Potpourri Blog

Q: Can you modify cat behavior with training?

A: Yes, training a cat is not as frustrating as many doubters believe it is. Kitties probably are not as amenable to training as Fido or Rover are but they are trainable. Tasty rewards presented as positive reinforcement is assuredly the main way to train your cat.

Q: Why and how do happy cats make a purring sound?

A: Adult cats purr because they are happy and contented and to play on the emotions of humans — Who can ignore a purring cat? Kittens purr in answer to their mother cat’s purr to help bond them. It is widely assumed 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 makes certain folks 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 have a reaction because their immune system is trying to fight the enemy protein and creates histamines.

Q: How do you change bad cat behavior such as scratching?

A: The best way to change 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 must do this at the time of the undesirable behavior.

Q: How do you litter train a cat?

A: You really shouldn’t need to do any training for a cat to use a litter pan, but if your adult cat has started to avoid the litter box you need to figure out why. The cat may have a urinary tract infection in which case you need to visit the vet. 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 counter tops?

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