By: Jim Moore
The following tips . . . tricks . . . and techniques cover a variety of situations that most cat owners encounter. Not only that, these tips will no doubt trigger some ideas of your own.
The key to effective training is consistency. Whatever you choose, be sure to do it on regularly, otherwise, you'll be sending your cat mixed signals. And that will only make it that much harder to train her. Forget about cat training in 10 minutes!
Below are ten "must have" tips that will get you through your initial phase cat ownership.
1. Cats really don't care that you punish them. It's true. If you've owned a dog, you know that punishing him will help change his behavior. It doesn't with cats. Bottom line. Don't waste your time. They'll sit there purring at you and just perform that same behavior again.
2. Corporal punishment is out of the question. Because a cat's body is so delicate, you can't "spank" a cat the way you do a dog to get its attention. That means when you're training your cat, you have to match wits with it. Don't worry. I'm confident you'll win. There are things out there like cat clicker training, but I don't recommend it.
3. Use a form of positive reinforcement. As you become a seasoned cat owner, you'll discover that it's difficult to catch your cat in the actual "crime". It's far easier, then, to reward your cat when you see her performing a right behavior. Keep some cat "treats" on hand. Feed one to your cat whenever she is doing something positive - like using the litter box or using her scratching post.
4. Keep plenty of toys - either store bought or make shift - around the house. Much of the "bad" behavior of cats is simply because they're board. The feline is by nature a predatory animal. Remember the scene in the Disney movie, The Lion King, where little Simba gets "pouncing lessons." When you think your cat is literally bouncing off the walls and tearing down the curtains, he's only practicing his predatory skills. Provide him with alternatives and he'll tame down - at least some.
5. When you're away, keep him busy. If your cat is used to company, he may get bored and inadvertently destruction while you're at work or are gone for any length of time. Here's a quick hint. Buy a timer for your television set, make sure the TV is tuned to an animal-friendly channel (an outdoor channel or Animal Planet for instance) and then have the television automatically turn on at different times of the day. Cats can see images on the screen. He'll come to investigate the noise and stay to watch the picture - at least for a while.
6. The value of a spray bottle of water. In some instances, spraying a cat with a harmless water bottle is enough to get their attention and stop the bad behavior. You only need a simple spray bottle that you use for misting plants. Squirt the cat if it misbehaves. Soon, he'll know that he can't do that.
7. Blow a harmless puff of air in your cat's face. Yes, this sounds crazy, but it really works. If your cat is literally in your face and you need to teach him to keep a certain distance and give you some space, try it. Simply blow a puff of air into his face. It'll startle and puzzle him. Soon, he'll associate the two and you won't be bothered by the unpleasant attention he gives you.
Jim Moore is a caring and loving cat owner. Jim owns and maintains http://www.apurrfectcat.com .
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
Tips When Picking A Kitten From The Litter
By: Charley Hwang
Looking at a pen full of kittens, it is hard to make a choice which one to take home. It is an exciting process to choose the kitten you want, and looking at each and every kitten in the litter is a fun experience. Observe the litter, and watch their reaction as they see you. Take note of their behavior, whether if they’re playful, energetic and confident, or slow, unenthusiastic and lazy.
While you mingle with them, single out the kittens that appear to be more active than others and pay a lot of attention to you. Choose the kitten that seems to enjoy hanging around you if you want a pet that has energy and is attentive or pick a shy one if you would just prefer some quiet company.
Most pet owners love attention from their pets and these furballs will make very good company for cat lovers, even after they have grown up. Get to know to the kitten group as a whole after you have observed the entire litter. Then, watch out for the one whose personality matches your needs. This should be considered slowly. Take as much time as you need, have fun playing with the kittens and interact with each of them, while at the same time make note of what you notice.
If there are no kittens in the litter that caught your attention or strike you as energetic, talk to the breeder about the reason behind the sluggish behavior. Perhaps they have eaten something before you came which would cause drowsiness, or are tired from a previous feeding. It would be better to come back at a time where they would be more active to make a better choice. If you do not have the opportunity to assess a whole litter in a sitting, it is alright. Some kittens might be the ones that remained after other kittens in the litter were sold, or in another case, kittens in animal shelters are not usually related.
But one can still enjoy a kitten’s personality by interacting or playing with it and from there, you can still decide if you find the kitten good enough to bring home and join your family.
For more information on Siamese Cats or visit http://www.siamesecatsinfo.com/, a popular website that offers information on Cats, Cats Breeding, and Cats Behavior. Please leave the links intact if you wish to reprint this article. Thanks
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
Looking at a pen full of kittens, it is hard to make a choice which one to take home. It is an exciting process to choose the kitten you want, and looking at each and every kitten in the litter is a fun experience. Observe the litter, and watch their reaction as they see you. Take note of their behavior, whether if they’re playful, energetic and confident, or slow, unenthusiastic and lazy.
