9/9/2023 0 Comments Kitten tabby catShe’s likely to get up and mew or solicit more treats, and you ignore her until/unless she again happens to sit CLICK! she gets another reward. Perhaps she’s walking across the living room, then stops at the window and sits–as her furry bottom hits the carpet, you CLICK! and then immediately produce her reward of choice (treat, toy, scritches). You watch for Tabby to perform (on her own, at her leisure) one of the behaviors you’ve identified. A clicker–or the click of a ballpoint, or snick of a stapler–provides a unique sound that teaches Tabby, “The click means I did something right.”Ĭlicker training works this way. You can also use your voice, but as we all know, cats sometimes learn to ignore our conversation. One of the most effective ways involves using a clicker that makes a distinctive sound to mark a particular behavior. Kitty Cuesįigure out a way to tell your cat you want to reward THAT (sit) behavior. A tiny smear on the end of my index finger provides her incentive to come when called, sit, sit up, and wave upon command. For instance, my cat Seren nearly does back-flips for a taste of cream cheese. Offer something your cat loves–even people food such as meat baby food can work–since you only need a tiny taste. If your cat usually eats dry kibble then choose tidbits of canned food for her treat reward. Just break a single commercial cat treat into two or four pieces to make it last–you only need a nibble. Commercial treats work well if the cat relishes them. Offer something completely different than his usual diet that you reserve exclusively for training sessions. Make her earn it before the games begin.įor food-motivated cats, treats work best for tempting and rewarding cats to perform a particular behavior. Once you’ve figured out Tabby’s favorite, reserve it for use only as a reward. Pheasant feathers seem irresistible, especially to kittens and can be used to lure a particular behavior by snaking along the ground or waving for an outstretched paw to snare. Here are some people foods that are safe for cats. Cats crave different things, so figure out what floats your cat’s boat and gets his purr a-rumbling. While cats also appreciate praise, more tangible rewards such as petting, toys or treats get the message across much more effectively. These habits can be used to train a reliable “come.”ĭogs often relish verbal praise and perform for that alone. For example, often you can predict that Tabby always runs to the door when you return from work, or races to the food bowl for dinner. Once you’ve identified possible behaviors, watch for when the cat naturally performs them. Maybe you could promote his jumping ability and train him to leap through the circle of your arms. Siamese kitties seem most inclined to enjoy retrieve games. Depending on the cat you might also add sit-up/beg, wave (cats always reach out with a paw!), or even fetch. Maybe your cat chases your feet–can you put that behavior on cue to make it into a trick? Or if your cat meows all the time, why not teach her to SPEAK on command?Ĭommon behaviors include sit, come, and speak since all cats do one or more of these things in their everyday life. Make a list of the normal behaviors, as well as some of her odd foibles, to compile a trick list. The trick to training Tabby lies in identifying natural behaviors and then explaining to her THAT’S what you want by paying the cat for performing.Īnything Tabby does on her own becomes fair game to add to a “trick” repertoire. Dog Training & Cat Training: How to Clicker Train Pets
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