{"id":5990,"date":"2022-10-15T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-15T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hartz-v2.local7\/cat-training-basics\/"},"modified":"2024-04-12T16:37:31","modified_gmt":"2024-04-12T16:37:31","slug":"cat-training-basics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hartz.com\/en-ca\/cat-training-basics\/","title":{"rendered":"Cat Training Basics"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Cat

Cats need to scratch, so give them something other than the couch.<\/p><\/div>\n

Scratching the furniture, jumping on the counter, and climbing the curtains: like it or not, these things are normal feline behavior. Cats have a natural, instinctual need to scratch, climb, and perch up high. Unfortunately, these types of behaviors often don\u2019t translate well to indoor living. Try to understand your cat\u2019s needs and give them an appropriate way to express them. Cat training can sound like a foreign language to some cat owners, but believe it or not, cats can be trained!<\/p>\n

Start by taking a look at the behavior you don\u2019t like. Let\u2019s say it\u2019s scratching the couch. Many cat owners are quick to tell the cat what not to do. Don\u2019t scratch the couch! The problem with this mindset is that it doesn\u2019t take into account training your cat what you do want them to do instead. Don\u2019t want your cat to scratch the couch? Your cat needs to scratch something. So what do you want them to scratch instead?<\/p>\n

Reward, Rather than Punish<\/h3>\n

Whatever your cat training needs may be, be sure to follow the practice of rewarding your cat<\/a> for good behavior, rather than punishing them for bad habits. With the proper training, your cat will learn that he gets a treat whenever he scratches on the cat tree instead of the furniture or sits on the window perch instead of the counter. Remember that if you want your cat not to scratch your couch, you need to provide him with something even better and more appealing to scratch.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t punish your cat in any way for what you consider to be misbehavior. Outbursts will just make your cat afraid of you. In general, cats don\u2019t understand punishment and are not able to make the connection that they\u2019re being squirted with water because they did something wrong. Cat training is much more productive when you focus on good behavior and ignore or redirect behavior you find unacceptable.<\/p>\n

For example, to address scratching the furniture, provide your cat with many different appropriate scratching options so that he has an abundance of things to choose from instead. If you catch him scratching something appropriate, give him lots of praise and treats! If you catch him scratching the couch, call his name or use a toy to encourage him to come over to the scratching post<\/a> instead.<\/p>\n

Addressing Litter Box Avoidance<\/h3>\n
\"Cat

The litter box should be in a private, but easily accessible location.<\/p><\/div>\n

If your cat suddenly uses the carpet instead of the litter box, it may be a distress signal that requires immediate medical attention. Potentially fatal lower urinary tract infections (LUTI) are often the culprit. In this instance, when your cat relieves herself, it hurts. He may conclude that the box is what is causing the pain and stop using it. A trip to the veterinarian will tell you whether or not you\u2019re dealing with a physical problem.<\/p>\n

If the problem is behavioral, try the following steps, a certain amount of cat training may be involved:<\/p>\n