While you mingle with them, single out the kittens that appear to be more active than others and pay a lot of attention to you. Choose the kitten that seems to enjoy hanging around you if you want a pet that has energy and is attentive or pick a shy one if you would just prefer some quiet company.
Most pet owners love attention from their pets and these furballs will make very good company for cat lovers, even after they have grown up. Get to know to the kitten group as a whole after you have observed the entire litter. Then, watch out for the one whose personality matches your needs. This should be considered slowly. Take as much time as you need, have fun playing with the kittens and interact with each of them, while at the same time make note of what you notice.
If there are no kittens in the litter that caught your attention or strike you as energetic, talk to the breeder about the reason behind the sluggish behavior. Perhaps they have eaten something before you came which would cause drowsiness, or are tired from a previous feeding. It would be better to come back at a time where they would be more active to make a better choice. If you do not have the opportunity to assess a whole litter in a sitting, it is alright. Some kittens might be the ones that remained after other kittens in the litter were sold, or in another case, kittens in animal shelters are not usually related.
But one can still enjoy a kitten’s personality by interacting or playing with it and from there, you can still decide if you find the kitten good enough to bring home and join your family.
For more information on Siamese Cats or visit http://www.siamesecatsinfo.com/, a popular website that offers information on Cats, Cats Breeding, and Cats Behavior. Please leave the links intact if you wish to reprint this article. Thanks
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
Top Five Tips for a Healthy Cat 2
By: Craig Elliott
3. Litter box duty
Easily the least enjoyable aspect of proper cat care, litter box duty is nonetheless an essential part of it, and is simply one of those got-to-dos if you want to own a cat and keep him clean and healthy-as well as your home! Keep your cat's litter box area away from the kitchen and bedrooms but make it accessible for your cat. If you can, try to clean out your cat's waste every day or every other day. On a weekly or biweekly basis, clean the actual litter box itself (empty and toss its contents, and then wash it). To simplify things for you, consider buying litter box liners as well as litter that "clumps"-making it easier to identify waste and scoop it out.
4. Proper grooming
One great thing about cats is that while some pet owners claim cats are very high-maintenance, they are really quite clean animals and are fairly adept at grooming themselves on a regular basis. This is one reason why many cats make great indoor pet choices. However, cats can't do everything on their own, and it is very important for their owners to step up and do the rest of the grooming for them.
First, while cats don't require daily, weekly, or even monthly baths, they will require a bath at least every once in awhile. Use warm water and a mild cat or baby shampoo so as not to irritate his eyes or coat. It's more important, though, to brush your cat's fur on a regular basis. Depending on your cat's coat, he might require this every day, every other day, or once a week. Brushing your cat will keep his coat clean and also prevent hairballs-a big problem for many cats.
5. Veterinarian checkups and shots
In order to keep your cat healthy, you will need to find a good veterinarian for him. Your cat will require regular checkups, shots, vaccinations, and to be either neutered or spayed. Although this can get quite pricey (unless you have pet insurance, which may be worthwhile pursuing or at the very least investigating), it's all a part of the owning-a-cat complete package
Craig Elliott is a writer for VetRx Direct. VetRx Direct is a leading supplier of Pet Medicine
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
3. Litter box duty
Easily the least enjoyable aspect of proper cat care, litter box duty is nonetheless an essential part of it, and is simply one of those got-to-dos if you want to own a cat and keep him clean and healthy-as well as your home! Keep your cat's litter box area away from the kitchen and bedrooms but make it accessible for your cat. If you can, try to clean out your cat's waste every day or every other day. On a weekly or biweekly basis, clean the actual litter box itself (empty and toss its contents, and then wash it). To simplify things for you, consider buying litter box liners as well as litter that "clumps"-making it easier to identify waste and scoop it out.
4. Proper grooming
One great thing about cats is that while some pet owners claim cats are very high-maintenance, they are really quite clean animals and are fairly adept at grooming themselves on a regular basis. This is one reason why many cats make great indoor pet choices. However, cats can't do everything on their own, and it is very important for their owners to step up and do the rest of the grooming for them.
First, while cats don't require daily, weekly, or even monthly baths, they will require a bath at least every once in awhile. Use warm water and a mild cat or baby shampoo so as not to irritate his eyes or coat. It's more important, though, to brush your cat's fur on a regular basis. Depending on your cat's coat, he might require this every day, every other day, or once a week. Brushing your cat will keep his coat clean and also prevent hairballs-a big problem for many cats.
5. Veterinarian checkups and shots
In order to keep your cat healthy, you will need to find a good veterinarian for him. Your cat will require regular checkups, shots, vaccinations, and to be either neutered or spayed. Although this can get quite pricey (unless you have pet insurance, which may be worthwhile pursuing or at the very least investigating), it's all a part of the owning-a-cat complete package
Craig Elliott is a writer for VetRx Direct. VetRx Direct is a leading supplier of Pet Medicine
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com