Saturday, June 30, 2007

Cat Training Using Incremental and Positive Reinforcement Techniques

Many people say cat training is difficult to do. Cats are too hard to train. Well, if you use some basic training techniques cat can be just as easy to train as dogs.

When it comes to cat training most people don’t even try because they think it is way too hard. Dogs on the other hand seem overly eager to learn tricks to get our affection. Cats on the other hand do not seem overly interested in learning tricks just to get our affection, they seem like they just want to be left alone to sleep.

There are many examples of how to train a cat. For instance my friend taught his cat how to use a human toilet, and my cat knows how to play fetch. Teaching your cat these and other behavior is easy if you use positive reinforcement and incremental training.

{Teach Your Cat How To Use A Human Toilet!}

Positive reinforcement just means rewarding your cat for simple things they a have done right. For instance when ever my cat would bring the toy back to me I would show it affection by petting it.

When my friend trained his cat to use the toilet he used incremental training. He slowly, very slowly would move the litter box closer to the toilet every day until the cat was used to being next to the toilet, and then he put the litter box on top of the toilet, and then finally placed a recessed bowl in the lid, and then finally removed it.

By combining incremental training and positive reinforcement you can quickly train your cat, just as fast as training a dog. Start today, by picking a simple trick you would like to teach your cat and start your cat training.

Luke Blaise

Friday, June 29, 2007

Cat Behavior: Cat Litter Box Problems

Cat litter box problems are one of the most common cat behavioral problems most owners encounter. It is a very frustrating experience for an owner to come home to find that their bed or couch is soaked in cat urine. Fortunately there are some simple steps you can take to get the situation back under control.

First of all cats can stop using the litter box for any number of reasons. The cause could be behavioral or medical. Some medical causes of a cat not using the litter box could be feline lower urinary tract syndrome and a lower urinary tract infection. You need to seek your veterinarian’s medical expertise if you suspect one of these.

There can be many possible behavioral reasons for having cat litter box problems. Some of these can be quite complicated, while others will become quite obvious to you after little investigation.

The obvious reasons why a cat stopped using the litter box is maybe someone closed the door to where the litter box was and now the cat does not have access to that area. Another obvious reason could be that the litter box was placed in a noisy area near a washer or clothes dryer.

Other more complicated reasons for a cat not using the litter box include stress. This stress could be from a new family member, a visitor, or a change in the house hold routine.
Cat litter box problems can have easy solutions. If you think the problem is more involved it is best to seek a veterinarian who has knowledge of cat behavior.

Luke Blaise

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Is my cat's behavior normal?

Most owners can tell you what abnormal behavior their cat has; not using the litter box, aggression, etc.

Most people struggle to tell me what normal cat behavior is. Sometimes we become too focused on abnormal cat behavior we fail to realize what is normal?

Things like cats taking naps all day and all night are normal.

Cats eating small meals is normal. Cats usually eat 10-20 grams per sitting, about the same size of a mouse!

Most cats do cover their feces in the litter box, but some don't. This isn't abnormal, some cats just never learned to cover their feces.

For a better discussion of normal versus abnormal cat behavior check out this cat book.

Thanks,

Luke

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Bringing Your Cat Home From The Vet Clinic

Many people have to take their cat to seek veterinary help at some time during their life.

While at the veterinary clinic cats can pick up news smells that can stay on their bodies long after you have brought them home.

This can be a big problem for some cat owners because the other cats who did not go to the clinic don't like the smell of the cat that was brought home and won't accept them.

One way to get around this is by just waiting. Eventually the scent from the vet clinic will go away.

The other way, a faster way is to rub the cat in a blanket or cat bed that will cover the scent in the more familiar scen of the cats at home.

Changing cat behavior cat be easy if you have a good book. I have found Solutions to Cat Behavior Problems to be great, it was written by Dr. Chris.

