Most people believe that cats can’t
be trained because cats don’t seem to respond to many of the methods used to
train dogs. But cats do respond to training! In fact one of the first
scientific studies highlighting the importance of reinforcement in animal
behavior was done with cats.
The first step to training your cat
is to understand him. Cats aren’t as social as dogs. Dogs have been bred
specifically to work together with people, whereas the primary reason cats were
domesticated was to kill vermin on their own. So they’re independent, and they
aren’t as naturally inclined to work for praise and attention as dogs are.
They’re also not as easy to motivate. You have to use really special treats
that your cat finds irresistible. Training a cat requires some creativity and
patience.
Training your cat has important
benefits. You’re stimulating his body and his mind, which helps keep him
healthy. And spending time together means you’re strengthening the bond you
share. In addition to teaching fun tricks like wave and fetch, you can also
teach him a range of useful behaviors like sit, stay and to come when called.
You could even teach your cat to pee in the toilet and flush afterwards!
Tips for Adopting a Cat from a Shelter
Use Tasty Treats
The first step is to find a treat
that your cat goes crazy for. Fresh chicken diced in tiny cubes, bits of tuna,
meat-flavored baby food, and commercial cat treats are all good choices. Once
you’ve identified treats your cat likes, follow the basic steps of positive
reinforcement training (reward-based training) to teach him the behavior you
want. Suppose you’d like your cat to sit and stay on a stool while you prepare
his dinner. You’ll first need to start with teaching him to sit when you ask
him to:
• First,
make sure you have your cat’s attention. Hold the tasty treat in your fingers
right at your cat’s nose. When your cat begins to sniff the treat, slowly move
it in an arc from his nose up just over his head between his ears. (Don’t raise
it straight up, or you’ll be teaching your cat to stand on his rear legs rather
than sit!) Many cats will follow this arc motion with their eyes and nose, and
as their chin raises up and back, their butt will go down.
• Second,
the instant your cat’s bottom hits the floor, praise him and offer him the
treat. If his rear doesn’t go all the way down on the first try, give him the
treat anyway. Over several repetitions of practice, give him a treat each time
his rear gets slightly closer, until he’s gets into a complete sit with his
rear all the way on the floor.
Cats don’t see things well that are
still and close-up, so if your cat has difficulty taking the treat from your
fingers, try offering it to him in your flat palm or tossing it on the floor.
He’ll see the movement when you toss it and know where the treat is.
Use a Clicker
A clicker can make training easier and faster. If you don’t
have a clicker, you can use a pen that makes a clicking sound. The instant your
cat does the correct behavior, click and then offer a treat. The click lets
your cat know the instant he does the right thing, so it helps him catch on
faster. Just make sure you click at the exact moment he does the behavior you
want, and then give him a treat. Cats learn through repetition, just like we
do, so you’ll need to practice a few times in a row. Keep your training
sessions short though-just a few minutes at a time. Most cats get bored if you
try to drill the same thing over and over.
No Punishment!
While training your cat, keep in mind that cats respond
very poorly to punishment! Rather than learning what behavior not to do, a
punished cat usually just learns to run away. Depending on your cat’s
temperament, punishment can frighten your cat to the point where he may hide
from you and your family members. Punishment creates stress, and stress is one
of the most common causes for problem behaviors in cats, including eliminating
outside of the litter box and compulsive grooming. Stress also compromises the
immune system, making your cat more vulnerable to disease, including feline
idiopathic cystitis (inflammation of the bladder).
It’s much easier to train your cat when you reward
behaviors you want and offer him more attractive alternatives for behaviors you
don’t want. Persuasion, not punishment, is the key to training your cat. If you
patiently practice and reward your cat with treats, you’ll soon have a cat
who’s sitting on cue and purring contentedly.
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