by Traci Roberti

Created on: May 20, 2007   Last Updated: May 21, 2007

I almost feel like starting a new title "Why Cats Are Easier To Train" but then less people might read it since it goes against the common belief about a cats true nature.

First of all I have worked to help train zoo kept African Lions, Mountain Lions, Bengal Tigers, my friends house cats and my own house cats, so I do have some personal experience in this area. Trust me, squirting a squirt bottle and saying "no" to an African Lion will have little effect. The chances of it working much better on your house cat are also very low.

When training a cat to do anything there is one important fact to keep in the very front of you mind... a cat's nature is to conserve as much energy as possible. One example of this is how they try to "stare" each other down before engaging in any kind of real fight. It's much more energy efficient to look at your opponent than to bark or fuss. If staring doesn't work, then they up the anti to hissing etc.

If you don't want your cat on the sofa, do not make it worth the cat's effort to be on the sofa. This might mean pushing the cat off the sofa 50 times in a row before the cat decides it's not worth it, but once the cat has finally decided, he rarely tries it again. You can also use rolled up clear tape if you're not home. Not only can the cat not tell when the tape is or isn't there, but trying to pull tape out of your fur with your mouth is definitely not worth the effort. *Word of warning on strips of clear tape.... a cat can accidentally suffocate, strangle, tangle or otherwise harm himself on long strips of clear tape. It's better to take the strips, cut them into smaller pieces and roll the smaller pieces to spread around the area you want to keep the cat away from.

If you use this energy concept for all your cat training needs, you'll have success guaranteed!
-Does your cat not use their scratching post? Have you made sure it's in a place that's convenient for your pet to get to? Have you made the corner of the couch more trouble than it's worth?
-Does your cat eat the Spider Plant or other house plants? Have you given them easier access to something they are allowed to eat?
-Do they not come when you call them? Have you ever given them a reason to come when you call them? Now have you done that at least 25 to 100 times for at least 6 months?

Hopefully you get the idea. Remember, if you give up and/or give in... then they know they are dominant which in the cat world means "I win". If you train them to believe it's easier just to go with Your Plans and rules then after the rules are established you generally never have to deal with it again. (until you get that second cat : )
Good Luck

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