Q: Can you  train cats?

A: Yes, cat training is not as impossible as many cat people imagine it is. Cats most likely are not as responsive to training as Spot or Fido are but they are trainable. Food rewards given as positive reinforcement is certainly the main route to train a cat.

Q: Why and how do cats make a purring sound?

A: Adult cats purr because they are happy and contented and to play on the emotions of humans — Who can ignore a purring cat? Kittens purr in response to their mother cat’s purr to assist in bonding them. It is generally thought 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 demonstrate a reaction because their immune system is trying to fight the enemy protein and creates histamines.

Q: How do you change bad cat behavior like nipping?

A: The best way to break naughty 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 unwanted 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 pan, but if your adult cat has begun to avoid the litter pan you need to find out why. The cat may have a urinary tract infection in which case you need to go to the vet. If it is just too dirty you need to keep it cleaner. If you have started using 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 counter?

A: This is one of the most asked about cat behavior problems and can be a tough one. Cats like elevated platforms and they may 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.