If
you've ever owned a cat, there's good news: With the right training, cats can
be trained to behave like good pets! In this article, we'll go over tips on how
to understand cat behavior better so that we can teach our kitties some
manners.
1) Understanding the Basics of Cat Behavior
Understanding cat behavior is key if you want to train your
cat. Just like people, cats are unique in their personalities and
likes/dislikes. Whether you want your cat to stop scratching your furniture or
jumping on counters, here's a look at the top reasons why many pet owners seek
out professional help from experts such as Jackson Galaxy. If you're one of
those people, be sure to check out our training tips below!
- Cats
are territorial. This means that they want to be close to their family,
but also need some space to themselves. They don't like being crowded and
will often try to assert their territory by hissing or scratching at the
intruder who gets too close.
- Cats
are independent, which means they don't need constant attention from
people in order to feel happy and secure in their environment. However,
cats do love playing with toys, so if you have time for playtime with your
pet cat before bedtime—or even just when you come home from work—it can
help reinforce positive associations with the person who brought home this
furry friend!
- Cats
hunt for food; therefore it’s important not only when training them but
also as a preventative measure against negative behaviors like aggression
toward other animals (such as dogs).
- Cats
have an excellent sense of smell, which is why they like to rub up against
people. This behavior is called “bunting” and it marks the person as
someone who is part of the cat’s social network. Cats don't like to be
left alone for long periods of time; therefore, if you work full-time or
are away from home for more than a few hours each day, consider adopting
two kittens instead of one adult cat.
- Cats
are not always clean animals, so if you have a small child or someone with
asthma in your household, be sure to work on litter-box training early on.
Cats are very territorial, so if you have other pets already living in
your home—like dogs or birds—make sure they get along well before bringing
home a new cat.
- A
cat can jump and lands on its feet as this is a natural instinct for a
cat. When a kitten is first born, the cushion in a kitten's paws is not
developed with the cushion to land on its feet. It takes about 7 wk to
develop the cushion in a cat's paw for landing. A cat's bone structure is
unique to other animals as the bones are flexible, and the cat has no collar
bone, which enables them to able to twist and bend its bones A cat
can jump from short distances without sustaining any injuries. With this
behavior, you will want to teach the cat to jump hoops, sticks, or the
scratching tree. Letting a cat jump from extreme heights will cause injury
to the cat.
- Cats
have a unique hearing ability; they are able to hear high tones and
pitches, like opening a door or a can of food. Cats also have unique
smelling abilities. The reason a cat will scratch or urinate on the floor, or rub itself up against a door or furniture, is the cat is leaving their
scent in that area so it will be able to come back and know they were there,
in other words marking its territory. In addition, if another cat or
animal comes along in the area a cat will know this. Cats can also smell
with their mouths. There is a gland called 'Jacobson's organ, which is a sac
in the cat's upper mouth filled with blood, as the cat smells the scent and slightly opens its mouth and upper lip, this allows the scent to be
carried in and to the sac, which it will carry the scent goes to the cat
brain. This mostly happens to male cats when a female has urinated.
These natural instincts and behaviors can give you some insight to help
you train your cat. With behavior training, you will want to make sure that you
allow your cat the ability in some way to play out its natural instincts and
behaviors.
When training a cat for behaviors here are some things that you need to look at and take into consideration when training. Aggression especially in older cats can be caused by illness or other cats in the home. You may want to contact your vet to have the cat checked out to see if it is all right at this time to train a cat.
Depression and anxiety could play another part in trying to train your cat. If a cat is separated from its recent owner the cat can become depressed. Stress on a cat can be a common effect on a cat. If you think that your cat has depression or high anxiety, this would be a good time to take the cat to the vet. Vets can talk to you about some of the things that may be causing this and a helpful list to help the cat. There are medications that a vet can prescribe for the cat to help with depression and anxiety.
Never hit a cat for a punishment the cat will learn to fear you, and fear will be a behavior you will not be able to control or retrain. When they do something that is not right. Ignore the problem or if you catch them right away you can associate the noise with that behavior on what you do not like or just in a stern voice tell them “NO”.
If the behavior is becoming impossible you may have to resort to the baby-proof home, all containers that have food in them have a lid on them. Make sure that the counters are clean and have nothing that a cat would want to play with.
The day that you get your cat or kitten, you will want to start training at this point. This will keep many unwanted behaviors away, and hopefully not let any new behaviors start.
