You CAN Train Your Cat

by Gregory Popovich

Since the beginning of time, cats have convinced the world that they are untrainable so they can do whatever they want...but those days are over! Gregory Popovich is a professional cat trainer who's trained cats to perform amazing circus-style tricks for television and stage, and he's about to reveal his most closely guarded secrets so cat lovers everywhere can put an end to the most common
- Stop bad litter box habits
- End early-morning howling
- Banish your cat from tabletops and countertops
- Prevent begging before mealtime
- Put an end to destructive clawing
- Make peace between rival cats

And so much more, including how to become an expert cat trainer at home and teach your cat to perform Gregory's favorite tricks, like jumping through a hoop or perching on your shoulders. This fun-to-read book also provides wonderful insights into the mysterious, complex feline mind, explaining why cats do the things they do so we can better understand them and enjoy a closer, more meaningful friendship.

Genres: Nonfiction, Cats, Animals

240 pages, Paperback

First published October 13, 2009

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are interested in training your cat to do tricks, this is the book for you. The author actually takes his cats along with him on his travels and they have performed on the David Letterman show, America's Got Talent, Animal Planet, etc.

There are chapters on how to get your cat to let you sleep, teaching your cat not to damage furniture, how to bathe your cat, moving and traveling with your cat, etc. While there is some very good information in this book, I did not find enough detail about the issue I have with my cats. How do I stop the two of them from fighting with each other two to three times a day? I am still on the search for the right book.

[Deodand · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is more about the basics of cat care than it is about training. There were also a lot of things I disagreed with, for instance the item about disciplining your cat. Popovich takes a gentle approach, but doesn't place enough emphasis on the fact that there are some things you can't discipline for because the cat won't understand the meaning behind your actions.

There were a few nuts and bolts I didn't like either, for instance, the instruction that you should bathe your (healthy, functioning) cat once a month. I have never bathed my cats and they get along just fine without it, as I believe most normal cats do. Also I believe in keeping cat litter VERY deep - about 5 inches. I have three large cats and they need the depth or it stinks! Only kittens need shallow litter. And a pan liner is just a waste of money.

I guess I was hoping for more new information that hadn't been covered elsewhere.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful information, particularly about how to stop your cat scratching you and the furniture, which was my main intention in reading this. Entertaining info about his background in circuses. The one thing that surprised me was that he advocates bathing cats once a month. I have never heard of this, and am not keen to try it (will discuss with vet though).

[Sarah Alvarado · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not helpful and not what I was looking for, yet somehow strangely entertaining. The book would be more appropriate for someone who has not been around cats much before, and didn't offer much beyond basics. Certainly no help for someone seeking to socialize feral kittens. Still, it did inspire me to think about teaching my tiny gatos to jump around on my command.

[Sacha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be a better book for someone new to cats. I've had cats my whole life and most of it was basic knowledge. There are some good tips about taking care of your cats. Not as much information on actually training them. I did enjoy stuff he wrote about his adventures with the animals on the road.
I think it would be nice if he wrote a book about his life. He is a very interesting man. I appreciate that he gets his animals from shelters.

[Misty · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book covers a lot of very basic cat information. As someone who has shared my life with cats for over 30 years, I skimmed over most of the material. The chapter on teaching tricks to your cat (near the back of the book) had some helpful tips that I am going to try. I found the stories about the author's trained cats amusing and heartwarming.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping for ideas about tricks for my cats, but this is mostly just another cat behavior book -- and not as insightful as most other cat behavior books I have read recently. The occasional anecdotes and jokes add some charm.

[Aisha Mahmoud · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book. Not as much focus on teaching cats tricks as I would have liked. A lot of focus on basic cat information. Still, very well done. Here is someone who genuinely is interested and cares about cats and has spent a great deal of time with them.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another accidental find and one I enjoyed tremondously. From the title you expect a how to book, but it is really the author's autobiography about his life training cats. If you love cats and biographies, I recommend it.