Santa Clarita, Calif., June 14, 2017 — Inappropriate elimination, inter-cat aggression, scratching furniture and biting people are some of the most common reasons frustrated owners surrender their cats to local shelters, according to the book “Feline Behavioral Health and Welfare” by IIona Rodan and Sarah Heath published in 2016 . Many don’t realize these and many other problem behaviors can be solved by or managed with professional cat training methods.
June is “Adopt a Shelter Cat Month.” To heighten awareness of the 3.2 million homeless cats that enter shelters every year in the U.S., Animal Behavior College (ABC) http://www.AnimalBehaviorCollege.com/Info not only encourages shelter cat adoptions, but also believes new and existing owners should know how to train their cats to solve potential behavior problems so they are less likely to return their feline friends to the shelter.
“The pet industry promotes the importance of adopting shelter cats, but usually neglects to emphasize why it’s important to train them, too. Adoption and training should go hand-in-hand,” said Steven Appelbaum, president and CEO of Animal Behavior College. “I believe the training message is lost because there is a general misconception that cats can’t be trained when in fact cats can learn every bit as quickly as dogs.”
Each year approximately 860,000 homeless cats are euthanized, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Many of these cats were taken to shelters because of untreated behavior problems. Behavior problems also keep some owners from taking their cats to the veterinarian for preventative check-ups. A study conducted by Bayer Healthcare and the American Association of Feline Practitioners found that more than half of U.S. cats have not seen a veterinarian within the past year for needed check-ups. The study found that 58 percent of owners reported they don’t take their cats to the veterinarian because their cats fear being placed in a carrier. The downside is many cats forgo yearly check-ups that could prevent potential health problems. If cats are trained to ride in their carriers more owners may be willing to take their cats to the veterinary clinic more often which translates into better health care for their cats.
In April 2017, ABC introduced a Cat Training Program (CTP). The distance-learning certification program covers learning theories, preventing unwanted behaviors, behavior management, training tools, safety practices, feline care and nutrition, and business building. In addition, the program includes a shelter practicum, pet first aid and CPR certification (https://animalbehaviourcollege.ca/blog/pet-first-aid/). It takes students about 8 to 12 months to complete the CTP. Upon completing the program, participants will be certified by ABC as Animal Behavior College Cat Trainers (ABCCT). The CTP is available for dog trainers, veterinary staff and everyone else who loves cats and wants to learn cat training.
For more information about the Cat Training Program or to become a pet groomer (https://animalbehaviourcollege.ca/grooming/), dog trainer https://animalbehaviourcollege.ca/dog-trainer/) or veterinary assistant (https://animalbehaviourcollege.ca/VeterinaryAssistant/), visit the college’s website at www.AnimalBehaviorCollege.com/info) or call 1-800-795-3294.
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About Animal Behavior College
Animal Behavior College is the largest school for professional dog trainers in the U.S. Since its inception in 1998, the college has certified and graduated more than 13,500 professional dog trainers through the Dog Obedience Program. ABC also offers certifications through the Cat Training, Grooming Instruction and Veterinary Assistant Programs, as well as five Short-Term Programs on an array of relevant subjects.