When you think about pets that can be trained, usually dogs spring to mind. Cats often don’t even fall under consideration because cats have a reputation for being self-governing creatures that do what they want, when they want, and nobody can tell them otherwise. But this is pure misconception. Cats can be trained; it just takes a little more work than training Fido.
If you want to train your cat to help curb their unwanted behaviors, then here are some tips that will help you get the most out of your pet.
The Power of Positive Reinforcement
When you’re training your cat, the most important thing you need to know is that positive reinforcement training works best. Using your voice or a clicker combined with treats is the quickest and most effective way to get your cat to do the behavior you want them to do.
Cats learn by association, so it is important to choose a marker word, like “yes” or “good,” which you will say when your cat does the right thing. After saying the marker word, it is important to follow it immediately with a treat. This will result in your cat associating your marker word with good things. The key to success with positive reinforcement training is to be clear and consistent.
How to Train Your Cat: Step-by-Step
The easiest way to start training your cat is to train her to come to you when called and for her to do a certain thing, like sit. Once you successfully achieve this behavior, then you can use the same principle to train her to do other things.
- Step 1: Grab your cat’s favorite treat (or toy) in your hand and call her to you.
- Step 2: As she gets near, hold the treat above and behind her head.
- Step 3: When she lifts her head to look at the treat, she will naturally start to sit on her hind legs. When she does this, say “sit.”
- Step 4: When she completes the sitting action, say “yes” (or click the clicker) and give her the treat.
- Step 5: Repeat Steps 1 through 4 until your cat starts sitting on cue without needing a treat to be held over her head.
For the best results, you should wait until your cat has mastered one skill before trying to teach her another, or it may be too overwhelming for her to accept. Work on training your cat using 10-minute long training sessions every day. Remember, consistency is key as sporadic training sessions won’t get you the results you want and could even wind up confusing your cat.
How Long Does It Take to Train a Cat?
There is no set time in which cats can be trained because every cat is different. Some are natural learners while others can be more stubborn and require a lot more time and effort. The only thing you can do is be patient, keep your anger and frustration from showing, stay positive, and stick to the steps. Eventually your cat will start to absorb her training.