I would like to help with your cat behavior problem. Please email me at lukeblaise1m@excite.com

Thanks,

Luke

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Cat Behavior: Cat Hissing

Cat hissing can be very disturbing for many cat owners. Often times their cats will hiss at them just for approaching them. The are many ways to get your cat to stop hissing at everyone that comes by.

Cat behavior problems are the most common reasons cats are given over by their owners to cat shelters. Among these cat behavior problems that are most common are litter box problems and aggression, cat hissing falls into the cat aggression category.

Cats usually hiss because they are either frightened or trying to scare someone off. Cats that are cornered and think they will be attacked will usually hiss. Cats that are trying to be left alone or trying to get rid of someone will also usually hiss.

One cat owner had a cat that sat on the doorstep and constantly hissed at the new boyfriend or anyone else that came near the doorstep. No matter what she tried the cat would continue to hiss at the new boyfriend. It got so bad that many people when they came to her house would just enter in from the garage.

One thing that helped this cat owner is desensitizing and positive reinforcement techniques. Desensitizing is a common behavior modification tool that many people see great success with.

To use desensitization for a hissing cat, slowly approach the cat until it starts to hiss, and then back off. Slowly over the period of a week or two try to decrease the distance you can approach the cat without it hissing at you.

The other technique is positive reinforcement. In our example the owner’s boyfriend simply started feeding the cat and gave it treats. Once it started to associate him with rewards the hissing went away.

There are dozens of simple cat behavior modifying techniques you can try that will turn your aggressive hissing cat into a loving cat, you can find more in Solutions to Cat Behavior Problems.

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Cat Does Not Like Being Petted

Does your cat not like being petted? Does your cat only tolerate a few minutes of being petted? Well there are many reasons why a cat does not want to be petted and there are some simple techniques you can try to change your cat’s behavior.

Many times cat owners will complain that their cat does not like being petted. Their cat does not want to be petted at all or will only tolerate a few minutes of petting at a time. There can be many reasons why a cat would not want to be petted.

For some cats that grew up isolated socially from humans they don’t crave being petted. Many stray cats have grown up to fear humans and some that are eventually adopted by cat owners will still not trust people enough to be petted.

Also it has been shown that kittens from small litters are less likely to like being petted. This is likely a factor of lack of socializing.

Another reason, which is probably the main one, that cats don’t like being petted is they don’t want to be petted for the same amount of time that the owner wants.

Some cats only want to be petted for a few minutes and then go on to play with a toy or take a nap. For many owners they see this as a problem. This is a problem for the cat owner, not the cat. The cat is perfectly fine being petted for a few minutes.

Many cats will become aggressive if you try to keep them on your lap and pet them for longer than they want to be petted. Fortunately there are lots of simple techniques you can use to train your cat to be petted for longer periods of time.

by
Luke Blaise

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Common Cat Behavior Problems Your Cat Can Get

Cats evolved as wild animals and with their domestication has come some problems that go along with that. The two most common behavioral problems seen with some cats are litter box
problems and aggression issues.

{Get even more answers here: Solutions to Cat Behavior Problems}

Cat behavior problems can be one of the more frustrating experiences for cat owners, and it is the most common reason cats are often given over to shelters by their owners only to fall into to the hands of another unsuspecting owner.

Cats not using the litter box are the most common behavior problem. Sometimes this can be due to a medical problem but often times it can be due to other issues. Issues like stress, is a big reason why a lot of cats stop using the litter box.

Aggression is another one of the most common behavioral problem cats can get. This can range from biting your toes, to aggressively attacking the owner, to attacking other cats. Some cats can even have displaced aggression taking out their aggression on inanimate objects. Biting is a common problem owners have and this can be due to several things, from a cat learning that if they bite the owner’s toe they get attention, to not know that they should shield their teeth when they play.

Cats waking owners up too early in the morning is another behavior problem many owners wish to change in their cats. Cats nap at all times of the day for short durations, so while you are trying to catch up on some sleep your well rested cat wants to burn off some energy by playing with you.

