I recently heard from a man named Alan who comes from a family of professional dog-trainers. He says he always had dogs in the house but never cats, because "family members either don't like them, are indifferent to cats, or think they b...
I recently heard from a man named Alan who comes from a family of professional dog-trainers. He says he always had dogs in the house but never cats, because "family members either don't like them, are indifferent to cats, or think they belong outside where they can keep vermin in check." The family, which uses clicker training to train dogs, "believes that cats just do their own thing and that they can't be trained." They also believe that "cats are loners, and that bad behaviors can never be changed." But Alan is different. Not only does he love cats and prefer living with them over dogs, he has also trained one of his cats to give him "high fives." He wants me to help him convince his family that "bad cat behavior can be changed and that cats can be trained the same way dogs are trained."
We live in an era where information about cats and cat behavior is readily available, yet many people still believe myths and fallacies about them. Two of the most common are that cats will do whatever they want, regardless of input from the people around them, and that they are untrainable. Sadly, these fallacious beliefs often have serious and sometimes fatal consequences for cats. Many people surrender their cats to shelters and/or have them euthanized for behavior problems that can be resolved. Others, instead of working to change the behaviors, will turn cats loose outside, believing the cats will be able to “fend” for themselves.
Cats are not stuck in their ways
Share this image
I clicker train Ambrose, the cat of Catster Managing Editor Vicky Walker.
function changeWidth(obj)
{
if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) {
$(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()});
}
if(parseInt($(obj).width())
Cat behavior problems can be resolved, and cats are easy to train. Unwanted behaviors can be stopped through a combination of addressing the reasons for the behavior, positive reinforcement, and changing the environment. Clicker training, the same method your family uses for dog training, is very effective for training cats and for changing annoying behaviors. It is a reward-based training technique rooted in classical (remember Pavlov’s dog?) and operant conditioning. It is based on the scientific premise that animals (not just cats) repeat behaviors when their actions are immediately followed by rewards or positive consequences.
Training has benefits
Clicker training can be used to teach cats tricks such as shaking hands, rolling over and jumping through hoops on cue, and it’s also very effective for stopping unwanted behaviors and building new ones. Clicker training also helps cats feel secure, it reduces stress, it strengthens the bonds between cats and their people, and it is mentally stimulating. It is a great way to focus the cat away from the problem behavior while giving the cat something more acceptable and fun to do. It is one of the tools in my virtual took kit, useful for helping my cat behavior consultation clients change annoying cat behaviors.
Share this image
Sudan investigates the clicker.
function changeWidth(obj)
{
if(parseInt($(obj).parent().width()) > parseInt($(obj).width())) {
$(obj).parent().css({'width':$(obj).width()});
}
if(parseInt($(obj).width())
Did I mention it’s fun? Clicker training is fun for the trainer and the trainee. People are impressed at how smart their cats are and at their own training abilities. It is powerful stuff! And, it is a tool available to everyone. Here are the basics:
Assemble the tools
The first step to clicker train cats is assembling two fundamental tools. The first is a treat the cat adores. In Clicker-Speak, the treat is called a
