Jay Schindler asked:

Any cat owner will tell you, cats are wonderful pets to have around. However, that same owner can also tell you that one of the downsides is needing to deal with their pet’s toilet business.

But that should not be a drawn out problem if you take the time and proper care in training your cat to use the litter box.

Before any training should commence, make sure you have the right litter box. Choose one that is made of durable plastic for easy washing. It should also be deep enough to contain just a little less than 2 inches of litter.

Sarah Williams asked:


Cat spraying urine in the house is one of the most annoying and frustrating cat behavior problem. Constant urine smell is pretty hard to tolerate and sadly but not surprisingly, some cats will have to take a one way trip to the shelter.

However, as with most cat behavior problems, there is a reason as to why the cat sprays. Identifying the cause can greatly help you in finding the right solution to stop this annoying habit.

Why do they spray?

Spraying should not be confused with inappropriate ********* since it is an intentional act.

In entire cats, urine spraying is part of a normal and natural behavior. It is a way to convey territorial and sexual messages to other cats. Not only tomcats spray, queens in heat will spray too to let others know they are ready to mate.

In neutered cats, the most common reasons for spraying is competition and territorial disputes between cats in multi-cat households, moving to a new house, arrival of a new baby or another pet and situations where the cat feels unsafe and insecure so it may feel the need to ‘reinforce’ its ‘territory’.

How to stop them spraying

Firstly, your cat should have a health check to make sure there is no underlying medical condition causing its behavior. It is possible the cat has cystitis or some other elimination problem.

Since urine spraying in entire cats is primarily a sexual behavior, neutering can help to control this behavior in most cases. In addition, it will also reduce territoriality and aggression between cats. Yet, it is not necessarily a cure-all and don’t expect your cat will stop spraying right away – it may take two to three months.

Clean soiled areas thoroughly. You can purchase cleaners and odor neutralizers at your local pet store or simply use diluted vinegar. Stay away from products containing ammonia – they could stimulate the marking behavior as urine also contains ammonia.

If you own more cats, you will need to provide each cat with one litter box and you should have one extra box for the house. Cats don’t like dirty boxes!

Try to identify the reason why your cat sprays. If for example a new person has moved into the house, have him or her feed your cat to establish a bond between them.

If your cat is anxious then try to reduce the stress levels by playing with it in areas where it tends to spray.

If your cat is spraying in one room only, keep the door locked. If it is spraying only in one or two locations and you cannot keep the cat out, make it to a feeding and playing area. Most cats are very clean animals and will not urinate near their food.

Use Feliway spray or diffuser (a synthetic equivalent of feline ****** pheromones) in all areas where your cat marks. Feliway makes the cat feel comfortable and safe and decreases its instinctive urges.

If you have more cats and they don’t get along, you should initially separate them to see if spraying continues. Then you could gradually reintroduce them in situations that create positive associations such as playing and feeding in combination with calming effect of Feliway.

You should never punish your cat by dragging it to its litter box, rubbing its nose in litter or smacking it. In fact, you will make the matters much worse. Your cat will then associate punishment with you and the litter box; it may become anxious and start to spray even more.

If nothing works then ask your vet for advice or referral to a cat behaviorist. In severe cases, where all cat behavior training and modification techniques fail your vet can prescribe appropriate medication (usually anti-anxiety drugs

Kathrynn Kelley asked:


Cats are a very popular choice as a pet, and not without reason. Cats are fun, affectionate, and quite intelligent, as well as generally happy to live indoors, making them a great pet for city dwellers. But the question of cat training, or whether they can be trained is a compelling one. Theoretically cats should respond to training quickly and efficiently as they are very intelligent.

If you ask around, most cat owners will say that cats have a strong independent streak and do not try to please their owners the way that dogs do. Consequently, training cats takes more work as the techniques that work in training dogs do not work with cats.

The successfulness of cat training will depend on several variables. First is when you start your training with your new cat. Younger cats are more receptive to new behaviors, so you should consider beginning kitten training as soon as you get your new pet.

The second thing to consider is what does “cat training” mean to you. If you want to train your cat to come when summoned and to be housebroken and use a litterbox, then these tasks are easily taught.

When it comes to simple tasks such as these you should use praise to get your cat to obey. Call to your cat, then when it comes to you give some good praise and affection, using a proper praising tone of voice.

Pretty soon your cat will come when you call to them, as they will associate it with love and praise. Whatever you do, though, remain consistent, your cat will become confused if you change your behavior in the middle of training.

