In recent weeks we�ve received some letters from the pet loving public who seem to have issues with �unwanted� behaviours in both dogs and cats. So, in the coming issues, I�ll be outlining some of these issues and how you can counteract them. First of all, and this is quite important. It�s worth stating that cats are, obviously, not dogs.

� If you want your pet to sit, stay and roll over � get a dog.
� If you�re happy with a pet that can will sit quietly on your lap and purr � get a cat.
� If you really want to send yourself round the bend and want a pet beyond the realms of training � have a child.

Despite cats and dogs being so wildly different, there are some things they share in common � such as the ability to be trained. However, the crucial element of training any animal is understanding HOW they learn.

Put it this way: animals do not speak English, or Thai, or German, or any other HUMAN language. Animals cannot read books. They will get bored and sleep through a lecture and they can�t be bothered to write essays � like many students, in fact. They do, however, learn through experience. If an experience is good, they will try to repeat it. If it�s unpleasant, they will try to avoid it.

Cats enjoy raking their claws, they don�t distinguish between a tree, a scratching post and your favourite rosewood antique rocking chair � they enjoy it, so they�ll continue to do it. However, most cats won�t stick their nose into a burning candle flame more than once.

The key to successful training is to make sure that, whatever you want your pet to do, it is rewarding and pleasurable. Conversely, unwanted behaviours should never be in anyway rewarding or fun. Sometimes we unintentionally reward our pets for obnoxious behaviour.

I often get enquiries from people who complain bitterly about this lovely cat of theirs who wakes them at 5am every morning, meowing and refusing to get off the bed. I then ask the owners how they react to this intrusion, to which they all reply � �I get up, feed the cat and let him outside�. Brilliant. So, the cat�s worked it out � if I meow loud enough, I�ll get fed and let outside � it�s not rocket science.

It�s also worth bearing in mind that your perfect waking hours might not suit to your pet. Cats, for example, are more nocturnal. Given the choice, a cat will sleep all day long and then at about eight or nine in the evening, get up, stretch, scratch, poo and generally go about the business of being a cat.

Cats are most active from middle/late evening to the early hours of the morning. The only thing wrong is that the cat's activity schedule is 180 degrees out of sync with yours. All that needs to be done is to change your cat's working schedule from night-shift to day-shift, which is much easier than it sounds.

Unlike your average Australian teenager, you cannot expect your cat to sleep 24 hours a day. He needs to play sometime and if his nightly playtime sessions are becoming somewhat bothersome, then make sure your cat plays earlier. If you do not provide him with some kind of daytime activity, he will spend the day asleep � a bit like being in the office really.

Rather than letting your cat snooze all evening while you are watching Oprah, turn off the tube, get down on the floor and play with your cat. Tie a feather or piece of crumpled paper to a length of string and run around the house dragging it behind. Train your cat to climb his scratching post; train him to fetch and run back and forth between you and a friend. Visit your local pet store and look for new and interesting toys for your cat. Make toys of your own. Most cats have a wonderful time rolling around inside a large, open paper bag or box sprinkled with catnip. Try to tire out your cat early in the evening. This will greatly increase the likelihood that he will sleep at night. The more regular you make the cat's new routine, the quicker he will adjust. Schedule feedings and playtime at regular intervals that are appropriate for the schedule you wish your cat to keep.

If you have any questions or queries, please email � sniffer@phuket-animal-welfare.com