10 Cat Training Tips You Cannot be Without
If you have a cat – or more than one cat – then you’re in the market for some rapid and simple training tips. The following tips . . . tricks . . . and techniques cover a diversity of situations that most cat owners come across. Not only that, these tips will undoubtedly activate some ideas of your own.
The answer to effective training is steadiness. Whatever you choose, be sure to do it on a regular basis, or else, you’ll be sending your cat diverse signals. And that will only make it that much more difficult to train her. P.S. you can forget about cat training in 10 minutes!
Below are ten “golden” tips that will get you through your preliminary phase cat ownership.
1. Cats really don’t care that you discipline them. It’s true. If you’ve owned a dog, you know that disciplining him will help alter his behavior. It doesn’t with cats. Bottom line. Don’t waste any more of your time. They’ll sit there purring at you and just carry out that same behavior over and over again as if nothing has happened.
2. Certainly physical punishment is a definite no no. Because a cat’s body is so fragile, you can’t “spank” a cat the way you do a dog to catch its attention. That means when you’re teaching your cat, you have to equivalent wits with it. Don’t worry. I’m pretty confident you’ll win. There is stuff out there like cat clicker training, but I don't really recommend it.
3. Use a form of positive support. As you become a experienced cat owner, you’ll notice that it’s hard to catch your cat in the tangible “crime”. It’s far easier, then, to prize your cat when you see her doing the right behavior. Always keep some cat “treats” readily available. Feed one to your cat at whatever time she is doing something positive and wanted– like when using the litter box or using her scratching post.
4. Keep an abundance of toys – either bought in the store or make shift – around the house. Much of the “bad” behavior of cats is simply because they’re bored. The feline is characteristically a predatory animal. Remember the scene in the Disney movie, The Lion King, where little Simba gets “pouncing lessons.” When you think your cat is literally bouncing off the walls and tearing down the curtains, he’s only practicing his predatory skills. Give him alternatives and he’ll tame down – at least some.
5. When you’re away, keep him full of activity. If your cat is used to friendship, he may get bored and unintentionally destructive while you’re at work or are gone for any period of time. Here’s a quick hint. Buy a timer for your television set, make sure the TV is tuned to an animal-friendly channel (an outdoor channel or Animal Planet for instance) and then have the television automatically turn on at different times of the day. Cats can see images on the screen. He’ll come to examine the noise and stay to watch the movie – at least for a while.
6. Learn the worth of a spray bottle of water. In some instances, spraying a cat with a harmless water bottle is enough to get their awareness and stop the bad behavior. A simple spray bottle that you use for misting plants is really all you need. When the cat misbehaves, you squirt him. Soon, he’ll know that he can’t do that.
7. Blow a harmless puff of air in your felines face. Yes, this sounds mad, but it does really work. If your cat is factually too much in your face and you need to teach him to keep a definite distance and give you some breathing space, try it. Simply blow a puff of air into his face. It’ll surprise and puzzle him. Soon, he’ll connect the two and you won’t be concerned by the disagreeable attention he sometimes gives you.
8. Make sure your cat has “a room with a view”. You know what they say, “curiosity killed the cat.” More suitably, an very angry owner went crazy over something a bored cat got into. Much of the bad behavior of your cat is simply due to his inborn inquisitiveness. Make sure he has a ledge or window sill that he can sit in contentedly to check out the birds and squirrels in your yard. If your window sill isn’t large enough for him to sit for longer periods, you can buy an addition at the pet store. Or, if someone you know is practical, you can make your own or have it made.
9. Spend quality time with your cat. As a training technique, this may sound a bit unconventional. But, it’s really a clever move on your part. The more time you spend with your kitty, the better you’ll be able to converse with her. Cats certainly have a form of communication skill that involves more than just “talking.” The better you know your cat – and just as significantly, the better your cat knows you – you’ll be able “to get into her mind”. You’ll just “know” when she’s considering an indecent move. And she’ll know when you dislike it just by reading your body language and the look on your face.
10. Got more than one cat? Then you almost certainly have that sporadic “cat fight.” Felines are protective animals. They will get into a clash now and then over their “catdom.” Imprison the hostile cat. Prize the injured party. If you view the fight, your first step is to separate the action. Using a water sprayer is the best technique. Get a jet of water at the aggressor. Try to avoid squirting the victim. After that, confine the “bully” in a less pretty space. In the period in-between, recompense the cat who didn’t attack – even when she was being attacked. Give her a delicacy, or free roam of the house. When you do put this pair of felines together again, try to supervise them as much as possible.
These ideas are only the tip of the iceberg when you’re teaching and training your cat. As you and your pet begin to be acquainted with each other better, you’ll realize a language of your own. It may be through speech – you talk and she meows. But eventually you and her will be able to read each other’s body language. You’ll soon learn the delicate nuances of this very efficient form of statements. . . and teaching your cat what you desire for her to know will be easier than you can ever visualize.
