Whether owners are training their cats in the basics of litter box and scratch post etiquette or attempting to teach them fancy tricks, some strategies are likely to be effective while others will impede progress. Following these cat training tips will increase the likelihood of success.
Use a Cuing Device
Cats respond well to cuing devices such as clickers as long as they’re used only for training purposes. For the first few days, the click sound should be made right before feeding or providing treats so that the cat develops positive associations with the noise and gets used to coming when she hears it. Once this connection has been established, the click alone can be used as a reward for correct behaviour. Be careful not to make the click sound more than once or twice for a given action—over-cuing may cause the cat to stop responding to the sound.
Provide Immediate Rewards
Once training has begun, cats should be rewarded immediately for good behaviour with the clicker sound and a favourite treat. For example, if training a cat to come when called, make the click noise when calling and again when the cat comes, and follow the second click immediately with a treat. The same applies for teaching a cat tricks such as jumping on cue. Back the treat up with plenty of praise and affection as well.
Create Positive Associations
In addition to providing immediate rewards for the desired behaviour, establishing general positive associations helps with certain training goals. For example, if training a cat to use a scratch post, leaving a favourite treat on the post for the cat to find, rubbing a little catnip into the post, and providing positive attention whenever the cat is using the scratch post or sitting on or near its base can be helpful.
Keep Training Sessions Short and Solitary
Cats have limited patience, so a training session should not last more than 10 or 15 minutes on any given day. Also, only those the cat is comfortable with should be in the room during training. If household members are making noise and moving around the room or strangers are present, the cat may become distracted or nervous. Ideally, training should take place in a quiet room where there are no other people or animals.
Be Consistent
Always use the same cuing device, the same wording, and the same tone of voice when training a cat so as not to confuse her. Also, use the cat’s name before each spoken command so that she knows that the command is for her.
Don’t Resort to Punishment
Punishment is ineffective with cats. Rather than correcting behaviour, it tends to increase behavioural problems by causing anxiety. A cat will usually have no idea why her owner becomes upset when she engages in what are to her perfectly natural behaviours, such as scratching. Punishment will just make her view her owner as capricious and untrustworthy.
A cat may learn that her owner dislikes a certain behaviour, but if she really enjoys it or thinks it’s necessary, she’ll carry on with it unless her owner uses more effective behaviour modification strategies. In some cases, punishment may cause her to deliberately engage in the behaviour more often because she appreciates the attention.
Don’t Withhold Food
While holding training sessions just before a cat’s regular feeding time helps focus her attention, starving a cat in the hopes that it will accelerate the learning process by making her more eager to please will likely have the opposite effect. In addition to having adverse health and behavioural consequences, denying food will cause the cat will become less trusting and cooperative.
More Information on Cat Training
- For tips on teaching cats to walk outdoors with a leash and harness, see Leash Training Cats.
- For information on what cats can be trained to do, see Kittens and Cats Are Trainable.
- See Cat Training and Solving Common Feline Behavioural Problems for specific information on fixing litter box issues, preventing furniture scratching and destruction of plants, treating aggression and anxiety, stopping cats from catching birds, and identifying causes of fur pulling and other undesirable behaviours.
References:
- Christensen, Wendy, and the staff of the Humane Society of the United States. (2002). The Humane Society of the United States Complete Guide to Cat Care. New York: St. Martin’s Press.
