Reviews: Training Aids for Cats - Products That Help with Training

In the mid 1990s, Farnam Companies, Inc., developed a new spray product, Feliway, which mimics the "friendly" facial pheromones cats apply to surfaces to show their "ownership." It is believed that cats will not mark with urine any area they have previously marked with their facial pheromones. Spraying a previously urine-marked surface with Feliway has proven to be greatly effective in discouraging urine spraying.

Klaw Kontrol is a scientifically engineered bag for containing cats when necessary for administration of medications, claw trimming, or other procedures which require cooperation by the cat. Read this guest review describing the pros and cons of Klaw Kontrol as used with live cats.

Clicker training for cats is widely accepted as the ultimate training tool for cats, belying the sometimes held assumption that it is only used for "teaching tricks." Karen Pryor, a behavioral biologist, is an acknowledged leader in clicker training for cats.

One of the most frustrating problems to deal with involving cats is the occasional territorial urine spraying. Comfort Zone, a diffuser for a "friendly pheromone," can greatly reduce or completely stop territorial spraying, along with other stress-related behavior.

Undesirable scratching is one of the prime reasons for surrendering cats to shelters, but there are less aggressive alternatives to declawing or abandonment. Soft Claws, developed by a veterinarian, ranks high on the list of humane alternatives.

Ssscat! is an efficient training system for behavioral problems as diverse as counter-surfing, undesirable scratching, urine spraying, plant-eating, or wire chewing.

Sometimes for one reason or another, cats begin to avoid the use of their litter box, or a previously outdoor cat needs to be trained to the use of a litter box. Cat Attract was developed by a feline-only veterinarian as a "training litter." This litter contains a natural herb "attractant" that piques a cat's curiosity in the litter.

For comfort, style, and safety, the walking jacket is an excellent accessory for leash training a cat.

Cats who enjoy the outdoors may go out safely with a well fitting cat harness and a person on the other end of the leash. Harnesses may be of the classic H-Shape,walking jackets, or the Figure 8 variety, while some harnesses come with an attached leash. Read these reader reviews of cat harnesses, then publish your own with the simple form provided. See submissions

Cats should never ride in a vehicle without being safely enclosed in a carrier. Cats will also not be allowed aboard aircraft without approved carriers. Responsible caregivers keep at least one carrier per cat available at all times. Read these reader reviews of cat carriers, then publish your own with the simple form provided.