Category Archives: Training Cats

The Best Cat Training Treats And Nine Ways To Use Them

Cat Behavior, Training Cats

What are the best cat training treats? That depends on the cat! You could train me to do almost anything with Shrimply Shrimp Temptations. Take it from me, once you find your cats’ favorite, treats are a great way to train and motivate them.

The best cat training Treats depend on the cat.

The best cat training treats depend on the cat!

What are the best cat training treats, Thomasina? I’d like to teach my cat to do tricks!

— Tricky Cat Mom


Hi Tricky Cat Mom…
I’d do almost anything for my fav Temptations treats, but jumping through hoops isn’t one of them! But if your cat’s more willing to cooperate than I am, teaching him tricks is one of the ways to use cat treats. I understand clicker training works really well, too. 


Nine Ways To Use Cat Treats

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Study Proves Cats Know Their Names

Cat Behavior, Cat Names, Training Cats

Take it from me. Cats know their names. It depends on how you say them though and whether we’re in the mood to acknowledge your presence. 

Cats know their names, although they sometimes choose to ignore them.

Cats know their names, although they sometimes choose to ignore them.

Do cats know their names, Thomasina? My cat often comes to me when I call him. But when my cat sitter calls him, he never appears.

— Puzzled
 
Hey, Puzzled!
We ignore our cat sitter, too! And it took us a while to recognize our names when she called us.
 
Everyone says things differently. So if your cat is used to hearing you say “Tig-gurr,” and your cat sitter says “Tiii-ger,” he’s not going to be sure she’s talking to him.
Of course, we recognize voices, too. When your cat hears your voice, he probably assumes you’re about to offer him food. But who know what that cat sitter wants.

 

Study Shows Cats Know Their Names

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Cats And The Power Of The Spray Bottle

Cat Deterrents, Training Cats
Does spraying a cat with water work? Ummm… If you want him to be afraid of you, sure, it works great. But there are more effective ways to keep him away from places where you think he doesn’t belong.

 

Spraying a cat with water and getting him soaking wet is never a good idea.

Spraying your cat with water is a good way to make him afraid of you.

Does spraying a cat with water work, Thomasina? My cat insists on getting on the sofa. I spray him with a spray bottle, and he does it anyway. And to make things worse, now he seems to be afraid of me. What’s wrong with him????
— Frustrated

Hi Frustrated…
I’m sorry you and your cat are upset with each other. Spraying a cat with water rarely works out the way the humans want it to.

Really, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with your cat. But he must be wondering what’s wrong with you! He has no idea why you keep aiming that weapon at him and getting him soaking wet when all he’s doing is trying to take a nap.

Cats don’t have a strong sense of personal property the way humans do. We think of things as “ours,” not “yours” and “mine.” So when you’re not using the sofa, your cat doesn’t see any reason why he can’t sleep on it.

Maybe you could give him his own little corner of the couch. If you put a soft throw or cat bed in the spot that’s okay for him to use, he’ll probably sleep there, especially if you sprinkle his special place with catnip.

Why The Spraying A Cat With Water Theory Is All Wet

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