Clicker Coaching Your Cat: A Easy How-to Information

Final Up to date on: July 12, 2023 by Crystal Uys

Many individuals assume that coaching a cat is not possible. It’s true that there are cats on the market that received’t admire such efforts; anybody who spends time with a cat is aware of how a lot they like doing issues their very own method!

That mentioned, it’s fairly doable to coach a cat. There are even performing cat acts, just like the Savitsky Cats, that may outperform some canine!¹

Listed below are a couple of tips about how one can prepare your cat with a clicker, together with going over what that’s. We take you step-by-step on easy methods to clicker prepare your cat.

Why Prepare a Cat?

Earlier than we get into the main points of coaching your cat, we wish to deal with why you’d even prepare your cat within the first place. It’s going to profit them in a number of methods:

• It’s an effective way to stimulate your cat’s thoughts and physique, which can assist maintain them out of hassle.
• It may well additionally aid you type a stronger bond along with your cat.
• It may well make cats with nervousness or aggression points extra assured and fewer prone to act out, significantly if they’ve behavioral issues that may stem from boredom.
• It may well assist in case you like taking your cat on outings, like strolling on a harness and leash. You’ll be able to even prepare your cat to not bolt when startled outdoors.

Let’s take you thru the steps to begin efficiently clicker coaching your cat.

1. You’ll Want a Clicker

Clickers are helpful instruments which might be a part of constructive reinforcement coaching. They’re small units that match within the hand and make a noticeable clicking sound when pressed. Clicker coaching is often known as marker coaching as a result of the press sound “marks” the specified habits.

Any clicker can work with a cat, even one labeled “for canine.” Simply keep in mind that it shouldn’t be too loud, as that may startle your cat. It’s also possible to obtain a clicker app! In case your cat is difficult of listening to or deaf, you need to use a penlight.

2. Give Them Treats

You’ll need a high-value deal with that your cat will do something for. In case your cat loves common cat treats or lickable ones, replenish on them.

If these treats don’t encourage your cat sufficient, strive issues that they don’t often get, akin to small items of tuna or boiled rooster. Goal for one thing that smells robust and can entice your cat to it.

However solely give your cat a small quantity of whichever deal with you’re utilizing; you don’t need your cat getting full on snacks.

3. Introduce the Clicker to Your Cat

Cats don’t have the longest consideration spans, so your coaching periods have to be quick—just some minutes at a time.

Begin by getting your clicker and treats prepared, and sit on the ground along with your cat. Click on the clicker, and instantly give them a deal with or a lick of a lickable deal with.

Proceed this whereas your cat remains to be , and they’ll ultimately begin to catch on that good issues occur after they hear the press. You’ll discover this when your cat begins to take a look at the treats as a substitute of the clicker after listening to the sound.

4. Determine What You Wish to Prepare Your Cat to Do

Now that your cat has a primary understanding of the clicker, it’s good to steadily begin incorporating precise coaching. Begin by coaching your cat to sit down:

• Be certain that they’re standing and centered on you. Along with your treats and clicker on the prepared, maintain a deal with as much as your cat’s nostril.
• When your cat begins sniffing it, slowly arc the deal with from the nostril to between their ears and say the command phrase “sit.” Your cat will observe the deal with, and as they elevate their chin to trace it, their rear finish ought to mechanically hit the ground.
• The second that they sit, instantly click on the clicker and provides them the deal with. By means of repetition, your cat will affiliate sitting with the press and your command phrase.

An alternative choice is to maintain a pointy eye in your cat, and after they naturally sit, say “sit,” click on, and provides them the deal with. Hold this up, and your cat ought to ultimately affiliate sitting with rewards.

5. Proceed the Coaching

As soon as your cat has mastered sitting, you’ll be able to strive totally different instructions. It’s finest to stay with the sort of coaching designed to assist your cat keep protected reasonably than making an attempt to power them to be taught methods for performing in entrance of different individuals.

It’s necessary that cats retain their dignity, so purpose to show your cat to do issues like strolling on a harness and leash and coming once you name. It’s also possible to prepare your cat to cease undesirable habits, akin to scratching the sofa. However this type of coaching must be accomplished along with making the sofa undesirable. Put sticky tape on the areas the place your cat scratches, and anytime your cat scratches the scratching publish, click on and reward.

6. Don’t Give Up

Cats will not be domesticated the identical method that canine are. They’ve simply lived alongside people with none actual try at coaching, so don’t count on your cat to take to it fairly as simply as a canine.

It may well take some time for many cats to reply to clicker coaching, so it’s necessary to be affected person and persevere. Be certain that you’re utilizing a deal with that makes your cat tremendous motivated; in any other case, discover one thing that your cat actually responds to.

Ultimate Ideas

• All the time click on the second that your cat does the specified habits.
• Solely click on as soon as; by no means click on a number of occasions or it may possibly show complicated.
• Coaching periods ought to solely be for a couple of minutes each time.
• Some methods would possibly want a number of steps, so click on and reward for every one. For instance, when educating your cat to enter the provider, click on and reward after they method it, after they sit close to it, and after they enter it.
• Each motion that your cat takes should be voluntary. By no means push them or transfer them your self.
• By no means punish your cat, even when they only don’t appear within the coaching. Punishment will solely stress your cat and trigger worry and nervousness.

Conclusion

It’s doable to clicker prepare your cat no matter breed or age, although some cats will reply a lot faster than others. All cats have totally different personalities and temperaments, so it’s finest to be affected person and take your time with coaching.

Clicker coaching your cat is an glorious strategy to bond with them and can assist construct confidence in your cat too. Simply bear in mind to be constant and use rewards that your cat will do virtually something for, and your clicker coaching ought to show profitable!

Featured Picture Credit score: Andriy Blokhin, Shutterstock

Concerning the creator

Cat mother to Ivy – a feisty little rescue kitten that’s her one and solely youngster. For now! All through her life, she has been launched to the particular love that may be discovered within the bond with a cat. Having owned a number of felines, she is greater than sure that their love is unmatched, unconditional and in contrast to another. With a ardour to teach the general public about the whole lot, there’s to learn about felines, their habits, and their distinctive personalities, Crystal is devoted to creating certain that every one cats and their house owners know the significance of aware residing – and loving!