Q: Can cat behavior be modified by training?
A: Yes, cat training is not as hard as some cat owners predict it is. Kitties probably are not as responsive to training as Spot or Fido are but they are trainable. Treats offered as positive reinforcement is most likely the best procedure to successful cat training.
Q: Why and how do kitties make a purring sound?
A: Adult cats purr because they are happy and contented and to play on the emotions of humans — Can you resist a purring kitty? Kittens purr in answer to their mother cat’s purr to assist in bonding them. It is widely theorized 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: What is the reason some cat owners 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 develop a reaction because their immune system is beginning to fight the alien protein and creates histamines.
Q: How do you stop unwanted cat behavior like scratching?
A: The best way to curtail 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 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 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 go to 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 one of the most asked about cat behavior problems and can be a challenging one. Cats like elevated places and they often find food or food smells on tables and counters. It is best to keep the surfaces clean and to use something like foil or double sided tape to keep cats off the tables.
