Training Your Cat

That’s right. You can train a cat and should consider not come, try again an hour later, when the cat is a
the idea for a number of reasons. A cat who has little hungrier. Most likely, the cat will come running.
been trained to come when called is much easier Keep repeating the exercise, backing up farther and
to catch when she escapes and to find when she is farther. Once the cat has the idea, there is no need
lost. Cats don’t normally live long on city streets. to reward her each time. In fact, she will respond
Most people shout and give chase, causing the cat more enthusiastically if she is only rewarded once
to panic and run. If the cat has been trained, tragedy every five or six tries. There is a rule of thumb here:
may be averted. if the cat always comes, reward her less often (think
of Kitty’s waistline). If the cat loses interest, reward
The greater the number of words from the human
more often. Reinforce the cat’s speedier or more
language the cat understands, the easier it is for
athletic responses.
you to communicate your wishes. For example, a cat
who has been trained to “go to litterbox” or “climb Once the cat readily comes when called, it is time
scratching post” will be less likely to soil the house or to make the exercise more fun. Two people can go
scratch furniture. A cat who enjoys vigorous training to either end of the house and call the cat back and
exercises with her human at 10:00 pm will be less forth. This is a convenient and enjoyable way to allow
likely to be stir crazy at 2:00 am. the cat to let off steam in the evening, which in turn
will reduce the likelihood that she will go stir crazy in
Training enriches the relationship between you and
the middle of the night.
your cat. It is a means to make life easier for both you
and your cat.
Place Commands
Training the cat to go to specific places in the house
Come Here
can be useful for the prevention and treatment of a
First decide on a suitable signal. Verbal commands,
variety of behavior problems. For example, training
whistling and hand clapping are ideal because
the cat to “Go to litter box” is useful in housetraining.
you can give the signal at any time. Don’t rely
A cat who has been trained to climb her scratching
on signaling devices, such as a bell or a “silent”
post on command will be less likely to scratch
(ultrasonic) dog whistle, as these may not be on hand
furniture.
in an emergency.
These commands can be taught in a number of ways.
Start the training when the cat is hungry. Get a few of
You can give the command and then lure the cat to
her favorite treats and give one to her for free, to let
the appropriate location, where she will find another
her know that some game is afoot. Hold out a second
tasty treat. Alternatively, two people may train the
treat, back up a yard, and say, “Kitty, come here.”
cat. One person gives the command, and the other
Give the cat a treat when she comes. If she does
calls and encourages the cat to approach the desired
location. The second person rewards the cat with a meal, or immediately after waking. Praise the cat as
food treat when she arrives. Once she learns to go to she approaches the box and steps inside. If the cat
the location without encouragement, give her several eliminates, she wins the jackpot.
treats.
Position Commands
Many of the useful place commands eventually
Once you start a training program, you will find it
become activity commands. For example, during
a lot of fun, and will be impressed with your cat’s
initial training, “Climb your scratching post” simply
enthusiasm. Why not go on to bigger and better
means go to the base of the post, where the cat will
things? Many cats can be trained to do all the
find a treat. As training progresses, place the treat so
characteristically doggy commands: sit, lie down, roll
that the cat has to reach up and put her front paws
over, shake hands, heel, and jump through hoops. In
on the post to claim her reward. Place rewards higher
fact, some cats put dogs to shame in this department.
and higher with each trial, so that Kitty has to climb
the post. Post-climbing is another great way for the cat To train the cat to heel, just hold a food treat, bend
to burn off energy in the evening. In addition, it is a over like Groucho Marx, say “Kitty, heel” and start
useful command when the cat wakes up from a nap to walking. To get the cat to sit, hold a food treat at nose
get her to the appropriate location to reach up, stretch, level and lift it upwards and backwards over the cat’s
and condition her claws. In the morning, delay the head. As her head goes back, her rear end will sit
reward until the cat starts to scratch her post. down. Reward the cat as soon as she sits. If the cat
backs up, do the exercises in a corner. If the cat rears
When training Kitty to go to her litterbox, at first,
up, you are holding the food treat too high. (This
give her a treat just for going over to her box. Don’t
is how to train your cat to stand on her hind legs.)
leave food near the litterbox, since this may inhibit
To get her to lie down, start with the cat in a sitting
the cat from eliminating (cats seldom eliminate close
position, lower the treat to the ground between her
to a food source). Either lead the cat to her box and
forepaws and hold it palm down.
feed her by hand, or use affection as a reward and
stroke and scratch the cat when she arrives. Later By now you should have a good idea how to use
in training, the cat will be required to climb inside a food treat to lure the cat to specific areas of the
the box before she is petted. Once the cat has the house and to entice her to assume a variety of body
general idea, reserve the command for times when positions. You can also use toys such as a catnip
it is likely the cat will eliminate. For example, tell mouse or ball to entice and lure the cat into the
her to go to her litterbox several minutes after a position you want.

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or consider a low-cost consultation. To make a consultation appointment, call 650/340-7022 x667.
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