They are independent and headstrong, but have you ever thought about training your cat?
Cats are independent and willing, but they can learn certain actions from people, which are beneficial for both the cat and its owner. Training has always been a mandatory part of being a dog owner, although those methods have also changed a lot over the years. Cats are a different story, but it shouldn't be.
- People traditionally do not train cats, because they think that they are independent and full of free will. What they don't realize is that they are unconsciously training their cat every day - says Sarah Ellis, author of the book "The Trainable Cat".
By ignoring the unwanted, you will encourage good behavior
The bad news is that you often train your cat to do the opposite of what you want. How many times have you yelled "NO" and run to the kitchen counter to put the cat on the floor? And somehow they never learn, they keep going back to their old behavior. There is a reason for that.
You think you're scolding your cat, but you're actually giving her attention, which in her mind is better than no attention at all. That's the basis of training: If a behavior results in something the animal likes, it will repeat that action. So it's best to reward the behavior you like and ignore the behavior you don't like.
The power of positivity
Training helps you communicate effectively with your cat. Veterinarian Mikel Delgado noticed this when she was teaching her cat to use a scratching post instead of teaching her not to scratch the couch.
- When my cat wants a treat, she goes to the scratching post, puts her paws on it, and looks at me with a "Hey, are you going to give me a treat for this move?" look. Once you start ignoring the unwanted behavior, you will have to hold on until it stops, because your cat will initially be persistent in trying to get your attention. For example, you decide to stop filling the bowl with food during the night, she will meow louder or walk all over you to wake you up and get what she wants. You have to be determined and endure - emphasizes Delgado.
To start training, teach the cat to come when you call it. Stand two feet away from your cat, call her name to get her attention, then tell her to come and show her the treat. If necessary, start with a minimum distance (the cat is sitting next to you on the bed) until your cat begins to respond to your command, then move to a greater distance.
Rich prizes
Once the previous exercise convinces you that cats are indeed trainable, you can begin training your cat to tolerate actions such as clipping nails or entering the cat carrier of its own accord.
Break the whole process down into small steps. For nail trimming, start by rewarding your cat's willingness to let you hold her paw.
Give her a treat when she allows you to gently press her paw, so the claws come out. Step by step, cut one nail at a time. This process may sound tedious, but it's worth it, because you'll never have to fight with your cat again about this basic care she needs.
Try to use treats that your cat loves, try different types to choose the best one. These rewards should be very small and try to reduce her regular meals to avoid the cat gaining weight. Train in short sections, don't rush the whole process.
- The most common mistake that cat owners make is to ask for too much, too quickly - believes Ellis.
Training is worth the effort, it will make it easier for you to take care of your cat, and it additionally strengthens the bond between you and your pet. People who train their cats think that their cat is not a stubborn creature that does things to annoy them. There are real benefits to the human-animal bond and it's not as difficult as you think - reports National Geographic.
