Why should you train your cat? The real question should be: Why shouldn't you train your cat? You train your children,your dog, and everybody else in the family has to comply with a set of accepted rules and behaviors, and so should your cat. Some cat behaviors are not only unacceptable, but can also be dangerous to your pet or to family members, so it becomes even more important to train your family feline.
Although
cats are independent, they can be trained by following a few guidelines. Some cats seem to be clingy and needy, even neurotic at times, and almost always at the very worst possible moment. But, there is nothing worse than a poorly behaved cat, especially one that decides on his own that the entire house is his and that he does not need to follow any rules. Unfortuately cats that take over the house will often bite, scratch, steal food and worse, stop using their
litter box. The owner often gets fed up and considers taking them to the shelter. But, there is hope. Before you let your feline friend get you to the end of your rope, take some time to establish a few facts, including whose house is whose and what the basic rules are. Some cats take to training with great ease, some will need a little more time to make the adjustment. But with a little patience and perserverence, all cats can be controlled and learn some basic manners.
After bringing the cat home, start training it as soon as possible. Whether you have a new kitten or an older cat, make sure that you set clear guidelines from the first day. Keep your expectations clear and consistent, in order to not confuse your cat, and make sure that you do not change the rules from day to day. Do not allow your cat to hop on the counter one day and then shout at him the next day- he will assume that shouting is just something that people do and will ignore it. Try to set up the litter box and keep it in one spot so he can get the hang of finding the right place to go potty each day.
If you wish, you can use treats and rewards with training your cat. They can be very effective with them, as long as they get them immediately after the
behavior so they can make the association. The only problem with cats and giving treats, is that they are less likely to accept such mundane prizes for doing something that they feel is beneath them. Most cats will not debase themselves for mere kitty morsels. Another cat training option is the clicker--a loud noise that will get their attention and allow you to redirect your furry friend to a better behavior choice. Or you can rattle an aluminum can with pennies in it. The cat will not like the noise and learns to avoid the annoying clicking or rattling sound. Eventually, he will instead do whatever it was that made him get a treat. In this method, it is not the treat that motivates him; it is the intolerance of the noise that gets his attention.
What about cat training classes?
More people than ever before are taking their cats to these cat training classes. Cats are great pets because they are less time consuming than a dog, more affectionate than a bowl of goldfish, but they can also be a huge mental challenge. Cats are experts at doing things when there are no witnesses, and that makes training them just a little trickier. One of the first things that a cat owner needs to understand is that reprimands do not work well with a cat.
Although cat training classes are more about training the human owners than about training the cats themselves, it does take some real patience and understanding to deal with their behavior sometimes. Cat behavior classes are usually filled with harried owners at the last step before dropping their psycho pet off at the local shelter. However, I highly recommend cat training classes as they will show you the proper methods of disciplining your cat, as well as the best reward system to use. Some cats are pure gluttons and will turn themselves into pure idiots for the treats, while others would rather starve to death rather than comply with such frivolity as rules. Knowing your own cat's mindset can help you figure out how best to approach him.
Regardless of the method, make sure that the rules are adhered to consistently by all family members. You are the boss, and it is your house! But, first, you have to make the decision of what behaviors will and will not be tolerated in your home. The first thing to accomplish should be the litter box, and then other skills can be introduced and perfected afterward. Do not allow your cat to get away with a bad behavior even once or he will be bound to repeat it, and remember although your cat will do several things that are similar to dogs, they are not the same and need to be handled differently.
No matter what method you use, keep in mind that not all cats will allow themselves to be molded into perfect behavioral models. They will rebel at times, and even plot their escapes, but as long as they do not pee in your plants or claw at your guests, then you, and your cat should be happy!
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