Tag: train my cat

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Oriental Shorthair cats

Colors

The Oriental Shorthair is a member of the Siamese family of breeds, and can be found in various solid colors, and patterns such as smoke, shaded, parti-color/tortoiseshell, tabby and bicolor (any of the above, with white).

Size

The Oriental Shorthair is a medium size cat. On average, males weigh from 8-12 lbs | 3.6-5.4 kg, with females weighing less than 8 lbs | 3.6 kg.

Personality

Orientals are extremely social, loving, and loyal, and their feelings are easily hurt if you ignore or scold them. Orientals don’t just want attention— they need it desperately if they are to live happy, healthy lives. If you provide the tender loving care they need, they’ll do just about anything to please you. Ignore them, and they become unhappy and depressed. However, when given their full share of affection, Orientals will repay you with a lifetime of love, affection, and intelligent conversation. They usually bond with one person and become extremely devoted to and dependent upon their chosen human. Expect them to be at your side, on your shoulder, and at the door to interrogate you about where you’ve been, why you went there, and what you brought back for “me-orrr.” Oriental Shorthair cats have high locomotion levels and are natural conversationalists.

Shedding

Oriental Shorthairs are related to the Siamese family, so it makes sense that they wouldn’t shed too much either. They have short, smooth hair that doesn’t require a lot of maintenance at all. Just keep in mind that they really love attention and require a lot of it!

 

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Scottish Fold cats

Origin & colors

The original Scottish Fold was a white barn cat named Susie, who was found at a farm near Coupar Angus in Perthshire, Scotland, in 1961. Susie’s ears had an unusual fold in their middle, making her resemble an owl. When Susie had kittens, two of them were born with folded ears, and one was acquired by William Ross, a neighbouring farmer and cat-fancier. Ross registered the breed with the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) in the United Kingdom in 1966 and started to breed Scottish Fold kittens with the help of geneticist Pat Turner. The breeding program produced 76 kittens in the first three years—42 with folded ears and 34 with straight ears. The conclusion from this was that the ear mutation is due to a simple dominant gene.

Size

The Scottish Fold is a medium-sized cat, with males typically reaching 4 to 6 kg (9–13 lb), females 2.7–4 kg (6–9 lb). The Fold’s entire body structure, especially the head and face, is generally rounded, and the eyes large and round. The nose will be short with a gentle curve and the cat’s body well-rounded with a padded look and medium-to-short legs. The head is domed at the top, and the neck very short. The broadly-spaced eyes give the Scottish Fold a “sweet expression”.

Personality

Scottish folds are calm animals who always enjoy playing and being around people. They are adaptable to numerous different environments & can get along quite well with small children, friendly dogs and other cats. A Scottish fold kitten makes a good addition to a multi-pet household, as it will adapt very well to other animals fast. Their calmness is suitable for families with kids, the last thing you want is your kid playing around with an easily irritable cat.

Shedding

Long haired folds require more attention to prevent matting. They will probably have to be brushed and combed three to four times per week. The short coated folds don’t need that much grooming as their long coated brothers. It is usually enough if you brush and comb them once a week.

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Abyssinian cats

Origin & colors

Origin country is Ethiopia. Abyssinian kittens are born with dark coats that gradually lighten as they mature, usually over several months. The adult coat should not be excessively short and is ideally fine, dense and close-lying, silky to the touch. The ticked or agouti effect that is the trademark of the breed—genetically a variant of the tabby pattern—should be uniform over the body, although the ridge of the spine and tail, back of the hind legs and the pads of the paws are always noticeably darker. Each hair has a light base with three or four bands of additional color growing darker towards the tip. The base color should be as clear as possible; any extensive intermingling with grey is considered a serious fault. A tendency to white on the chin is common but likewise must be minimal. The typical tabby M-shaped marking is often found on the forehead.

The breed’s original color standard is a warm deep reddish-brown base with black ticking.

