Santa Clarita, Calif., June 13, 2014 —Avoiding the litterbox. Aggressive behavior. Excessive scratching. Biting. Spraying. These unwelcome cat behaviors not only leave owners feeling frustrated, but also prevent prospective owners from adopting a cat altogether. While cats in general are not as social as dogs, many people do not realize that like their canine counterparts, they can be trained and these undesirable behaviors managed and treated. June is “Adopt a Shelter Cat Month.” To commemorate the occasion and heighten awareness of the millions of homeless cats available for adoption across the U.S., Animal Behavior College (ABC) is offering a Continuing Education Program (CEP) on Cat Management and Training.
The Cat Management and Training CEP is an online program that teaches students the proper socialization techniques for developing happy and healthy human-to-feline and feline-to-canine interactions. With more than 40 percent of dog owners also having cats, basic behavior training is essential to ensure a harmonious environment.
“There are widely held and erroneous misconceptions that cats are generally more independent than dogs and this somehow renders them incapable of being trained,” said Steven Appelbaum, president and CEO of Animal Behavior College. “In fact, cats can learn every bit as quickly and as much as dogs. The key is what you train them to do. Our program addresses this misperception by teaching pet professionals how to solve common and treatable behavioral challenges. This includes litterbox training, not scratching on furniture, greeting owners without biting or scratching, spraying and even accepting other cats in the household. Believe it or not, cats can even learn to walk on leash and listen to other commands.”
The program teaches students cat behaviors, training techniques and common commands such as to come, sit and stay. Additionally, they learn how to interpret feline body language and vocalizations, and positive ways to address problem behaviors. The program imparts an array of fun, stimulating behaviors like teaching a cat to roll over, tightrope walk and jump through a hoop. Completing the course provides participants with invaluable knowledge they can share with their pet-owning clients, which in turn establishes credibility and builds their business.
With pet cats outnumbering dogs, learning how to train, manage and treat cat behaviors can be a profitable venture for pet professionals in a variety of fields. There are 83.3 million dogs in the U.S. compared to 95.6 million cats, according to the American Pet Products Association (APPA). Appelbaum believes that increasing the public’s knowledge and understanding about cat behaviors, also encourages more adoptions that could save a shelter cat’s life.
“Feline education dispels misconceptions and negative stereotypes,” Appelbaum said. “Teaching cat management and training techniques help cats that may otherwise be re-homed or abandoned.”
The Cat Management and Training CEP is available to all of ABC’s certified Dog Training Program (DOP), Grooming Instruction Program (GIP) and Veterinary Assistant Program (VAP) students and graduates. For more information about Animal Behavior College, please visit our website at www.AnimalBehaviorCollege.com or call 1-800-795-3294.
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About Animal Behavior College
Animal Behavior College is the premier international vocational school specializing in certified animal career training programs. ABC has created a powerful team of skilled advocates who are devoted to nurturing the human-animal bond through dog training, veterinary assisting and pet grooming. The founders of ABC have spent years developing and perfecting affordable career programs, which combine home learning with hands-on training externships with professional mentors. To date, more than 28,000 students have enrolled in ABC programs and the alumni group boasts the largest number of certified dog trainers in the United States.
