Tips for leash training your cat – Part 2
Did you ever envy those dog owners always getting plenty of fresh air and physical activity along with their dog?
Well, think again, because truth is cats can also be leash trained. I have had my cat leashed trained as a kitten and we both enjoy our little evening strolls to the park.
But cat owners must be aware: kitties are independent creatures with heads of their own; you will not walk you cat, rather the cat will walk you. You must know from start that you will not be able to pull on the leash and have the cat follow you as a dog.
Pulling a cat can hurt the cat and can quickly turn a pleasurable event of going outdoors into an unpleasant experience for the cat.
Having accepted these two vital aspects, then you are ready to get your cat trained.
Leash training does not happen in one day, rather it may take up to a couple of weeks, but once you both have it down you will be walking pals for life.
It is important to choose a good harness to which you will eventually attach the leash.
Do not use a regular collar and leash; a harness is much safer and will make escaping less likely if your cat gets spooked of something.
Ideally, leash training should start when the cat is a kitten but older cats have also been able to learn rather promptly. You and your walking pal will have to follow the following instructions:
-On day 1 you want to have the cat sniff the leash and harness and play with it. Let kitty get used to the material and associate good things with it such as play, food and treats. Leave leash and harness next to kitty while kitty is eating. Then let kitty play with it again, this will prepare kitty for day 2.
-Day 2: let kitty wear the harness without attaching the leash onto it. If it bothers kitty, take it off for a few minutes and then retry later. Try putting it on right before meal time and have kitty eat with it on, he/she should hardly notice it if he/she is eager to eat as most cats are. Afterward, have the cat play with the leash while wearing the harness. Take off harness and repeat at next meal time.
Day 3 Put harness on again. Repeat as yesterday but let kitty keep it on longer and do not take off after meal. See if kitty is comfortable in it now. Continue to let kitty play with leash. Always monitor cat when wearing harness, you never know it could get caught somewhere and cause injuries.
-Day 3 Put harness on at meal time and attach leash while kitty is eating. Do not hold leash rather let the leash
Teach your cat to fetch – Part 2
A cat can learn the tradition of “fetching” with a few simple guidelines. If you throw a cat toy across the room and wait triumphantly for your cat to go get it, you’ll be waiting a very long time. Staring into the glassy gaze of a feline who has absolutely no interest in chasing a toy can be frustrating for the cat enthusiast. That is why cat training must be done strategically. It requires patience, total devotion, and time.
The first step in training a cat to fetch is to find a toy that the cat is interested in. A toy with catnip, brightly colored, or with a desirable sound attached to it will encourage the cat to chase after it. Next, the owner must give the cat motivation to chase the toy, such as a cat treat for the effort, or praise and affection. The cat will chase after a toy that it believes is trying to get away. So, the best way to handle the situation is to keep the toy just out of the cat’s reach. This will allow for the cat’s attention to be focused, and the toy to be the main goal.
Once the cat focuses on the target, the owner can practice the game with the cat to establish learned behavior. With enough incentive, and the correct amount of praise, a cat can learn the art of fetching just as well as any dog. It does not come as naturally to the cat as it does the dog, but it definitely is possible. I have had multiple cats learn this skill.
Along with teaching your cat to fetch, there are other tricks to teaching a cat. Try putting a catnip-filled toy on the end of a string and tying it to a doorknob. This provides the cat hours of entertainment, while giving you a break from training. This trick will enable the cat to leap for a toy on cue, as it has practiced on the doorknob countless times. I use this with my cats, and it is hilarious to see the cats leaping straight into the air to reach the desired target. Then, when you utilize the training to fetch, the cat is already used to the skill of chasing.
There are many techniques to use in the training of a cat. The skill of playing fetch can be taught to the average feline. The owner has many strategies to use, but the most important strategy is patience. Once the cat understands the goal, it should be fairly easy to teach the skill. Then, it’s downhill from there! The average cat takes less than a day to learn the art of fetching, which makes this skill one of the easiest of all. It took my cat about ten minutes to figure out what to do, and with a little patience, your cat can learn how to successfully fetch a cat toy too!
Why cats are difficult to train – Part 3
Cats aren’t difficult to train. Cats are impossible to train.
However, cats can usually be persuaded. And that’s how we have to think of it.
It’s possible to use praise and disapproval with cats, especially when they are a) past the kitten stage and able to concentrate and b) have a good relationship with us, so that they care what we think.
Even with kittens, we can use a stern (never loud) voice when they are playing with something forbidden, and then coo and talk sweet to them when they are doing something they are supposed to do, no matter what it is. People are often quick to scold and then slow with the praise. No matter how simple the task the cat is accomplishing, even sleeping in a spot you like them in, take a moment to pet and praise them for it. That way, they will know what praise is.
