I know what you're thinking. "Cats do what they want! You can't train them! They're either friendly or skittish and that's that!"
It's time to adjust our thoughts on the matter. Cats have a need for structure, a need for companionship, and a need for safety. Playing to these needs can mean for a well-adjusted and friendly cat.
I like to say that it takes 4 things to train a cat: Routine, Attention, Food, and Grooming.
ROUTINE
A routine means feeding times are the same every day. It means that you're coming and going from the home regularly. It means that you check the water dish every morning and make sure the litter box never piles up. Keeping a routine is one part safety and security, and one part structure for your feline. If they always know what to expect, then they can anticipate it and start to greet you at the door. They can know when the litter will be changed and know they'll always be fed.
ATTENTION
It's important to work in regular time with your pet. Attention is part routine, part playtime and exercise, and part grooming and bonding. First, when your cat knows when they'll be able to spend time with you, they'll be able to anticipate it and seek you out. On purpose. *GASP* What? Yes, this means your cat is becoming adjusted to your routine and will actually seek you out!
Bonding
To help make this happen, you want to bond with your pet. Playtime and exercise are important for your pet anyway, but making sure you're a part of this means they'll consider you part of their daily routine as well. Toys to consider for paired playtime are: sticks with string and a fun something at the end, string alone, a laser light toy, or even a remote controlled toy that rolls around the floor.
FOOD
You'll want to keep great communication with your vet about your cat's food, the amount they eat, and their feeding routine at home. Each pet has different needs, and even if it takes some trial and error, you'll be able to make sure your cat has everything they need. I like to encourage feeding two times a day to break up how much your cat eats. This helps the metabolism and the cat both stay active. How much your cat eats depends on their age, weight, and how active they are. A very lazy and old cat would probably be suggested a smaller portion than a very active and young cat.
GROOMING
Grooming is such a key part of your pet's life. This is about the way you pet them, how often you keep track of their hair, ear, and nail needs, and even just brushing for pleasure. I like to suggest brushing once a day. For long haired cat breeds, this is needed to keep the shedding at bay and to prevent mats in your cat's fur coat. For short haired cat breeds, this is needed to keep the shedding at bay and loosen possible dandruff and other skin issues. Besides this, brushing can be an enjoyable activity for your cat, and they'll bond faster and much more with you if you make this a regular part of your routine.
If you keep these 4 things in mind, you'll get into the habit of keeping your cat in mind. And that's as simple as I can put it. Your cat wants to be on your mind, and they want to be a part of your world. If you make sure that they are, they will anticipate it and then wait for you to do your end of the deal.
For any questions about details in any of these topics, book a time with me, The Cat Granny, for advice and behavioral help with your feline! You can call me at 909-741-6335, email at thecatgranny@gmail.com, or fill out the Contact Us form on the website.
Comments