Preface

Contrary to what we usually think, cats are actually willing to receive training and are very sensitive to it. But remember, cats and dogs are different, they have different ways of thinking and require different training rules. The foundation of effective training for cats is to understand their way of thinking. The world of cats is more three-dimensional. How to train cats?

Cat Training: Unconscious Training

You may not be aware that your little cat has already responded to your unintentional training. Will it run into the kitchen when it hears the sound of a can being opened? If so, it indicates that it already knows that this sound heralds a delicious meal. In the early 20th century, Russian biologist Ivan Pavlov discovered in his study of dog behavior that shaking a bell while feeding dogs would cause them to drool when the bell rang.

Cat Training: Using Rewards and Punishments

Cats respond to both rewards and punishments because they are an integral part of nature, such as patiently hunting and receiving rewards - prey. Similarly, in the early morning when a cat wants to eat, it will first use its paws to touch your face. If you don't move, it will lightly hit you, followed by a heavy hit; If you still lie still, it will strike you hard, and in the end, its patient persistence will be rewarded.

Cats learn to recognize different sounds from a young age, and they have strong pronunciation abilities. It can make both simple purring sounds and more difficult meowing sounds, as well as fierce hissing and whooshing sounds. Although cats may encounter difficulties when learning to understand human prophecies, whether it's the gentle sounds of rewards or reprimands. You may as well add a stern "no" when punishing it, and gradually the word "no" can restrain the behavior of the kitten.

Cat Training: How to Start

A lively and active short haired cat learns things faster than a silent long haired cat. Kittens lack attention, while older cats are not interested in training. A 4-month-old cat is the easiest to train, but only cats accustomed to management are willing to receive training. 1-2 minutes of training is the most suitable, 5 minutes is a bit long.

The 'click' device training and name training

Training with a clicking device that can produce a clicking sound is a form of positive reinforcement training. Let the little gadget in your hand make a clicking sound, and your colleague will feed the cat. This sound will become a signature signal, giving the cat a quick feedback message: what should it do.

The key to training with a clicking sound is to choose the appropriate time. Feed the cat first, and when it starts eating, add a click sound. After repeated training, as long as you have shaken the clicking device and made a sound, you can attract the cat's attention. Shaking the medicine bottle containing pills is also good. After giving the cat food, shake the bottle immediately to make a sound.

You can also give a cat a reward by calling its name, which can attract its attention.

Cat Training: Keep the prize at hand

If using the "click device" for training, carefully read the instructions and understand how and when to use it. Time is crucial, and speaking too early or too late can increase the difficulty of training.

Keep food at hand. Choose the cat's favorite thing, delicious and succulent baby food can be used to stimulate the cat's "paw raising" or other paw training movements.

Hands up training

This is actually skill training - simple and fun for cats. You need a provocative toy, such as a small feather tied to a stick with a short rope. The purpose is to have your cat alternately raise its paws.

Assuming the kitten is called Big Fat. Let it sit down first, then continuously shake the small toy above its head. When it raises its front paws to touch the toy, it quickly says, "Big fat, raise your hand" and gives the cat food as a reward. If equipped with a clicking device, make a few clicks after feeding the cat.

When Da Pang realizes that he can receive a reward by "raising his hand", he will happily raise his front paws whenever he hears you say "raise his hand" in the future. Gradually stop using toys, just stretch your hand on their head to achieve the goal.