Cat Behavior Cat Behavior Training

What Cat Behaviors Need Training?

There are many behaviors of cats some are good, but for others, one should consider helping train the cat to not doing anymore. Let's take a look at some of these behaviors.

Behavior That Is Attention-Seeking

Some cats exhibit behavior that is all about getting them more attention. Examples of these are meowing excessively, or crying. Pawing at you can also fit in this category of house cat behaviors that need training.
Aggression Towards People
Cats can develop aggressive behavior often from poor training when it was just a kitten. If a cat has aggression toward people, you will want to train it to behave differently. Aggression can be fighting, scratching, biting, and other forms of attacks. Cats can be trained to not be aggressive toward people, and the owner can learn how to deal with it if or when it happens.
Aggression Between Cats
If you have more than one cat, you can have fighting between them. This is particularly common in households where there was one cat originally and the second was introduced later into the household. This cat behavior requires training, as cats won't settle it on their own and stop. Instead, the fighting between cats will escalate if not taken care of early on.
The aggression between cats can stem from territorial battles, male-dominance issues, or fear or re-directed aggression. Whatever the cause, it cannot be allowed to continue. The best way to deal with it is with a squirt gun or a loud noise or soft object (to throw at them).
Chewing That Is Destructive Or Harmful
Some cats and kittens learn to chew on things. This is not a good cat behavior, and requires training! There are a few reasons for this. First, chewing by cats and kittens can ruin things around the house. The damage inflicted on family valuables can be considerable. Second, it is a dangerous habit for kittens and cats. Sometimes they will chew an electrical cord or other danger.
Why do cats and kittens chew? When kittens are young, they chew because it feels good on their gums as they are teething. It can also be due to curiosity, boredom, or even due to a nutrient deficiency in their diet. With training, this cat behavior can be eliminated, and family items preserved.
Destructive Scratching
Some cats do a lot of scratching. This is particularly a problem with an inside cat, that doesn't go outside at all. Though an inside cat doesn't need to use of its claws to climb trees, climbing trees also helps file down the cat's nails. Instead, if it is using your curtains or furniture to file its nails on, training for this cat behavior is in order. This bad cat behavior requires training, and a good scratching post (maybe with catnip in it?) is needed.
These are a few of the behaviors that cats can exhibit that require training. Once they are eliminated, you will have a nicer, more pleasant cat or kitten.