Taking care of a cat can both be a rewarding and frustrating experience.
The rewarding part is coming home to a cute, furry little creature whose antics can bring a smile to your face.
The frustrating part is trying to house-train and litter train them.
You can get over the frustrating part by starting them young.
Once you have a kitten that you plan to take home as a pet, you may start house-training them. Crate training is one of the most effective ways to do this.
Cats can be your best friend for life if you just care for them properly.
If you will train them at a young age, they will learn to follow "house rules" and not litter on your bed or scratch your furniture with their claws.
A cat needs proper care, time and attention. Here are some tips on how you can use crate-training work to your advantage:
1. Remember that crate training will take some time.
You need all the time and patience that you can muster as a cat owner to fully train a cat. This is why you have to start out while they are young.
Familiarize them with what they can and cannot do using the crate.
If you take your cat along with you when you travel and you are in a place where pets are not allowed to roam around freely, put them in a crate.
This would let your cat know that being outside is not that safe, so your pet will be content to stay inside the crate.
2. Select the perfect crate for your feline friend.
There are some materials that cats love to scratch with their claws. This would make the time that they spend in the crate more bearable despite being confined.
There are metal and plastic crates that your cat can fit into. Make sure that it can move freely when inside. Also, you can put your cat's favorite toy in the crate, like a ball of yarn or a small stuffed toy.
3. Crate-train your pet cat slowly, but surely.
Start by spending time with them while inside the crate. Then you can introduce your cat to eating food inside the crate. Do not worry if they do not respond positively the first time, as they will get used to it eventually.
Later on, they will learn to spend time in the crate when you are not at home or during the night.
The key here is to not let your cat feel frustrated inside the crate and spend enough time with them to make them feel loved and cared for.
By: Jay Schindler
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How to Correct a Cat in Cat Training
By Anita Hampton
Punishing is the hardest part in training a pet especially with cat. There are many ways a trainer can punish the cat. It can be through words, actions or something physical. However, there are things that need to be considered when punishing a cat during cat training.
1. Find the perfect time. There is a perfect time a cat should be punished during training. A punishment will only be effective if delivered immediately after the cat has done something that is not desirable.
If the cat is punished later after the misbehavior, it will not be able to associate the punishment with the misbehavior. Cats do not understand the same way people do. That is why it is important to associate the undesired action to communication of the punishment.
2. Punishment does not mean that the trainer has to hurt the cat. Cats are just animals and do not have a sense of what is right or wrong. Punishing a cat by inflicting pain in their body is not right.
Aside from the fact that inflicting physical pain is against Animal Rights, the cat will only be provoked and might fight back. It may only cause the trainer to be bitten by the cat. This will also result in making the cat become violent which may be very dangerous to kids and other people who may come close to it.
3. Other alternatives may also be used in correcting a cat. One effective way is the reward and recognition method. In the rewards and recognition, the cat is reinforced to continue a likable behavior because a reward is associated to it.
Rewards can be in the form of praises, petting, food or toys. If a cat did something good that it was taught to do, the cat may be given rewards like food, a yarn toy, or a hug. The trainer can immediately remove the rewards if something undesirable is done. The cat will then learn that the treats will be removed if the undesirable action is made again.
Training a cat, like any other pets, requires patience and understanding in order to be effective. Results may not be fast, but if one is consistent in training, results will be a lot faster. Cats are the sweetest pets one could have and it is only fair that they be treated the same.Anita Hampton http://www.cat-health-tips.com
Punishing is the hardest part in training a pet especially with cat. There are many ways a trainer can punish the cat. It can be through words, actions or something physical. However, there are things that need to be considered when punishing a cat during cat training.
1. Find the perfect time. There is a perfect time a cat should be punished during training. A punishment will only be effective if delivered immediately after the cat has done something that is not desirable.
If the cat is punished later after the misbehavior, it will not be able to associate the punishment with the misbehavior. Cats do not understand the same way people do. That is why it is important to associate the undesired action to communication of the punishment.
2. Punishment does not mean that the trainer has to hurt the cat. Cats are just animals and do not have a sense of what is right or wrong. Punishing a cat by inflicting pain in their body is not right.
Aside from the fact that inflicting physical pain is against Animal Rights, the cat will only be provoked and might fight back. It may only cause the trainer to be bitten by the cat. This will also result in making the cat become violent which may be very dangerous to kids and other people who may come close to it.
