Cat Training

Cats are trained best by watching you - a cat will mimic you just as he followed the actions of his mother. Of course, training your cat is easiest while he's still a kitten as many older cats are resistant to training. Cats all have unique personalities and are very independent. They don't require a lot of attention as they have a mind of their own. The older they get, the truer this is.

To effectively train your cat, it's essential that your cat trusts you. Never yell at or shout at your cat - you're just going to make the problem worse. Instead, use a soft voice, rewarding and praising your cat when he behaves appropriately. This is the surest, quickest way to get your cat to listen to you.

Like dogs, cats love praise and rewards. Once they learn that they will get a reward and/or praise for good behavior, they'll be more inclined to listen to you and obey you.

Never use your cat's name if you do find it's necessary to reprimand him. You don't want your cat to associate his name with a negative response from you.

Consistency is always the key when training any type of pet, and especially with cats. You need to always be consistent in your training to achieve your desired results. Training a cat will take much longer than it does to train a dog. However, it really is possible to train a cat to do many things. If you have others living in your home, be sure they know the commands you're teaching your cat, to ensure consistency in training. With everyone cooperating, your cat training will go that much more smoothly.

Cats can be finicky and exhibit some bizarre behaviors, and that seems to be part of their allure for humans. But, there will be behaviors that you want to correct and bad habits that call for reprimand. A harmless way to correct a cat's behavior is by filling a squirt bottle with water and giving him a quick squirt in the face when you catch him in the act of doing something wrong. A quick startling noise can also be effective in stopping bad behavior.

Training your cat is well worth the effort, as it makes having him that much more enjoyable and a lot more fun to have around.

Is your cat driving you nuts? Mine has been lately with her latest behavior, er philosophy. She believes dogs are bad, very bad. Particularly our dog. She will literally lay in wait for poor Essyx, hiding behind a curtain or around the corner of the couch. When Essie walks in the room, Toonces will barrel across the room, hissing and with both front paws in the air. Essyx doesn't need to do anything to provoke this. It just seems like Toonces gets some enjoyment from it. This has made our dog terrified of the cat. Of course, she's terrified of just about everything, but I digress.

Cat behavioral issues aren't all that uncommon. It's definitely easier to nip bad behavior in the bud immediately, or prevent it from happening in the first place, rather than try to fix a problem that has already become a bad habit. Changing a bad behavior in your cat can be done, but it will take a lot of patience and consistency on your part. A couple of cat problems that are common are urinating in the house and acting aggressively towards people or other animals - like my dear Toonces.

By correcting these problems, not only will you be happier and have a happier household, but your cat may be happier as well. Sometimes behavioral issues stem from underlying problems that you can help to eliminate.

Urinating and aggressive behavior can often be associated with your cat feeling insecure about himself and/or his surroundings. Are there other cats or pets that your cat is viewing as a threat? Is there a particular person that your cat feels threatened by? Try to see if you can eliminate, or lessen the perceived threat, if possible. Simply separating your pets, or allowing your cat a safe means of "escape" may be enough to curb or stop the problem. Often eliminating any threat towards your cat (real or imagined) will result in your pet being comfortable with his surroundings. His aggression or need to mark his territory may be abated.

Cats may also react out of jealousy in a home where there is more than one pet. They crave attention, just like dogs, and may feel as though they're not getting enough. Cats and dogs seem to be like children in a lot of ways. The more you ignore them, the more they will try to get your attention - and often in not so positive ways. Make sure to spend some time with your cat, letting him know that he's just as important as your other pets.

A change in location, or separation from an owner, can also cause your cat to be stressed and act out. Just like people feel stress when moving to a new home or changing jobs, cats are sensitive to changes in their environment and it can have a marked effect on how they act. Lots of love and attention is needed whenever there is a major change in your cat's environment. In time, he'll begin to feel more secure.

For more information on cat behavior problems, read my article: Understanding Your Cat's Behavior

The article takes a more in depth look at what causes cat behavior problems and a few simple things you can do to change unwanted behaviors.

While litter box training kittens is generally an easy thing to do, many people don't realize that it's really not natural for cats to use a litter box. KT Pet Supply's article on litter box training your new kitten gives some tips and ideas for successful training.

Read: Litter Box Training for Your New Kitten