Cat Obedience Training and Cat Training Aids
Is training a cat really possible? If you listen to most people out there the answer would be no. But if you ask those same people why, you’ll get all kinds of answers. Are those answers based on experience or are they just repeating what they’ve always heard. Training a cat is possible and there are many things you can teach them. Just don’t try to use most dog training methods on a cat. Cats think and respond differently and so we have to use different strategies.
Most cat owners aren’t looking for a way to teach their cat to do 500 different tricks. If you could just get your cat to stop scratching the furniture, or stop climbing on the table or biting electric cords. There are many cat behavior problems that are pretty much standard and if you can get those solved you’ll be elated. So, we need to learn the basics of cat behavior so we can begin our journey of training our cat.
For example, if your cat is scratching the furniture, think about what alternatives you have provided him. Cats have an innate need to scratch, and if you don’t provide a nearby scratching post, your cat will be forced to make do with whatever you have provided, even if it’s your new sofa. If you have provided acceptable alternatives (ask your vet or an animal behaviorist if you’re not sure), your next step is to make the undesirable behavior less pleasant to your cat while making the desired behavior more appealing.
Consistency is key in training a cat. Once you have the behavior change you desire, it becomes much easier to maintain. We were discussing the bad cat behavior of scratching furniture. What are some practical things we can do? First we need to make the scratching post so desirable that your kitty doesn’t desire to scratch anywhere else. A couple of ways to do that are, to make sure it’s in a great location. Then spend time playing with your cat near it. Also try rubbing catnip on the scratching post to make it more attractive. As far as your furniture, we need to make it unattractive. One thing to try is cover the furniture with plastic.
Teaching your cat tricks is something a lot of people would love to be able to do. Imagine the bragging rights. Think about it, how many people have cats that can do tricks? Pick a time when your cat is pretty relaxed. Get out the treats and begin to encourage your cat to do the trick your wanting them to learn. The treat is a positive reinforcement, so reward your kitty for anything positive. This way they will learn to associate performing in a certain way with getting that treat.
Let’s say that you want your cat to learn to sit when you tell her too. Take the treat and hold it above their head while gently pushing down on their back end. When they sit or even come close, give them the treat as a reward. Make sure you don’t hesitate in giving them the treat. Remember we want them to associate the treat with the action they just made. Be patient and keep at it. Training a cat can take a lot of patience, but also be extremely rewarding. You may be surprised at what all your cat can learn.
It is definitely possible to have a well-behaved cat or even one who can perform for you. Just be patient and consider things from your cat’s point of view. (If you are having serious behavior problems that don’t respond quickly to your training, be sure to consult a veterinarian.) Good luck and have fun with your cat!