Whatever a cat does, it has to be their own idea, from pleasing us to leaving things alone. The best way to make something a cat’s own idea is with drama. Drama communicates across cultures, even those between Cat and Human.
Sometimes cats will find an object or place so fascinating they will be drawn to it like a moth to a candle. They aren’t doing this to spite us. They figure you don’t realize just how fascinating the thing is, and if you knew, you would understand. This is when we will use a squirt bottle or canned air to convince the cat that we have been trying to save them from that fascinating thing. The thing has hidden powers. We were just looking out for them.
Smart cats will realize the thing’s hidden powers only work if we are there with the offensive device. They might still investigate it. Now we move on to “cat traps.” A cardboard box with empty soda cans in it can be set up to fall down when the cat investigates. Opening a magazine and laying one half on a counter in their preferred path will dump them off the counter when they jump on it. A barely balanced set of empty plastic bottles will knock themselves over with impressive mayhem. Now the cat decides on their own this fascinating thing has too many powers, even when we are not there. It is permissible to say, “I told you so,” at this point. We tried to tell them!
To convey something we would like the cat to do, we need to ramp up our production company. If the cat is not covering after a visit to the litter box, take them gently to the litter box and show them how nice it looks when you scoop extra litter onto the offending material. If you have established a bond of trust
Teach your cat to fetch
Yes you can teach your cat to fetch. You will find that cats enjoy fetching as much as dogs once you start training them. In fact you have an advantage when teaching your cat to fetch. Cats love to pounce, jump, chase things and just generally love to play. If you don’t joined them they will playfully occupy themselves. To have them fetch and do tricks you will have to spend time playing with them but it can happen pretty fast as soon as they get the idea that this is a great game. Here are some tips to get your cat to fetch,
Don’t try to teach your cat,
The rule of thumb when training cats to fetch is not to train it! If you force the issue you will end up being disappointed and frustrated. Get down to your cats level and start by throwing little things that catches your cat’s eye. Don’t expect miracles right away, it will take some time and patience. Watch your cat’s movements as you interact with it. Always use praise and lots of it.
Paper will be more useful than play toys,
You can spend as much as you like on toys for your cat but a crumpled up piece of paper works wonders. The paper makes a crinkling noise which will certainly get your cats attention. It is light weight and can be picked up by your cat with ease. Roll it into a ball and by now you should be getting your cat’s full attention. Roll the paper quickly and with enthusiasm while talking to your kitty.
Play with the paper yourself,
Take the paper and roll it between your hands with enough force that the paper makes a noise. This will be making a noise that will get your cat very interested. This is when you can play on your cat’s curiosity. Has soon as you start rolling that paper your cat will come to see where the noise is coming from. If you don’t want to use paper try to avoid using anything with catnip. You will not get their full attention if they smell catnip.
Now it’s time for the first lesson.
While still rolling the paper slowly place it on the floor and give it a little nudge. Your cat will respond by pouncing on it. This is a good sign. Whirl your paper around in a circle and keep your cats attention. The second time you let it go you may not get it back your cat may start batting it around the room but this is what you want. Another trick that may work for you is attach the paper to a long string and throw it. Pull it back slowly until the cat reaches you. there is a little draw back with this method. When i tried this with our cat she opted to play with the string but
Training your cat to enjoy a bath – Part 8
Cats don’t like baths. This becomes painstakingly clear when you plop your Persian in the water. After your wounds have healed, sit back and reflect on what went wrong. Was it the bubbles that threw him off, or was it simply the fact that he was dropped in a heaping tub of superheated fluid? Whatever it was, there has to be a better way to keep a cat clean than to go through this misery. When cat wipes don’t cut it, a cat bath IS possible. Just make sure your health insurance claims have all been filled out in advance.
To begin, don’t expect your cat to like it. Unrealistic expectations on your part only add to your misery. The best way to approach a cat bath is to expect it to be as efficient, and clean as possible, with adding as little injury to your person as necessary. I give my cat a bath with industrial gloves on, as a person who has been seriously inconvenienced by razor-sharp claws before. Next, no bubbles. This adds to the annoyance of the cat, and that is your last possible avenue to explore at this point. Make sure the water is tepid, but not hot. This will enable your cat to feel calm during the procedure, and enable you to live through the experience.
Use a shampoo/conditioner in one. There will be no time to “wait 2-3 minutes” for the conditioner to settle in. Your window of time is MAYBE five minutes here. You’ll be lucky if you actually get the shampoo on at all. This is why a two-in-one shampoo/conditioner is required here. To get your cat to actually enjoy bathing is a little unrealistic, however, it can be done. The key is consistency. If you only give your cat a bath once a year, they will never get the hang of it. If you give your cat a bath once a week, or every few days, there is a better chance of the cat getting used to the experience.
