It can be difficult to train a cat to be handled, but it’s necessary to ensure that your pet feels at ease and content around people. A calm and well-trained cat is much easier to care for, whether you’re handling it for grooming, veterinary visits, or just regular interactions.
Cats are more independent than dogs, so tolerance and understanding are essential. Since every cat is unique, it’s crucial to take your time and allow your pet to adjust at their own speed. Training a cat can be more challenging if you rush or force them, as this can induce stress or fear.
You can teach your cat to feel more at ease being handled by providing a safe, trusting environment and employing positive reinforcement. You can have a calmer, less stressful relationship with your cat if you follow a few easy steps and are consistent with it.
It takes time, effort, and a gentle approach to teach a cat to be handled and make them feel at ease with human contact. You can foster trust and create a peaceful environment for both you and the cat by beginning early, using positive reinforcement, and respecting the cat’s boundaries. Short, stress-free handling sessions should be gradually increased as the cat gains confidence. Your feline friend’s daily interactions, grooming, and veterinary visits can all be made easier and more pleasurable with proper training.
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Why does a cat refuse to go to your hands
Most of the time, owners of cats that were adopted from the street deal with this issue. The pet’s actions in this instance make sense because it doesn’t trust people. It’s worth giving it a little time until the cat adjusts, examines the surroundings more closely, and gains confidence in the home. Understanding a cat who was adopted from a cat nursery as a kitten but who, after a while, still refuses to sit in your arms is more challenging.
Potential causes:
- The cat is simply uncomfortable. You should pick up the animal so that there is a point of support, and the movements are not constrained. The best option is one hand under the chest, the second supports under the hind legs.
- The pet is afraid of heights. This may sound funny, but often among the representatives of the cat world there are specimens that are afraid of heights. If the cat begins to panic when in your arms, you need to squat down. This will allow the pet to feel more confident.
- Memories. Cats have a phenomenal memory. If, as a kitten, the pet slipped from your hands and fell, it will remember this for the rest of its life.
- Repulsive odors. Unpleasant, sharp odors for cats, emanating from human clothing, for example, alcohol, cologne, soap or shower gel, can cause reluctance to go into arms.
The fact that cats just detest affection is another factor. These creatures would rather live alone and avoid human contact at all costs. All the owner needs to do is get used to this situation.
How to tame a pet
You have to work hard and move slowly so as not to frighten the animal if you want to be able to hold a furry pet in your arms on occasion.
Zoologists say that if you are consistent in your behavior, you can tame even adult cats to your hands.
Making a connection. Initially, you should make general contact with the pet by petting it, giving it healthy treats, and playing with it more frequently.
Instruction. You can train a cat to sit on your lap and in your hands as soon as it shows signs of pleasure-seeking behavior by following these tips:
- Give your pet its favorite treat from your hands more often. In this case, the cat will form a cause-and-hereditary relationship, and the owner"s hands will be associated with something pleasant.
- Do not raise your voice near your pet, and do not laugh loudly. Kittens do not like annoying sounds.
- Interest them with a glowing toy by placing it on your lap.
- Train them to your hands when your pet has eaten a hearty meal. The fact is that the cat will be in a pleasant half-sleep and is unlikely to resist the additional warmth emanating from the owner.
- After picking up the cat, you should immediately offer it its favorite food. As soon as the cat has eaten, you need to let it go. Having done this trick several times, the pet will then happily go to your hands.
- If the cat is afraid of heights, you need to tame it slowly, sitting on your lap, gradually rising higher.
- The training procedure should be carried out in an easy, playful way. Toys on strings are great for this – bows, mice. First, you need to properly "play" with your pet, gradually moving the toy closer to your knees. In pursuit of a goal, in excitement, the cat will jump on your knees and will not even notice it. Practicing such games more often, the mustachioed-striped one will quickly get used to jumping on the owner"s lap.
- While the pet is small, it can be carried in a robe pocket, like in a kangaroo bar. The baby will really like this fun, and he will perceive the robe as his property. The human smell from clothes will be associated with childhood in an adult cat.
- Talk more and more calmly with your pet. The gentle, monotonous voice of the owner will calm the animal, give a feeling of peace and security. If you stroke the cat at the same time as talking, it will quickly get used to close communication, will begin to trust the owner and go to the lap for affection and attention.
Unconventional techniques. You can go to great lengths if the aforementioned actions are ineffective. Pheromone-containing special aerosols are sold in pet stores. The cat will be drawn to these products. Pets will always reach for their palms when a small amount of aerosol is applied to them.
One disadvantage of using aerosols is that weaning the animal off of them could be difficult.
Catnip can be used to wean the cat off of the product’s smell. An adult pet requires much more time to get used to handling; a kitten will learn to handle hands much more quickly.
Also read:
- how to accustom a kitten to hands;
- how to make a cat affectionate;
- how to understand that a cat loves you.
| Training Step | Explanation |
| Start Slowly | Begin by gently handling your cat for short periods, allowing them to get used to being touched. |
| Use Rewards | Encourage good behavior by offering treats or praise whenever the cat responds positively to handling. |
| Be Patient | Cats may take time to adjust, so repeat sessions regularly without rushing. |
| Stay Calm | Handle the cat in a relaxed and calm environment to avoid stress. |
| Respect Boundaries | If your cat becomes agitated, give them space and try again later. |
It takes time, patience, and a gentle approach to teach a cat to be handled. Since each cat is unique, it’s critical to adjust to their needs and personalities. To establish trust and confidence, go slowly at first and use positive reinforcement.
Maintaining consistency is essential. Frequent brief sessions will help your cat get used to being handled and touched. Reward excellent behavior consistently to promote advancement.
Always exercise patience and never put your cat in a stressful or frightened situation by force. Over time, your cat may come to appreciate being petted, which will facilitate and enhance your daily interactions.
