Methods of Cat Training

Target Training

This is when you get your cats attention when calling a command. For example if you wanted your cats to stand on it’s back legs while you issue the command to stand hold a stick above your cats head and they will naturally go to grab it. Once they stand on their back legs, reward them with affection or a small treat.

Clicker Training

Clicker Training uses the idea of operant condoning, this is where the cat consciously associates a particular behaviour with a outcome.  This type of cat training gets it’s name due the small device that emits a click when the correct action is being performed by  the cat.  For example if you were training your cat to sit on command, the section your cats bum hit the floor you would press the clicker and immediately reward your cat with a small treat.  After enough repetition you can will realise they their own behaviours can acquire them treats.  So when they hear the click, they will sit because they know that if they do there’s a treat heading their way.

This type of cat training has the huge advantage of allowing the trainer to know the exact behaviour that being reinforced, with Target Training the reward may not come immediately after the behaviour so the cat might associate another behaviour with the treat.

Tips for Cat Training

If you leave your cats food out all day so they choose to eat, restrict them to scheduled meal times just like humans, other wise they will have no incentive - We’re not saying starve them, just ensure they’re hungry like we are just before a mealtime!

Try cat training just before meal times this will increase your cats responsiveness and heighten their senses.

Take it one step at a time when cat training and be patient, remember if neither of you are enjoy it stop and throw a ball for them instead.

Cats have a short attention span so lessons need to be very short, interesting and fun, otherwise you might just get a look of disdain.