Why don’t we train cats the way we train dogs? The answer is—we do! Dr. Melissa Bain of the Companion Animal Behavior Program at University of California Davis’ veterinary program explains there are actually kitten kindergarten classes that use “positive training.”
Dr. Bain says most people don’t train their cats because they don’t go out in public like dogs, meaning there’s no threat of them attacking a stranger. Still cats can be aggressive toward their owners, and that’s the number one reason people bring them to shelters. She recommends reinforcing good behavior using a clicker—a little plastic gadget that makes a noise when you press it. Basically whenever you see a positive behavior you click and hand over a treat. Your cat will then associate the preceding action with reward. This also enriches your relationship with kitty because it encourages more interaction and communication.
Cat training is so big there’s even a huge annual event dedicated to the cause. The weekend of October 18th 41 breeds of cats competed in the sixth annual CFA-IAMS Cat Championship at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Karen Thomas, head trainer with IAMS, explains that training can help with daily tasks, like brushing teeth and trimming toe nails. Of course the championship featured more than just sitting and rolling over. Events included basketball and tightrope walking.
You likely don’t need to teach Fluffy human sports, but maybe you could benefit from picking up a clicker.
Tags: cat training, kitten class, train cats
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