Cat Training Tips

Got a cat peeing outside the litter box? Some cats start peeing anywhere and everywhere in your house, while others choose specific spots, like the bathtub or even your bed. Before you address this problem, it's important to understand why your cat is peeing inappropriately. Cats may urinate outside the litter box due to medical or behavioral issues.

As caring cat parents, many people want to ensure their cats are happy but often question their cat's emotional state. Every cat is unique and, like humans, may express happiness differently. However, there are common signs that indicate your cat is content.

Cats are amazing, intelligent creatures. Their lifestyle reflects the predatory skills and behaviors needed to hunt food in the wild. A cat’s day includes the need to rest, stalk, chase, pounce, kill, play, eat, and groom among other things. Without opportunities to engage in these natural behaviors, cats may become bored, potentially leading to destructive behaviors, aggression, or anxiety. We all want our cats to be living their best lives!

Fear aggression is the most common type of feline aggression. A percentage of cats simply inherit the "shy gene" and act aggressively every time they become frightened. Poor socialization also results in fear aggression. Punishment by the owner can make it worse. Cats may develop "stranger danger" fear of people, places, other cats, certain noises, or even odors, and react with aggression. They can generalize one scary experience (such as a car ride to the vet) with all future car rides. A single "bad" episode with a longtime feline friend can turn the relationship sour and prompt inter-cat aggression.

Have you ever wondered if cats know their names? Unlike dogs, cats are not known for coming when called. But if your cat doesn’t move a whisker when you call its name, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it doesn’t know its name.

If cats are using your child's outdoor sandbox as a litter box, there are several ways to stop this behavior. You can put up a barrier, use cat deterrents, or keep your cat inside if it is the culprit. Ignoring the problem is not advisable as it can be dangerous to children who play in the sandbox.

Litter boxes are necessities for all indoor cats. They not only provide contained and predetermined locations for a cat to urinate and defecate, but they also allow the pet owner to easily clean up after their cat. Despite the obvious uses of litter boxes, these receptacles are also very important to the mental well-being and overall health of a cat. Cat owners may help prevent several issues in their cats by following a few basics guidelines regarding litter boxes.

How should you dispose of cat litter? Similar to the old idiom of what goes up must come down, what goes in must come out. The perks of owning a cat can revolve around their independence and compulsion to be clean and live in a clean environment; however, even the cleanest cats need to use the facilities.

You have a new kitten or have just welcomed a cat into your home, so now you need to cover the bathroom basics. You need a litter box, likely more than one. Where is the ideal spot (or spots) for it?

Cats can sometimes be found napping in some of the strangest locations. What if your cat has taken a sudden liking to napping in her litter box, though? There are medical reasons as well as behavioral reasons for a cat to suddenly start lounging where they go to the bathroom. Your vet can help you figure out the underlying reason for your cat's questionable choice in sleeping arrangements.

Cat litter is an essential supply for all indoor cats. While cats instinctively bury their urine and feces, some owners have a preference for what type of cat litter they'd like their pets to use. Historically, clay cat litter was the only option for absorbing urine and allowing a cat to practice the natural behavior of burying its waste matter, but now, many different options are available.

There are more questions about solving common cat litter box problems than any other cat behavior complaint. While many kittens will take to the litter box naturally, others may need a little help to be taught about potty etiquette. Adult cats may understand the basics, but certain habitat or health conditions could prompt them to avoid their usual facilities.

Cats are fastidiously clean animals. They constantly groom themselves, don't like to be wet or dirty, and bury their waste matter when they use the litter box. But sometimes cats end up getting poop on their paws and tracking their litter and poop outside of their box. Thankfully there are a few things you can do to keep the mess to a minimum.

There are several solutions to hide a litter box. By making a DIY litter box enclosure, you can prevent unwanted litter, odor, and mess around the house and give your cats a private place to do their business.

