Cat Training - The Basics
April 14th, 2008 at 01:47pm Under Cat Training
By Matthew Hick
If you have ever tried to train a cat or any pet, you have
probably realized that it isn’t the simplest process. Training a
cat is not the same thing as training a dog, as cats are not
performance pets like dogs can be. There are three rules to
follow when training a cat; reward, praise, and positive
reinforcement. If you can learn how to use these rules and how
to apply them to your cat’s training, you will be able to teach
your cat simple tricks - and perhaps even toilet train it!
Basic cat training tries to encourage good behavior and
discourage bad behavior. Anything you want your cat to do should
be rewarding, enjoyable, and pleasant. Likewise, those things
you don’t want your cat to do should be unpleasant, not
enjoyable, and should never be rewarded. It is important to
remember that reprimands don’t work in cat training. Punishment
will only cause the cat to mistrust you and to repeat the bad
behavior, when you are not around. Sometimes cats won’t align
the crime with the punishment and act out with another bad
behavior.
Training will require time and diligence. You should never
stray from your routine. If a cat has a pleasant experience when
he does something, and is rewarded with food or praise, you can
bet he will repeat this behavior. So, help your feline friend
achieve a desired behavior, such as litter box training, with
this in mind. When litter box training, you can control what
your cat takes in and determine where it comes out. A short time
after eating, take your cat in an enclosed room with the litter
box. Make him sit in the box. When he has used the litter box,
provide plenty of oral praise and hugs, maybe even a little
treat, and your little friend will get the point. Soon he won’t
need to be kept in the box to achieve the desired result.
No one wants their cats to use their new couch as a scratching
post. Of course, initially, they really don’t know any better,
so make it an unpleasant experience. Cats don’t like to get
their claws caught up in anything, so cover the bottom of your
sofa with netting. The cat will realize this is not any fun and
retreat to his scratching post. Once again, positive
reinforcement with the good behavior is key.
As important as it is to reward good behavior, it is also as
important not to reward bad behavior. If your cat does something
you don’t like, don’t give him a treat to divert him from the
bad behavior. He will associate the improper behavior with
rewards and continue to do it. Instead, ignore him or squirt him
with water. He will get your point. Also, keep in mind that
sometimes a cat will behave badly to get attention. So be sure
to schedule regular playtime with your feline and provide them
with plenty of toys.
Once you’ve accomplished the basics in training, you can teach
your cat to do many things. They have been taught to sit, lay,
walk on a leash and, as mentioned before, even potty trained.
Your well-behaved cat will be the envy of all.
About the Author: Cats & Kitten Articles at
Cats-Today.com. Learn how to operate a Successful Adsense
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