Size

The Abyssinian is a slender, fine-boned, medium-sized cat. The head is moderately wedge-shaped, with a slight break at the muzzle, and nose and chin ideally forming a straight vertical line when viewed in profile. They have alert, relatively large pointed ears. The eyes are almond-shaped and are gold, green, hazel or copper depending on coat color. The legs tend to be long in proportion to a graceful body, with small oval paws; the tail is likewise long and tapering.

Personality

Abyssinians are a popular breed thanks in large part to their unusual intelligence and generally extroverted, playful, willful personalities. They are said to become depressed without constant activity and the attention of their owners. With their interest in playing with their owners combined with their curious intelligence, Abyssinians are known as the “Clowns of the Cat Kingdom”. They have an active, outgoing nature, yet tend to be quiet cats. They have soft chirrup-like vocalizations which do not sound like the expected “meow”. They are affectionate and friendly toward people.

Shedding

Brush this low-maintenance breed once per week or more if possible. This will be especially helpful during the shedding season.

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Maine Coon cats

Origin & colors

The ancestral origins of the Maine Coon are unknown. There are only speculation and folk tales. The breed’s colors vary widely, with only lilac and chocolate disallowed for pedigree.

Size

The Maine Coon was considered the largest breed of domestic cat, until the introduction of the Savannah Cat in the mid 1980s. On average, males weigh from 13 to 18 lb (5.9 to 8.2 kg), with females weighing from 8 to 12 lb (3.6 to 5.4 kg). The height of adults can vary between 10 and 16 in (25 and 41 cm) and they can reach a length of up to 38 in (97 cm), including the tail, which can reach a length of 14 in (36 cm) and is long, tapering, and heavily furred, almost resembling a raccoon’s tail. The body is solid and muscular, which is necessary for supporting their weight, and the chest is broad. Maine Coons possess a rectangular body shape and are slow to physically mature; their full size is normally not reached until they are three to five years old, while other cats take about one year.

Personality

Maine Coons are known as the “gentle giants” and possess above-average intelligence, making them relatively easy to train. They are known for being loyal to their family and cautious—but not mean—around strangers, but are independent and not clingy. The Maine Coon is generally not known for being a “lap cat”, but their gentle disposition makes the breed relaxed around dogs, other cats, and children. They are playful throughout their lives, with males tending to be more clownish and females generally possessing more dignity, yet both are equally affectionate. Many Maine Coons have a fascination with water and some speculate that this personality trait comes from their ancestors, who were aboard ships for much of their lives. Maine Coons are also well known for being very vocal cats. They are known for their frequent yowling or howling, trilling, chirping, and making other loud vocalisations.

Shedding

Maine Coon cats shed hair, just like other cat breeds. However, this breed sheds hair at different rates, so you may be lucky enough to own a Maine Coon that doesn’t shed much hair. Or, hair shedding may be limited to certain times of the year. Regular grooming will reduce hair shedding, matting, and hairballs.

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British Shorthair cats

Origin & colors

Origin country is United Kingdom.

The British Shorthair is the pedigreed version of the traditional British domestic cat, with a distinctively stocky body, dense coat, and broad face. The most familiar colour variant is the “British Blue”, with a solid grey-blue coat, orange eyes, and a medium-sized tail. Other colors: white black / ebony red / orange blue / gray cream / beige / tan chocolate / brown / sable cinnamon fawn lilac.

Size

British Shorthair Cats are large sized cats with heights between 12”-14” | 30-46 cm, lengths of 22”-25” | 56-64 cm, and typical weights in the range of 7-17 lb | 3-8 kg.

Personality

The British Shorthair is a very pleasant cat to have as a companion. They are easy going and placid. The British is a fiercely loyal, loving cat and will attach herself to everyone of her family members.

Shedding

British shorthair cats do shed their fur, but considerably less than other breeds of domestic cat. They have a thick, double-layered coat which sheds more in the Spring months and requires weekly grooming. As a result, British shorthair cats are not considered to be hypoallergenic.

