Okay, so that cat is going crazy. Every day the same thing, zipping around the house, jumping up and down off the furniture, it’s endless. Then comes the best part – scratching the furniture, your bed, and everything in it’s path. You have to do something and do it now! The best thing to do is very simple. All you need to do is buy a cat scratching tree.

Cat scratching trees are fun for your cat, and you can find a wide variety in pet stores, discount retail chains, even some grocery stores. There are all types of toys for cats. If your cat starts clawing at anything they shouldn’t be clawing, very loudly say NO using your cat’s name. Make sure you call your cat by their name a lot. Then they will know you are giving them a command.

Cat trees give your cat a place to call their own to play in, plus it keeps them off your furniture. You may ask how it is possible that with a cat tree your cat will stop clawing the furniture. It’s easy. It’s because cat trees keep cats occupied. The way cat trees are designed is pretty simple. They have a tall cylinder in the center, and various different sized limbs sticking out of the cylinder. It actually looks like a real tree! This gives your cat one great place to play. Usually cat trees are made from wood and covered in a heavy duty fabric like carpeting to withstand a cat’s wear and tear.

There have been several modifications made to cat trees over the years, making cat trees bigger and better. Besides the center cylinder, some cat trees have perches sticking out of some of the limbs. This gives your cat the perfect space to take a nap. There are also the more deluxe versions that have two poles in the center instead of one, and also has perches. Cat trees even come with enclosed areas with hanging slings, and built in toys. If you home has tall, cathedral ceilings, you have the space for the cat trees that have four to five levels, including platforms and built in cat toys. If your home is smaller, or you have an apartment, then get one of the more basic cat trees that have one or two levels with a perch and a platform.

All cat owners should have cat trees for their cats. Cats need to play, and having a cat tree to play in helps cats to release all their pent up energy. Besides cat trees, there is also a wide variety of cat furniture such as cat houses, beds and scratching posts to add to your cat’s relaxation and enjoyment.

The best way to check out cat trees, and other cat furniture, is from the comfort of your home and shopping online. There are several websites that have cat trees, furniture and many other supplies for your cat. Many websites have special discounts and shipping rates exclusive to online customers.

Cats are so independent, it’s doubtful that there are cat obedience classes. Can you imagine parading your cat around on a leash in front of other cats? Nevertheless, you can train your cat with just a few cat training aids.

Feed your cat at the same time everyday. If you feed your cat more than once a day, be sure it’s at the same time every day. Of course, cats can’t tell time, but it seems they know when it’s feeding time. A cat that is well fed will not be begging at the dinner table. If you cat does start begging, pick them up and take them to their food bowl.

Cats need a place to claw. If they don’t have a place, they start clawing your furniture. Cats in the wild use trees as their scratching posts, however, indoor cats don’t have that privilege. Scratching posts are absolutely essential for your cat and to save your furniture and carpets from certain doom. Whenever your cat starts clawing something they shouldn’t, pick them up and take them to their scratching post. They will quickly learn what they can and cannot scratch.

To stop your cat from scratching your carpets and furniture, use a liquid repellent. That taste is awful to your cat. Only use a small amount on fabrics and spray it in places that are hard to see in case it discolors the fabric.

Cats that are bored tend to get in trouble. Cats and kittens love to play, however, older cats also need exercise. Use ping pong balls and play a game of football with your cat. Once your cat starts playing with them on their own, you’ll have just as much fun watching them. You can also tie something on a piece of string for your cat to bat around. All you have to do is sit there and dangle it in front of your cat, or drag it around the room. Again, it’s just as much fun for you as it is your cat. This kind of exercise will definitely wear your cat out, then they’ll be too tired to misbehave

Just like dogs, cats need treats too. Treats are a great training aid because they can be used as rewards for a task that they perform or just for being a good cat. There are some cat treats that have additional benefits, such as preventing fur balls or removing plaque from your cats teeth.

A water spray bottle is useful in training your cat not to fight with other cats. They’re also great to have around to teach your cat not to use your potted plants as their bathroom.

To prevent your favorite house plants from being on your cats menu, give your cat a pot of grass especially grown for cats. Cats will instinctively eat plants to induce vomiting to get rid of fur balls. Having a pot or two of cat grass makes it a lot better for you, your plants and your cat.

Cats love to sit up high to view the world. If you don’t want them to sit on the back of your couch, or chairs, or sit on your window sills, give them a place to sit. An observation post is built high and provides a special place for your cat to sit. If you see your cat heading for your couch, chairs, or window sills, pick them up and put them in their observation post.

