Can Cats Learns?

Mother Cats The Best Teachers

Kittens are born with some knowledge or instincts, however, there are many behaviors that Kittens learn and many others that they can be taught.  Knowing what Cat behavior is learned or trainable and what is instincts is the key.  Kittens learn some behavior by watching older cats reactions, especially those related to survival. Some are instinctive such as a very newborn "hissing or spitting" even though eyes are shut and it cannot see the danger but senses it.  Outdoor Kittens need to rely on their instincts as well and learn quickly for survival.  Indoor raised Kittens will learn differently, as much is provided in life for them and hence they live a sheltered life and quickly adapt to the pampered pet role.  They encounted great difficulties if they have to fend for themselves outdoors.  Cats are quick learners, but they cannot learn "street life" quick enough to live long.  Most outdoor Cats have a life span of 3 years, where indoor Cats enjoy 12-15 years.

Mother Cats teach their offspring to "hunt".  Hunting is an example of a "learned behavior".  Queens (females) allowed outside begin to bring back prey to their litter when the kittens are approxmiately 3 weeks old.  She brings back dead prey and will eat it in front of her kittens, latter she will bring "live" prey and kill it in front of them for them to eat.  Than she will bring back "live" prey for the kittens to kill and consume. 
Later on, she will take them on hunting trips.  All the time, she is programing her kittens on survival skills and how to fend for themselves.

These Kittens will learn best from their Mother than from other unrelated cats.  Feline Hunting is not instinctive, and kittens born to nonhunting mothers or without littermates may never learn to really hunt or would be very poor providers if required to fend for themselves.  These indoor Kittens will "Play", catch and appear as "hunters" but their hunting skills are flawed and kills are usually "aggresive" play rather than for the intent of eating.  This is why you will see Kittens playing and not killing rodents/animals that would be "dinner" if Mother the Hunter had any say.

Another habit often learned from "Mother", is the use of the "litter pan".  Kittens will play in the litter, but only get the concept of what to do in it when they see Mother or another Cat use it.  They than follow their instinct to "bury" feces to protect their trails from predators.  Active Moms also usually have active kittens.  She will show them how to play and often engage in play with them, show them how to use toys, cat trees, scratching posts etc. 

Other Learned Cat BehaviorsCats will learn to keep doing things that you want them to do, such as meowing to be let out or crying when they want food etc.  They soon put together that the cry is rewarded with whatever the desired reason was ie. outside, food etc.  They also learn their names particularly if the name is simple and distinct.  Cats will respond especially well to names ending with an "ee" which sounds like "Kitty" or "Fluffy",  Repeating the name, rewarding with lots of affection and treats will reinforce and they will soon come to that name.

Watching your kitten and knowing their background such as being the product of an Outdoor Queen or offspring of Indoor Cats will give you some ideas as to how they will respond in new environments.  I have barn cats, whom are feed and sheltered etc., and any offspring  knows how to hunt to some degree, escape rambunctious dogs, hungry owls and eagles.  They can fend for themselves although they also enjoy some of the good life-heated barn, food and water.  If one of my indoor Cats was placed in this lifestyle, they would have problems, no confidence, lack ability to protect themselves and probably cower in a dark corner not prepared at all for this type of lifestyle.  This often happens when Cats are abandon, become lost and placed in shelters.  Care must be exercised when placing these Cats were their "learned behavior" best suits their new environments.

Knowing about Cat Behavior, How Cats Learn and Training Cats  is key to having a happy and healthy long relationship with your feline friends. 

Reading The Body Language Of Cats

There are famous Horse and dog Whisperers but no one has really claims on being a  Cat Whisperer.  Is that because Cats are very complexed animals, difficult to understand and quite frustrating at times?  Is it that they do not feel the need to talk to us whenever we think they should?  There is a quote "dogs come when they're called, cats take a message and get back to you later" by Mary Bly and it is so true.  They tell us when they are hungry, want out, want loving, ready to play or want to be left alone.  They give us that "look" and would roll their eyes if they could.    However, there are some basic body indicators that will make it easier to understand your cats behaviour.   Here are some of these indicators:

Your cat's tail is a great indicator of its feelings and mood. When the tail is held straight up, indicates that he is happy and feeling relaxed. The higher the tail is held, the happier your cat is. So if your cat greets you with a high tail,  you can be assured that he is in a very good mood and happy to see you.

A cat's tail  half-raised is a strong indication that he is feeling a bit scared or fearful for some reason.  It indicates that he is cautious, not sure.  Is there a stranger with you, or do you have an item that he is not use to or seen before?  A cat's tail hanging  low indicate that he is scared, frighten or ill.  When a cat is angry, his tail will appear very fluffed because he is making himself appear much stronger and larger to outside threats like an unknown dog. When your cat is being playful, his tail will often twitch.