When litterbox training your cat, be prepared for it to take a while. This may not be what you hoped to hear, because the smell of cat urine is certainly not something you want lingering in your house, but it pays to be patient.

There are various different methods available to you- research to find one which seems like it will work for your situation- but, as I mentioned above, be consistent. Once you choose an approach, stick with it, so that your cat knows what is expected of it.

Different types of cat training may be necessary when undesirable behavior arises as the cat gets older. One frequent problem of this type is when the cat ceases to use the litterbox and instead relieves itself in corners.

Several methods exist to discourage this behavior, but it is recommended that the cat is medically evaluated first to assure there is no underlying physical cause for the behavior.

If the cat is healthy, cayenne pepper can be sprinkled in the inappropriate places where the cat tends to urinate. Since the pepper is irritating to the cat it is discouraged from returning to urinate again.

The best advice when trying to train your cat is to be patient and consistent in your approach. If you build a better rapport with your pet by trying to eliminate problematic behavior you will have a much more satisfying and fulfilling relationship with your pet, and be more likely to be able to teach them.

Kathrynn Kelley asked:


Have you ever wondered why your feline friends acts they way they do? What makes them want to stalk, scratch, greet you, purr, or at times be a complete loner? What makes them so independent?

They really only require humans to fulfill a couple of needs then from there they can mostly take care of themselves. Knowing the reasoning behind what they do, will make it easier for you live in harmony with your beloved kitty.

1. Purring:

We all know that cats purr at times when being pet to demonstrate their pleasure or satisfaction. Did you also know that cats purr when they are sad or in pain. A female cat purrs while giving birth to kittens. Purring shows that they require some help or attention.

2. Greeting:

Greeting is a part of cat’s behavior, which is expressed by rubbing its body or face against your body. Cats show their love and trust in you by lying down, turning over, yawning or stretching and retracting their claws.

3. Privacy:

After a cat uses their litter box, they bury their business. Most people believe this habit is because they are a clean animal. The real reason for this is to hide it from more domineering animals. In the environment they live in now this domineering creature would be you, their master.

4. Grooming:

Because cats are such clean animals they groom after eating. Because they have uneven surfaces on their tongues that untangle and remove the muck, they use their tongues to moisten their paws and use them to wash off their face. They also do this to wash any other part of their body that they can’t reach.

5. Kitty Tails:

When a cat wags it’s tail it usually is because they are irritated, annoyed, or angry. However, this is not the only time a cat will wag their tail. Cats also do this when they are stalking their prey. When you might see it is when they are chasing their favorite toy, or even a laser pen. This is just a way of letting of some steam from plotting their next move.

6. Catnaps:

The term ‘catnap’ is not just a term. In fact a cat’s favorite past time is sleeping. It includes deep sleep, cat snooze and sleeping with shut eyes. The older cats doze more than the younger ones. They explore for soft places to nap that are warm and cozy.

7. Food Habits:

A strange meal time ritual is when a cat removes their food from their bowl and puts it on the floor. Well, after knowing why they do this it’s not so strange. This helps them grind down their food into small pieces and makes it visible to which pieces are ready to be consumed.

Another strange eating habit is when a cat eats grass, or some of your favorite houseplants. This isn’t to annoy you. Your cat eats these things when they have indigestion. After eating these things your cat will vomit making them feel much better.

Cats are multifarious creatures. Their behavior mainly depends on natural factors as well as on the genes and the atmosphere in which the cat develops. To really understand a cat and their behavior could take a lifetime and a fun and love filled lifetime it would be.

Rona Limsy asked:


If the mother cat is still in the home and she is already litter trained, then litter training her kittens is a natural process. Her kittens will simply follow what she does. However, ultimately, each cat should have its own litter tray or else it may create a host of other litter tray problems for you!

For most kitten owners, the mother cat is not in the home if the kitten was orphaned or purchased. But this is not a problem. It is easy to litter train a cat when it’s still a little kitten. Cats are creatures of habit and it may not be as easy to litter train once they have become used to their favorite toilet spots.

The key to litter training a kitten is to let it get used to the litter tray as soon as possible. You will need to manually place your kitten onto the tray initially, as it is neither used to it nor is it able to climb over the edge to get in.

Most kittens would defecate soon after waking up and after a meal. You could place your kitten in the litter tray during these times and after a few weeks, your kitten would get used to the routine and it would become a habit.

