Dogs have masters, cats have staff! Every cat lover probably knows this famous saying. These house tigers are not so easy to train and have a mind of their own. And yet, you can bring some order into the everyday life of a cat with certain rules and fixed times. In particularly stubborn cases, cat lovers look into cat repellent spray tests, the products of which can easily stop unwanted behavior – without causing harm to the animal. But how can the coexistence of humans and cats be made even more harmonious? How much cat training is actually necessary?
A dog can be trained, cats train humans!
A dog can be trained, cats train humans! That's not entirely true, but Elke Deininger from the German Animal Welfare Association in Bonn is not entirely wrong with this statement either. Because cats are independent animals that are on their own in the wild and when hunting. Our domesticated indoor cats still have this behavior in them. That is why cat training is not that easy. You go to a dog training course with a dog, but there is no such thing for house tigers. If everyday family life with a cat is to be civilized and peaceful, cat owners must consider a few important points:
- Cats are by no means loners! Therefore, it is best to keep indoor cats in pairs!
- Young cats are easier to train than older animals.
- Unlike dogs, cats do not obey commands. You can therefore only change behavior with a lot of praise and encouragement.
- Talking frequently strengthens the bond.
- In the event of unauthorized action, you can help yourself with a loud "No!" or by clapping on the table. In very stubborn cases, it also helps to blow in the cat's face.
- Unclean cats should be placed in the litter box at the slightest sign. Cleanliness is of course a must here!
- Cats are creatures of habit; they need their own personal retreat and fixed feeding and sleeping times. These must be guaranteed, otherwise the animal will negatively draw attention to itself with behavioral changes such as uncleanliness and scratching furniture and tables.
Training a cat: Consistent and with a lot of patience
Punishments make no sense with cats. While dogs subordinate themselves, scolding and hitting have no educational value for cats, apart from the fact that you hurt the animal in the process. To what extent this makes sense for dogs, however, is also questionable. The more familiar the relationship between humans and their domestic cats, the easier the positively reinforced training of the fur ball will be. Consistency and plenty of time for playing and cuddling almost always lead to the goal. And guarantee a harmonious everyday life in the shared household.
Photo by Sabine, meinhaushalt.at
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