Want to train your cat but not sure where to begin?
If yes, remember that cats, unlike dogs, can be stubborn and find it challenging to adapt to new ways. Still, with a little more patience, effort, and consistency, you can teach your furball discipline. Whether it is to train your munchkin to do tricks or stop it from jumping on kitchen counters, you should bear in mind one thing: not to push your kitty pal to learn new stuff under pressure.
Behavioral training can be easy when your furry baby is in a positive frame of mind, so encourage learning during such instances. However, if you suspect other causes for your cat’s behavioral problems, consult your vet for medical help. Various reasons, including underlying health issues, can contribute to your furball’s negative behaviors.
It is wise to be prepared with a medical financial backup in terms of cat insurance so handling unexpected pet health expenses is much easier. Contemplate purchasing pet insurance for your furry precious.
Cats are clever animals that can be a good companion as well as be entertaining. Cats are usually easy to train, but there are a few things the new feline parents should learn. Firstly always remember when cats mature from being a kitten they tend to develop and grow their own individual personalities. They are inquisitive by nature as they are intelligent creatures. They have keen interest in investigating things and this could lead to undesirable behavior. It’s you who as a parent should offer training that helps them to understand that these are wrong, and to change them with acceptable actions. The intention is to help your pet behave in a well mannered way as a house pet. With this in mind there are certain mistakes to avoid when training your feline.
1. React positively even to negative behaviors
Whether you are training a kitten or an adult cat, it is natural that your feline is bound to do things that you may not want it to do before learning the house rules. For instance, clawing at the carpet, jumping on the furniture, and knocking things over are some everyday things kitty cats engage in.Reacting fiercely to undesirable behaviors will only slow down the training process, and it can harm your cat’s self-esteem, confidence level, and trust it has in you. Also, sometimes cats learn that negative behaviors can be used to get their human’s attention. Instead, work on reinforcing good behavior by showering your furball with many praises, tiny treats, and toys whenever it displays desired behavior. Don’t use an aggressive tone, abusive words, or threatening gestures at any point.
2. Always neuter the male cat
Local animal shelters these days have a lot of cats and kittens that are unwanted. The only method to stop this unwanted litter is to spay your female cat. If your feline is a boy, then remember that as soon as its hormones kick in, it will have the male urge to go find a female cat in the neighborhood just for the purpose of mating. It doesn’t matter whether indoor or outdoor cat, nature generally finds its way Refrain from being responsible for a new litter that could end up on streets. Neutering your cat helps in controlling its urge to roam around outdoors nor pick fights and will help him lead a healthy life.
3. Use correct products and methods
Using cat training products can be a good idea sometimes, but other times they may not be as effective in teaching your furry pet good manners. You can pick something as simple as a double-sided tape and stick it on furniture to keep your munchkin away from them. Also, beware when using products like a spray bottle. It may help deter your cat from tipping towards undesirable behaviors, but more than this, it can instill fear in your fur baby and discourage learning. Another point worth noting is scratching, jumping, climbing, and leaping are spontaneous cat behaviors that you shouldn’t think of curbing.
The goal is to find a mid-path that allows your pet to do things it loves without adversely impacting household items. For instance, install wall/window perches, cat trees, set up a catio, and horizontal/vertical scratch posts to help satisfy your furball’s instincts.
4. Cat training requires patience
Every cat is unique; while some cats are quick learners, others might require more training. Know that behavioral changes don’t happen overnight, and it takes some time for your furry baby to take on board new learnings.
5. Overestimating training time
The most common mistake that cat owners do is to plan longer training sessions. The best time span ranges from not more than five minutes at a time. Don’t overtrain your cat, be consistent and do it throughout the day. The repeated practice will help your cat develop new habits. If you spend a longer time in one sitting, your feline is likely to get bored. It’s important to hold the cat’s attention to train it.
Through all this, you must consider being prepared with pet insurance for cats because accidental injuries, sickness, and medical emergencies are sometimes inevitable. A pet insurance can provide your munchkin comprehensive health coverage and better value than cheaper pet plans, so weigh your options and contemplate signing up for a cat insurance policy that best suits your cat’s health and your budget.
