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Cat training

This page is about training domestic or pet cats. For the training of wild or big cats, see Animal Training.

Definition

History

Modern day (21st century), there exists a television show about cat training on Animal Planet called "My Cat From Hell," featuring cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy.

House training

Litter Box Training

Many cat owners use a litter box in the house, which is a container filled with cat litter that cats can urinate and defecate into. Many cats and kittens will instinctively use a litter box without needing to be taught, because of their instincts to eliminate in dirt or sand. Therefore, with a new kitten, owners usually need to simply show the kitten where the litter box is located, and how to get in and out. On occasion, some training is required to help a new cat adjust to a litter box, or to help an older cat that suddenly stops using the litter box.

Toilet Training

Some people train their cats to urinate and defecate into the toilet bowl, as an alternative to using a litter box. This method became popular because many cat owners don't want to maintain a clean litter box, and are turned off by the smell that results when the litter box goes too long without cleaning. Some behaviorists advise against toilet training, because it restricts the owner from monitoring changes in the cat's urine and feces (which are often related to the health of your pet). Another common criticism is that toilet training can cause various stresses to the cat, partly because using the toilet goes against a cat's natural instinct to dig and cover its own feces, and because the toilet seat can be physically difficult for cats to straddle, especially those who are old or ill.

Training methods

Positive Reinforcement Training

Cats do not respond well to punishment; instead of learning not to do the behavior, they often become stressed and fearful, sometimes even hiding from their owners. Therefore most trainers encourage cat owners to use positive reinforcement training only, rewarding the cat for desired or "good" behavior, and offering her alternative options or distractions (instead of punishment) for undesired behavior.

Clicker Training

Clicker training was developed by Keller Breland, Marian Breland Bailey, and Bob Bailey. The technique was initially used in the training of marine mammals, and later spread into the world of pet training (mainly dogs and cats, but it has been used with other animals as well). Clicker training uses a sound to signal to the animal that he/she has performed the correct, or desired, behavior. Trainers can utilize any item that makes a sound (e.g. a whistle, a beep, or a pen that clicks). Many people use a training tool called a clicker, a little plastic box with a metal tab that, when pressed quickly, makes the click sound. When clicker training a cat, the trainer clicks at the exact moment that the cat does the desired behavior and rewards with a treat immediately after the click. The cat will begin to associate the sound with the treat, and understand that the sound means she has done the right thing. Clicker training is popular in the animal training industry because it allows the trainer to tell the animal immediately when she has succeeded. Much of cat training depends on timing and the trainer's ability to tell the cat precisely when she has performed correctly. Telling the cat one moment too late that she is correct can have little to no effect on the cat understanding what she is being rewarded for. The clicker (or other sound) allows a trainer to tell the cat right away that she is correct, and makes it easier for the cat to identify exactly which action/behavior she is being rewarded for.

Problem Behaviors

Cat training can be used to solve various problem behaviors.

Scratching

Many cats scratch furniture like chairs and couches (even when scratching posts are provided for them in the home) because a cat's instinct is to scratch various objects, like trees, as a marker for other cats to see and smell. Trainers suggest guiding cats toward designated scratching objects that they will enjoy, changing the style or location of scratching posts around the house, and making scratching the furniture inconvenient. Some use positive reinforcement training, often accompanied by a clicker, to engage the cat in using the scratching post.

Spraying

Urine spraying (there is an existing wikipedia link) is a problem usually found with intact male cats, but can also occur with females and neutered cats. Solutions for this issue include keeping the litter box extremely clean, removing causes of stress from the cat's environment, providing separate food and litter boxes in a multiple cat household, and preventing outdoor cats from accessing the yard and area around the house. In cases where spraying persists, owners are recommended to seek veterinary help as this could be due to anxiety or physical health issues.

Meowing

Cats meow for various reasons, and some cats are more vocal than others, but this becomes a problem behavior when there is excessive meowing or yowling, especially at night. Positive reinforcement training, sometimes accompanied by a clicker, is commonly used in this case. This involves ignoring the cat when she is making noise, and rewarding with treats and affection when she is being quiet.

Litter Box Problems

When a cat stops using his litter box to urinate and defecate, the solution is often to make a change to the litter box. Cats are known to be picky about their litter boxes. Solutions include cleaning the litter box more often, getting a bigger box, filling it with more litter, changing to an unscented litter, and/or changing the litter box's location. If the cat has begun using one specific spot in the house to defecate, behavior modification can also include making it inconvenient for the cat to use that area. For instance, using an enzymatic cleaner that clears away all scent of cat feces, blocking access to the room or area, spraying the area with a cat repellent, and placing the cat's food in the area (cats do not like to defecate where they eat).

Biting

Some cats bite.

Aggression

Some cats exhibit aggression toward humans or other animals.

Bolting Climbing