Basic Cat Training
... If training your cat to sit, stay and heel is your goal, perhaps you should get a dog. If training your cat to adroitly perch himself over your toilet to do his business is your goal, perhaps this article is not for you either. This article is for all of us who would be happy training our cats to just use the litter box instead of our comforter, closet or shoes. This is for owners who would be happy training their cat to use a scratching post instead of the stereo speakers. If youre like me, you admire your cat for being a cat and you want him to behave as nothing other than a cat, but a well-behaved one. Before we start training our cats to do something or to stop doing something, we need to look at how cats learn. ... The key to training is to make sure that whatever you want your cat to do is exceedingly rewarding and pleasurable. Whatever you dont want your cat to indulge in must never be rewarding or fun, in fact, it must be unpleasant. ... A common complaint is that the cat pounces on the owner at five in the morning, meowing up a storm and generally being a pest. ... They get up and feed the cat, play with him or let him outside. ... Many owners become frustrated because they cant catch the cat in the act of the crime, so instead they show the cat the evidence (usually a wet spot on the carpet or pieces of shredded drapery) and discipline the cat at that time. A common training (mal)practice is grabbing the cat, pointing out the wet spot, then dragging him to the litter box and forcing him to dig in the litter. What the cat is learning is that being reached for by the owner is a bad experience and that the litter box is a torture chamber. It is usually difficult if not impossible to catch the cat in the act because most cats have already learned that being caught is bad news. Reprimands simply do not work when training your cat. ... If you punish the cat later, he will not associate the reprimand with the crime. ... Heres a three point training plan: First: Stop all reprimands and punishment, no matter what your cat is doing. ... The most effective method of cat training is through rewards, so the second step is setting up the cats environment so he can succeed. ... Lets take a look at litter box training as example. ... Until youre sure that litter box training is successful, dont give him free access to the rest of your home when you know his bladder and bowels are full. Read more on litter box training. ... While making kittys scratching post fun, rewarding and exciting, the training process also requires you to make the furniture unattractive as a clawing item. Instead of you telling the cat to avoid the furniture, let the furniture itself tell the cat to stay away. Its up to you to find something your cat does not like. Each cat is different. ... Once your cat realizes that these places are not fun to scratch or sit on, and she regularly has wonderful times at her scratching post, the problem of inappropriate scratching will disappear. ... Maybe you are into training your cat to jump through a hoop, maybe you just want him to stop climbing the drapes. ... Set yourself up to succeed with your cat. ... And its a lot more fun when training succeeds for both of you. Understanding Your Cats Territorial Nature and Behavior Cat and Kitten Training - Part One Do you ever think your cat is neurotic? Do you ever wonder if maybe youre the one losing your mind and your cat is quite normal? ... So before accusing your cat of being neurotic, or before booting kitty out of your home, lets examine a few things about cat psychology. ... Scent plays a vital role in cat behavior and their sense of territory. ... Upon returning home, the cat is growled and hissed at and occasionally attacked by the cats that stayed home. ... Its as if a new and strange cat has walked right into their home! A mother cat will even kill her own kittens if they should suddenly smell foreign. ... Every time your cat passes by the refrigerator or the sofa and rubs up against it, he is saying, "This is mine. ... " When your cat scratches your furniture or his scratching post, he is also leaving his scent there from the glands in his paws. Your cat will rub up against you and other companion pets for a scent exchange. ... ) If an indoor cat accidentally gets outside or if you move to a new location with your outdoor cat, it is very common that they will become lost - even if they are only 10 feet away from home. ... Once a cat has urine marked, the scent must be immediately and thoroughly removed. We may clean it to our noses satisfaction, but your cat and his keen senses will still be able to smell it. ... Your male cat may smell a female cat in heat from blocks away. ... If you move to a home where another cat has already left a strong scent, your cat may mark over those areas. Some cats will even attack their owner if the owner comes home with the smell of another cat on his/her clothing! ... The more you can socialize your cat as a kitten, the less likely this problem will occur in adulthood. Keep this in mind when moving with your cat, boarding him, taking him to the vet or groomer, bringing home new furniture, or bringing home a new friend. Try to make your cat feel as non-threatened as possible by using familiar scents. ... If one cat has a prolonged stay, then before bringing him home, have him groomed to wash away the peculiar smells of the hospital. In addition, rub kitty down with a towel that your other cat has been sleeping on recently. When moving you can help make the transition smoother for your cat by applying the same principle. ... Another suggestion: if your new residence had a cat living there previously, it recommended that you have