3. Other alternatives may also be used in correcting a cat. One effective way is the reward and recognition method. In the rewards and recognition, the cat is reinforced to continue a likable behavior because a reward is associated to it.
Rewards can be in the form of praises, petting, food or toys. If a cat did something good that it was taught to do, the cat may be given rewards like food, a yarn toy, or a hug. The trainer can immediately remove the rewards if something undesirable is done. The cat will then learn that the treats will be removed if the undesirable action is made again.
Training a cat, like any other pets, requires patience and understanding in order to be effective. Results may not be fast, but if one is consistent in training, results will be a lot faster. Cats are the sweetest pets one could have and it is only fair that they be treated the same.Anita Hampton http://www.cat-health-tips.com
10 Unusual Christmas Gifts For Cat Lovers
By Katie S Turner
Are you like me & racking your brain wondering what on earth to buy that cat lover in your life, this Christmas?
You've got them stocked up over the years with address books, knitting bags, soft toys & ornaments etc.
But this year you'd like to get something a little bit different & show that Father Christmas isn't stuck in a rut.
To save you traipsing around the shops hopelessly searching for inspiration- let me whet your appetite with a selection of unusual gift ideas for cat lovers for you to ponder over. Then you'll be equipped with all new ideas ready to hit the shops & internet with vigour & purpose.
1. CAT SEEDS- No- they're not for growing your own cat! They are seeds for the plants that the cat in your life loves. So even if your cat lover only has a window box they'll appreciate these seeds in order to give their cat a treat. Cat's love the smell of these plants & find some intoxicating, others they'll chew on & digest to get the fibre that they need. Some garden centres/nurseries will sell a special selection of Catnip, Oats, Annual Rye grass, Wheat & common garden Lettuce especially for cats. Or you could buy the seeds separately from any gardening store.
2. CAT MOUSE MAT-For the cat lover who prefers to stay indoors, why not choose a cat mouse mat for them & their computer. They can be bought with specific cat breeds on. There are always cute kitten ones available & classics like the black cat. Computer stores & Stationers should stock these. It might also be worth looking on EBay & related Internet sites.
3. CAT MOBILE PHONE CHARM- Presuming that your cat lover is happy to exist in the 21st Century then it is more than likely that they own a mobile phone. THE latest accessory is the phone charm that adorns your mobile phone & personalises it at the same time. Most department stores will stock a wide choice of these.
4. SUBSCRIPTION TO A CAT MAGAZINE-There are magazines about absolutely everything nowadays. I'm aware of at least 3 specialist cat magazines & I bet you could find more. They all carry details of subscription charges & at this time of year they normally advertise special deals like ½ price or a free (cat associated) gift for taking the subscription out. Even if your cat lover buys themselves a monthly magazine you could save them that monthly expense & put yourself in their good books by having got them a present that lasts them the whole year!
5. CAT PORTRAIT-To make a present for your cat lover that more personal, what about a hand-drawn/painted portrait of their favourite feline? Artists advertise in the ads at the back of Women's' magazines and also on the Internet. Prices start from as little as £5.00. But you will need a photo of the feline in question for the artist to copy from.
6. CAT CANDLES- Cat shaped candles are appearing in the shops now. Some are so beautiful that it would almost be a shame to light them. But whether your cat lover chooses to use them or display them wouldn't detract from their uniqueness.
7. MECHANICAL CAT-This is THE latest toy. Although it's a toy it is the perfect gift idea for cat lovers everywhere. It retails about £40.00 & is to be found in most toy shops & department stores. I'm not sure of its correct name or who makes them but they are lifelike & actually meow. If you dangle string in front of them they'll even try & catch it. They're absolutely gorgeous & of course don't eat anything or have to go in a cattery when your cat lover goes on their hols.
8. CAT WEATHERVANE- For the cat lover who's got everything. What about a cat weathervane? A lovely piece to put aloft their house for all to see & comment upon. This may have to be especially made or if you're lucky some department stores & local garden centres may stock some.
9. CAT WIRE TOPIARY FRAME- Staying outside the house- a lovely unusual idea is a cat wire topiary frame- so that even your cat lover's hedge can be cat shaped. Once again larger department stores or your local nursery may stock these. It might also be worth looking in some of those specialist Christmas catalogues that come through your door this time of year.
