Archive for the ‘Cat Training’ Category

Many people are under the mistaken impression that cats are arrogant, moody creatures that will ignore their owners’ attempts to train them. They think that cats could obey and choose not to. Although cats do ignore commands because they don’t feel like doing what their owners ask, sometimes they are not obeying because they simply do not understand.
Training a cat generally takes a lot more time and patience than training a dog. Positive reinforcement works better than negative reinforcement with cats. If you punish them, they will just wait until you are not watching to misbehave, so it is better to simply ignore wrong responses and lavish praise on your cat when he responds correctly.

You should start training your cat when he is about eight to ten weeks old. However, if you have an older cat, don’t let that stop you. It may be a bit harder to teach him, but old cats can learn new tricks.

It is best to begin training your cat by teaching him to come when he is called, just as you do with a puppy. Make sure you have a supply of your cat’s favorite treat and that he is feeling well rested and fairly happy. If there is Read the rest of this entry »

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Cats really, really, really love to scratch and that is no exaggeration either. If you’re a first-time owner of a cat, you’ll find that out as soon as you see your new furniture full of claw marks and your sofa and the pillows are shredded and torn to pieces. Cats scratch for a variety of reasons. The obvious reason is for marking their territory. Cat’s paws leave their scent and every time they scratch something their scent stays there. Scratching is also an exercise for them; you’ll usually see their love for scratching every time they wake up from a nap.

The first response to this is confining your cat to some place where she can’t damage new furniture or scratch anything valuable. This can be seen as a temporary solution only and can’t be permanent as cats love to wander around too. The best solution is a scratch post.

A scratch post is something you can buy or create yourself. There are several scratch posts on the market and you are sure to find something suitable for your cat. Remember, though, that a cat’s idea of something good to scratch at is different from your idea.   Never ever make the mistake of buying something expensive just because you think it looks good or looks exactly like your sofa.

An excellent post is something where your cat can fully stretch her body and should be stable. Once your cat starts scratching on it and it topples over, you can be sure that she won’t return to it.

After buying one, the next step for you is to train your cat to scratch it. Never make the mistake of forcing her claws to scratch the post. Your cat is just like a child and showing her something she knows how to do is something that can make your cat behave aloof to you for a couple of days.

One suggestion is to put the post where your cat used to scratch. For example, if she loves scratching your wooden chair, then put it close to your chair. Other places include a place close to where your cat is sleeping so she’ll have some thing to scratch after her nap. This won’t work at all times, though, so you have to do something clever to entice her to scratch the post.

One of the best solutions is to rub catnip into it. This will have her happily digging at the post in no time. If this doesn’t really appeal to your cat, don’t lose hope because there are other ways. Some cats just don’t love catnip and won’t be fooled easily by this treat.

Another way is to associate the post with something fun. Put some food treats around it or dangle some toys that will entice her to reach out for the toy and inadvertently scratch the post. You must remember to praise your cat every time she scratches your post so she will remember that scratching the post is both fun and agreeable to you.

Another way to “fool” your cat into scratching the post is to play games with her running around the scratch post. Once she finds that scratching the post is better than playing your game, don’t feel bad as you have done your job of “fooling” your cat into using the scratch post.

Of course you can try to train them directly to scratch the post. You can give the order to “scratch” and point to the post while you give the order and every time your cat scratches the post give her a treat and praise her loudly so she can be proud of pleasing you.

Once your cat starts using the scratch post, the next step is to prevent her from scratching your furniture. You could do this by covering your furniture with aluminum foil or double-sided tape. These are surfaces that your cat will find not so good to scratch and she will soon realize not to scratch things other than her scratch post.

The only thing to remember is that to prevent your cat from scratching your furniture is to provide her with something better to scratch.

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Cats are very lovable animals. They make excellent pets. In fact, three out of ten households in the United States are known to have at least one cat as a pet. And because they love their cats so much, it was reported that the owners are willing to spend $104 on the average just for some expenses incurred with the veterinarian.

The question is: Are cats worth the trouble?

Some non-cat lovers probe the extravagance that cat lovers spend for their pets. They believe that expenses are not worth it if cats cannot learn tricks.

Indeed, cats may seem to project that impression of independence and sophistication, apparently having a mind of their own. They think that unlike dogs, cats seem so conceited that it they may not take commands easily. These assumptions were even made worse by people who said that they had attempted to train cats and everything was just a mess.