Healthy cats need healthy relationships with their owner.
2) 10 tips on how to understand cat behavior better
Positive
reinforcement training is a way to train cats that aims to encourage good
behavior rather than punish bad behavior. Oftentimes, when we think of
punishment, we imagine yelling at our cats or swatting their paws when they do
something bad—but with positive reinforcement training, you simply reward them
for doing what you want. While it may not seem fair (cats are supposed to be
independent creatures!), rewarding your cat for doing what you ask can actually
make him more confident. Here are 10 tips on how to understand cat behavior
better so that you can teach your kitties some manners!
- Patience is key: As any cat owner knows, cats have minds of their own and don't always act in ways that make sense to us humans. This makes training cats difficult because sometimes you'll try to show your cat who's boss but he just won't listen. But instead of trying to force him into submission, take a step back and look at things from his perspective. Cats learn best by observing others, so if you want your cat to learn something new (like using his litter box), watch other cats use theirs first! You'll then know exactly how he should behave next time he uses his box.
- Use positive reinforcement: Cats are independent animals, which means they're less likely to respond well to punishments like scolding or hitting. To successfully train cats, use methods that reward them for good behavior instead of punishing them for bad behavior. For example, if you catch your cat scratching his post instead of your furniture, give him a treat!
- Use repetition and patience: Cats learn best through repetition; therefore, even though training takes longer than it does with dogs, there's no need to worry about rushing through sessions. In fact, patience is one of Jackson Galaxy's biggest pieces of advice when it comes to cat behavior training!
- Don't forget playtime!: Although cats are often thought of as solitary animals, they love playing with their owners! Make sure to spend time playing with your cat every day, as he'll enjoy having an active role in your relationship.
- Pay attention to body language: Cats communicate largely through body language, so pay attention to yours! When cats feel threatened or scared, they tend to arch their backs and puff out their fur. On the other hand, when cats feel relaxed and comfortable around someone else (such as during petting sessions), they tend to stretch out and purr loudly.
- Keep your cat busy: Cats are natural hunters, so if you've ever seen a cat run after a string or dangle toys in front of her face, she's probably just trying to mimic her natural hunting instincts. To keep your cat occupied and entertained, fill her days with plenty of toys—even if she doesn't seem interested at first!
- Get help from experts: If all else fails and you find yourself unable to get through to your cat despite being patient, consider seeking professional help from veterinarians or animal behaviorists.
- Be consistent: Cats thrive on routine; therefore, once you've trained him to behave a certain way, stick with those rules until he becomes used to them!
- Don't expect too much: Cats are independent, so they won't necessarily follow your orders—they'll only do what they want to. Remember that you can't force your cat to obey you and that it's okay if he doesn't!
- Don't be discouraged: Cats are naturally aloof, so training them isn't easy. However, with the right amount of patience and persistence, you'll eventually see results! Title: Cat Behavior Training Guide: How to Understand and Train Your Cat Cat behavior training is a way to train cats that aims to encourage good behavior rather than punish bad behavior. Cat behavior training is a way to train cats that aims to promote good behavior rather than punish bad behavior. It's also known as clicker training since it involves using a clicker, a small device that produces a clicking sound. Cat behavior trainers will often carry clickers with them in case they want to reinforce their cat's positive behaviors. Cats are naturally independent and can be stubborn, so it can take time to train them.
3) Do I have to discipline my cat if he does something wrong?
If
your cat does something wrong—meowing too much, for example, or clawing at your
furniture—there's no need to discipline him by yelling or striking. If you
think about it from a human standpoint, if someone did something we didn't
like, our first instinct is not to hit them; it's usually just to tell them
off. So stop yourself from reaching for that can of tuna as a way to punish
your cat for his behavior; instead, just give him a stern no. In most cases,
cats don't respond well to physical punishments anyway; what they understand
best are their owner's tone of voice and body language.
4) When should I take my cat in for professional behavior help?
Jackson
Galaxy, a cat behavior expert, says that when you think something is wrong with
your cat or is acting differently than usual, it's best to take it in for
professional help right away. Cat behavior problems don't go away on their own;
they only get worse. If you're noticing something strange about your cat's
behavior, it's not worth waiting or hoping that it will improve. You'll only
end up making things more difficult if you try to diagnose them yourself by
observing them at home. The sooner you get an expert involved, the better!
Conclusion
We
hope this article has given you some insight into how to better understand and
solve common cat behaviors.