the carpets, drapes, etc thoroughly cleaned before bringing your cat in. ... Should you have more than one cat? Will your cat accept a new baby or a puppy? Cat and Kitten Training - Part Two Are cats social? ... Will a cat accept another cat into its home? ... The cat does not. ... When our cat does not accept or become friends with the new cat we bring home, we automatically think something is wrong and that both cats are unhappy. Thats because were superimposing on the cat our standards for "happiness. ... Of course a cat is trainable. What makes a cat appear untrainable is the fact that it will perform what it was trained to do on the basis of whether or not it wants to do it. Because the cat is not a pack animal, there is no inherent need or desire for the cat to comply with anyones wishes but its own. ... Because dogs can be bullied and intimidated into obedience, we expect that the cat should too. If you try to train a cat using pain-avoidance techniques that are often used in dog training, the only "pain" the cat will avoid is you! Thus making the cat appear aloof and untrainable. As an editorial note, I strongly disapprove of punishment in dog training. ... If one cat sees another cat on the path, he will wait until that cat is gone before going any further himself. ... They will go through this ritual of avoidance even if one cat has already established itself as dominant over the other. ... A dominant cat will allow a subordinate cat to pass first on the pathway. A dominant cat will not take food away from a subordinate cat. ... Before introducing a new cat into your home, it is best to review these issues. If either cat has not been adequately socialized, the chances are high that they will not accept one another. If you are not sure how much socialization your cat received as a kitten, observe her behavior and temperament right now. ... Is your cat traumatized if you bring home a new piece of furniture? If your cat seems to prefer being the only cat, then you should respect that and not try to change your cats preference. When introducing a new cat, try to find one that has lived with cats before. It is best to introduce a cat that is different in age and sex to your resident cat. Introducing a kitten is ideal because it will be the least threatening to your cat. However, if your cat is a senior citizen, spare it the nuisance of a rambunctious kitten and get an older, mellow adult instead. ... So bring your new cat home in a carrier and keep him confined to a single room for a few days. This will allow the new cat a chance to become familiar with his new territory. ... It is important that he feels secure in his new territory before meeting your resident cat. ... Take some of the new cats bedding and put it where your resident cat can smell it. ... If neither cat acts like it wants to break the door down to kill the other, then it is time to begin leaving the door open. Eventually the new cat will creep out of its room and inevitably meet the resident cat. ... The new cat will retreat to his room where he can rebuild his confidence to venture out again. The resident cat will not likely enter the new cats room because it bears the scent of the newcomer. Dont force your new cat and resident cat to meet. ... Dont be upset if the new cat or your resident cats remains in hiding for a few days. ... Your resident cat simply might not be suited to have another cat in the house. ... Is it possible to train your cat not to chase birds? Can your cat coexist with your pet hamster or rabbit? Cat and Kitten Training - Part Three Cats are born with a hunting and chasing instinct. ... Hunger will not automatically teach a cat to kill. A cat can be a skillful mouse killer and yet never eat a single mouse or even desire to eat one. ... The mother cat teaches her kittens to kill to eat. ... If the cat becomes over stimulated, it may suddenly attack and kill its friend without remorse. ... Simply putting a small bell on your cats break-away collar can warn birds of the arrival of your cat and give them ample time to fly away. ... With no real prey to hunt, your cat will still need to express this natural behavior. ... You can vent this pent up energy in play with your cat. Find enticing, exciting toys and give your cat the opportunity to hunt, pounce and "kill" these things. ... Take time to play these games with your cat and your cat will also be less likely to pounce on and bite you in play. An exercised, contented cat will be less likely to go into a wild frenzy of phantom prey chasing in the middle of the night. Litter Box Training FAQs Cat and Kitten Training - Part Four The single biggest cause of cat owner neurosis is - The Litter Box! ... Why does my cat urinate in his litter box but sometimes defecate in my bathtub? Cats urinate more frequently than they defecate so it is likely that after your cat has urinated, the litter box is now too dirty and repulsive to use again. ... Every time your cat soils the tub, you most likely clean it immediately, whereas the litterbox may go an entire day before you get around to changing the litter. Given the choice of using a clean tub or dirty litter box, your fastidious cat will naturally use the cleaner area. ... My cat prefers to use a back room closet for his litter box. ... Even if you dont feed your cat in your kitchen, he probably feels uncomfortable soiling in your dining area. ... Why is my cat spraying urine on me? ... Your cat is trying to tell you sometime. ... Is there a new cat or dog in the neighborhood that he perceives as a rival or threat? ... Are you "seeing another cat" outside your home and bringing back its scent on your clothing? All these things can cause a cat to spray or urine mark.