What these people do not know is that cats can be trained just like dogs. The only problem is that people tend to execute the process the wrong way. In turn, cats get confused, having the tricks all mixed up.

The truth is, it whether or not people want to train a cat, a dog, or any kind of animal. What matters most is that people should know what they want their pets to learn so that their pets will not be baffled.

The Right Recipe

In order to train cats, it is extremely important to learn patience and to give more time to the process. This is because cats, like dogs, are not humans who have the full intellect to grasp things easily and comprehensively.
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Most people love animals and it is the preference of the person which type of pet is ideal his or her own home. This could be a fish that is in an aquarium that has to be fed and the tank cleaned at least once a week, a dog that has to be fed and walked and bathed or even something as furry and cute as a cat.

Cats are one of the cleanest animals around since by nature, they have the ability to clean themselves without any assistance. Even if that is the case, it does not prevent these pets from soiling the apartment or the house so the cat has to be trained through the use of a litter box.

Choosing the right litter box for the cat will really depend on the size of the cat that is inside one’s home. The box has to be big enough for the cat to move around in and easily accessible for it to go inside.

This begins by making observations of the pet at home. When the cat begins to move in a strange manner, then it is time to pick it up and rush it to the litter box. Some people have already had the experience of not making it in time which will mean cleaning up the trail of what the pet left behind.

Another unfortunate instance is coming home and finding waste. The best way to train the cat when this happens is picking up the waste and putting it in the box. Then one should pick up the cat and let it stay there for some time which will help the animal realize what to do the next time when there is an urge.
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Initially, cat toilet trainers should know that cats learn one trick at a time.  Changes are made after a first trick is mastered.  A cats’ motto: “Slowly but surely.”  The capacity of cats to learn differ and so are expectations, control them to avoid disappointment.

Consider the kind of cat to be potty trained.  There are pampered, indoor, and spoiled cats.  These types are the ones can be toilet trained.    It is vital to maintain a house that does not smell like there is a cat living in it.

Follow these steps on how to effectively toilet train cats:

1.      Start by placing the cat’s litter box near the bathroom door.  He should know the new location and uses the litter box as usual.

2.      After about a week, put something underneath the potty trainer to elevate it.  It could be a bunch of old newspapers, cardboard boxes, or floor mats.

3.      Raise the litter box an inch higher every other day until it reaches the level of the toilet seat.

4.      At the start of the training, the cat just steps onto the litter box as usual until it slowly jumps up and down from it.

5.      Lift the toilet lid up in order for the cat to learn how to tromp with only the seat to step on.

6.      Next, move the potty trainer above the toilet seat.  Leave it this way for a week or two.

7.      The most exciting part: remove the litter box from the toilet bowl but put down the metal bowl inside.  Put a few litters for cat’s recognition of purpose.

8.      Once the cat is used to using the toilet bowl, tutor him on how to squat the right way and that is holding the legs for the correct posture as often as possible until mastered.  If the cat has his all fours on the toilet seat, begin by holding the two legs in front.

9.     As soon as he knows how to squat properly, lift the hinds out.  Assist the cat as he learns how to balance in that position.

10.     Start removing the litter from the metal bowl. Now put water at the bottom and increase the contents everyday.

11.     Once the feline is already comfortable with the water in the metal bowl, take it all off the toilet bowl.

Cat toilet training is a slow process.  Time and effort are invested to obtain a kitty litter free house.  Not only does an owner get rid of the ghastly chore of cleaning the litter but get more time to enjoy the cat’s company.

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Training animals in the zoo or circus is just like training the cat at home. It starts by getting the tools necessary then practicing daily until the pet does it right.

One of the most dreaded things that the cat can do to one’s home is ruining the furniture with its sharp claws. Studies have shown the cats do this to mark their territory  -  similar to dogs that urinate in a certain place. To stop this bad behavior, it is best to buy scratching posts and install them in areas the cat frequents in the house.

Given that there are many types of scratching posts available and cats can be picky, one should experiment with the different kinds until one is able to find the kind that your cat will love. When the cat does scratches the post instead of the furniture, the pet should be praised and given food to let it know it is correct and will get the same treatment again in the future.

Another problem that cat owners face is waste. Should there be some found lying in the house, it will make the house smell and nobody wants that. To solve this, one should get a litter box and teach the cat where to go when there is an urge.