Keep in mind that training aids alone will not train your cat. You still need to have a lot of time and patience to successfully train your cat.

When you teach a cat or kitten toilet training, at first it may seem a bit strange. However, there are many cats that have mastered the trick to toilet training. Toilet training can be very beneficial for a variety of reasons. Cat litter holds odor, so having a cat that is toilet trained makes your house free from litter box odors. Your home is always fresh and clean smelling.

Another benefit of toilet training is the money that you save by not having to buy cat litter. Once your cat is toilet trained and you no longer have to buy cat litter, you will be amazed at the money you save. If you have just one cat,and you always like your house to smell clean, you are probably changing the litter box at least once a week.

The cost of cat litter for one month is about $20 depending on what brand you buy. Within a year you spend about $240 on cat litter. At first, this doesn’t sound like a lot of money, however it can add up over the years and adds up faster when there is more than one cat in the house.

Before you start toilet training your cat, they have to first be litter box trained. Toilet training is more successful with cats that are over six months old.

The items you will need to begin toilet training are cat litter, a litter pan, a bowl to set inside the toilet and duct tape.

The first thing you do is place the litter pan in front of the toilet. Leave the pan there for a day or so. The idea here is for your cat to become used to using their litter pan in front of the toilet. After about five days, raise the litter pan higher off the floor by placing it on a piece of wood, blocks, a box or books.

Keep raising the litter pan a few inches every day, until the litter pan is at the same level as the toilet. Use duct tape to secure the litter pan to make sure it’s sturdy for your cat to use. Next, place the litter pan on the toilet, then secure it with duct tape. Leave the litter pan there for about a week giving your cat time to adjust to using the litter pan on top of the toilet.

After your cat is comfortable, remove the litter pan from the toilet. Place either a large bowl or colander inside the toilet. Secure the bowl or colander with duct tape. Pour some cat litter in the bowl or colander. At this point you can remove your cats litter box from the house. Be sure to keep an eye on your cat making sure they are using the bowl that’s in the toilet. If you cat starts going other places in your home, you may need to back up a few steps and proceed a bit more slowly.

After a while, put smaller amounts of litter into the bowl that’s in the toilet. Once your feel your cat is ready to use the toilet, completely remove the bowl. Again, keep an eye on your cat to make sure they are using the toilet.

Cats are very intelligent and can learn quickly. When you follow these steps, you will be successful in toilet training your cat. If at any point you see that your cat is having trouble adapting, simply take a few steps back and repeat the steps slowly.

In order to understand your cat, you need to understand that you are the superior species, not your cat.

All cat lovers have experienced the withering look of indifference and superiority when giving our best efforts in entertaining, showing affection, feeding and communicating with our cats. The times our cats do acknowledge us, it’s usually on their own terms. But when they do give us their attention, their love knows no bounds.

By understanding your cats behavior, you are understanding one of the world’s most elusive creatures. It’s easy to understand why we as human beings always feel somewhat inferior to this species.

When your cat is purring, it’s usually a sign that they are content, but cats will also purr if they are ill or distressed. However, usually purring is the behavior of a cat that is happy. Mothers reassure their kittens by purring, with the kittens responding the same way. Cats also purr if they see another cat is threatening them as a sign they mean no harm and are not a threat.

You may feel that your cat doesn’t purr. Actually they are purring, it’s just that their purr resonates at a level we cannot hear.

There could be entire books written on the different meows cats have. Each meow accompanies a certain expression and body posture. Cats have many different moods and a meow for each mood.

Cats communicate with one another through body language as well as scent. However, cats soon realize that humans cannot pickup this subtle form of communication and then resort to the cruder form of communicating which is meowing.

When your cat is up on their hind legs and rub against you, it is a sign of greeting and a show of deep affection. It’s also a way of claiming you. Cats have scent glands on their lips, tails, heads, tail bases, chins and paws. By rubbing against you, they are putting their scent on you, as well as rubbing your scent on themselves.

When your cat is greeting you, they have their tail erect with the tip of the tail bent forward. Sometimes their tail will quiver because they are excited. Their eyes will be blinking slowly and be half closed. If you mimic this reaction you will get a positive response.

Biting often happens when we are petting our cats. What we don’t realize is that in the world of cats, the subservient cats often groom the superior ones. So when we pet our cats, we are mimicking this action. So when cats have had enough petting, they will nip or bite you.

Nips or bites can also be a sign of affection, which is often accompanied by licking. This is a sign of acceptance and treating you as an equal.

