Cat Q&A on Cat Training and Cat Behavior

Q: Can you train a cat?

A: Yes, training a cat is not as tough as the majority of people believe it is. Kitties may not be as amenable to training as Fido or Rover are but they can be trained. Tasty treats presented as positive reinforcement is definitely the primary way to train your cat.

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

A: Grown kitties purr because they are happy and contented and to manipulate humans — who can resist a purring cat? Kittens purr in response to their mother cat’s purr to assist in bonding them. It is generally believed 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: Why are the reasons quite a few 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 alien protein and creates histamines.

Q: How do you break undesirable cat behavior like biting?

A: The best way to stop unwanted 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 unwanted 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 previously litter trained cat has begun to avoid the litter box you need to find 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 one of the most asked about cat behavior problems and can be a difficult one. Cats like high places and they often 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 tables.