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Train Your Cat

Yes! You can train a cat to come on command, use a toilet, and more – and it’s all much easier than you thought.

First things first: Never punish

Cats simply won’t learn from what some owners would consider “discipline.” Worse yet, “punishing” your cat can induce stress, leading to behavioral and health problems—not something you want to deal with in cat training. Remember that patience and positive reinforcement are essential if you’re learning how to train a cat. Trying to figure out your cat’s behavior? Here are 17 things your cat would love to tell you.

Next: Get a clicker—and treats

Commonly used as training tools for a wide variety of animals, a clicker will set you back just a couple bucks and help you give positive reinforcement when you’re learning how to train a cat. (You can also use a regular pen with a clicky button—the important thing is to have a distinct noise you can make instantly.) Most cat training involves offering your cat a treat it likes following a click to mark the desired behavior. These tactics also work when it comes to giving your cat a pill. Without the clicker, your cat may be confused about why it’s being rewarded: If it obeys a command, hears the click, and then gets a treat, it’s more likely to catch on. To keep your cat from scratching you, follow these tips.

How to train a cat to: Come on command

Cats can learn to respond to a vocal cue and run your way. This step of how to train a cat starts by making a distinct noise before feeding—before you open a bag or can—like vocally call your cat, or click your tongue. Your pet will learn to associate that noise with something positive (food) and will eventually head to you when it hears it. Then, encourage this behavior outside of normal feeding times. Start from short distances. Make the noise, use your clicker when your cat comes, and then reward your pet with the treat. Over time, call the cat from longer distances. Recommended up to two “cat training sessions” a day, for five minutes or less, during which you should repeat the behavior up to 20 times.

How to train a cat to: Use a toilet

Training a cat to use the toilet definitely takes some work, but think of the benefits: You’ll save on litter and enjoy a cleaner home. First, place a litter box adjacent to your toilet. Then gradually bring it closer and closer to the top of seat—you might need a stool to make the process easier on the cat. Once your pet is accustomed to using a litter box on top of the toilet, transition to a special litter box that fits within the toilet itself. (Buy flushable litter, and expect spillover.) Gradually use less and less litter to get your cat accustomed to doing its business without it, and then, remove the litter box entirely.

How to train a cat to: Shake hands

This cat training is simpler than you might expect: Get a treat ready, then align yourself to the same level as your cat. Tap your cat’s paw while saying “shake,” and use your clicker when it moves its paw. Repeat training until your cat offers its paw in response to the “shake” command without tapping. Like the “come on command” trick, this can take a few training sessions over the course of a couple of days. Once this skill is mastered, your cat will be well-behaved and ready to star in some internet cat memes.

How to train a cat to: Beg

This is similar to the “shake hands” trick. Hold a treat just above your cat’s headand give a “beg” command. Your pet should stand on its hind legs and reach up for the snack; click to mark the behavior and then give your cat its treat. Practice until your cat begs on command without needing a treat dangled overhead. If you really want to learn how to train a cat well, make sure you always reward your pet—but never feed your cat milk.

How to train a cat to: Walk on a leash

Get a harness with a leash that attaches at the cat’s back, not its neck. The ASPCA recommends that before putting it on you leave it out for a few days in areas where your cat goes, like its feeding area or favorite sleeping spot, so that the animal is accustomed to the sight of it. Next, you’ll transition to draping the harness over the cat (without fully attaching it) when giving it a treat. You’ll eventually move to securing the harness around the cat without the leash—leave it on your cat for a couple of minutes at first, then increase the time over the course of days. Once your pet is comfortable with the harness, attach the leash to it, and let your cat wander freely inside with it. After a few days, start holding the leash during training. Then: Ease into the great outdoors! Make sure you let your cat take its time exploring a new area, and start somewhere quiet. Now that you know how to train your cat properly, make sure you don’t make these common cat owner mistakes.

Source: www.rd.com