Can You Train A Cat?

The worst possible attention we can give our cats is attention that reflects positively on their bad behavior. Since cats do not learn by instruction so much as by experience the way to pint them in the right direction is by reaffirming the behavior that they present.

Has your cat ever jumped on the countertop only to be gently cooed away? This semi-confusing behavior can not be seen as reprimand and the cat will continue in jumping on the counters. Experience based learners are trained by experience based reward. So be careful that you do not accidentally reward bad behavior.

Make a self appointed rule that you will in no way reward behavior that you deem to be disruptive. Set your own standards. On the reverse side, if you see you cat doing what he/she is suppose to be doing, playing where she is designated, scratching in the correct place, be sure to reward this behavior with exceeding joy. Show them that you are very pleased with the way he/she is behaving.

On the same note if you have a cat which finds their way into the bedroom at five AM do not reward them by feeding or petting them for jumping and waking you. Your best response to the situation will be to either ignore the behavior or to keep them from entering the room at that time of the morning. No cat can learn appropriate behavior when they are continually rewarded for being bad.

When you were a child were you grounded when you went against the rules, or were you given a toy or a piece of candy for going against the rules? This is my point. Just because we can not communicate with words, or physically put our cats in time-out does not mean we can not show them by way of reward or proper discipline.

As long as you are devoted to your cat, you have patience to deal with an rebellious antics, and you have treats on hand to rewards positive behavior you will do a great job at instilling respectful behavior in your cat.