How to train your cat to behave properly
How to train your cat to behave properly
How to Train Your Cat in Proper Behaviors
Learn how to train your cat in proper behaviors. It might be a good idea for anyone training a cat’s behavior to understand feline behaviors before starting training. A cat can jump and land on its feet because this is a natural instinct. When a cat is born for the first time, the pads on its paws don’t fully develop to help them land on their feet. It takes about 7 weeks for the pads on a cat’s paw to develop enough to ensure a proper landing. Cats have a unique skeletal structure compared to other animals; their bones are flexible, and they lack collarbones, allowing them to twist and bend their bones. A cat can jump from a short distance without sustaining any injuries.
With this behavior in mind, you’ll want to teach your cat to jump through hoops or over sticks or scratch posts. Allowing your cat to jump from high places could result in injury.
Cats have a unique sense of hearing; they can hear high-pitched sounds, such as a door opening or a can of food. Cats also have unique smelling abilities. The reason a cat scratches or urinates on the floor and rubs itself against doors or furniture is that the cat is marking its territory with its scent. Additionally, if another cat or animal comes into the area, the cat will know. Cats can also use their mouths to smell. There is a gland called the ‘Jacobson’s organ,’ which is a pouch in the upper part of a cat’s mouth filled with blood. The cat smells the scent and slightly opens its mouth and upper lip, allowing the scent to be carried into the pouch, which then sends the scent to the cat’s brain. This often happens with males when they urinate.
How to Train Your Cat in Proper Behaviors in Simple Ways
With these instincts and natural behaviors, you can get some ideas to help you train your cat. During behavioral training, you’ll want to ensure your cat is able to engage in its natural instincts and behaviors.
When training a cat on behaviors, here are some things to consider:
Aggression, especially in older cats, can be caused by illness or other cats in the home. You might want to contact a veterinarian to examine the cat to see if training is appropriate at this time.
Depression and anxiety can also play a role in attempting to train your cat. If the cat was separated from its previous owner, it might be depressed. Stress can also impact a cat’s behavior.
Read Also: (How to Train Your Cat to Get Rid of Trash)
If you think your cat is suffering from severe depression or anxiety, it’s time to take the cat to the vet.
Veterinarians can discuss some potential causes and provide a list of helpful strategies for the cat. There are medications a vet can prescribe to help with depression and anxiety.
Read Also: (Golden Tips for Raising Cats)
Never hit a cat for punishment; the cat will learn to fear you, and fear is a behavior that you won’t be able to control or retrain. When they do something wrong, ignore the issue or, if you catch them in the act, you can associate the noise with the undesirable behavior or simply use a firm “no.”
If the behavior becomes unmanageable, you might need to resort to child-proofing the home. All food containers should have lids. Ensure countertops are clean and free from anything the cat might want to play with.
Read Also: (Learn How to Feed and Train Your Cat Properly)
On the day you get your cat, you’ll want to start training at this stage. This will keep many undesirable behaviors at bay and hopefully prevent new ones from starting.
Healthy cats need healthy relationships with their owners.
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Discover how to train cats the right way.
Common Litter Box Issues – Urinary Tract Infections in Cats
Litter box problems stem from a variety of sources. One of the most common causes is urinary tract infections (UTI) in cats. Cats tolerate pain well.
In fact, we might be deceived into thinking that a cat feels fine because it eats, purrs, and seeks human affection.
However, if it displays behaviors outside the litter box, it might be suffering from a urinary tract infection. It’s up to us to identify it.
When you recognize the symptoms, it becomes clear that your cat has a problem. It might cry out in pain while urinating or attempt to urinate with little or no output.
Your cat may be overly concerned with its privacy and cry while doing so. But the biggest indicator that your cat might have a UTI is blood in its urine.
If your cat stops using the litter box and starts urinating on a white or very light-colored surface, blood will be clearly visible in the cat’s urine pool.
Many cats with urinary tract infections associate the litter box with the pain caused by this infection.
Their logic is that if they stop using the litter box, the pain might not come back.
That’s when you start finding pools of cat urine all around your home.
If you’re one of the lucky ones whose cat still uses the litter box despite having a UTI, blood might be hidden by the color and composition of the litter.
