You Should Train Your Cat, Experts Say. Here's How

People are adopting puppies and kittens because of the Pandemic. People rarely think that kittens need the same training as puppies.

Cats need help to adjust to living with us. Simple forms of training can help them.

Cats and humans share similar historical relationships. Cats have never been bred to be better at working with us, or to be better at communicating with us.

Research shows they can be trained to do the same things as dogs.

It's not likely that we would need a cat to walk nicely on a lead. Cats and dogs don't need as much support as one would think to master toilet training.

We don't have a trick if we only think about training pets. There are many benefits to the cat according to Daniel and I.

Training can be used to increase a cat's exploratory behaviors, positive reactions to people, and possibly even their chances of being adopted.

Simple techniques can be used at home to help cats with things like feeling comfortable in a cat carrier, getting used to car journeys, as well as being groomed and receiving basic health exams and treatments. Cats can cope better with vet visits if they are trained in this area.

What works

Cats are not born with an innate affinity towards humans and must be exposed to gentle, warm handling from two weeks old so they can learn to be friends with us.

There isn't much evidence that younger cats are more willing to train than older cats. Cats and fishing rod toys can be used to teach kittens not to attack us.

The quality of owner-cat relationships can be compromised by punishment such as shouting, rough handling, or using a water spray.

Positive reinforcement is always used. The most effective way to train pets is through this method.

Reward-based techniques can be used to teach a cat how to enter a carrier on their own. Some cats like to be taught to sit or spin.

Cats are less motivated than dogs to pay attention to us or to do what we are asking in certain situations. The high drop-out rates in studies that involve training cats may be due to these factors.

We want the cat to feel at ease when we train them. If the cat seems uncomfortable, try to give them a break and make sure they have the option to walk away.

The signs to look for are the cat turning their head away, nose licking, head shaking, a raised paw, and sudden bouts of self-grooming.

How to teach your cat to enter a carrier is shown here.

1. Lure them onto a blanket

It's a good idea to teach your cat in a safe place.

settle on a blanket. Do this by luring the cat onto the blanket using food.