This may take some to learn so you should be patient and oversee the cat’s behavior. When the cat begins to show signs that it is about to release, the person should pick the cat up and rush it to the litter box. Hopefully, the pet will reach the litter box in time but if not, then the owner should be prepared to clean up the trail of waste left behind.
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It is given that the cat is an adorable and lovable pet. But if it starts to mess the house with all its litter, then it starts to annoy the heck out of an owner. What to do? Of course, cat training devices are there to solve this problem. Remember that a cat is intelligent, therefore constant push from the owner and assistance from a training device can whip out a litter-free, sensible kitty.

Here are some of the cat training devices that can magically transform a misbehaved pet to an obedient one:

1. “The Potty-Cat”

This quirky and cute-looking system is a magic of sorts as it has everything - a handy manual and the device that can train the cat without him knowing about it! No more foul litter, just a smart-aleck of a cat! Incredible and true!

2. “Pet Agree Training Device”

What does it do? Its ultrasonic system emits sounds that can easily catch the pet’s attention. With its built-in verbal orders, the cat is trained in an instant!

3. “SSSCAT”

Because it combines the power of an aerosol can and a motion detector, the SSSCAT emits sound and the spray that can shoo the cat away from places where it is prohibited.

4. “Electrostatic Pet Scat Mat”

The name sounds ominous but the “Electronic Pet Scat Mat” is pretty harmless. But that doesn’t mean it is ineffective. The electrical pulse and the static electricity can keep the pet cat from messing around the sofas, windows and front yards.

5. “Pet Boundary Indoor Pet Barrier System”

It keeps the cat away as it makes its own “unwanted zone” that can be as far as ten feet. The owner just has to place the transmitter to the collar and voila.

6. “Scarecrow Water Spraying Animal Repeller”

Introducing the Scarecrow Water Spraying Animal Repeller which goes to water-spraying when it notices an intruder aka the pet cat.

7. “Tattle Tale Vibration Alarm Pet Trainer”

Pets keep out! That’s what this device intends to warn the pet cats. Advanced as it is with the structural vibration technology, the Tattle Tale is so sensitive it detects vibration right away even if there is no apparent movement.

8. “Cat Stop! Ultrasonic”

Gardens and front yards will no longer welcome the cats, because of its high-quality motion sensor.

Cat training devices abound, the cat lover will never run out of alternatives on how to keep his cat from getting litter-crazy.

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Cats look cute and adorable. That is until they start biting poor unsuspecting human beings. Cats need to be taught good behavior. A lot of biting that is done by cat is a result of uncorrected bad behavior.

Keep in mind that cats came from the wild. Even though now cats have been domesticated and live in close contact with humans, their instincts remain the same. They are born hunters and are equipped with the natural tools designed to hunt a prey.

Cats have predatory instincts

Biting is a part of a cat’s defense mechanism. They do this when they feel threatened. Since biting is a cat’s way to protect themselves, humans have to be careful that their cats don’t think they are threatening them in any way when they are playing with their cats.

Remember that cats are predatory by nature. They exhibit this trait by playfully pouncing and biting the hands and feet of their owners.

It’s important for owners not to tolerate this behavior. Otherwise, their cats will think it is acceptable.

Cat owners should not encourage their cats to think that their hands and feet are play things. A lot of cat owners who tolerate this behavior have scars to prove this unfortunate mistake.

Look for the cause

Sometimes cats exhibit bad behavior such as scratching and biting when they are ill or have an injury. They also do this when they feel anxiety or fear.
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Should a cat attend obedience classes? Actually, there is no need to. Cats can develop good behavior with the proper training aids.

Cat Training Aids

Food Tray
The cat must be taught to eat only in their food trays to avoid begging constantly or having them steal food from the dining table. These must be situated far from the dinner table. It will also help to feed the cat before dinner. They sleep after they eat.

Scratching Posts
It is part of the nature of the cat to claw, however this should not be tolerated. It can be very damaging to the furniture. This can be easily resolved by providing scratching posts for cats to claw on instead of the furniture.

Repellent
Liquid repellent can also be used to keep cats from scratching on certain furniture. The taste of such repellents is so terrible that the cat will learn to stop from scratching eventually.

Yarns and Balls
Cats also need exercise. They are generally playful. Kittens like to play with just anything. To avoid having them tinker with delicate things, it is good to give them yarns or soft balls to play with. Older cats can be trained to use harmless leads.

Treats
Cats can be taught tricks. They can be taught to shake hands or fetch something. However, to properly train cats, it is important to give them rewards when they successfully accomplished a task. Treats are good rewards.

