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 unattainable. 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 mentioned, it’s fairly potential to coach a cat. There are even performing cat acts, just like the Savitsky Cats, that may outperform some canines!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 learn 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 deal with why you’d 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 can assist hold them out of bother.
• It might additionally enable you to kind a stronger bond along with your cat.
• It might make cats with nervousness or aggression points extra assured and fewer prone to act out, notably if they’ve behavioral issues that may stem from boredom.
• It might 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 begin efficiently clicker coaching your cat.

1. You’ll Want a Clicker

Clickers are useful instruments which are a part of optimistic reinforcement coaching. They’re small gadgets 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 canines.” Simply keep in mind that it shouldn’t be too loud, as that may startle your cat. You may also obtain a clicker app! In case your cat is difficult of listening to or deaf, you should utilize a penlight.

2. Give Them Treats

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

If these treats don’t inspire your cat sufficient, strive issues that they don’t normally get, resembling small items of tuna or boiled hen. Intention for one thing that smells sturdy and can appeal to 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 must 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 continues to be , and they’ll ultimately begin to catch on that good issues occur once they hear the clicking. 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 Practice Your Cat to Do

Now that your cat has a primary understanding of the clicker, it’s essential step by step begin incorporating precise coaching. Begin by coaching your cat to take a seat:

• Make sure 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 means of repetition, your cat will affiliate sitting with the clicking and your command phrase.

Another choice is to maintain a pointy eye in your cat, and once they naturally sit, say “sit,” click on, and provides them the deal with. Maintain 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 possibly can strive completely different instructions. It’s greatest to stay with the sort of coaching designed to assist your cat keep protected slightly than making an attempt to drive them to be taught methods for performing in entrance of different folks.

It’s essential that cats retain their dignity, so intention to show your cat to do issues like strolling on a harness and leash and coming once you name. You may also practice your cat to cease undesirable habits, resembling scratching the sofa. However this sort of coaching ought to be performed together with making the sofa undesirable. Put sticky tape on the areas the place your cat scratches, and anytime your cat scratches the scratching put up, click on and reward.

6. Don’t Give Up

Cats usually are not domesticated the identical means that canines 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 might take some time for many cats to answer clicker coaching, so it’s essential to be affected person and persevere. Make sure 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.

Last 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 instances or it could show complicated.
• Coaching periods ought to solely be for a couple of minutes each time.
• Some methods may 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 once they strategy it, once they sit close to it, and once they enter it.
• Each motion that your cat takes have to 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 concern and nervousness.

Conclusion

It’s potential 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 greatest to be affected person and take your time with coaching.

Clicker coaching your cat is a superb 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 nearly something for, and your clicker coaching ought to show profitable!

Featured Picture Credit score: Andriy Blokhin, Shutterstock

In regards to the writer

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 every other. With a ardour to teach the general public about all the things, there’s to find out about felines, their habits, and their distinctive personalities, Crystal is devoted to creating certain that every one cats and their homeowners know the significance of acutely aware dwelling – and loving!