Feline Q&A on Cat Training and More

Q: Can you train a cat?

A: Yes, training a cat is not as impossible as some cat owners imagine it is. Kitties may not be as amenable to training as Fido or Rover are but they are trainable. Treats offered as positive reinforcement is certainly the primary route to train a cat.

Q: Why and how do kittens make a purring sound?

A: Grown 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 assist in bonding them. It is usually believed that the purring is a vibration of the voice-box as air is pushed though it. It is also believed that purring is a voluntary action.

Q: What makes 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 demonstrate an allergic reaction because their immune system is trying to fight the foreign protein and creates histamines.

Q: How do you stop bad cat behavior like clawing?

A: The best way to change naughty 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 should 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 box, but if your adult cat has begun to avoid the litter pan you need to determine the cause. The cat may have a urinary tract infection in which case you need to go to the vet. 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 the most asked about cat behavior problems and can be a challenging one. Cats like elevated platforms and they often find food or food odors 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 counters.

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