Cat training

Cat training is the process of modifying a domestic cat's behavior for entertainment or companionship purposes. Training is commonly used to reduce unwanted or problematic behaviors in domestic cats, to enhance interactions between humans and pet cats, and to allow them to coexist comfortably. There are various methods for training cats which employ different balances between reward and punishment.

Cats may be easily trained to use a "kitty litter" box or tray, as this is natural behavior. Many cats and kittens will instinctively use a litter box without needing to be taught, because of their instincts to eliminate in dirt or sand. Therefore, with a new kitten, owners usually need to simply show the kitten where the litter box is located, and how to get in and out. On occasion, some training is required to help a new cat adjust to a litter box, or to help an older cat that suddenly stops using the litter box.

When a cat stops using his litter box to urinate and defecate, the solution is often to make a change to the litter box. Cats are known to be picky about their litter boxes. Solutions include cleaning the litter box more often, getting a bigger box, filling it with more litter, changing to an unscented litter, and/or changing the litter box's location. If the cat has begun using one specific spot in the house to defecate, behavior modification can also include making it inconvenient for the cat to use that area. For instance, using an enzymatic cleaner that clears away all scent of cat feces, blocking access to the room or area, spraying the area with a cat repellent, and placing the cat's food in the area (as cats do not like to defecate where they eat).

Cats may also be trained to use a human toilet. The benefits of this method are that cat owners can eliminate the task of maintaining a clean litter box on a regular basis and avoid the unappealing smell that results when a litter box is not cleaned often enough. Some cat behaviorists, including well-known television figure Jackson Galaxy, advise against toilet training because it restricts the owner from monitoring changes in the cat's urine and feces (which are often related to the health of the pet). Another criticism is that toilet training can cause various stresses to the cat, partly because using the toilet goes against a cat's natural instinct to dig and cover its own feces, and because the toilet seat can be physically difficult for cats to straddle (especially those who are old or ill). Galaxy also argues that the scent from urine and feces provide important signs that the cat owns a territory, and if flushed away, there is a greater chance that the cat will urinate or defecate in unwanted areas of the house.

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Wikipedia