Pets Information


How to Make Your Cats Life, and YOUR Life, Happier - Training Your Cat


Imagine that you are scolding your cat for scratching at your new furniture, and Kitty is sitting staring at you. Suddenly you realize how silly you look and how futile your scolding is. So how do you train your cat to respect your home?

All cats can be trained and should have some training from their owners. You will need to train your cat to use her litter box, sharpen her claws on the scratching post instead of your couch, and to stop negative behavior when you say "no." Cats can also learn to do "tricks," and the mental stimulation of learning is good for them.

Cats learn the same way dogs and people learn; they repeat behaviors that have a pleasurable result. The best way to train your cat is to reward her when she does something right. The reward might be a small piece of a special food, or lots of praise from you in a happy, high-pitched voice.

Training to change negative behaviors requires you to catch your cat "in the act." For example, if your cat uses your stereo speakers as a scratching post, wait until she is about to put claw to fabric, then firmly say "NO." The moment she freezes and turns towards you, switch to the happy voice and praise her. Move towards her to distract her away from the inappropriate object. If she makes any movement towards you praise her even more. Timing and repetition are the keys to success here. You must catch her as she moves to act inappropriately, and praise her the exact moment she stops.

Things to remember if your cat scratches your furniture

* Understand your cat's need to scratch.

* Forget punishment - it doesn't work.

* Provide a suitable place for your cat to scratch such as a scratching post

* Make the scratching post attractive to Kitty

* Make the place she's been scratching unattractive - physical or scent related deterrents will work

* Whenever possible, start cats young.

* You may want to trim your cat's claws.

Training simple tricks can be incorporated into daily playtime. Always keep some cat treats in a pocket during training time. To teach your cat to "shake hands," begin by saying "shake," then touching your hand to the underside of one of her front paws. Praise her for letting you touch there, and give her a treat. Repeat this over and over again. Eventually, you can lay your hand flat on the floor just in front of her paw. Say "shake" and wait. If she even moves her paw towards you praise her and give her a treat. Little by little, she'll catch on that every time she touches your hand with her paw she can get you to give her a treat. Once she willingly touches your hand, you can start to raise your hand off of the floor a little bit at a time. Keep training fun. Stop the session before she loses interest, and always end on a positive note with a reward.

You can use the same one-small-step-at-a-time technique to teach your cat to walk on a leash. This allows you to take your cat outside for fresh air and sensory stimulation without having to worry about her running off. Purchase a cat harness from a pet supply store. Before you even try putting it on your cat, simply leave it lying by her bed for a day or two. When she is used to seeing and smelling it, loosely put it on her just before her normal mealtime. Hand-feed her food to distract her from the harness and to make wearing it a pleasurable experience. Remove it when the food is gone. After a few days, you can let her wear the harness around the house. Let the leash drag behind, but watch to make sure it doesn't become tangled around furniture. When she seems comfortable with the harness and leash, pick up your end and walk with her, letting her lead the way. Eventually she will walk willingly beside you, and you can both venture outdoors.

Pet Medication Supplies [http://www.pet-medication-supplies.net] can help you get the best possible supplies for your pet. Advantix, Arthramine, Cosequin, Frontline, Heartgard - find the best deals in pet medication for flea and tick control, arthritis and lyme disease. Upto 50% discount everyday on brand names.


MORE RESOURCES:

Washington Post (blog)

Researchers: Williamsburg colonists buried pets
Washington Post (blog)
A finding from the College of William and Mary may change attitudes about how colonists treated their pets. Laboratory analysis at the college has found ...
Bones found on William and Mary campus thought to be human are, in fact, dogsDaily Press

all 12 news articles »


MyFox Chicago

Three charged, birds recovered after series of pet shop thefts
Chicago Sun-Times
The stolen birds are safe and three people been charged in connection with the thefts of exotic pets -- worth more than $5000 -- from three west suburban ...
Cops may have break in suburban bird theftsChicago Daily Herald

all 35 news articles »


Fox11online.com

A hundred pets find new homes
Denver Post
The Humane Society of Boulder Valley had their second-largest adoption day ever today, placing 106 cats and dogs in new homes. ...
Michigan Humane Society Planning Mega MarchWDIV Detroit
Bay Area Humane Society: Celebrates record-setting summerWisbusiness.com
Dog rescue case ends in happiness for rehomed petsAnimal Friends Pet Insurance
Pleasanton Weekly -Times Herald-Record -The Jersey Journal - NJ.com
all 60 news articles »


Easton Courier

Riverfire: warning to pet owners
Brisbane Times
Brisbane pet owners are being warned to ensure their furry friends are safely secured during tomorrow night's Riverfire. Dog trainer Nicola Anderson said ...
Dog tips from the Tennessee Valley Kennel ClubKnoxville News Sentinel
Letter: The dog that couldn't be savedKingman Daily Miner
Number of Puppies Abandoned DoublesVEE 2

all 26 news articles »



New homes sought for escaped pet snakes
BBC News
Homes are being sought for three stray pet snakes that have been found slithering around Edinburgh. The Scottish SPCA is caring for the corn snakes at its ...

and more »


Sandusky Register

APNewsBreak: Ohio pets' fate to depend on owners
The Associated Press
The bear's owner had lost his federal license to display the animal but legally continued to keep a menagerie of wild beasts as pets. ...
Bear attack highlights lax Ohio exotic pet lawsAtlanta Journal Constitution
Fatal bear attack highlights Ohio's lax laws on exotic pets and high number of ...FOXNews

all 745 news articles »


Pets Seemingly Abandoned In Fort Worth Home
CBS 11
According to authorities, the owners had apparently moved out, leaving the pets behind. The area is very pet friendly, which is why neighbor Lisa Anderson ...
College and PetsSanta Barbara Independent
Ask the vet's pets: Protect family from harmful bacteria in pet foodReading Eagle
Have gov't subsidize 'chips'Windsor Star

all 4 news articles »


Bless your pets
MyWebTimes.com
A blessing of pets is scheduled for 2 pm, Sunday, Sept. 12, at First Congregational Church in Marseilles. The Rev. Betty Hornback will conduct the blessings ...

and more »


Stay away from pets just after surgery
Deseret News
We highly discourage owners from being with their pets as they come out of surgery. The pet sees the owner and tries to move around and get to him or her ...

and more »

Google News

home | site map
© 2007