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Cats really, really, really love to scratch and that is no exaggeration either. If you’re a first-time owner of a cat, you'll find that out as soon as you see your new furniture full of claw marks and your sofa and the pillows are shredded and torn to pieces. Cats scratch for a variety of reasons. The obvious reason is for marking their territory. Cat’s paws leave their scent and every time they scratch something their scent stays there. Scratching is also an exercise for them; you’ll usually see their love for scratching every time they wake up from a nap.
The first response to this is confining your cat to some place where she can't damage new furniture or scratch anything valuable. This can be seen as a temporary solution only and can’t be permanent as cats love to wander around too. The best solution is a scratch post.
A scratch post is something you can buy or create yourself. There are several scratch posts on the market and you are sure to find something suitable for your cat. Remember, though, that a cat's idea of something good to scratch at is different from your idea. Never ever make the mistake of buying something expensive just because you think it looks good or looks exactly like your sofa.
An excellent post is something where your cat can fully stretch her body and should be stable. Once your cat starts scratching on it and it topples over, you can be sure that she won’t return to it.
After buying one, the next step for you is to train your cat to scratch it. Never make the mistake of forcing her claws to scratch the post. Your cat is just like a child and showing her something she knows how to do is something that can make your cat behave aloof to you for a couple of days.
One suggestion is to put the post where your cat used to scratch. For example, if she loves scratching your wooden chair, then put it close to your chair. Other places include a place close to where your cat is sleeping so she’ll have some thing to scratch after her nap. This won’t work at all times, though, so you have to do something clever to entice her to scratch the post.
One of the best solutions is to rub catnip into it. This will have her happily digging at the post in no time. If this doesn’t really appeal to your cat, don't lose hope because there are other ways. Some cats just don’t love catnip and won’t be fooled easily by this treat.
Another way is to associate the post with something fun. Put some food treats around it or dangle some toys that will entice her to reach out for the toy and inadvertently scratch the post. You must remember to praise your cat every time she scratches your post so she will remember that scratching the post is both fun and agreeable to you.
Another way to "fool" your cat into scratching the post is to play games with her running around the scratch post. Once she finds that scratching the post is better than playing your game, don’t feel bad as you have done your job of “fooling” your cat into using the scratch post.
Of course you can try to train them directly to scratch the post. You can give the order to "scratch" and point to the post while you give the order and every time your cat scratches the post give her a treat and praise her loudly so she can be proud of pleasing you.
Once your cat starts using the scratch post, the next step is to prevent her from scratching your furniture. You could do this by covering your furniture with aluminum foil or double-sided tape. These are surfaces that your cat will find not so good to scratch and she will soon realize not to scratch things other than her scratch post.
The only thing to remember is that to prevent your cat from scratching your furniture is to provide her with something better to scratch.
Date Added: Sunday, 04-06-2025 01:42:02 PM
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It is given that the cat is an adorable and lovable pet. But if it starts to mess the house with all its litter, then it starts to annoy the heck out of an owner. What to do? Of course, cat training devices are there to solve this problem. Remember that a cat is intelligent, therefore constant push from the owner and assistance from a training device can whip out a litter-free, sensible kitty.
Here are some of the cat training devices that can magically transform a misbehaved pet to an obedient one:
1. "The Potty-Cat"
This quirky and cute-looking system is a magic of sorts as it has everything - a handy manual and the device that can train the cat without him knowing about it! No more foul litter, just a smart-aleck of a cat! Incredible and true!
2. "Pet Agree Training Device"
What does it do? Its ultrasonic system emits sounds that can easily catch the pet's attention. With its built-in verbal orders, the cat is trained in an instant!
3. "SSSCAT"
Because it combines the power of an aerosol can and a motion detector, the SSSCAT emits sound and the spray that can shoo the cat away from places where it is prohibited.
4. "Electrostatic Pet Scat Mat"
The name sounds ominous but the "Electronic Pet Scat Mat" is pretty harmless. But that doesn't mean it is ineffective. The electrical pulse and the static electricity can keep the pet cat from messing around the sofas, windows and front yards.
5. "Pet Boundary Indoor Pet Barrier System"
It keeps the cat away as it makes its own "unwanted zone" that can be as far as ten feet. The owner just has to place the transmitter to the collar and voila.
6. "Scarecrow Water Spraying Animal Repeller"
Introducing the Scarecrow Water Spraying Animal Repeller which goes to water-spraying when it notices an intruder aka the pet cat.
7. "Tattle Tale Vibration Alarm Pet Trainer"
Pets keep out! That's what this device intends to warn the pet cats. Advanced as it is with the structural vibration technology, the Tattle Tale is so sensitive it detects vibration right away even if there is no apparent movement.
8. "Cat Stop! Ultrasonic"
Gardens and front yards will no longer welcome the cats, because of its high-quality motion sensor.
Cat training devices abound, the cat lover will never run out of alternatives on how to keep his cat from getting litter-crazy.
Date Added: Saturday, 04-05-2025 02:44:55 PM
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Cat and owner relationship is a complicated thing. To give a statement on how it will go is more complicated. But for someone who knows how to use bribery to his advantage, he can sum it up in a statement: Cats love rewards the same way that cat owners love obedient pets.
Using the "bribe" method is not as easy as just giving rewards to pets. It cannot be contested that bribery has a lot of things to offer to trainers. But certain principles must be employed. A systematic program must be adopted to achieve maximum effectiveness.
Here are some thoughts to consider in training cats using the "bribe" method.
1. Cats are rewards seeking, punishment fearing creatures.
Cats will only do things that they find enjoyable and satisfying to do. If trainers want them to do something that they find pleasing, they will be more than willing to do so if the "bribe is right," so to speak.
2. Cats associate their actions with consequences.
Cats learn through experiences. They behave based on what they recall. Let us take these two cases to further explain this concept:
- Trainer A uses force whenever he sees his cat defecating in the wrong places. He shouts at the cat, telling it to defecate in the assigned area. He then presses its butt on the litter box. He has done this routine a lot of times, but his cat never learned.
- Trainer B rubbed his cat's belly when it misbehaved. The cat did stop misbehaving in that instance. However, Trainer B observed that his cat misbehaves more often than before.
Because cats associate their actions to the consequences, the trainers in both situations did not achieve their desired result . This failure can be associated with the use of wrong tactics to motivate the cats.
Employing the "bribe" method will be more effective in this situation. Just remember that cats seek rewards.
3. Systematic training will do the trick.
Trainers must design their training programs. The program depends on their cats' attitude. Things to be included in the program are the specific tasks that the trainers want their cats to do and the corresponding rewards. This method will deliver the results that you want only if you stick to the program that you did. Consistency is a key factor at this stage.
As for the trainers, the only bribe that this article has to offer is that after this program, you will have more obedient cats.
Date Added: Saturday, 04-05-2025 08:54:31 AM
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