All You Need to Know About Training a Cat

Do you have a cat whom you need to train to be more social, less anxious and spread happiness? Well, cats are very mischievous, as well as clever. Still, they can be trained with patience and consistent efforts.

Many pet parents have a perception that training a cat is similar to training a dog. Unfortunately, this is not true. They both are independent animals with different personalities and living habits. Hence, tutoring cats is a whole new experience in itself.

Thinking about where to start the teaching journey with your pet?

Here are some useful training tips to make your kitty more obedient.

• First things first, never punish your cat: A basic rule of tutoring your cat is not to punish. Cats do not like punishment, they take it as a danger and may hurt the instructor. Sometimes, they even find it scary and may run away from the place. Hence, if you want to teach your pet healthy habits then try a positive approach and rewards to do so. For instance, if your pet scratches the furniture, let it do so but onto something less important like old cartons, furniture and fittings etc.
• Training your cat on how to use the litter box: The first step you need to take while teaching your pet the correct way to defecate is to train them how to use a cat litter box. Try to find an accurate spot to place it and then start training your cat for the same. A neat trick is to get the cat into the litter box right after the meals and gently scratch the sand from the paws until they urinate. Repeat the same process several times. Your pet will slowly realise the purpose of the litter box and start using it without your push.
• Training your cat to come when called: Another beneficial behaviour to teach your pet is to come when called. Decide on words like hey, nuh-uh etc. or gestures to call your cat and try practising it after feeding. Make it a habit and soon you will witness a positive reaction from your cat. Also, you can consider some attractive cat treats to lure your pet towards yourself. Soon your cat will make a connection with your voice and the rewards.
• Do not conduct training sessions which are too long: The time and duration of the learning sessions must be scheduled according to your cat’s interest and mood. As cats have a short attention span, wrapping your training sessions quickly can be more effective while teaching. The more frequent and natural you keep the lessons, the more will be your pet’s engagement. However, cats are independent and self-willed, so you have to be patient enough to handle your kitty. 

Apart from the aforementioned ways, training your cat to sit, shake hands, and not to bite are certainly other points to keep in mind while conducting training sessions. For the best advice on how to train your cats more effectively, you can go for online vet consultation programs by Supertails to find the right training approach while having face to face conversations over the internet.