 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Nobody knows your cat better than you. But when you have a question or need an expert opinion, the Purina® Cat Chow® brand Cat Food Mentor panel is here for you.
The Purina® Cat Chow® brand Cat Food Mentor Panel is comprised of qualified cat care specialists ready to help answer your Physical, Nutritional, or Emotional cat care questions - no matter what your cat’s life stage. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
Purina® Cat Chow® has experts who specialize in the fields of emotional behavior, physical health, feline nutrition, and life-stage-specific issues. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Introducing a Scratching Post |
|
Q: How can I teach my cat to use a scratching post?
Answer: First, keep in mind that clawing/scratching is a marking behavior, the cat is trying to leave you (or other animals) a message in her own way. Therefore, providing a marking or scratching post is important. The material should be something that shreds easily and the post should be large enough for an adult cat to stretch out when using. Perhaps your cat might prefer using some tree bark, which is a natural scratching source when she is outside. This may appeal more to your cat. Also, the post should be in a prominent area - think billboard here so that the cat will use it. Finally, make it attractive with catnip (which does not work for all cats), toys and praise for using it. There are some commercial deterrent products available at your local pet supply store that might be helpful to you.
If the scratching post does not work, you might want to consider training the cat not to scratch inappropriate items. With cats, training most often refers to educating the cat to understand the difference between acceptable and unacceptable behavior.
Unlike dogs, cats rarely seem to enjoy learning simply to please their owners; they want to please themselves. Cats are highly intelligent animals, and most relish learning anything that piques their interest.
Physical punishment such as slapping or hitting with hands or objects has no place in training cats or any other animal. Such discipline won't even work on the cat, and shouting isn't particularly effective either. Cats that are punished in this way may learn to hide the inappropriate behavior while continuing to practice in private. Shy cats may become traumatized introverts, while dominant cats turn into attack animals. Plus, the cat learns to associate hands with pain rather than petting.
Negative reinforcement, which means correcting (not punishing!) inappropriate behavior, does have its place in cat training, but it must be used judiciously. Negative reinforcement at its best either interrupts or distracts the poor behavior, or makes the behavior unpleasant enough that the cat stops on his own. Squirting water at the cat from a distance, clapping your hands, shaking a tin can with coins or tossing a toy toward the cat all work as corrections.
Say no with a firm voice during such corrections, and eventually the cat should learn to stop the behavior on the word alone. Some cats respond better to the owner hissing 'sssssst' at them as another cat might do to show displeasure. Be aware, though, that dwelling too much on the negative may teach the cat that misbehavior is a great way to get your attention.
The best way to train a cat is through the use of positive reinforcement. That simply means rewarding the desired behavior. With dogs, verbal praise is often reward enough; cats tend to need more tangible prizes to motivate their interest, such as a tasty treat or a special toy or game. Make the training session a game to engage your cat's interest and keep it.
Both positive and negative reinforcement work only when you catch your cat in the act. Pets aren't able to relate what happened hours ago with the reward or correction taking place this minute. Cats live in the here and now, and to get your message across, your reaction must be immediate. Don't give treats indiscriminately if that's what you're using for training rewards. Using negative reinforcement to interrupt the behavior, followed by positive reinforcement, often works wonders.
Consistency is the key. You can't be lenient one day and expect the cat to toe the line the next. That's confusing to the cat, and it's not fair to change the rules.
With time and patience, you can train your cat to know what is allowed and not allowed in your environment. Good Luck! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| Our pets are very attuned to our emotions and can become very anxious when we experience stress. Some typical times when your cat may need a little more reassurance or attention include moving into a new home, changes in your daily schedule, renovations, vacation, new additions to the household and family strife. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Site Map