Just be sure to place the litter tray a reasonable distance away from where the kitten is fed and where it sleeps. Cats and kittens are fastidious creatures and do not like to do their toilet near where they eat and sleep.

When a kitten is still very young, it will not be able to “cover up” very well after its toilet, as most adult cats are capable of. But you don’t have to worry about this. Once they are about 1 to 2 months old, they will instinctively know how to cover up their ****.

In the wild or in the garden, cats will scoop soil and earth to cover but in the home, if you provide commercial cat litter, they will naturally scoop the litter to cover up the ****. You will notice, even if you only provide a newspaper for their soiling, your kitten will still scoop at the newspaper in an instinctive act to cover up their ****.

Although you can expect to pick up **** after your kitten in the first few weeks, litter training a kitten is relatively easy and can be 100% trouble-free once it gets used to the routine of using the litter tray.

Kathrynn Kelley asked:

So you have taken the big step towards pet ownership. You have decided on a cute, cuddly kitten, and you don’t have a clue how to train it. Fortunately, cat training is simple and basic, and can be done very quickly. A cat is a fairly low-maintenance pet, and you will be thrilled with your decision to take on the responsibility once you have completed your kitten training.

Nancy Cope asked:


Get the Right Box

            Dog litter training has actually spawned a plethora of boxes meant just for your dog. There are even boxes that have fake grass on top and a catch bin underneath for waste, though these are fairly expensive. If you don’t have enough to buy a grass box, a large litter box (like a cat’s) will suffice, and do the job of protecting your floors just as well.

Reward Proper Elimination

            With litter training positive reinforcement is far more productive than punishment. If you scold your puppy too much he may think you **** to see him eliminate, and start hiding it all over the house. Instead, pat and rub your puppy for eliminating inside the box on a consistent basis and he will begin to associate good feelings with the box.

Don’t Over-Clean the Box

            Dogs go more often than cats, so you will spend more time cleaning up after a litter trained dog than a cat. But don’t go overboard with cleaning the box. Dogs are averse to harsh chemical smells, and will avoid the box. Besides, a little of his scent will remind him that this is where he needs to go.

Don’t Do Two Things at Once

            It’s hard enough for a puppy to learn one form of potty training, don’t confuse him with two. Either pick outdoor training or litter training, and focus on one or the other for the moment. Later, if you want to switch you can retrain your dog, but your puppy will be easier to train and happier if you concentrate on one thing at a time.

Litter training can be a great option for the right dog owner, and is just as easy as regular potty training. Good luck, and remember to be persistent and kind.

Carol Osborne asked:


TIP: Be sure your home accommodates your cat’s needs, by creating an environment that provides a natural lifestyle for your cat.

This involves learning to read your cat’s “body language” and requires consistency, lots of love and plenty of patience. For most cats, training is well worth the effort and helps prevent many behavioral problems from developing later in life.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

If you are lucky enough to start out with a kitten, teaching her good habits from day one is your best bet. The minute she walks through your door, by giving her a toy to play with, a post to scratch and a litter box to use, you are teaching her what is appropriate to play with and scratch and where it’s acceptable for her to do her business.

Using positive reinforcement helps achieve the best results. Observe your cat’s natural behaviors; figure out what she likes the most; a toy, treat, or love and use that to reward correct behavior.

If you see your kitten doing something dangerous use negative reinforcement to stop her right away so she doesn’t hurt herself. For example, if she’s chewing on a toxic plant immediately redirect her attention to an appropriate toy or activity. Your kitten must not associate you with the unpleasant stimulus or she might blame you or become afraid of you. This way, she’ll blame the item used i.e. the whistle or water.

Despite our best efforts, problems arise that can not be prevented and require treatment.

Medical conditions that may be responsible must be eliminated first by your vet. Generally a thorough physical exam with or without laboratory tests is required. Referral to a Behavioral Specialist is the next step. A written, detailed history is essential. An at home visit is best, but telephone consults are an option. Behavioral specialists try to pinpoint the exact problem and the stimulus (what triggers the bad behavior) then make recommendations accordingly.

Methods used for behavioral modification vary according to the specific problem. A variety are available but a combination of physical (termed behavioral redirection) and medical intervention work best to resolve most problems. Physical methods, used include positive (toy, treat, love) and negative (loud noise, bell, whistle) reinforcements and obnoxious stimuli. Obnoxious stimuli are strong odors, like perfume that cats dislike. They are used to get cats to avoid certain items, furniture and areas by making them smell bad.

COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY

Four types of medications may be prescribed depending on the specific problem.

1. Antianxiety i.e. Valium

2. Mood Altering i.e. Buspar

3. Antidepressants i.e. Clomicalm

4. Mood Elevators i.e. Prozac, Paxil

HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES

It is important to try to prevent the cause of the stress as much as possible; this is not always possible. If your cat is injured in a fight, then Arnica Montana 6c (leopard’s bane) can bring relief.

BACH FLOWER REMEDIES

Use the Bach Flower Rescue Remedy which is made of flowers: cherry plum, clematis, impatiens, rock rose and star of Bethlehem to help calm down a stressed cat. Dose: 2-3 drops in mouth or food two to three times a day or 4 drops in the water if you are not going to be home.

Bryan Burbank asked:


Everyone loves a kitty, just remember that cute little kitty will soon be a cat. If you don’t house train your cat properly very soon it will no longer be a cute little cat. Owning a pet comes with some responsibility and one of them is house training your pet. Animals do not have some secret inner training that tells them how to do their business in the house. They were originally wild animals that were use to re leaving themselves in the great out of doors. In this article I will give you some tips on how to house train your cat.

Get Free: Cat House Training Tips

First, you must buy a liter box. I suggest you purchase this before you even bring the cat into your house. You never want to buy a box just because you think it is pretty. Do some research, read up on cat boxes. Make sure you get one that your cat will be able to fit in comfortably after the reach their full size.

How to Improve: Your Cats Health

Second, after you have chosen the litter box it is now time to decide on what type of liter to buy. The proper liter is almost as important as what you will be feeding your kitty. You never want to buy the cheapest liter just because you think it is a good deal. Cheap liter can irritate your cat’s body. It also can be very dusty and get into your cats lungs and make your cat ill. Also your cat may not like the texture of the cheap liter and choose to *** all over your carpet instead of in the box. If you have multiple cats you may want to plurchase one of the liters that works best with multiple cats.

Third, a happy cat is more likely to to go the bathroom where they are suppose to rather than on your floor. If you get your cat some toys to play with this will keep them busy and happy and they will not let their frustrations out by ****** on the flor. I suggest you experiment with toys to see which one your cat likes best. Not all cats like the same toys.

Lastly, training your kitty is no different than training your child. It takes a lot of patience and a lot of love. Don’t become discouraged if it doesn’t happen overnight.

Derek Rogers asked:


Keeping your feline friend happy with cat toys is really an easy task for anyone.

The most important thing to remember with cats and their toys is to offer them a variety.

Of course the cat is bound to have a favourite toy, they all do, however you can keep them very happy by replacing those toys that are worn and old with new ones.

Many of the new toys are associated with catnip in some way. Over time the catnip will get old and essentially be less attractive to your cat, as far as actually playing with it goes.

Another toy they will simply love is scratching posts. There is a web site “superstore” for those individuals that reside in the UK that offers several different toys for keeping your cat happy. Simply do a search for superstores and pets in the UK and the results will include the web site.

These toys should also stay clean, although they are known to clean their toys themselves. They can quickly get frazzled and have strings hanging off them that shouldn’t be there. These should actually be removed, or as stated above, if the cat toy is too worn or old just replace it with a new one. They love to play with toys that have bells on them or certain sounds. It makes them extremely curious and therefore playful.

Keeping your cat happy with various toys is also the key to a healthy pet. You will find they play often and stay fairly active using these toys which is a very good form of exercise for them.

You will find kittens are always getting into something like bags and other items such as boxes. Now there are toys that are made that are somewhat like large columns with holes in them. These types of toys are better for your cat, as bags and boxes can be become a danger to them. Safety is another way of keeping them happy with their toys.

For the most part many of the toys, scratching posts and columns as well as the vast variety of others, are reasonably priced. Many of these can be replaced on a regular basis without getting too expensive. However, your cat will love you because of the new catnip smell they will obviously be aware of.

Keeping them happy with toys will also keep them out of trouble. For instance, some cats get bored and start to claw furniture if they don’t have scratching posts, or they will climb up on curtains; this is where the toy columns would be a good idea.

The toys should also be the type that a cat can paw at and sometimes even bite. Believe it or not, some like to carry their toys around with them. So if the toy is entirely too big, don’t be surprised if they don’t play with it very often. The key to keeping them happy is to ensure there are plenty of toys available.

Remember you can never have too many toys!!