Q: Is cat training possible?

A: Yes, cat training is not as hard as the majority of individuals predict it is. Kitties are not as amenable to training as Champ or Rover are but they can be trained. Tasty rewards given as positive reinforcement is definitely the most certain means to train a cat.

Q: Why and how do kitties make a purring sound?

A: Grown cats purr because they are happy and contented and to play on the emotions of humans — Can you resist a purring cat? Kittens purr in answer to their mother cat’s purr to help bond them. It is widely theorized that the purring is a vibration of the voice-box as air is pushed though it. It is also believed that purring is a voluntary action.

Q: What is the reason some cat owners are allergic to cats?

A: Cat allergies are caused by the proteins in cat dander coming from the cat’s saliva. The dander dries and becomes airborne. People with cat allergies demonstrate an allergic reaction because their immune system is attempting to fight the enemy protein and creates histamines.

Q: How do you curtail undesirable cat behavior like clawing?

A: The best way to halt bad cat behavior is the same way the mother cat controls an errant kitten. This is by scuffing the cat. You firmly but gently grasp the cat by the scruff of the neck and hold it down until it calms down. You need to do this at the time of the undesirable behavior.

Q: How do you litter train a cat?

A: You really shouldn’t have to do any training for a cat to make use of a litter box, but if your adult cat has started to avoid the litter box you need to determine the cause. The cat may have a urinary tract infection in which case you need to visit the veterinarian. If it is just too dirty you need to keep it cleaner. If you have switched to litter you may have to change back or sprinkle a little catnip in the litter to attract the cat to the new litter.

Q: How do you keep cats off tables?

A: This is one of the most asked about cat behavior issues and can be a challenging one. Cats like high places and they often find food or food odors on counters and tables. It is best to keep the counters clean and to use something like foil or double sided tape to keep cats off the tables.