These are only some of the forms of cat behavior. Cats are infamous for being independent and elusive creatures. Each cat has it own unique character and personality. Unlike humans and dogs, cats are not pack animals. They do not need you for social contact, which adds even more to their mystique. We have formed a permanent bond with cats and most of us feel privileged to be a part of their world.

When your cat is meowing all night long, what is the first thing you do? You pick up your cat, right? That’s the worst thing you can do. This is a positive reaction for your cat doing something that is annoying. So the result is that every time your cat wants something, they will start constantly meowing until they get it. The trouble is that also includes all hours of the night as well. Cats are the most alert during the night and most often want to play a game in the wee hours of the night. So they start meowing because they know this will get you to wake up and pay attention to them.

Nonstop meowing is annoying and frustrating and that’s putting it mildly. Imagine when you are trying to have a nice quiet evening after a long day at work and suddenly you hear this earth shattering meowing. There goes your nice quiet evening, because now your ears are taking a beating with all that racket.

Just telling your cat to be quiet doesn’t do the trick. If you give them what they want, they’ll be happy and then immediately find something else to meow about. Yelling and screaming doesn’t work either, all that does is make your cat meow even louder just to be heard over you. Your cat will take that as getting attention – even though it’s negative, it’s still attention.

If this sounds familiar, your worries are over. Even the noisiest cats in town can learn to be quiet with one method that’s been found to be the most effective.

Remember one thing, cats that meow constantly do it because they have learned to behave this way. Somewhere, somehow, your cat has learned that nonstop meowing gets attention and gets them what they want.

The best thing to do is to totally ignore your cat when they start meowing nonstop. Never give in to the verbal blackmail that your cat is attempting to do. This includes not looking at them, not talking to them, not picking them up, not petting them, even not walking in their direction! It’s absolutely vital that you do not give in to your cat’s demanding meow. If you need to, go watch television or listen to music with your headphones on. Go somewhere in the house where you can’t hear your cat. Or even leave the house, if necessary.

It may take a while, but eventually your cat will get the hint that the nonstop meowing is only getting them a negative reaction and will soon quit. When your cat is quiet is when you can shower them with attention. This will reinforce the difference between good and bad behavior.

If your cat is naturally the vocal type, it may not be possible to get them to be completely quiet. However, using this method will at least get them to reduce their meowing to a more acceptable level. Always remember that when training your cat, or getting them to modify their behavior, you need to have a lot of patience.

No doubt about it, kittens are one of the most adorable creatures on the planet! However, they can lose their cuteness when they start running around the house tearing up your carpets and furniture, then using other parts of your house as their bathroom. Kittens need to be trained to become the adult cats you want them to be.

All kittens need to have exercise. Be sure your kitten has plenty of toys to kick, bite and chase after. Never let your kitten use you as their play toy like biting and pouncing on you. It may seem cute at first, however when they are adults and do the same thing, what was once cute is now painful.

Even though most kittens are taught how to use the litter box from their mothers, you need to reinforce it with training them yourself. Your kitten’s litter box should be large enough for them to go in and move around. Kittens and cats normally want to use a litter box after eating or a nap. So once your kitten is done with their meal, play with them for about 15 minutes, then take them to their litter box. Lead them into the box, then gently move the litter around with your finger to intrigue them. Once your kitten is inside the box, encourage them by speaking to them softly using gentle tones. Make your kitten feel that their litter box is a comfortable and secure place for them to be. Whether your kitten uses the litter or not, use the same soft voice and gentle tone. After a while, your kitten will start using the litter box on their own. Remember, be patient and consistent.

Kitten claws are not as sharp as adult cat claws, so your kitten isn’t as dangerous to your carpet and furniture as an adult cat would be. However, kittens become cats, so now is the best time to teach them that a scratching post is where they sharpen their claws and not your carpets or furniture. You may want to sprinkle a small amount of catnip on the scratching post to get your kitten interested. Once you see your kitten sharpening their claws on the scratching post, praise them and give them a treat.

Praising kittens and rewarding them for doing a good job helps in teaching them the right way to behave when in the house. Remember to always keep your voice soft and use gentle tones, never scream or shout or hit your kitten. These actions will only result in your kitten having bad behavior and will grow up to be a cat with very negative behavior. In addition, by constantly screaming at your cat or hitting them, they will start to view you in a negative manner. This could result in your cat avoiding you, hiding from you and even biting you.

Kittens are very lovable animals and when you spend time every day training them, they will grow up to be lovable, well mannered and well trained cats.