The next thing to remember is to have towels on hand. Your bathroom floor will get soaked if you are not prepared. Make sure the cat feels safe, and don’t make any sudden movements while bathing him. He is already so annoyed that any false move could spell doom. Your best chance to bathe your cat is to get in and out of that bathroom as fast as humanly possible, avoiding cat-astrophe’s along the way! No fancy clothes (they will get wet), and no hair-drying afterwards. I towel-dry my cats and then let them run free to go lick themselves dry for the next ten hours. It’s nature’s way. Just go with it. If you try to use a hair blower on your already angry cat, then prepare for the possibility of losing the use of one of your hands. Trust me.
So, in conclusion, if you feel the need to bathe your cat yourself, instead of spending $20 to watch your groomer go through the misery, then feel confident in the fact that you can get your cat used to it, and you can make it out alive. Just follow the tips and advice of those who have gone before you and know that, this too, shall pass.
How to prevent indoor cats from scratching furniture
There are so many reasons why cats and kittens scratch furniture and people in the first place, and these need to be addressed if training should be successful. First of all, do remember that your little baby actually fancies himself an invincible tiger who rules the world. Sofas, vases, shoes and picture frames are not objects to tip-toe around. Rather, they help make up an exciting jungle of an obstacle course that they must conquer!
You may have guessed the second thing that must be acknowledged – it’s just fun! If you could wreck things – break plates, smash windows, colour on the walls – you know you would! A cat does not understand that this should not be done. So how to tell your cat that it’s wrong, and ensure he will listen?
Well I have found that with cats in general, the ones that fancy themselves your babies (but not in a spoiled way) and really look to you and up to you, are the easiest to train. Cats have a much lower sense of shame than dogs, so knowing that you are displeased will often not phaze them, or simply incite rebellious behaviour, such as biting, swiping, hissing, avoiding you, or simply continuing (or seemingly, increasing) that same act you punished him for. The more a cat seems to ‘value your opinion’ as it were, the more affected they are when you act displeased.
Another interesting fact: When cats seem to be scowling, turning away from you, pouting, etc. after being scolded, they are actually showing submission. Humans often read this wrong because it looks an awful lot like a child pouting after being scolded, but in actuality the cat is trying to show you that you’ve won. They accept you as their superior, especially in this matter, have backed down, and would like for the fight to be over. Knowing this will help prevent any resentment from you and promote your realization that your pet IS listening to you and DOES respect you. This will improve your relationship to your cat which will in turn improve the effectiveness of the training.
There are many helpful techniques to ensuring that your cat understands that you have said "no" and that it knows to what you are referring. I prefer gently grabbing the offending paw, with claws out, by the sides with your thumb and finger (at about the beginning of the third knuckle) and squeezing. This gently forces the claws to retract. Doing this with a firm "no" and a serious facial expression will let the cat know what NOT to do, what TO do instead, and
Cats and intelligence – Part 4
After an association of a little over thirteen years with my cat, Nadine, I believe I have begun to understand the psychology of cats. Nadine is a black cat with a few irregular white spots on her belly. Though she has never been a mother, she doesn’t appear to have missed being either pregnant or a mother.
Though many people believe they choose their kitten, from observation, I have concluded that cats choose their humans. Nadine and I began our association when at three weeks, she reached out her paw and patted me as I stood conversing with my apartment manager. The next week she both patted me and nuzzled her nose against my exposed palm.
By the time six weeks had passed, Nadine and I had become great friends and since she was the last kitten my manager’s cat had produced, my manager suggested I should adopt her. I agreed to do so upon hearing that I was the only visitor she had had that Nadine paid any attention to. I dutifully purchased a cat carrier, something I was to learn Nadine did not like. She made the point on the way to the Vet’s by producing the most foul smelling cat crap that has ever assaulted my nostrils. As a result I placed the offensive box in the trunk. She peaceably took her place on the passenger seat next to me and expressed her pleasure in the new arrangement by purring and licking my hand.
She still insists on freedom in the car and still hates the confinement of a cat carrier, defecating most odiously when confined there-in, but being a perfect lady if she is given her freedom.
It is my conclusion that, unlike dogs, cats, rather than being trained, train you. It seems to me that they are genetically programmed to remember when en worshiped them and simply can’t look at ungraceful humans as diets, something nearly every dog does.
In summary, cats must be treated with defference. They will accept your worship and allow you to provide their necessities, but will as readily reject all your offerings. Treat them with respect and they will return it, but you must never try to bully or push them into your idea of ideal cat behavior.
Cats and litter box training – Part 5
How to Stop Feline House Soiling
House soiling is a fairly common problem, but cats often do this for a reason. The difficult part is figuring out what that reason is. Cats are very clean animals by nature, and often are no happier using the floor, a beloved couch, or even a bed for a toilet than you would be. They do not house soil out of spite. Usually there is a valid reason for their behavior. What follows is a quick guide to diagnosing and fixing the problem.
