Cat Supplies - Basic Tools For All Cat Owners

When most of us think of cat supplies, we usually don't think beyond a litter box, cat food and scratching post. Unlike dogs, whose supply lists can be quite long, it would seem that a cat doesn't need much. After all, they hunt on their own, they clean themselves and they come and go as they please. In fact, many people think that cats can't be trained- but the truth is that they can be trained. And all you really need is the right supplies to get them on the right track.

What Cats Want

The first step to training a cat is to know what it wants. Cats, like dogs, enjoy treats so they should be an essential part of cat supplies. However, you will notice that different cats have different kinds of treats- some might respond well to little nibbles while others might like toys or even petting brushes. It's important to know what your cat will view as a reward for your training to work effectively. Apart from rewards, you also need to know what your cat doesn't like. It is common knowledge that cats don't like water- keeping a water gun handy is always a good idea for training sessions.

One of the cat supplies that you're going to need in abundance is patience. Training a cat is not like training a dog. While a dog will be eager to respond to you in any way, a cat might simply spend the time staring at either you or at something else. It's important to remain calm at all times- don't show your frustration in any way. If a cat sees you yelling, you can be sure that it is not going to come when you call! If you think that it simply isn't working, try again later- your cat might be in a better mood later on. It's also important to heap praise upon your cat when it does something right- this will reinforce your training in a very strong way.

Get Tricky

Any arsenal of cat supplies will consist of some ingredients which might look a little strange. These are the tricky training supplies- you'll find that most of these are geared towards preventing your cat from doing something. For example, if your cat has a habit of chewing on stuff like power cords, dousing the cords with cayenne pepper will quickly turn your cat's appetite off! If your cat has a habit of using your furniture as a scratching post, just give him a quick squirt in the face with your water gun. Aside from that, it would also be a good idea to invest in a scratching post so that your cat can scratch to its heart's content.

Make sure that you use your cat supplies wisely. If you're training your cat to obey commands, first make sure that the cat knows there is a treat involved- it probably wouldn't be interested otherwise. Connect the command with a visual of the treat- for example, say the word 'come' and show your cat the treat in your hand. Of course, if your cat simply isn't interested, then you'll have to try another time, another trick. The trick is to be patient and perseverant- your cat will eventually catch on. Training a cat is definitely not an impossible task- all it needs is a clear-cut strategy and the right kind of supplies to make your training a success.