When you first bring home your new kitten, there’s a good chance it’s already been litter trained. This is mostly because cats that have been raised by mothers who use litter boxes, have already been taught how to use them by their mothers. So if mom has been trained, so has her kittens. However, if mom has not been trained to use the litter box, then neither has your kitten.

If your kitten was raised by its mom in an outdoor environment, for example in the wild, or is an orphan, then you will definitely need to litter train your kitten. However, no worries. By instinct cats are extremely clean animals and much prefer to have one certain place to go to the bathroom. Even though your little one may “do their thing” in other areas around the house when you first bring home, it’s still very easy to train your kitten how to use a litter box.

Keep in mind kittens that are very young, or have been orphaned, have not had a mom to teach them how to use a litter box. However, it’s easy to show them how. The first step is to get a container that has low sides so a tiny kitten can climb in and out. A good container to use is a dishpan that has low sides or one side cut out. Dishpans are the perfect height for very young kittens to climb in and out of easily. The container has to have easy access for your kitten to want to use it. Once you have set up the pan, place a small amount of litter in the bottom of the pan and put your kitten in it. Instinctively, kittens will begin to scratch the litter even if they aren’t sure what the litter is for.

Immediately after every meal turn your kitten on their back, then using a warm rag or washcloth over your index finger, begin to gently massage their lower belly. Massage using a downward stroke  towards their tail. This is to stimulate your kitten the same way their mom would to go to the bathroom.

After stimulating your kitten to go to the bathroom, immediately place them in the litter box. They should immediately feel the need to eliminate. After they do, take their paw and scoop litter over the soiled area. Soon your kitten will understand and begin to do this themselves. Remember, cats are very clean animals and will instinctively want to cover their waste. Afterwards, you might want to help your kitten to clean themselves for the first few times until they begin to catch on. You will probably have to use this method with the washcloth a few times until your kitten has thoroughly gotten the idea.

Follow this method for the next two weeks – every time you feed your kitten, take them to their litter box and put them in it. Usually after the first few times you won’t have to stimulate them by stroking their belly. If you don’t see them covering their waste, remember to use their paw to cover it until they begin to understand. Usually training doesn’t take very long if you’re consistent.

Always keep the litter box in the same area so that your kitten will always know where it is. Cats are very intelligent and will remember where their litter box is. By keeping their litter box always in the same location, your kitten will go straight to it the minute they are done eating.

Remember to always keep the litter box clean. Cats are very clean and their litter box has to be the same way. If you notice that your kitten is starting to go in other areas of the house other than their litter box, it could be because  the litter box is too dirty and you need to change it.

There are times when cat training can be difficult, especially if you are not a patient person. Some believe that dogs are much easier to train than cats, while others believe that cats are far more intelligent, making them easier to train. If you are considering owning a cat, training will help you to learn how to understand your cat. There are many cats that are very aggressive, which is the natural tendency of all cats, tamed and untamed. When you have success in training cats, you are using their other characteristics and love having them in your family.

There are many questions concerning how easy it is to train cats. However, one thing is for sure, when you know what your cat wants and how your cat feels, you truly understand your cat. The first thing you need to understand and accept is that cats are extremely independent. They are not the same as other pets that are dependent on you to become used to your home. Cats are independent and self-reliant. In order for you to truly enjoy your cat, you have to understand their aggressive nature and be able to use that aggression to your advantage.

There are several reasons and circumstances why your cat may express certain negative attitudes that are destructive in nature. There are eight different forms of aggressive cat behavior:  territorial aggression, sexual aggression, dominant aggression, play aggression, aggression due to pain, parental aggression, emotional aggression and trigger aggression.

Cats that are aggressive can easily be trained once you understand why they are being aggressive. Some cats are aggressive when they are feeling playful by acting like they are stalking you. Other cats act aggressively when they feel they are being threatened. Another form of aggression is aggression that is misdirected and your cat lashes out at you when you are not the reason. Territorial aggression occurs when your cat feels that their territory is being threatened. You have to know which type of aggression your cat is feeling so you can know how to handle it.

When your cat is being playfully aggressive, they are pretending you are their prey. There is nothing negative about this type of aggression. All your cat wants to do is practice their hunting skills. Unfortunately, you are the target. To redirect this behavior, use a toy to divert your cats attention.

When you cat feels disturbed for any reason, they will be naturally aggressive. Your cat will use their teeth and claws, especially if they feel cornered and unfamiliar with a situation. This is a perfectly natural reaction for cats. You need to understand and realize that once you remove the cause of this type of aggression, your cat will tone down their behavior. Once this is done, you will be able to divert your cat’s feelings and make them feel comfortable.