It’s always good to closely inspect your kitty’s deposits regularly to ensure they are healthy.
UTIs in cats can be treated with antibiotics from the veterinarian. If you suspect your cat has a UTI, contact your vet immediately and follow their instructions for bringing your cat in for further evaluation.
Once a UTI is diagnosed and treated, your cat should return to good litter box habits. If not, a brief confinement for retraining the litter box can be very effective.
Preventing UTIs in cats can involve a permanent change in your cat’s diet. Consult your veterinarian on how to safely implement this.
Keep Your Cat Happy by Providing a Scratching Post
Cats are generally affectionate animals until they destroy your couch and carpet, thanks to their scratching habit. How does one eliminate this annoying habit known as cat scratching?
Well, there’s no cure for your cat’s scratching behavior. In fact, cat experts discourage interfering with their scratching as it is already a second nature for cats.
Scratching is inherent in cats as they have evolved to scratch. A cat’s back claws are designed for scratching.
As your cat grows, its claws grow as well. Cats need to remove the sheath on their claws by scratching to reveal their new claws.
Remember the saying, “If you can’t beat them, join them”? This applies especially to cats.
If you don’t want more damage to your furniture, curtains, or carpets, encourage your cats to scratch – but not on your belongings. Instead, buy them a scratching post.
Buying a scratching post for your cat will provide an outlet for their scratching urges.
Not only will this save your precious furniture, but it will also keep your cat happy.
Why Cats Use a Scratching Post
A scratching post is used for:
- Scratching to remove the outer layer of the cat’s claws.
- Cats also need exercise and muscle movement by climbing the post.
- The post is not only used for scratching but also for stretching, as the cat stretches its body towards the post while scratching.
- Marking territory for regional purposes.
- Just for fun.
Outdoor cats typically use fences or wooden objects for scratching, so a good scratching post will be made of wood.
A cat owner can obtain a log or piece of wood and turn it into a scratching post. Others who are still training their cats use less expensive cardboard posts.
Since the primary use of the post is for cats to sharpen their claws, the scratching post should be upright and stable.
It should also be long enough, at least half of the cat’s height, to ensure that your cat can stretch its body fully on the post.
Care must be taken in choosing the right post because if the cat feels it’s not stable enough, it might not use it and will return to scratching your furniture.
The Importance of Playing with Your Cat
You might think cats are too solitary and independent and unlikely to be trained to do tricks, but think again.
With the right training regimen and habits, you’ll engage them in any enjoyable activity, especially during playtime.
Cats, including adult cats, love to play. However, they want you to interact with them during play.
There are four games they love to play:
- Wrestling with cats or a toy.
- Sweeping a fish across the floor or any suitable toy.
- Bird swooping.
- Pouncing on prey.
Don’t worry if your cats wrestle with each other. It’s definitely normal in their behavior, and they’re unlikely to hurt each other. You can join in the fun but make sure to wear protective gloves.
Sweeping a fish literally means finding an object on the ground. They will sweep it with their shoulders, flip it upside down, and pounce on it.
Similarly, in prey pouncing, they might use imaginary prey or you can make a toy for this game, and they will run and try to catch it.
When they do this, they are pouncing on it. Usually, the tail of another cat, your shoe, or even another cat serves as the prey.
Cats love to reach for dangling objects and toys. When they manage to get them, they’ll bat them with a paw and finish off the prey. This is the bird swooping game.
The difference with these games is that they are better suited to interaction with people.
Often, cat toys are free and easily made, but again, interaction in play is crucial.
In the fish game, you can make a toy for your cat using a feather and a stick.
You can enjoy watching your cat leap for it, twirl and try to catch it.
If you want to interact with your cat, purchase toys that suit their interest and keep them happy.
Be Patient and Consistent
Training your cat in good behavior is a process, and it requires patience. Do not expect immediate results.
Be consistent with your training and continue to practice the good behavior you want to see. Reward your cat with treats or praise when it exhibits the desired behavior.
Training should be a positive experience for your cat, so keep sessions short and enjoyable. The more patience and consistency you demonstrate, the more successful you’ll be in training your cat.
If you encounter challenges, remember that each cat is unique and may require different approaches. Consult with a professional trainer if needed, and stay committed to helping your cat learn and grow.
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