Cat Training: A How To Guide

Guest Article courtesy of Kathrynn Kelley

A cat is a cute furry animal that does not usually need to be given a bath like we give dogs. This is because cats are able to clean up themselves very well. But there is more to just giving them food or brushing their fur and there are certain things the owner must foresee.

Just like an untrained dog, an untrained Ragdoll or any breed of cat can be a big nuisance. Luckily, training your cat is really easy. Take a simple example, like cat scratches on your bookshelves and tables. Kitten training will take care of this problem, by instructing the cat how to use a scratching post while it’s still young. Similarly, bad odors can be taken care of by teaching the cat to use a litter box.

You can resolve the clawing problems in several ways. Removing the claws when the pet is a kitten is one way. But a number of people think this to be unkind to the pet. Another thing you can do is to purchase a scratching post and coach the Ragdoll to scratch on the surface when it has a feeling to scratch.
The most recommended method for training a kitten to use a scratching post is to teach it by repeatedly making the motion with its paws. Cats will probably take a while to learn this, so more frequent cat training is best.

You’ll also need to get a litter box for cat training. When the cat learns to use the litter box, it will solve the problem of messes on the carpet and linoleum, which will arise if a cat hasn’t been housetrained. The litter box is available at any pet store, in a variety of sizes for different sizes of cats.

During the training period with a litter box, owners should keep their eyes on their cat. If the cat indicates that it needs to use the litter box, the owner needs to get the cat to the box quickly. Ragdolls and all other cats require play and need time to exercise. If you do not get something for the cat to play with, you risk the chance the cat might become destructive with your house.

Lots of different products for cat training are available, and they can be found at pet stores or online shops. In buying them, the owner needs to decide which aspects of the cat’s behavior to try and change, making the cat into a happy indoor pet. Lots of owners, for example, don’t know how to clean cat urine. This smell tends to linger, so a strong cleaner is an absolute necessity.