Q: Do cats respond to training?

A: Yes, cat training is not as tough as the majority of owners think it is. Kitties are not as amenable to training as Spot or Champ are but they can be trained. Food rewards given as positive reinforcement is most likely the best way to train a cat.

Q: Why and how do kittens purr?

A: Adult kitties purr because they are happy and contented and to manipulate humans — Who can ignore a purring cat? Kittens purr in answer to their mother cat’s purr to help bond them. It is mostly believed that the purring is a vibration of the voice box 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 generated from the cat’s saliva. The dander dries and becomes airborne. People with cat allergies develop an allergic reaction because their immune system is beginning to attack the alien protein and creates histamines.

Q: How do you break undesirable cat behavior like nipping?

A: The best way to curtail bad 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 should do this at the time of the undesirable behavior.

Q: How do you litter train a cat?

A: You really shouldn’t have to do any training for a cat to make use of a litter pan, but if your adult cat has begun to avoid the litter pan you need to figure out why. The cat may have a urinary tract infection in which case you need to visit the vet. If it is just too dirty you need to keep it cleaner. If you have started using 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 counter?

A: This is the most asked about cat behavior issues and can be a difficult one. Cats like high spots and they often 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 tables.