Training your cat

There's so much nonsense out there about any animal training, that it is no wonder that people cannot fathom how to train a cat.  First, cats are generally solitary animals, so even if all the hierarchy training BS had any validity, it wouldn't work on cats.

But also we humans are often obsessed with punishment (which is also part of the hierarchy alfa animal BS - the 'alpha' myths).  We, lazily, wait till things go 'bad', and then focus on how to stop (correct) something we don't like.  Not really training at all if you think about it, and incredibly stupid on our behalf - as if the animal is some sort of mind reader that 'knows' what we want. How often do we hear someone say 'he knows what he did wrong'.  Hint, nope he doesn't, or he wouldn't do it.  Bigger hint, how on earth could an animal 'know' if you didn't teach it what you do want.  That 'knowing'  look or body language is in response to your voice or body language - you are not pleased, and may be about to deal out something unpleasant for no apparent reason (to him).  He is worried, scared and confused - but has no idea what you want.

Cats do not react well to punishment.  It does not compute in their brains, because they are not reliant on social co-operation, they don't need to 'get along' with one another. Punishment that is too aggressive flips their short-wired aggression brain circuit from alert, all the way to fury. Fury mode completely obliterates any learning; cats do not learn from punishment - except to be wary of you, and be even quicker to ramp up to fury in the future as a defence.

Instead, we must proactively train any animal.

So, how can we train a cat? The same way we should be training all animals; using the science of behavioural modification and learning theory.  For cats, this means positive reinforcement ONLY, and in short bursts, that cater to for their natural short attention span*.

We can also use our relationship with the cat, much as we would with a dog (provided we have cultivated one). A cat that enjoys your company will seek you out and invite interactions throughout the day, if you include a very short training session where you start to provide a few small treats for performing a basic behaviour it will introduce the concept to the cat that they can look to you for direction.  Like all training, the important aspect is to look for what you WANT and reward it.

Wave

If you think that you don't know behaviour modification, think again. Your cat has been training you for years.  That constant yowling, or annoying behaviour to open a door or get you to provide food, is negative reinforcement being applied TO YOU by an expert in behavioural modification.  You do what they want, to make them stop doing something you don't like (remove - minus an aversive).

Now we are going to work together. Cats (like horses) can be reticent about 'doing something', when you are actively participating (esp if you are staring at them).  So always be ready with a reward, and be quick to praise (with something the cat likes - not something YOU like).

Now, you need them to do something, no matter how small, in order to reward them. It needs to be something that they will repeat, so that they can be rewarded again, and again, and make the connection between behaviour and reward.

Here's an example: If you normally feed your cats in the kitchen and find it annoying to have them around your feet or on the bench - PRE PLAN what you want them to do INSTEAD. If you want them to sit by their bowls, break away from your normal routine, have a small treat in your hand and lead them to wear you will place their bowls. Hold the treat above the cats head and if it sits (or even vaguely looks up and points bum at floor), you put the treat on the floor. Now that the cat is busy eating the treat, you begin your normal food prep - but prepared with a second treat. If the cat stays, you feed. If it begins the behavior you don't want, you will IGNORE and immediately go to the bowl area and when the cat follows - sit\treat.  Only return with the food and their bowls when the cats are sitting at the right area.

With cats, they have a very short tolerance for not being rewarded, and quite small stomachs, so sessions must be fun (for them) and short.  Don't be discouraged if they look bored, or flounce off, if you only had 2 repetitions, that's 2 more than you would get by not trying.

If done on the cat's terms, training can be fun for both of you, and enhance your bond.  It will certainly improve your training skills more than training any other animal. 

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High Five

*dogs hunt for food, and therefore can maintain long spans of concentration.  But cats are more opportunist.  While they certainly do hunt, a missed bird, will quickly be replaced by a grasshopper or mouse.  They don't focus on 'big game' so when you train you must provide rewards rapidly, or they will lose interest and 'go find the grasshopper, or easy meal'