Q: Can you train a cat?

A: Yes, training a cat is not as challenging as most cat lovers consider it is. Kitties are not as responsive to training as Fido or FiFi are but they are trainable. Tasty rewards presented as positive reinforcement is certainly the best route to train your cat.

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

A: Adult cats purr because they are happy and contented and to manipulate humans — Who can ignore a purring kitty? Kittens purr in answer to their mother cat’s purr to assist in bonding them. It is widely theorized that the purring is a vibration of the vocal chords as air is pushed though it. It is also believed that purring is a voluntary action.

Q: What makes some people are allergic to cats?

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

Q: How do you change undesirable cat behavior such as clawing?

A: The best way to break undesirable 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 need to 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 use a litter pan, but if your adult cat has begun to avoid the litter box you need to find out why. The cat may have a urinary tract infection in which case you need to go to 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 issues and can be a tough one. Cats like high spots and they can find food or food aromas on tables and counters. It is best to keep the surfaces clean and to use something like foil or double sided tape to keep cats off the counters.