Posted by Jeanne on April 20, 2009
You need to realize that your cat is not like a dog. They are not always going to obey when you call because they basically have a mind of their own. Although they do have a completely different personality, it is possible to get your cat to come to you if you call him and reinforce your command with positive behavior. You can do this by offering him some sort of reward such as petting him, brushing him, or giving him a treat.
If you are screaming at your cat to come to you with the thought that such an action will shock them into coming right over, you will soon realize that such tactics will not work with a cat as they saunter off in the opposite direction.
Posted by Jeanne on January 22, 2009
There are two popular methods of training a cat: target training and clicker training. Here is a brief rundown of each:
- Target training is where you attract your cat’s attention and then obtain desired behaviors through the use of a designated tool. For example, during the ‘beg’ command, a particular target training tool called a training wand is used to attract the cat’s attention upwards and to encourage the cat to rise up on his haunches and beg.
- Clicker training is a form of operant conditioning, which is where the animal is taught to form a conscious association between a specific behavior and a result. A small mechanical noise-maker (the clicker) is used by the trainer to create a short, distinct noise. The clicker is clicked at the precise moment that the cat performs a desired behavior. For example, during ‘sit,’ the clicker is clicked at the very instant that the cat’s bottom touches the ground. Directly after the click, the cat is fed a small and tasty treat. With repetition, the cat grows to associate the click with the food and recognizes his own ability to earn treats by performing the desired action on command.
- The clicker is a particularly valued training tool because it allows the trainer to pinpoint the exact behavior that’s being rewarded. Without the clicker, it’s too easy for the cat to form associations between the treat and a completely unrelated behavior (since it’s impossible to feed the cat a treat at the precise moment that he’s performing a trick.)