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Today we’ll cover training a cat, most of us have been told that you cannot train a cat. That they are an independent creature and have a mind on their own. But with some the right information, and a little patience, you really can train a cat to do many things. Most people try to use dog training methods to train their cat and that is why most fail. Cats think very differently from dogs and once you understand how a cat thinks, then you are half way there.

The most common training goals that cat owners have are to get their cat to behave in ways that make home life more pleasant, like using the litter box properly or not scratching the furniture. If your cat is displaying inappropriate behavior, it’s important to consider your cat’s motivation for his behavior. Often, the owner has failed to provide the proper environment for the cat.

Let’s use the example of a cat that is constantly scratching the furniture and avoiding the scratching post. Take the time to observe what alternatives you have given your cat. Scratching is a natural instinct for a cat so you won’t stop them from scratching. We need to look at what choices we have given our cat. Two things to look at are to make the scratching post more desirable and your furniture less desirable.

Consistency is key in training a cat. Once you have the behavior change you desire, it becomes much easier to maintain. We were discussing the bad cat behavior of scratching furniture. What are some practical things we can do? First we need to make the scratching post so desirable that your kitty doesn’t desire to scratch anywhere else. A couple of ways to do that are, to make sure it’s in a great location. Then spend time playing with your cat near it. Also try rubbing catnip on the scratching post to make it more attractive. As far as your furniture, we need to make it unattractive. One thing to try is cover the furniture with plastic.

Teaching your cat tricks is something a lot of people would love to be able to do. Imagine the bragging rights. Think about it, how many people have cats that can do tricks? Pick a time when your cat is pretty relaxed. Get out the treats and begin to encourage your cat to do the trick your wanting them to learn. The treat is a positive reinforcement, so reward your kitty for anything positive. This way they will learn to associate performing in a certain way with getting that treat.

Let’s say that you want your cat to learn to sit when you tell her too. Take the treat and hold it above their head while gently pushing down on their back end. When they sit or even come close, give them the treat as a reward. Make sure you don’t hesitate in giving them the treat. Remember we want them to associate the treat with the action they just made. Be patient and keep at it. Training a cat can take a lot of patience, but also be extremely rewarding. You may be surprised at what all your cat can learn.

Having a well behaved cat is definitely possible. Patience on your part is crucial. Learning to observe your cat and learn why they act like they do, will go along way towards your success. Please remember that if bad cat behavior continues, no matter what you do, then be sure to consult a good veterinarian. The problem may be medically related and until that’s corrected, no amount of training will work.

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