10. CAT FAIRY LIGHTS- Remaining festive a set of pussy cat fairy lights for the old Christmas tree would go down well & could get brought out year after year- when you'll always be remembered too for choosing such a lovely inspired gift!
Happy shopping now that you have gift ideas for cat lovers a plenty.
Merry Christmas everybody & a purrfect new year!For number 11 gift idea why not visit my website at http://catgiftideas.blogspot.com and follow the links to an excellent site offering all sorts of good advice and tips for the cat lover in your life.
Are you like me & racking your brain wondering what on earth to buy that cat lover in your life, this Christmas?
You've got them stocked up over the years with address books, knitting bags, soft toys & ornaments etc.
But this year you'd like to get something a little bit different & show that Father Christmas isn't stuck in a rut.
To save you traipsing around the shops hopelessly searching for inspiration- let me whet your appetite with a selection of unusual gift ideas for cat lovers for you to ponder over. Then you'll be equipped with all new ideas ready to hit the shops & internet with vigour & purpose.
1. CAT SEEDS- No- they're not for growing your own cat! They are seeds for the plants that the cat in your life loves. So even if your cat lover only has a window box they'll appreciate these seeds in order to give their cat a treat. Cat's love the smell of these plants & find some intoxicating, others they'll chew on & digest to get the fibre that they need. Some garden centres/nurseries will sell a special selection of Catnip, Oats, Annual Rye grass, Wheat & common garden Lettuce especially for cats. Or you could buy the seeds separately from any gardening store.
2. CAT MOUSE MAT-For the cat lover who prefers to stay indoors, why not choose a cat mouse mat for them & their computer. They can be bought with specific cat breeds on. There are always cute kitten ones available & classics like the black cat. Computer stores & Stationers should stock these. It might also be worth looking on EBay & related Internet sites.
3. CAT MOBILE PHONE CHARM- Presuming that your cat lover is happy to exist in the 21st Century then it is more than likely that they own a mobile phone. THE latest accessory is the phone charm that adorns your mobile phone & personalises it at the same time. Most department stores will stock a wide choice of these.
4. SUBSCRIPTION TO A CAT MAGAZINE-There are magazines about absolutely everything nowadays. I'm aware of at least 3 specialist cat magazines & I bet you could find more. They all carry details of subscription charges & at this time of year they normally advertise special deals like ½ price or a free (cat associated) gift for taking the subscription out. Even if your cat lover buys themselves a monthly magazine you could save them that monthly expense & put yourself in their good books by having got them a present that lasts them the whole year!
5. CAT PORTRAIT-To make a present for your cat lover that more personal, what about a hand-drawn/painted portrait of their favourite feline? Artists advertise in the ads at the back of Women's' magazines and also on the Internet. Prices start from as little as £5.00. But you will need a photo of the feline in question for the artist to copy from.
6. CAT CANDLES- Cat shaped candles are appearing in the shops now. Some are so beautiful that it would almost be a shame to light them. But whether your cat lover chooses to use them or display them wouldn't detract from their uniqueness.
7. MECHANICAL CAT-This is THE latest toy. Although it's a toy it is the perfect gift idea for cat lovers everywhere. It retails about £40.00 & is to be found in most toy shops & department stores. I'm not sure of its correct name or who makes them but they are lifelike & actually meow. If you dangle string in front of them they'll even try & catch it. They're absolutely gorgeous & of course don't eat anything or have to go in a cattery when your cat lover goes on their hols.
8. CAT WEATHERVANE- For the cat lover who's got everything. What about a cat weathervane? A lovely piece to put aloft their house for all to see & comment upon. This may have to be especially made or if you're lucky some department stores & local garden centres may stock some.
9. CAT WIRE TOPIARY FRAME- Staying outside the house- a lovely unusual idea is a cat wire topiary frame- so that even your cat lover's hedge can be cat shaped. Once again larger department stores or your local nursery may stock these. It might also be worth looking in some of those specialist Christmas catalogues that come through your door this time of year.
10. CAT FAIRY LIGHTS- Remaining festive a set of pussy cat fairy lights for the old Christmas tree would go down well & could get brought out year after year- when you'll always be remembered too for choosing such a lovely inspired gift!
Happy shopping now that you have gift ideas for cat lovers a plenty.
Merry Christmas everybody & a purrfect new year!For number 11 gift idea why not visit my website at http://catgiftideas.blogspot.com and follow the links to an excellent site offering all sorts of good advice and tips for the cat lover in your life.