House soiling, or eliminating outside of the litter box, is one of the most common issues for cat parents. It is estimated that about 10% of pet cats struggle with this behavior.1 However, house soiling can either be a behavior in which a cat is truly peeing outside of the litter box or it can be urine spraying, sometimes also called urine marking.

Crate training isn't as common for cats as it is for dogs, but it is worthwhile. Kittens learn more easily and quickly than adult cats, but even adult cats can be trained to use a crate.

Maternal aggression happens when a queen, or female cat, becomes particularly protective. This behavior defends her kittens and can target humans, other animals, or cats that come close to her newborns. Since male cats have been known to cannibalize kittens, the queen's protective instincts are justified. It's natural for her to keep her kittens safe, so this behavior makes sense. This aggression usually decreases as the kittens grow and become more independent.

If you’re like most pet parents, your cat is likely a cherished family member, just like your children.

Cats are well known for their weird, lovable antics, and eating dirt is definitely one of their more-puzzling behaviors. If you are noticing your cat eating dirt, the cause can be simply a kitten exploring and playing with dirt or due to a medical issue.

Fighting between cats that live in the same household can be upsetting and frustrating. In many cases, it can be prevented and resolved with the help of a cat behavior professional and a veterinarian. Cat behavior is complex, and there are a variety of reasons aggression can occur.

Understanding how animals learn is key to influencing and interpreting their behavior. People tend to think of learning as something that happens when they deliberately train animals (e.g. in teaching dogs to sit or come), but learning happens all the time. Everything that a dog or cat experiences throughout its life will impact subsequent behavior to some extent. Learn how your feline learns so that you can better train it.

Scruffing refers to grasping the skin on the back of a cat's neck. While cats may be grabbed by the scruff in certain situations, these are not recommended practices for home, veterinary, or shelter settings. Despite some advice to the contrary, scruffing is ineffective and inappropriate for discouraging bad behavior in cats.

There’s a rumor that cats aren’t trainable, but the truth is you can teach them how to do tricks, walk on a leash, and more. Training your cat is even easier when you use a clicker. Clicker training is one of the fastest ways to communicate and instill lessons in your feline.

Working with fearful cats can be challenging as people often confuse their behavior with aggression. Does your cat hiss at strangers? Dive under the bed when the doorbell rings? Attack other pets or humans? While a normal level of caution can keep cats safe, excessive fear can make them uncomfortable and disturb the household. Fortunately, there are effective methods to calm your cat's fears, although they require time and patience.

Cat language—including cat talk and non-verbal messages—is sometimes puzzling. Cats have been regarded for centuries as mysterious, solitary, and unpredictable creatures perhaps because humans have difficulty understanding what they're saying. While people rely primarily on speech to communicate, cats predominately communicate in a silent language.

Covering poop isn’t always standard cat behavior. Wild cats bury their excrement primarily for two reasons: to hide their presence from predators and to show they aren’t challenging dominant cats. Dominant cats often leave their waste exposed on grassy tussocks to make it more noticeable.1

Although some people avoid cats because they fear or dislike them, there is some hope for those who avoid cats because of fear of allergic reactions. Much depends on the nature of your allergies. If yours involve sneezing, watery eyes, and a runny nose, you might gradually build up your tolerance to cats.

Cats are frequently known to jump on the counters, chew on wires, and scratch household items that are not designed to be scratched. Fortunately, it's possible to change a cat's behavior by rewarding good actions and gently disciplining bad ones. It's essential to discipline cats correctly to maintain a healthy relationship and avoid harming them.

Why is my cat pooping outside the litter box? Cats may poop outside the litter box due to stress, health issues, or problems with the litter box itself. If your cat suddenly starts doing this or the behavior persists, visit a veterinarian. They can determine whether there is a health or behavior issue requiring attention.1

Cats' aluminum-foil aversion tempts some pet owners to cover their countertops in the shiny wrapping. But it probably won't keep your cat off the counter—at least not permanently.