Final Up to date on: July 20, 2023 by Crystal Uys
Many individuals suppose that coaching a cat is unattainable. It’s true that there are cats on the market that received’t admire such efforts; anybody who spends time with a cat is aware of how a lot they like doing issues their very own method!
That stated, it’s fairly potential to coach a cat. There are even performing cat acts, just like the Savitsky Cats, that may outperform some canines!1
Listed here are a number of recommendations on how one can practice your cat with a clicker, together with going over what that’s. We take you step-by-step on how you can clicker practice your cat.
Why Prepare a Cat?
Earlier than we get into the main points of coaching your cat, we wish to deal with why you’ll even practice your cat within the first place. It’s going to profit them in a number of methods:
- It’s an effective way to stimulate your cat’s thoughts and physique, which may help hold them out of hassle.
- It may additionally aid you kind a stronger bond along with your cat.
- It may make cats with anxiousness or aggression points extra assured and fewer prone to act out, significantly if they’ve behavioral issues that may stem from boredom.
- It may assist when you like taking your cat on outings, like strolling on a harness and leash. You may even practice your cat to not bolt when startled outdoors.
Let’s take you thru the steps to start out efficiently clicker coaching your cat.
1. You’ll Want a Clicker
Clickers are helpful instruments which can be a part of optimistic reinforcement coaching. They’re small units that match within the hand and make a noticeable clicking sound when pressed. Clicker coaching is also referred to as marker coaching as a result of the press sound “marks” the specified conduct.
Any clicker can work with a cat, even one labeled “for canines.” Simply keep in mind that it shouldn’t be too loud, as that may startle your cat. You can even obtain a clicker app! In case your cat is tough of listening to or deaf, you should use a penlight.
2. Give Them Treats
You’ll need a high-value deal with that your cat will do something for. In case your cat loves common cat treats or lickable ones, top off on them.
If these treats don’t inspire your cat sufficient, attempt issues that they don’t normally get, corresponding to small items of tuna or boiled hen. Goal for one thing that smells robust and can entice your cat to it.
However solely give your cat a small quantity of whichever deal with you’re utilizing; you don’t need your cat getting full on snacks.
3. Introduce the Clicker to Your Cat
Cats don’t have the longest consideration spans, so your coaching classes should be brief—only a few minutes at a time.
Begin by getting your clicker and treats prepared, and sit on the ground along with your cat. Click on the clicker, and instantly give them a deal with or a lick of a lickable deal with.
Proceed this whereas your cat continues to be , and they’ll finally begin to catch on that good issues occur once they hear the clicking. You’ll discover this when your cat begins to have a look at the treats as a substitute of the clicker after listening to the sound.
4. Determine What You Wish to Prepare Your Cat to Do
Now that your cat has a primary understanding of the clicker, you might want to regularly begin incorporating precise coaching. Begin by coaching your cat to sit down:
- Be sure that they’re standing and centered on you. Together with your treats and clicker on the prepared, maintain a deal with as much as your cat’s nostril.
- When your cat begins sniffing it, slowly arc the deal with from the nostril to between their ears and say the command phrase “sit.” Your cat will comply with the deal with, and as they increase their chin to trace it, their rear finish ought to robotically hit the ground.
- The second that they sit, instantly click on the clicker and provides them the deal with. Via repetition, your cat will affiliate sitting with the clicking and your command phrase.
An alternative choice is to maintain a pointy eye in your cat, and once they naturally sit, say “sit,” click on, and provides them the deal with. Maintain this up, and your cat ought to finally affiliate sitting with rewards.
5. Proceed the Coaching
As soon as your cat has mastered sitting, you’ll be able to attempt completely different instructions. It’s finest to stay with the sort of coaching designed to assist your cat keep protected reasonably than trying to pressure them to be taught methods for performing in entrance of different folks.
It’s essential that cats retain their dignity, so intention to show your cat to do issues like strolling on a harness and leash and coming if you name. You can even practice your cat to cease undesirable conduct, corresponding to scratching the sofa. However this type of coaching must be performed at the side of making the sofa undesirable. Put sticky tape on the areas the place your cat scratches, and anytime your cat scratches the scratching submit, click on and reward.
6. Don’t Give Up
Cats usually are not domesticated the identical method that canines are. They’ve simply lived alongside people with none actual try at coaching, so don’t anticipate your cat to take to it fairly as simply as a canine.
It may take some time for many cats to reply to clicker coaching, so it’s essential to be affected person and persevere. Be sure that you’re utilizing a deal with that makes your cat tremendous motivated; in any other case, discover one thing that your cat actually responds to.
Remaining Ideas
- All the time click on the second that your cat does the specified conduct.
- Solely click on as soon as; by no means click on a number of instances or it may possibly show complicated.
- Coaching classes ought to solely be for a couple of minutes each time.
- Some methods would possibly want a number of steps, so click on and reward for each. For instance, when instructing your cat to enter the provider, click on and reward once they strategy it, once they sit close to it, and once they enter it.
- Each motion that your cat takes should be voluntary. By no means push them or transfer them your self.
- By no means punish your cat, even when they simply don’t appear interested in the training. Punishment will solely stress your cat and cause fear and anxiety.
Conclusion
It’s potential to clicker practice your cat no matter breed or age, although some cats will reply a lot faster than others. All cats have completely different personalities and temperaments, so it’s finest to be affected person and take your time with coaching.
Clicker coaching your cat is an excellent way to bond with them and can assist construct confidence in your cat too. Simply keep in mind to be constant and use rewards that your cat will do virtually something for, and your clicker coaching ought to show profitable!
Featured Picture Credit score: Andriy Blokhin, Shutterstock
Concerning the creator
Cat mother to Ivy – a feisty little rescue kitten that’s her one and solely little one. For now! All through her life, she has been launched to the particular love that may be discovered within the bond with a cat. Having owned a number of felines, she is greater than sure that their love is unmatched, unconditional and in contrast to some other. With a ardour to coach the general public about every thing, there may be to learn about felines, their conduct, and their distinctive personalities, Crystal is devoted to creating certain that each one cats and their homeowners know the significance of aware dwelling – and loving!
