Can You Train Your Cat?
Many pet owners lean towards dogs because they can be trained to obey simple commands. Does this mean that cats, who are well-known for their fierce independence, are not trainable? No. Cats are incredibly clever and just as motivated as dogs, and can often be trained to do both simple and complex activities.
Of course, many people wonder exactly why a cat should be the recipient of some basic training procedures and the answer is very simple; it is to provide them with some obedience and stimulation.
The first step in training your cat is to understand that they are actually as easily manipulated by food rewards as most dogs. Consider how your cat will come running when you open the refrigerator or pop the top on a can of food. This is something to recognize as a tool in the training process. Cats associate specific sounds with food, and this means you can use both audible triggers and food rewards to train them in some basic behaviors.
What is the first thing you can train a cat to do? The same tricks or activities that most dogs learn quickly can also be taught to your cat. For instance, “come”, “sit”, and “stay” are all things that a cat can do, and in fact, can keep them from serious harm. Consider that one of the biggest challenges faced by indoor cat owners is the issue of a cat bolting outdoors where it can be harmed by dangers in the road or other animals. Being able to say the word “stay” and have a cat obey is remarkably handy and helpful.
It all begins when the owner begins to create a new food and sound association for the cat. Most people purchase what are known as “clickers” and they make a notable clicking sound when squeezed between the fingers. To begin teaching a cat that the clicker is a sound connected to a positive reward they simply give the cat a treat and then click the device. This begins the association needed for later training.
The next step is to ensure that the cat is a bit hungry prior to a training session, which means scheduling them just before meal times. It is a good idea to call their name, say the command, and then give the reward and the click.
We’ll look at the “stay” command for this discussion simply because it is so beneficial to have in the cat’s repertoire. The owner must put a food reward a short distance from the cat, and as it approaches the owner holds out their hand and speaks the “stay” command. When the cat stops they are rewarded with a click and a treat. The click and reward are only given when the cat stops. In only a short period of time the cat will know both the hand gesture and the voice prompt and will automatically freeze in their tracks.
