Cats have a nasty repute for being untrainable. The actual fact of the matter is that cats might be skilled, however they’ve completely different motivations than canines.
Whereas canines would possibly reply positively to a reward of their favourite ball, a scratch behind the ears, or a verbal “good boy,” most cats are finest motivated by meals. The excellent news is that optimistic reinforcement may help prepare your cat to do many optimistic behaviors from utilizing the litter field or scratching submit all the best way as much as performing tips.
This video has a few of cat guru Jackson Galaxy’s concepts on the most effective and worst methods to coach your cat.
The Humane Society of the US (HSUS) agrees that punishing cats for dangerous behaviors is ineffective at finest and dangerous to your relationship along with your cat at worst. In line with their web site:
“You could be sorely tempted to yell at your cat when you catch them sitting subsequent to a damaged vase or clawing the furnishings, however punishing your cat after the actual fact is ineffective. She received’t join the punishment with one thing they’re already performed and forgotten about. As a substitute, they’ll assume you’re yelling at them for no matter they’re doing at that very second, which may be welcoming you dwelling from work. Yelling, hitting, and shaking will solely make your cat fearful and confused and will result in them avoiding you altogether.”
So what’s optimistic reinforcement and how are you going to use it to show your cat what you desire to them to do? Briefly, you need to use treats to reward your cat’s good behaviors. After they be taught that doing a sure job provides them a style of their favourite deal with, they’re extra more likely to repeat that job to be able to obtain extra treats.
They secret is to reward your cat IMMEDIATELY following a optimistic conduct, in any other case they received’t perceive that the deal with they’re receiving is related to the conduct that they simply carried out. One solution to bridge the hole between your cat performing the conduct and receiving the deal with is to make use of a clicker (which might be bought cheaply from most pet shops). You prepare your cat that the sound of the clicker means a deal with is coming. You then click on the second your cat does the precise factor and observe the press with a deal with a number of seconds later.
One of the best time to coach your cat is shortly earlier than supper time, once they’re extra keen to work for a meals deal with. Preserve coaching classes quick, since cats are more likely to get bored after greater than 10-Quarter-hour of coaching.
To be able to keep away from having a fats cat, you’ll ultimately need to change your cat to receiving extra reward and affection as a reward for optimistic behaviors somewhat than treats. When you’ve stopped giving treats each time your cat does a desired conduct, you need to nonetheless use treats as rewards as an alternative of simply giving them freely, or else you’re more likely to flip your cat right into a beggar.
(H/T: HSUS)
