CAT TRAINING BASICS

Cats can be trained, but not in the same way as dogs. In general, dogs respond to commands to please their owners whereas cats perform to please themselves. Cats only do what you want them to do if there's some reward in store for them. Using this little piece of information, you can select positive training methods combine with lots of love and treats to achieve maximum results.

With plenty of patience, persistence and positive reinforcement, cats can also be taught to perform tricks and entertain audiences. However that's not most cat owners really want. Instead, what cat owners really want is for their cats to stay off countertops and refrain from climbing the draperies or clawing the furniture.

Here are pointers when training your cat:

Consistency and timing is the key to training your cat. Correct your cat's mistakes immediately if it does anything wrong. Your correction must be at that exact moment when you see the mistake being made, not minutes or hours later but immediately. If you don't correct immediately, later on if you come home, and find that while you were away, your cat has clawed and tarnished your furniture and then you start screaming at it, you will only succeed in making your cat fearful of you. Your cat does not have the ability to connect the corrective action to the misdeed hours after it happened.

If you are able to anticipate your cat's misbehavior, initiate your corrective action at the moment before your cat misbehaves. The end results will be much better.

Use a stern tone to reprimand. Your voice is your most accessible disciplinary tool. Use your voice in a stern but not overly forceful tone. At the same time, you can clap your hands sharply. Use a negative word such as "NO" or "BAD" and consistently use that word in a firm and stern tone whenever you correct your cat's behavior. In time to come, your cat will come to acknowledge it with bad behavior.

Avoid linking negative remarks with your cat's name. Refrain from using your cat's name in any reprimand. For example, do not say "No, Baby" or Bad girl, Baby". By refraining from such usage, your cat will only develop positive and pleasant associations when its name is being called.

Whatever training methods and tools you use, train your cat with love, not fear, so that your cat will learn to trust you, not fear you. Never ever strike your cat with your hand or any object. Be swift, stern and immediate when a correction is necessary and remember to communicate your displeasure clearly. But be even more generous with your praise and pats when your cat behaves appropriately.