not as amenable to training as canines are but they are trainable. Treats offered as positive reinforcement is assuredly the surest way to train a cat.
Q: Why and how do happy cats make a purring sound?
A: Grown cats purr because they are happy and contented and to manipulate humans — Can you resist a purring kitty? Kittens purr in answer to their mother cat’s purr to assist in bonding them. It is usually assumed that the purring is a vibration of the voice box as air is pushed though it. It is also believed that purring is a voluntary action.
Q: What makes certain people are allergic to cats?
A: Cat allergies are caused by the proteins in cat dander generated from the cat’s saliva. The dander dries and becomes airborne. People with cat allergies have an allergic reaction because their immune system is trying to combat the enemy protein and creates histamines.
Q: How do you curtail naughty cat behavior like scratching?
A: The best way to curtail 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 must do this at the time of the undesirable behavior.
Q: How do you litter train a cat?
A: You really shouldn’t be required to do any training for a cat to use a litter pan, but if your previously litter trained cat has begun to avoid the litter box 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 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 tables?
A: This is the most asked about cat behavior problems and can be a challenging one. Cats like elevated perches and they can find food or food aromas 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.