Q: Is it possible to train a cat?

A: Yes, training a cat is not as impossible as some doubters take for granted it is. Kitties probably are not as amenable to training as dogs are but they can be trained. Tasty rewards given as positive reinforcement is definitely the primary way to train a cat.

Q: Why and how do happy cats purr?

A: Adult cats purr because they are happy and contented and to play on the emotions of humans — Can you resist a purring kitty? Kittens purr in response to their mother cat’s purr to assist in bonding them. It is mostly theorized that the purring is a vibration of the voicebox as air is pushed though it. It is also believed that purring is a voluntary action.

Q: Why are the reasons a number of people are allergic to cats?

A: Cat allergies are caused by the proteins in cat dander generated from the cat’s saliva. The dander dries and becomes airborne. People with cat allergies have an allergic reaction because their immune system is trying to fight the foreign protein and creates histamines.

Q: How do you halt naughty cat behavior such as clawing?

A: The best way to halt bad cat behavior is the same way the mother cat controls an errant kitten. This is by scuffing the cat. You firmly but gently grasp the cat by the scruff of the neck and hold it down until it calms down. You should do this at the time of the bad behavior.

Q: How do you litter train a cat?

A: You really shouldn’t have to do any training for a cat to make use of a litter box, but if your previously litter trained cat has begun to avoid the litter box you need to figure out why. The cat may have a urinary tract infection in which case you need to visit the veterinarian. If it is just too dirty you need to keep it cleaner. If you have changed litter you may have to change back or sprinkle a little catnip in the litter to attract the cat to the new litter.

Q: How do you keep cats off the kitchen table?

A: This is one of the most asked about cat behavior problems and can be a challenging one. Cats like high places and they can find food or food aromas on tables and counters. It is best to keep the counters clean and to use something like foil or double sided tape to keep cats off the counters.