Cat Behavior and Training
Cat Behavior and Training
Some people claim that cats cannot be trained, but these people probably don't have much experience training their own cats! Cats are masters at exploiting their environment to get what they want - whether it's purring or keeping a pet. They instinctively seek high places to perch and tend to scratch vertical surfaces to mark their territory and for exercise. If they are groping on the couch, you can redirect their behavior with a scratching post or other attractive surface and positive reinforcement
(treats). They can also be trained to play with toys that stimulate their hunting instincts.
To successfully train your cat, it's important to be calm and patient, especially when there are behavioral problems. Punishment won't work because it will only scare her and if she feels scared or anxious, she won't learn anything. Instead, try using fast, high-pitched sounds to stop unwanted behavior but avoid using words like “no!” » or “oh!” because they can cause confusion and cause children to associate the sound with an aggressive response.
It's best to start training your cat with just one lesson at a time, so you can be sure your cat is ready to take the next step. For example, if you are doing a recall, wait until the cat comes to you, then hold the treat above and behind the cat's head while saying "Sit!" as they retreated with their doe. Click and reward each successful sit, then gradually begin moving the reward back so that it comes a little closer each time.