Reinforcing Cat Training

Posted by Fred on November 8th, 2008 at 08:16am

By Anita Hampton

Training animals in the zoo or circus is just like training the
cat at home. It starts by getting the tools necessary then
practicing daily until the pet does it right.

One of the most dreaded things that the cat can do to one’s
home is ruining the furniture with its sharp claws. Studies have
shown the cats do this to mark their territory - similar to
dogs that urinate in a certain place. To stop this bad behavior,
it is best to buy scratching posts and install them in areas the
cat frequents in the house.

Given that there are many types of scratching posts available
and cats can be picky, one should experiment with the different
kinds until one is able to find the kind that your cat will
love. When the cat does scratches the post instead of the
furniture, the pet should be praised and given food to let it
know it is correct and will get the same treatment again in the
future.

Another problem that cat owners face is waste. Should there be
some found lying in the house, it will make the house smell and
nobody wants that. To solve this, one should get a litter box
and teach the cat where to go when there is an urge.

This may take some to learn so you should be patient and
oversee the catís behavior. When the cat begins to show signs
that it is about to release, the person should pick the cat up
and rush it to the litter box. Hopefully, the pet will reach the
litter box in time but if not, then the owner should be prepared
to clean up the trail of waste left behind.

Since many people work or are gone for long periods of time,
one may come home to a house with waste in the living room or in
another part of the house. The best way to train the animal is
putting the waste in the litter box then bringing the cat to the
box for it to get used to the smell.

When the cat begins to do it on its own, then the pet should be
rewarded with praise and food.

There are many ways of teaching the cat how to behave if you
decide to keep it indoors. The best way is still reinforcing
that behavior instead of punishing the animal since it will make
the cat learn the rules of the house faster.

About the Author: Anita Hampton www.cat-health-tips.com

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: www.isnare.com/?aid=123102&ca=Pets

Tags: Animals In The Zoo, Anita, Bad Behavior, Cat At Home, Cat Owners Face, Cat Scratches, Cat Training, Cats, Circus, Different Kinds, Dogs, Left Behind, Litter Box, Living Room, Long Periods Of Time, Scratching Posts, Time One, Training Cat, Urge, Urinate

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