Reinforcing Cat Training

November 8th, 2008 at 08:16am Under Cat Training

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

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By Fred Add comment

Cat Training - The Basics

April 14th, 2008 at 01:47pm Under Cat Training

By Matthew Hick

If you have ever tried to train a cat or any pet, you have
probably realized that it isn’t the simplest process. Training a
cat is not the same thing as training a dog, as cats are not
performance pets like dogs can be. There are three rules to
follow when training a cat; reward, praise, and positive
reinforcement. If you can learn how to use these rules and how
to apply them to your cat’s training, you will be able to teach
your cat simple tricks - and perhaps even toilet train it!

Basic cat training tries to encourage good behavior and
discourage bad behavior. Anything you want your cat to do should
be rewarding, enjoyable, and pleasant. Likewise, those things
you don’t want your cat to do should be unpleasant, not
enjoyable, and should never be rewarded. It is important to
remember that reprimands don’t work in cat training. Punishment
will only cause the cat to mistrust you and to repeat the bad
behavior, when you are not around. Sometimes cats won’t align
the crime with the punishment and act out with another bad
behavior.

Training will require time and diligence. You should never
stray from your routine. If a cat has a pleasant experience when
he does something, and is rewarded with food or praise, you can
bet he will repeat this behavior. So, help your feline friend
achieve a desired behavior, such as litter box training, with
this in mind. When litter box training, you can control what
your cat takes in and determine where it comes out. A short time
after eating, take your cat in an enclosed room with the litter
box. Make him sit in the box. When he has used the litter box,
provide plenty of oral praise and hugs, maybe even a little
treat, and your little friend will get the point. Soon he won’t
need to be kept in the box to achieve the desired result.

No one wants their cats to use their new couch as a scratching
post. Of course, initially, they really don’t know any better,
so make it an unpleasant experience. Cats don’t like to get
their claws caught up in anything, so cover the bottom of your
sofa with netting. The cat will realize this is not any fun and
retreat to his scratching post. Once again, positive
reinforcement with the good behavior is key.

As important as it is to reward good behavior, it is also as
important not to reward bad behavior. If your cat does something
you don’t like, don’t give him a treat to divert him from the
bad behavior. He will associate the improper behavior with
rewards and continue to do it. Instead, ignore him or squirt him
with water. He will get your point. Also, keep in mind that
sometimes a cat will behave badly to get attention. So be sure
to schedule regular playtime with your feline and provide them
with plenty of toys.

Once you’ve accomplished the basics in training, you can teach
your cat to do many things. They have been taught to sit, lay,
walk on a leash and, as mentioned before, even potty trained.
Your well-behaved cat will be the envy of all.

About the Author: Cats & Kitten Articles at
Cats-Today.com. Learn how to operate a Successful Adsense
Website Network at eWebCreator.com. Matthew Hick has been
designing profitable Niche Adsense Websites for over 5 years.
Award winning Adsense Website Service at eWebCreator.com

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: www.isnare.com/?aid=102418&ca=Pets

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