Just like your canine pets, the felines need to be trained in a proper way. A few days ago while discussing this with my significant other who owns a cat, I got to know that we are very less researched about feline training. Cats have always been very laid back and going by their will kind of animals. Cat owners know that petting time depends not on the owner’s mood but on the cat’s mood. They love their privacy and unnecessary actions can lead to aggressiveness or anxiety.
Often we get trapped in the vision of a cat being less of a responsibility than a dog, while studies show that the case is just the opposite, while it’s easy to train dogs, cats on the other hand can challenge your patience a lot. But whatever the excuse be, when we own a pet we need to realize that the responsibility is on us.
A cat needs 6 basic training, for the ease of their and the owner’s daily life-
Litter training
Recall training
Groom training
Social training
Play training
Travel training
Ways of training-
Start at an early age always. When they are growing up, their brain involves faster so it is always recommended to start early.
Take small steps at a time. When your cat is seating down in front of you, the moment the back touches the ground say “sit” and treat. Like this, you can make your cat get used to voice commands.
Recall training is very hard to achieve since cats unlike dogs won’t come running to you the moment you call them. But that doesn’t mean you should lose patience. Continue trying it and when she finally comes, give her a treat.
Few cats can get very aggressive during grooming or bathing. Cats have the habit of self-grooming, but baths are also needed. Start with dabbing her body with a wet towel, if it’s cold use hot water. The next step will be to pour little water on her flaws because that is the most sensitive zone. DO NOT RUSH IN THE PROCESS, or your cat will hate baths lifelong. So while introducing her to water, always keep an eye on her expressions. If the eyes dilate, stop immediately, because cats dilate her pupils only when there is not enough light or they are anxious.
Making your cat social is another very important task. Don’t feel embarrassed to take out your graceful feline on a walk. You can use a cat harness and let her lead the way. Few cats don’t like walks; in this case, you can carry her to a cat park where she can make friends and play. Socialization helps in reducing anxiety levels in cats. Even when you are having guests, make sure they don’t fondle your cat too much, this will make her anxious and will lead to aggressiveness. The best way to approach a cat is to avoid her till she comes on her own to sniff you, direct eye contacts, and extended hands are threat signals to her.
Instances can come where you need to travel with your feline friends. My SO’s cat gets very anxious while traveling and continuously tries to burrow her way through the bag. But this has happened because she hasn’t been exposed to traveling much. You can take your cat out in her bag every day for 10-15 minutes, which will make her comfortable with the bag and the motions.
Few things to remember-
Always keep patience and don’t rush.
Cats are not like dogs, enticing them is tough.
The moment your cat starts hissing during anything, stop it.
Don’t encourage aggressive behavior, by petting them or giving them attention.
Never rub a cat's belly, they hate it.
And before over fondling a cat, just try to imagine how you will feel if a stranger suddenly comes to you and starts hugging and kissing you.
Try to maintain a proper diet and feed timing.
Cats are very graceful and friendly animals. They just love their “me time”, but don’t we all love that? With proper training and understanding, they can be your best friends and will love you unconditionally.
Image model- Lily, the weird cat.
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