Kitty Q&A on Cat Training and Cat Behavior

Q: Can cats be trained?

A: Yes, cat training is not as tough as some folks think it is. Kitties may not be as attentive to training as Fido or FiFi are but they can be trained. Tasty rewards given as positive reinforcement is assuredly the best means to train your cat.

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

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 answer to their mother cat’s purr to help bond them. It is mostly theorized 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 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 develop an allergic reaction because their immune system is attempting to combat the foreign protein and creates histamines.

Q: How do you halt naughty cat behavior such as clawing?

A: The best way to halt 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 need to do this at the time of the unwanted behavior.

Q: How do you litter train a cat?

A: You really shouldn’t need to do any training for a cat to use a litter box, 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 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 counters?

A: This is the most asked about cat behavior problems and can be a difficult one. Cats like elevated perches and they may find food or food aromas 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.