Kitty Q&A on Cat Training and More
Q: Do cats respond to training?
A: Yes, cat training is not as frustrating as many folks think it is. Cats probably are not as amenable to training as Fido or Rover are but they can be trained. Tasty rewards presented as positive reinforcement is certainly the best method to train your cat.
Q: Why and how do pet cats purr?
A: Adult cats 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 larynx as air is pushed though it. It is also believed that purring is a voluntary action.
Q: What makes certain individuals 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 demonstrate a reaction because their immune system is attempting to attack the enemy protein and creates histamines.
Q: How do you break bad cat behavior like biting?
A: The best way to halt 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 need 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 box you need to find out why. 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 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 the kitchen table?
A: This is one of the most asked about cat behavior issues and can be a challenging one. Cats like high 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 tables.
