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If you're interested in cat training, you may be in for a few surprises.  Cats aren't as trainable as dogs are and their brains work very differently than any other animal's.  Their independence makes them good pets for someone that can't always play with them and give them attention, but that independence also makes cat training very difficult.  Dogs aim to please their owners and love to perform, whereas cats want attention and affection from their owners but don't feel they should need to perform for it.

Keeping things like this in mind when it comes to cat training is going to make it go much easier.  If you approach your cat and his training by thinking the way he does and by understanding what he likes and what he responds to, you'll find that training is easier and more effective.

For example, when cat training it's important to emphasize rewarding your cat rather than trying to punish him.  Cats have a very short memory and often cannot connect the incident that you're scolding him for with your words.  All he'll think is that you're very unpleasant to be around; he probably won't think that if he wouldn't relieve himself on the carpet then you wouldn't yell anymore.  Reward your cat for proper behavior during cat training to encourage that behavior.  Give him praise when he uses the litter box rather than yelling at him when you find a mess on the carpet.  Give him treats as you clip his nails rather than yelling at him when he runs away.  Positive reinforcement is usually more effective during cat training than punishment.

Being consistent and not confusing your feline is also important during cat training.  If you want him off the counter, get him down each and every time he jumps up there and don't put his food there.  When teaching him not to bite, keep your hands from his face and mouth as this may trigger his protective reflexes.  Your cat training will be ineffective and useless if you give him mixed signals or do something that will bring out his natural instinctive responses.  A cat's predatory or protective instincts are difficult to ignore for him, so if any part of your cat training conflicts with these instincts you're probably not going to be very successful.

You can be successful with cat training if you're consistent and give him some consideration, remembering how he thinks and what motivates him.  Of course you don't want to be overly demanding either as cats are limited in what they can do and to what they respond, so you as the owner can only do so much.  Your cat training can teach a cat how to interact with humans and other animals and can be sure to keep them safe and healthy, but cats don't typically perform tricks the way dogs do.  If you keep all these things in mind with your cat, you're sure to be successful.

If you'd like more of my Cat Training Tips, check out my "Insider Tricks and Secrets to Training Your Cat".

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by Martin Stamp

InsideR Secrets to Cat Training STOP and discover the ingenious training methods and highly-specialized behavior-reforming tactics proven to train even the most stubborn and unruly ‘Jungle Cats’ into impeccably well-behaved and insatiably loveable furballs with ‘robot’ loyalty that are also tailor-made to address and totally reform YOUR cat’s most head-slapping nuances!