Can Cats be Trained?
Many people wonder whether or not it's possible to train a cat. The answer is definitely yes, but it requires some further clarification.
Cats Are Not Dogs
Cats cannot usually be trained to roll over, sit, stay, or any of the other tricks that dogs often do on command. Sure, cats can do those things, but they won't; at least not when you tell them to. Dogs, and humans for that matter, are social creatures with an inherent need to belong to a group, and so feel the need to obey superiors in the "pack," such as an owner or trainer.
Cats, on the other hand, are not of necessity social animals. They can, and often do, live in groups, but they can also get along on their own just fine. Because they do not inherit the same drive to belong that dogs and people do, they feel no particular obligation to take orders from anyone, owners included.
Cat Training
As we said at the beginning, however, cats can be trained. The principles of cat training are based on the way cats learn. If an experience is pleasing, they will repeat it; if an experience is displeasing, they will not repeat it and will possibly even try to avoid it.
Now on to the mechanics of cat training. To train your cats to perform an action (such as using the litter box), reward them with praise, treats, and affection when they do it. This will make it a good experience for them. Eventually the action will become a habit.
Getting cats to stop an action (such as jumping on the dining table or scratching the furniture), is a bit trickier. Reprimanding does not work well in many situations; it often only teaches cats to be sneaky and do those things when you're not looking. Instead, you have to set up the environment so that the offending behavior is not pleasurable.
Continuing the furniture example, many cats dislike certain smells, such as citrus. Thus using a citrus spray on the furniture can make it an unpleasant place for your cats and they will probably leave it alone. The citrus spray is just one example of a principle that will have to applied creatively to different situations.
Working with Instinct
Cats instinctively feel the need to perform certain actions, such as scratch and chase. You cannot teach them to deny these instincts; you can, however, teach them to act out in appropriate ways. Providing cats with toys, scratching posts, etc. will go a long way in preventing destructive and unwanted behavior. Your spending time with them will also greatly improve their behavior as well.