An extremely agitated cat lashes his tail back and forth in a rapid motion. This is often noticed when your cat is ready to attack another cat or what he perceives as threats.

Cat's ears are another indicator of communication. Held upright and in a forward position,  means that he is feeling happy and relaxed.  Ears  positioned extremely upright means that he is attentive and maybe trying  to hear something.  Unhappy cats hold ears somewhat back.  Angry cats pin their ears back.  This indicates aggression and a readiness to attack.  Cats that twitch their ears are unsure and perhaps nervous.

A Cats eyes will also tell you lots.  Eyes that blink or wink alot indicates a happy, relaxed cat.  An angry or aggressive cat will make direct eye contact.  A frightened cat will have dilated pupils,  A sick cat may have half closed eyes with exposed third eyelids (nictitating membranes that come up over the lower inside portion of the cat's eyes). 

Other signs are: purring-happy cat or a very sick cat that is comforting itself.  Whiskers fanned out straight from  face-happy, relaxed.  Whiskers back-frightened.  Hissing and growling, body low to the ground-upset, angry, scared.    Hair on back standing up (piloerection)-frightened although kittens playing will sometimes pose the pretend attacks and make themselves look fearless.  A sick cat may hunch her back, tuck tail between legs, have droopy ears and whiskers.

By watching cats, one becomes familiar with their body languages, expressions, moods etc. These are just some of the body signs that help to understand the behavior or mood of your cat or if you are dealing with other strange cats.

Understanding cats is the key to having a better relationship with them.
There is great resources on cats and kittens  as to care, health, behavior, training, products and supplies plus good general information.

Cats-To Neuter Or Not?

For most Cat owners whom are not breeders, the prospect of having litters of kittens is not something one looks forward to. First of all, you will get too attached. Than you will need to find good homes which is harder than one thinks and once you get that litter homes, your cat is starting on her next litter and it just keeps going on until you decide to do something about the real problem.

Did you know that United States has the most cats in the world? An estimated 76,430,000. China is next with 53,100,000 and than Russia at 12,700,000. Cats are a very big industry in the USA with 1000s of products available! But how many of these are wanted and have loving homes? How many are abandoned each year?  How many are killed?
The estimates are millions. So many that most will be euthanised and this is very distrubing for us cat lovers.

Cats are very good breeders. Female cats can have 3 litters of kittens per year with an average of 4 kittens per litter. That is 12 kittens in one year. The Queen will continue year after year having litters, and her offspring will also become sexually engaged with their own litters. Hence, the potential number of offspring from this one female is enormous.  The record is one female giving birth to 19.  Another female gave birth to over 450 kittens during her "motherhood" years.  That is just too many cats! 

Neutering is recommended as the only solution to the world's overpopulation of pets. It is the most effective way to prevent unwanted pregnancies and is done by majority of responsible pet owners whom can afford the cost and/or animal shelters when kittens are old enough or new stray cats are brought in. For those that cannot afford to neuter, there are sometimes free clinics or financial assistance provided. The main goal is to reduce the cat population.

As well, there are several other good reasons to neuter a cat, it makes for a better overall pet as it can prevents spraying and wandering if let outdoors which can lead to the Cat becoming injured or lost. Neutering will extends the cat's lifespan by an estimated two to three years.

Neutering is best done outside of the breeding season such as late fall or over the winter. It will require a trip to the Vet Clinic and will be performed under anesthetic. The best age to castrate males is when they are about 5 months old, when the blood flows to the testes is still light, reducing the risk of pain and post-operative complications. The best age to spay females is when they are about 4 1/2 months old and definately before they become sexually mature.

Those opposing neutering indicate that a cat still has a right to enjoy sex and vasectomies and tying of the tubes should be performed instead. Some advocate birth control pills, however, there is still costs. Giving pills to cats hardly ever go well. Keeping the cats indoor during periods of sexual activity is equally difficult particularly if this cat is use to the outdoors. Somehow, smart females and eager Toms always have a way of getting together. A morning after shot can be given if you think or catch the act being done, but it is not the long term solution.

Neutering will cost so it is recommended that you phone several clinic to get an estimate for costs. Male castration is cheaper than female spaying and is sometimes taken into consideration when first choosing a pet. In some places, mass neutering clinics are available at reasonable cost, particularly for those with many cats or those catching semi-feral cats. Some of these clinics will request a small donation.

Kittens are beautiful and a wonder to behold, however, the thoughts of so many having short, hungry, painful lives is reason in itself to ensure that we start to reduce the "unwanted" by taking action with our own pets. Adopt rather than breed.  Promote neutering and spaying.  Become an advocate for humane treatment of Pets.  Stay informed regarding care, health and general information regarding your pets.
   
There is a on going cost to pet ownership,  hence, one must take these costs into consideration when raising pets and deciding whether to allow your pets to breed.