Litter Trays
One of the drawbacks of keeping a cat indoors is dealing with their dirt. Litter trays will come in handy at this point. This is a must in toilet training an indoor cat.

Water Spray
Fighting with other cats and caterwauling are also problematic cat situations. Spraying the cats with water when they do these things will eventually keep them from doing them. The water spray is a helpful deterrent for other bad behaviors.

Cat Grass
Plant eating is also a habit of the cats. They do this to induce vomiting and sometimes just out of curiosity. Cat grass is a good substitute to keep your plants safe.

Nesting Spot
Cats enjoy going to elevated spots to see more. It is their way of seeking company. To keep them from jumping on furniture, it is best to get a nesting spot. This should elevated and comfortable. Rub a treat into the spot to attract the cat.

Training the cat with these aids will still require patience and consistency. Still, this is worth all the efforts. The good behavior of the cat is reward enough.

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Training Cats in Litter Box Use

Cats are neat animals.  They are also intelligent enough to be trained. Given those characteristics, it will be very easy for owners to teach their pets.  Here are some tips to guide owners in training their cats to use litter boxes.

1. Cleanliness is a must for cats.

Sometimes, even if the cat is already trained in using litter boxes, the owner usually finds his pet urinating or defecating  just a few inches away from the litter box. The cat wants to use the litter box, and this can be proven by the proximity of the waste to the litter box. However, because the litter box is dirty, the cat opted not to use it.

The point here is that cats prefer to expel body wastes on clean areas. So make it a point to regularly check if the litter box is always clean and ready for your cat’s use. The cleanliness of the area where the litter box is situated must also be checked frequently.

2. Cats do need privacy.

Do not expect your cat to defecate or urinate in busy areas because they also have the need for privacy. That is why most cats prefer to do their thing behind furniture, or in corners of rooms.

To solve the problem, place litter boxes in areas where cats would be less likely to be disturbed.

3. Cats must be comfortable in using their litter boxes.

Comfort is an issue in training cats to use litter boxes.  If cats don’t find using litter boxes convenient on their part, why will they use it?

Check if your cat is comfortable using open or closed litter boxes.

4. Take it easy.

Most cat owners who train their pets for litter box use lack patience.  Thus, after a short period of time, they give up, or they use force in training their cats.  Both actions are wrong.

One must learn that patience is an important trait needed in training cats.

5. Cats seek rewards for a job well done.

If your cat uses the litter box, but did not feel that you appreciated its efforts, there is no reason for your cat to repeat using it again.

Make the task of using the litter box enjoyable and fulfilling for your pet by giving rewards.  After a while, your cat will be accustomed to the habit.

6. More cats = more litter boxes.

Place more litter boxes to accommodate all your pets.  Place them based on your cats’ preference.

Generally, training cats to use litter boxes is an easy thing for an owner who knows his cat well.

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One major problem encountered by pet owners of cats is the litter.  Cats litter everywhere especially when they are not trained to litter in the proper places.  It is recommended that cats be trained to litter in proper places to avoid dirt and unwanted smell inside the household.

There are many toilet training kits that are especially made for cats and are sold in the market.  However, there are things that need to be considered when choosing the best toilet training kit for the cat.

1. First, the owner needs to consider the curiosity level of the cat.  If the cat is not much interested in discovering things then toilet training kits may not be that effective for them. Different toilet training kits sold in the market should also be considered.

2. There are kits that have basic tasks that may be applicable for kittens while there are some kits that are too complicated for other cats.  Therefore, it is important to really assess if the cat will be able to be trained using the toilet training kits.

3. There are many other alternatives that can be used in place of a training kit.  Owners can just improvise rather than buying commercially made ones.  Aside from saving more money, it can also give the benefit of making a litter box and training the cat based on the cat’s capability the way the owner sees it.
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Cats are very lovable creatures.  They are tame, cuddly and are indeed beautiful.  Most cat owners want them to be indoors, to keep them safe and clean always.  However, keeping cats indoors poses the problem of dealing with their wastes.  Thus it is necessary to toilet train the cat.

Toilet Training Essentials

1. Cats should be trained early on.  It should start when the kitten is around 8 weeks old.

2. Before starting with the toilet training, make sure that the cat already responds to its name.  This will be very helpful in responding to the behavior of the cat.

3. Cats generally are not difficult to toilet train.  For one, they have the instinct already to bury their wastes.  Thus all that is needed is to provide a litter tray.