1. Observe where your cat is defecating. Often the place where your cat is leaving you presents is an important clue to what the problem is. If the leavings are near the litter box, the problem probably has something to do with the litter box. If they are near a window, the cat may be spotting a wild animal and defecating from fear. Sometimes it can be as simple as a new piece of furniture that the cat is not accustomed to. The location usually lets you know what the problem is.
2. Check for blood in your cat’s urine or feces. If defecation is painful for your cat, they may start to associate the pain with the litter box and look for other less painful places to conduct their business. The solution for this is to get your cat to the vet as soon as possible.
3. Is it territorial? Male cats have a habit of spraying around the house to mark their territory. Watch where your cat is spraying. There are products you can buy that have the pheromones, one of which is called “Feliway”. You spray this where your cat is spraying. If a place is already marked, your cat won’t be as interested in re-marking it.
So, what now?
If the house soiling is not due to a medical issue and not part of marking their territory, then we need to look at the clues. If the cat is defecating just outside the litter box, then chances are, there is something about the litter box that your cat just can’t stand. Try changing the litter. Some cats do not like the scented or odor-controlling litter. Hartz makes an excellent non-scented cat litter, and it’s usually cheaper than most. To make up for the extra smell, I’ve found it especially helpful to put a cardboard box over the litter box with a small entrance hole cut out. This also lets the cat have more privacy from other curious or aggressive cats in the house that may be harassing the cat in the litter box.
Also, if you haven’t tried it yet, make sure you clean the litter box more often. For one finicky cat, this should be done at least twice a week.
Why cats are difficult to train – Part 5
Many cat lovers will tell you that part of the attraction of cats is their independent nature. Dogs will pretty much adore anyone who pats them on the head in a friendly fashion, while most cats are much more choosy in who they bestow their adoring gaze on. This independence also means that they make their own decisions on when they will take any notice whatsoever of what their adopted human is telling them to do.
You cannot reliably train cats to obey a command – with a bit of love, attention, and a combination of aversion therapy (the trusty water pistol approach), distractions and rewards, you can arrive at a co-operative, and rewarding relationship.
There are four main methods to persuade cats to what you want.
1. Reward them. For example, our cats will come racing across the estate to come in for the night when we call because they know we will feed them as soon as they come in.
2. If that doesn’t work, try some reverse psychology. For example, one of our cats occasionally finds the prospect of chasing moths in the garden far more interesting than getting fresh cat food. So I shut him out, engage in cat food tin noises and then try again. And if the moths are particularly entertaining that evening, I shut the door again and get our other cat to make exited ‘I’m getting fed meows’ right next to it – the rebel is generally ready to come in by the time I try again.
3. Distract them. If your furry f(r)iend is attacking your prized houseplant, clap your hands, or shout ‘Oi!’ to get their attention. Once they’ve stopped what they are doing for a few seconds, move them away from the plant, get out their favourite toy and play with them. On no account start playing with them while they are engaged in shredding your plant, or this will rapidly become their signal that they want a game.
4. Squirt them. If they have decided that your plant is so much more interesting than you clapping and going ‘Oi!’, and no amount of shooing them away is preventing them from immediately leaping right back up, get out the trusty water pistol or other water squirter and do the deed. One squirt followed up by a few hard glares if they even sniff the plant again over the next few minutes generally does the trick.
Important point to consider are:
You need to pick your battles. Our cats are happy to come in and get fed at night, but would look at us with disdain if we attempted to call them over for a pat when they’re happily curled up on the other
Training your cat is possible! – Part 11
Is it possible to train a cat, or is the cat really just training you? Is the cat really trained to use the sandbox instead of the potted plant or has it actually trained you to provide a clean, proper place so it doesn’t kill the Ficus? This is a point to ponder. If training a cat was not possible, how do they get them to perform in the movies?
This does tell you that getting a cat to do what you want is possible, whether by training or persuasion doesn’t really matter. It is working with the animal to get the desired result that is important, this is the secret trainers have used the world over. All animals want food, companions and a place to feel safe.
Cats are easy to train, just like all animals, by modifying their natural inclinations to get the behaviour desired. You can’t teach a cat to bark (those are dogs!), but you can teach it to swim by feeding it fish and then showing it that to get fish, it has to get wet (This is not always the best idea if there are Koi Carp ponds around). Easier to teach than swimming but using the same technique, rewarding good behaviour, a cat can be taught to come when called, fetch small objects and even beg. Some cats act just like dogs!
Cat Training is fun, exciting, and enjoyable, but needs to be adapted to the cat. Most felines won’t fetch a ball, but try a small toy mouse or crumpled paper. Our cats dump them in your lap, clutter up the chairs and even put them on the computer keyboard. This brings us back to the first question. Have they been trained or are they training me?
