Why Train Your Cat?
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The question, why train your cat is almost a rhetorical one. Why shouldn’t you train your cat? You train your dog, you train your children- everybody else in the family has to comply with a set of accepted behaviors, as should the cat. Some behaviors are not only unacceptable; they can also be dangerous to your pet or to your other family members, so it becomes even more important to train your cat.
Remember, there are many reasons that the cat develops these behaviors, so if a usually well-mannered kitty suddenly starts acting like a strange, do some investigation as to why. Rule out illness or injury before assuming that your good kitty is gone forever. One of the most common sudden bad behavior complaints is missing or avoiding the litter box. If you have ever cleaned up an errant kitty mess, then you know why this behavior is one of the most important to get a handle on. Cats are masters of habit, so walk down the checklist of possible reasons: did the litter box get moved recently? Is the spot seeing more traffic than usual? Is there something different about the room itself? If location is not the problem, then you can move on to the next set of questions. Did you change box style or litter brand? Some cats do not care what is in the box as long as it is fresh and clean, but others will only accept the scent of one kind, the end. If you find yourself planning a litter change, start introducing the new brand as soon as possible, preferably mixed in with the old kind. After ruling out all of these questions, you might consider whether or not the cat is ill. Cats with a urinary tract infection or kidney disease will avoid the litter box because they associate it with the pain they feel. Getting your cat checked for illness may help with the behavior, after he is back to good health that is.
Over vocalizing is another issue that may need to be dealt with. Some cats rarely meow, and some never seem to shut up. Of all kitty behaviors, the constant crying and need for reassurance may be the one that is most difficult to figure out, and the one that may make cat owners overreact. Of course, asking your cat what he wants may only reinforce this behavior, and ignoring it may make your cat more neurotic, so this behavior may be one that needs some real professional help and guidance.
Having a cat that bites, scratches or claws at possessions is bad, but when they do the same thing to people, it is even worse. Do not tolerate rough play when you first bring your cat home or you will find yourself bleeding more often than not. Cats do not play as gently as many dogs will. If they are nipping while playing, their needle sharp teeth will pierce your skin. When a baby kitten is allowed to play aggressively with his human friends, he will turn into an older, stronger cat that is aggressive as well. Stop playing with your kitten when he starts biting or scratching roughly and he will learn that he cannot act that way. What may seem funny now is a potential band-aid moment later. Nobody wants to sneak around his or her own home, trying not to provoke the furry tyrant that has taken over. Do not allow your cat to run over you, establish your dominance right away or suffer the consequences.
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