Time and time again I have heard it said that cats could not be trained. However, that is just not true. I have over forty years experience with the care and training of cats. Long hair, short hair, large, small - I have worked with them all. I have had stray as well as pure bred cats and even a cat that had been considered feral. And as I think back, I believe all my cats were well trained. I currently have two cats both of which meet my training expectations. Therefore, I would like to explain the four important requirements to achieve a well-trained cat.
Health
Many veterinarians tell us that a healthy pet is a happy pet. I really can't agree nor disagree with that; however, I can see that my pets are very stressed and seem to be unhappy on the trip to the vet and during the examination. But that stress seems to melt away on the trip home, and the pets seem to be very happy when we get there. But then again, how can one tell that the pet is happy?
Certainly pets, just like people, need to be in good health if one expects them to learn. Veterinarian check ups are vital in any pet training program.
Environment
Cats by nature are predators and allowed to wander out of doors tend to develop a very independent personality. House cats must depend upon their owners to provide their needs. This dependence is required for any type training. It is similar to Pavlov's conditioning - a response conditioned by some stimulus. And in the case of cats, I find that different things work based upon the personality of the cat. Some cats respond to food treats, some to brushing. One must find the stimulus that will lead to the desired response.
Food and exercise
All pets need proper food and exercise. But what food is proper? Certainly table food, although many pets seem to crave it, is not the proper choice. Most pet food companies do try to provide nutritionally adequate choices, but it is up to the pet owner to understand the needs of the pet. I usually defer to the recommendation of the veterinarian, but request from the vet more than one choice.
The indoor cat owner must actively participate with the exercise of the animal. Indoor cats need incentives to exercise, and it is best to provide items that require the cat to run and jump. Often if more than one cat is in the household, they will interact by chasing each other and fighting. Although this often looks to be a serious detrimental situation, the two cats rarely hurt each other and the exercise is very beneficial.
Owners expectations
The final and most important step in attaining a well-trained cat is to adapt your expectations to your cat's performance. For instance, if your cat decides to nap at 2 PM, then you must have trained your cat to do so. If your cat wakes you at 6 AM for food, that must have been an element of your training program. You will find that you have trained your cat to do all those tasks that he or she decides to do. The important point is to know what your cat wants to do and does on a regular basis, then you can say, “I trained him to do that.”
When the loin tamer puts his head in the mouth of a 500-pound fierce lion, does the lion not chomp down because the tamer has carefully trained him not to do so? Or is it because the lion does not like the taste of the tamers hair gel? Who knows what goes through any cat's mind?
