Cat Questions and Responses on Training a Cat and More

Q: Can you train a cat?

A: Yes, training a cat is not as frustrating as most owners take for granted it is. Cats most likely are not as attentive to training as canines are but they can be trained. Tasty rewards presented as positive reinforcement is assuredly the primary procedure to successful cat training.

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

A: Grown cats purr because they are happy and contented and to play on the emotions of humans — who can resist 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 voicebox as air is pushed though it. It is also believed that purring is a voluntary action.

Q: What makes some folks are allergic to cats?

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

Q: How do you curtail naughty cat behavior such as nipping?

A: The best way to break 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 need to do this at the time of the naughty 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 adult cat has started to avoid the litter pan you need to figure out why. The cat may have a urinary tract infection in which case you need to visit 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 the most asked about cat behavior problems and can be a challenging one. Cats like elevated perches and they may find food or food odors on counters and tables. It is best to keep the surfaces clean and to use something like foil or double sided tape to keep cats off the counters.