Cat Training Aids

If your cat behavior problems include ankle biting, your cat may have predatory aggression. In other words, your cat is not getting enough play and exercise to simulate their hunting activities in the wild. Your cat doesn't have very many moving options inside the house so they go for your ankles.

But, you can discourage these cat behavior problems with these tips:

When your cat attacks or bites your ankles, give them an appropriate toy to play with, like a mouse on a string. This will simulate the experiences they would have if they were hunting in the wild.

Fishing line toys that you reel in are also an excellent choice. Some people simply tie a toy onto a piece of string, and then tie the string to their belt, dragging the toy along behind them.

Often, just giving your cat enough play time and exercise will cure your cat of this and other cat behavior problems, so don't forget to play with them every day.

You just bought a brand new Italian leather sofa that looks pristine in your newly painted living room. As you find your favorite spot on the couch, your cat is eyeing the left leg as it's new favorite scratching post.

Before you head into a panic, there are several cat training aids that can help you train your cat not to jump on furniture, use furniture as scratching posts, and also avoid digging into plants and tugging on curtains. Some of these aids include:

No Scratch! is a spray that you apply directly to wood or fabric. It's mildly-scented and won't harm fabric or wood, but your cat doesn't like the smell and won't scratch there.

Two-sided sticky strips adhere to furniture and other furnishings like tables, appliances and upholstery. Cats don't like the feel of the sticky strips and they won't scratch areas where you've placed the strips.

Marking sprays are also available, which discourage your cat from marking in areas where they have previously marked or sprayed. You spray the area with the marking spray, and the cat no longer has a desire to mark there. The sprays are safe for any surface that is water safe.

Kitten and Cat Repellent is a product you can spray indoors or out to keep your cat from digging in plants. Spray the plant area the cat dug up, and it's likely your cat won't dig there anymore.

Mats work to protect countertops and furniture. The mats give a tiny shock to the cat when they jump on them. If you don't want to shock your cat, another device detects motion and sets off an alarm when your cat jumps in a designated non-cat zone.

Any of these aids can be found in most pet stores, and they'll help your cat learn not to engage in certain behaviors.