A very common cause of aggression is when cats want to protect their territory. Indoor cats when they see other cats in their yard will attack the window and emit a low growl. All you need to do is close the blinds or drapes and divert your cats attention. This is the easiest and fastest way to remedy this situation. Always keep a safe distance when removing any stimulus from you cats view so they don’t redirect their aggression onto you.

Aggressive cats are normal cats. Their aggression is a defense mechanism. It’s important that you know that aggression can be contained.

One distinct advantage of cat psychology is developing a stronger bond with your cat, which is as the result of understanding your pet. An example of cat psychology is knowing when your cat wants to bite or attack you. When your cat wants you to stay away, most often they will twirl their tail. The quicker your cat twirls their tail, the more likely they will attack very soon. Other signs your cat may be thinking of attacking you is when the fur stands up on the back of their tail, their facial muscles tense, and their eyes become dilated.

Also be aware of when you cat starts following your fingers very intently and starts moving their head according to your fingers. Usually the real reason why cats bite is because they are fearful, injured or are in pain, and are taking it out on you. There is a way you can combat your cat redirecting their aggression on you, by applying cat psychology.

It’s difficult for a cat to turn from predator to sweet loving cat once they are in that mood. The best thing you can do is stay calm and change the mood to get your cat out of that mode. A good example is to stop playing with your cat the minute they start acting this way. You can also try spraying friendly pheromones into the air. This can work wonders to help your cat to calm down when they are excited. Should you get bitten by your cat, don’t pull away since this is the same way prey would react. Instead, push one finger into your cats mouth to confuse them, then they will stop biting you.

It’s essential to understand cat psychology and how your cat thinks before you teach them basic tasks. Cats are very intelligent and very capable of learning many things, however, they must be trained. Cats respond very well to any training when a reward is given as an incentive. They also love praise. Since cats are prone to having short attention spans, any cat training session is most effective in five or ten minute increments.

A perfect example of using cat psychology is if you prefer your cat to be potty trained, instead of using a litter box. The psychology behind this is remembering that their mothers taught them how to scratch the litter box to cover waste. Changing this thought process is not an easy task, however, with a little time and a lot of patience, this task can be accomplished. The easiest way to potty train a cat is to train them when they are kittens. To make the process easier, use a potty training kit or create a kit of your own. Always remember to use special treats and a lot of praise when potty training your cat.  A cat that is potty trained to use a toilet can be much easier than having them use a litter box.

When you understand your cat, you have learned the key component necessary to train your cat to do most anything you want them to do.

If you are having problems with your cats spraying and constantly marking their territory, there are a few things you can do to stop them from doing this. Many cat owners become frustrated with their cats, since this type of behavior can be difficult to stop.

Spraying is when cats leave a small amount of urine in the house. They usually do this on vertical surfaces such as furniture, walls or door frames. Spraying isn’t really a training issue, it’s actually your cat making their presence known.

There are several reasons why cats suddenly start spraying. It could be because your cat is marking their territory, letting other cats know they live in your house. Sometimes spraying is a sign of a medical problem, such as a urinary tract infection. Male cats that are not neutered spray to let female cats know they are around and available. When cats are stressed or anxious is another reason that causes them to spray the house. If you and your cat have moved recently, your cat may be marking their territory. An addition to the family such as a new pet, or a baby can make your cat feel insecure, which can result in them spraying your furniture. When someone leaves the family, either permanently, or during the day for work, can often result in cats spraying. Making any changes to your home such as remodeling, painting or even rearranging the furniture, can make your cat feel they need to re-mark their territory. However, if you are painting, it will help to remove the smell.

Not all cats spray, however, some cats are more prone to doing this than others. Male cats that are not neutered are prone to spraying more than males that are neutered. Female cats that are not spayed are also more prone to spraying than females that are spayed. Have your cat spayed or neutered as soon as possible, unless you plan to breed them. This is not only healthier for your cat, but will also reduce the chances of your cat spraying. This does not always work, however the percentages are optimistic. A large percentage of cats that are spayed or neutered, stop spraying immediately with only a small percentage ceasing within about three to four months later. There’s even a smaller percentage of cats that, regardless if they are spayed or neutered, will continue to spray.

If you see your cat spraying, before correcting them, find out the reason why they are spraying. Watch your cat closely to find out why they are spraying. Watch their body language. When you see your cat start to spray, distract them whatever way you can. There are several ways you can do this, such as rattling a tin can with coins or marbles in it, clapping your hands or using a water bottle or water pistol to divert them from spraying. It may take awhile for your cat to stop spraying completely, however, this has proven to be the best and most effective method to break them.