This can be bought in pet shops.  A litter tray usually is made of plastic or enamel.  The container should be filled with soil, sand, sawdust or commercial cat litters.

4. Generally, a kitten that is raised together with a mother that uses the litter tray will learn to use the tray itself eventually.
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A cat lover needs a reliable guide or manual to get through his cat’s training. It is not enough to just browse over websites for tips and other feline know-hows. What he needs are trusty cat training books ! Here are some of the best-selling and truly amazing cat training books that can have one’s pet cat do more than meowing and scratching:

1. “Guide to Well-Behaved Cat: A Sound Approach to Cat Training”

The book says it all. It aims to train the cat to behave. Written by Phil Maggiti, this book is packed with rich information and divided into four parts. The first chapter tackles the cat’s evolution, while the second is all about its domestication. Design and function of an ordinary cat is discussed in chapter three, while chapter four talks about human-pet relationship topics such as why does a kitty disobey the owner when it is called?

2. “Understanding or Training Your Cat or Kitten”

This acclaimed book is from H. Ellen Whiteley, a veterinarian who understands cats more than an average person does. This book contains 292 pages of important information that can truly make you understand, train and appreciate one’s pet cat.

3. “Handbook of Behavior Problems of the Dog and Cat”

This book is a collaboration of Gary M. Landsberg, W. Hunthausen and L. Ackerman. Published by Elvesier Health Sciences, this is one of the most reputable books in cat training. Okay, so it is dual purpose - it is about cats and dogs, but it doesn’t matter. It is as informative as any other cat training book out there.

From discussing kitten development to suggesting therapy for behavior and diet-related problems, from approaching feline agression to finding out what the “European approach to behavior counseling” is, this book is indeed helpful.

4. “Cat Training in 10 Minutes”

The “Cat Training in 10 Minutes” is 142 pages of quirky information on how to communicate effectively with cats. Written by Miriam Fields-Banineau, a certified cat lover, this guide is easy to read and highly effective. Every cat owner can toilet-train his kitty in just a few reading sessions! It will not be long before the cat also follows the owner’s commands! The photographs in the book are very attractive as well.

Nobody says cat training is going to be easy. That’s why cat training books are available online so one can get the gist and be the best cat owner in town.

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You may think that cats are very aloof, independent and likely untrainable to do some tricks, but think again.  With the proper training habits and system, you will engage them in every fun activity you may like especially during playtime.

Kittens love to play as well as adult cats. But they want you to interact with them during playtime.

There are four games they love to play.

•    wrestling with their co-felines or a toy;
•    scooping fish in the floor or any toy will do;
•    bird swat, and;
•    prey pouncing.

You do not have to worry if your kittens wrestle with each other. It is definitely normal in their behavior and they are not likely to hurt each other.  You can join the fun but see to it that you wear protective gloves.

Scooping a fish literally means finding an object on the floor.  They will scoop it over their shoulders, turn it up side down and pounce it.  Similarly, in prey pouncing, they would use an imaginary prey or you can make a toy for this game, and they will run and try to catch it.  When they do, they pounce on it.  Usually, it is their mother cat’s tail or your shoe or even another kitten.

Cats love to reach for dangling objects and toys.  When they are successful in getting it, they smash it with one paw and finish off the prey.  This is the bird swat game.
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Any cat owner will tell you, cats are wonderful pets to have around. However, that same owner can also tell you that one of the downsides is needing to deal with their pet’s toilet business.

But that should not be a drawn out problem if you take the time and proper care in training your cat to use the litter box.

Before any training should commence, make sure you have the right litter box. Choose one that is made of durable plastic for easy washing. It should also be deep enough to contain just a little less than 2 inches of litter.

Do not think that by putting more litter in the box will mean fewer times you would have to change it. Your cat will very likely refuse a soiled box even if there’s a lot of litter in it.

Cat litter comes in different varieties of grades and scents. However, the benefits of scented litter only applies to the pet owners. In fact, cats dislike scented litter because it seems unnatural to them. They will very likely reject eliminating in the box and go somewhere else.

The kind of litter grade your pet will prefer varies with each one, but it is observed that cats are particularly fond of smaller grades. Perhaps this is because smaller grains make the litter softer.

Next, place litter boxes in areas where your cat usually soils. You are building on the cat’s association of places and activities. Eventually, you may move the litter box around when your pet has gotten used to eliminating in the box.

Now that you have a good litter box set up, it’s time to teach your pet to use it.
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