One simple ways to cure this problem is to simply play with your cat at night before bed time so they are more tired and will sleep longer in the morning. If you do this over a period of a couple of weeks you should be able to change your cat's sleeping cycle.

Cats are prone to many behavioral problems, many of which can be prevented by giving your cat a stable environment in which to live. Remember simply playing with your cat daily even for fifteen minutes will give them a chance to burn some extra energy and hopefully stay out of trouble.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Protect Your Home From Destructive Cats

When it comes to cat behavior some cats can be very destructive to your house. From scratching up furniture to destroying plants, the amount of damage can add up after a while. So how do you protect your house from your cat?

When it comes to having a destructive cat there are many simple and easy things you can do to protect your house from the cat. One common complaint from cat owners is that the cat is always getting into the plant and digging in the soil. This makes a huge mess on the floor and is bad for the plant. One easy solution to this is to put rocks over the soil. If you use rocks that are large enough it should detour most cats from attempting to get down to the soil.

If your plants are small enough you could just raise them off the floor and put them on a shelf where the cat is unable to jump or climb too. Also using a plant basin that is too large for the cat to knock over is another simple step you can take.

If your cat is destroying your couch by scratching it you can always try to place a scratching post where your cat seems to scratch the most. Cats love to scratch and they do it for several reasons. Cats scratch because it helps to sharpen their claws, it helps them exercise by strengthening their muscles, and it prevents boredom.

If your cat is scratching another thing to try is offering more toys to play with or cover your furniture with a cloth. If you don’t want to live like your furniture is always ready to be moved, try a product called Soft Claws.

{Can you train your cat to use the toilet?}

There are dozens of more ways to protect your house from your cat. By learning about cat behavior you can save yourself a lot of headaches.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Investigating Litter Box Issues

When a cat stops using the litter box and starts using your bed or couch it becomes a very frustrating experience for the cat owner. By taking some simple steps to investigate the litter box issue you might find an easy solution.

Cats can stop using the litter box for any number of reasons. Some are health related and some can be pure behavioral, and some can be neither.

Forget the litter box all together by training your cat to use the toilet!

One of the most common reasons for a cat to stop using the litter box might be due to a urinary tract infection. Signs of this might be frequent urination, straining to urinate, or blood in the urine. If your cat is showing these signs you should seek veterinarian assistance.

If your cat has a really sudden behavior change and stops using the litter also seek veterinary help because this might be due to a hormonal problem.

If your cat is older, your litter box might have sides that are too high for your cat to jump in and out of the litter box comfortably. If you have large heavy cat your litter box might be too small for it. There can be many simple reasons why your cat has stopped using the litter box, you just have to try and do some problem solving.

Some other simple reasons why your cat might have stopped using the litter box is because it was placed near a loud washing machine, or maybe the door to the room where the litter box is was accidentally closed.

By taking the time to investigate litter box problems you might find that there is a simple solution. If you need help ask your veterinarian for assistance.

Luke

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Free Cats With Behavior Problems For Loving Home

Do you know where you can get hundreds of cats for free? It’s your local animal shelter and they are giving away cats for free that have behavior problems!

Sadly this is no joke. The number one reason why cats are given over to shelters by their owners is due to behavior problems. Cat behavior problems is one of the most frustrating experiences for owners and for cats. The two most common behavior problems are litter box problems and excessive aggression.

Cat behavior problems are best treated right away. It becomes increasingly more difficult once the behavior has become ingrained in the cat. Many cat owners don’t seek help until it is too late, and many veterinarians are not trained in cat behavior. Veterinarians mainly focus on medical and surgical problems, but they are starting to realize the importance of offering behavioral services as well.

{Do you need to learn how to solve cat beahvior problems? Read this}


If your cat has started exhibiting bad cat behavior you should always seek veterinary help first. This should be done to rule out any medical causes of behavior problems, which can be the cause sometimes.

