How to Train Your Cat

Kelly Braid has come out with a new ebook called "Purrfectly Trained Cat". Over the next few days sshe will share with us some or her secrets.

Training your cat can be easy and fun...if you know the right way to do it.

Think back to when you first brought your little bundle of joy home. Did you have visions of him curled up in your lap, happily purring and behaving himself?

Believe it or not, that cat does exist. With just a little help from you, he can be the cat you always wanted.

You can learn more about that in my new ebook:


It reveals my entire cat training system and you might be interested in how it works.

It's not about:

1. Yelling and screaming to get him to change
2. Spending hours each day trying to fix his problems
3. Spending a lot of money on a cat behavior specialist

Here's what it IS about:

1. Learning steps you can take to keep you cat off your tables
and counters
2. Training him fun tricks that most people think only dogs can do
3. Keeping his claws off of your furniture and on his scratching
post
4. How to keep him away from your houseplants
5. Keeping his teeth away from you
6. Fixing litter box problems once and for all
7. Enjoying your cat and having fun with him


The reason it's so effective is because it's based on learning why your cat is behaving the way he is and how to use positive reinforcement to get him to do what you want him to do. This will keep him from becoming afraid of you and get him to WANT to do things to get a reward.

ALWAYS use positive reinforcement such as play time, cuddles, treats or petting. Physical punishment will not work! Many errors are made with cats because humans think they will respond like dogs. Dogs are pack animals and cats are not. With dogs, you can take advantage of this mentality by positioning yourself as the pack leader. Cats on the other hand, only form social groups by necessity and their organization depends on acknowledging territory as opposed to a leader.

Using physical punishment as a way to train your cat will only cause your cat to become afraid or aggressive, sometimes towards you or sometimes redirected towards the object you are trying to keep him from. For example, swatting your cat each time he approaches your new baby will generally cause him to become aggressive towards the baby. Instead, your cat should be allowed the opportunity to sniff the baby and rub up against its car seat or carrier, thus marking it as his.

The old story we have all heard of a cat smothering a baby in its crib is just an urban legend. Your cat is just curious! Allow him the opportunity to check out the baby, and then redirect his attention to something else and praise him. This is your best course of action.

Another problem with using physical punishment is that it will only encourage your cat to stop the bad behavior when you are present. He will learn quite quickly that the behavior can be performed when you are not around as he knows that no punishment will be forthcoming.

Tomorrow, I'll provide some tips you can use to stop excessive vocalization.

Kelly Braid
"Purrfectly Trained Cat"