Kitty Q&A on Cat Training and More

Q: Is cat training possible?

A: Yes, training a cat is not as tough as some owners consider it is. Kitties probably are not as responsive to training as Fido or Rover are but they are trainable. Tasty rewards offered as positive reinforcement is certainly the main way to successful cat training.

Q: Why and how do pet cats purr?

A: Grown kitties purr because they are happy and contented and to play on the emotions of humans — Can you resist a purring kitty? Kittens purr in response to their mother cat’s purr to assist in bonding them. It is usually thought that the purring is a vibration of the voicebox as air is pushed though it. It is also believed that purring is a voluntary action.

Q: What is the reason a number of folks are allergic to cats?

A: Cat allergies are caused by the proteins in cat dander originating from the cat’s saliva. The dander dries and becomes airborne. People with cat allergies have a reaction because their immune system is attempting to fight the enemy protein and creates histamines.

Q: How do you curtail undesirable cat behavior like clawing?

A: The best way to break 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 should do this at the time of the unwanted behavior.

Q: How do you litter train a cat?

A: You really shouldn’t have to do any training for a cat to use a litter pan, but if your previously litter trained cat has started to avoid the litter box you need to determine the cause. The cat may have a urinary tract infection in which case you need to visit the vet. If it is just too dirty you need to keep it cleaner. If you have changed 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 issues and can be a challenging one. Cats like elevated platforms and they often find food or food aromas on tables and counters. It is best to keep the counters clean and to use something like foil or double sided tape to keep cats off the counters.

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