Training Your Cat

Many people harbor the misconception that it is impossible to train cats, and that they must put up with whatever their cat chooses to do. And while you will not have quite as easy a time training your cat as you did your dog, the training of the two certainly share similarities. Once you understand the little things you need to do in order to train your cat, you can have a truly well-behaved feline sharing your home with you!

The first thing for you to realize about cats is that, like dogs, they respond well to the tone of voice you use. You should always keep your voice at the same level (never yell!), but use a stern tone when they have been bad and a happy tone when they have been good. This goes for anything you might be training your cat in, from clawing the furniture to litter box usage to (when they are a kitten) biting.

Your cat can also be conditioned to respond to certain auditory signals, which can be used when they are in trouble or can even be used to call them. For instance, if you have a bell or something similar and find that your cat does not like it, use it when they are doing something bad. On the other hand, if your cat has a favorite treat, you should clank the fork against the plate any time you are feeding it to them. Over time, they will come to associate this sound with a call to come your way, which will enable you to "call" them just like you would a dog!

And one of the most effective ways to keep your cat from doing things you do not want them to do is using a spray bottle. If you fill a spray bottle with water, and spray your cat in the eyes when they are scratching your furniture or doing whatever else you do not want them to do, they will not only quit, but they will also know what the spray bottle means when they even just see it!

Once you follow these tips, you will realize that cats can be trained just as well as dogs, and it is not really so difficult to have an obedient cat!