Cats can learn, but not like dogs. People who are used to a dog’s quick obedience response are sorely disappointed to find out that cats do not respond to the same training methods. In order for a cat to learn something, she must want to do it. If a cat is not inclined to want to do something, the trainer must make her think that she wants to do it.

Why they do the things they do First of all, do not think that a cat’s          inappropriate behavior must be tolerated.  While cats and dogs are different, there is no  reason why a cat can’t be taught to live in  harmony with us.

Next, remember that many cat behaviors that we do not like are natural behaviors for the cat. If we don’t guide them to the correct behaviors, they’ll never want to do them or learn them.

Get a good cat behavior book to understand why your cat does the things she does and you will be more successful in molding her behavior.

Positive reinforcement vs. aversive conditioning

Positive reinforcement includes giving treats or talking in a soft, happy voice as a reward for behaviors like using a scratching post or walking on a leash. Aversive conditioning provides an undesirable stimulus to stop a behavior. As an example, a startle correction using a loud noise can distract a cat who is scratching on the furniture. A scat mat can provide a static shock to discourage a cat from jumping up on a counter.

A combination of the two types of behavior modifications can be used when you want to redirect undesirable natural behavior (like chewing on plants or scratching furniture) to wanted behavior. Use a startle correction when the cat is scratching on the furniture, and positive reinforcement when she uses the scratching post. [ Read Full Article ]