Many people adopt cats from animal shelters wanting to give a cat a good home. Most of the time it works out, but for some new owners this can be a heart breaking experience. If the cat that they have adopted was given up for behavioral problems then they will likely continue in the new home. These types of things are often not preventable because often cats are given to animal shelters with no explanations of why?

If you want to adopt a cat from an animal shelter be aware of what you may experience. Odds are you will likely get a great cat, but sometimes you may not.

Friday, June 15, 2007

Cat Scratch Fever

Is your cat destroying your furniture? Do you a have a ruined new leather couch?

For many people inappropriate cat scratching can be a headache.

Cats love to scratch for several reasons; to sharpen their claws, to stretch and strengthen their muscles, and to entertain themselves.

Who wouldn't get excited about getting to ruin someone else's new leather couch?

Well besides using scratching posts and other cat behavior cures, their is another product on the market.

It is called Soft Claws. They are simply pads you put over your cats claws to prevent them from destroying your furniture. Soft Claws work great and many people love them.

Many people who have read Solutions to Cat Behavior Problems and also used Soft Claws have reported great success to me.

I would start off by offering your cat a scratching post first, but if this doesn't solve the problem, realize there are many alternatives.

Please be sure to sign up for my free newsletter in the right hand column.

Thanks,

Luke

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Where is Your Cat Litter Box

When people try and tell me about why their cat is having behavior problems and not using the litter box, do you know what the first question I ask them is?

Where is your litter box!

This might seem overly simple to some of you but for many people the concept is lost.

They will put their litter boxes next to loud washing machines or driers and wonder why their cat is not using the litter box.

Another not so common problem is someone in the house simply closed the door to the room that contains the litter box. This of course prevents the cat from using the litter box.

For most people if I can't help them I recommend this book on cats: Cat Behavior Problems.

It is a great read and comes with a 60 day money back guarantee if the people I recommend it to don't like it.

I look forward to your comments.

Thanks,

Luke

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Stopping Bad Cat Behavior In Its Tracks

Correcting bad cat behavior is bad enough, but when you are starting to try and correct it after several months it can be even harder.

Many people email me asking me about cat behavior and they usually state that a certain behavior has been going on for a couple of months.

One thing to be aware of is that conditioning takes time. It took time for your cat to become conditioned to bad cat behavior, and it will take time to condition him for good cat behavior.

This concept is expanded on further by Dr. Chris in his book Solutions to Cat Behavior Problems.

People I email are often disappointed when they find out how much hard work is ahead of them.

The main thing when conditioning animals or people to how you want them to behave is consistency.

Consistency cannot be stressed enough when it come to trying to change bad cat behaviour.

So if you are trying to change your cat's behaviour, do it early and consistently.

Thanks for reading my blog!

Luke

Monday, June 11, 2007

Rotating Toy Shifts?

As you may have learned from my last post, I have learned that by rotating the toys that my cat has access to that my cat will be less bored.

In my last post I didn't tell you what I started doing though:



It makes sense if you think about it. A rich kid with lots of toys always seems bored, wereas a normal kid has a lot fewer toys and is more likely to be grateful for what they have.



I read about this in a great cat behavior book, under the home environment chapter.



My cat has about ten toys, so what i did was collect them all and am only giving her two to play with each day.



This has made me more creative as well because I have to come up with new ways to play with the toy as well when i play with my cat.



Luke

Saturday, June 9, 2007

Rotating Cat Toys

Is your cat bored to death? I would be to with just the same toys you give your cat.

How do you change this and get your cat to sit up and take notice again?

Well the simple answer is to rotate your cat's toys. Instead of letting your cat have access to all the toys as once, only let your cat have access to just one or two toys a day.

This will help keep your cat's interest, and prevent them from becoming bored and causing problems, like scratching furniture.

{If you are having problems check out this best selling book on Cat Behavior Problems.}

Also by rotating toys you don't have to keep searching for the latest new cat toy in desperate attempt to keep your cat getting bored.

Luke