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 unimaginable. 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 means!

That stated, 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 here are just a few recommendations on how one can practice your cat with a clicker, together with going over what that’s. We take you step-by-step on find out how to clicker practice your cat.

Why Practice a Cat?

Earlier than we get into the small print of coaching your cat, we wish to sort out why you’ll even practice your cat within the first place. It would profit them in a number of methods:

• It’s a good way to stimulate your cat’s thoughts and physique, which will help hold them out of bother.
• It will probably additionally enable you kind a stronger bond together with your cat.
• It will probably make cats with anxiousness or aggression points extra assured and fewer more likely to act out, significantly if they’ve behavioral issues which may stem from boredom.
• It will probably assist for those who like taking your cat on outings, like strolling on a harness and leash. You may even practice your cat to not bolt when startled exterior.

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

1. You’ll Want a Clicker

Clickers are helpful instruments which might be a part of optimistic reinforcement coaching. They’re small units that match within the hand and make a noticeable clicking sound when pressed. Clicker coaching is also called marker coaching as a result of the click 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 which may startle your cat. You can too obtain a clicker app! In case your cat is difficult of listening to or deaf, you should 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, refill on them.

If these treats don’t encourage your cat sufficient, attempt issues that they don’t often get, akin to small items of tuna or boiled hen. Goal for one thing that smells sturdy 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—only a few minutes at a time.

Begin by getting your clicker and treats prepared, and sit on the ground together 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 finally begin to catch on that good issues occur after they hear the clicking. You’ll discover this when your cat begins to take a look at the treats as an alternative of the clicker after listening to the sound.

4. Resolve What You Need to Practice Your Cat to Do

Now that your cat has a primary understanding of the clicker, that you must steadily begin incorporating precise coaching. Begin by coaching your cat to take a seat:

• Be certain that they’re standing and centered on you. Together 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 increase their chin to trace it, their rear finish ought to robotically hit the ground.
• The second that they sit, instantly click on the clicker and provides them the deal with. By way of repetition, your cat will affiliate sitting with the clicking 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. Maintain this up, and your cat ought to finally affiliate sitting with rewards.

5. Proceed the Coaching

As soon as your cat has mastered sitting, you may attempt completely different instructions. It’s finest to stay with the form of coaching designed to assist your cat keep protected somewhat than making an attempt to drive them to be taught tips for performing in entrance of different folks.

It’s essential that cats retain their dignity, so goal to show your cat to do issues like strolling on a harness and leash and coming while you name. You can too practice your cat to cease undesirable habits, akin to scratching the sofa. However this type of coaching needs to be achieved along side 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 are usually not domesticated the identical means that canine are. They’ve simply lived alongside people with none actual try at coaching, so don’t anticipate your cat to take to it fairly as simply as a canine.

It will probably take some time for many cats to reply to clicker coaching, so it’s essential 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.

Closing Suggestions

• 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 might probably show complicated.
• Coaching periods ought to solely be for a couple of minutes each time.
• Some tips would possibly want a number of steps, so click on and reward for each. For instance, when educating your cat to enter the service, 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 simply don’t appear within the coaching. Punishment will solely stress your cat and trigger worry and anxiousness.

Conclusion

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

Clicker coaching your cat is a wonderful solution to bond with them and can assist construct confidence in your cat too. Simply keep in mind to be constant and use rewards that your cat will do nearly 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 little one. 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 every other. With a ardour to coach the general public about every thing, there may be to learn about felines, their habits, and their distinctive personalities, Crystal is devoted to creating certain that each one cats and their house owners know the significance of aware dwelling – and loving!