![]() ![]() In clicker terminology, after being paired with the treat, it is called a “secondary reinforcer” or “event marker.” The action from this device marks good behaviors the instant they occur. It might make a sound, or emit a flash of light or a vibration. Once you find a motivator, you need a device that always performs the same action when activated. A couple of strokes can be a treat for cats who love attention - those who enjoy being groomed thrill to the feel of a brief brushing. For cats who are picky eaters or aren’t motivated by food, there are other activities that can double as primary reinforcers. Although the easiest treat to use is food, not all cats are foodies. ![]() In Clicker-Speak, the treat is called a “primary reinforcer.” Treats are so incredibly motivating that the cat will do just about anything for them. The first step to clicker train cats is assembling two fundamental tools. ![]() Here are the basics: First, assemble the right tools for clicker training It is powerful stuff! And, it is a tool available to everyone. People are impressed at how smart their cats are and at their own training abilities. It is one of the tools in my virtual took kit, useful for helping my cat behavior consultation clients change annoying cat behaviors.ĭid I mention it’s fun? Clicker training cats is fun for the trainer and the trainee. It is a great way to focus the cat away from the problem behavior while giving the cat something more acceptable and fun to do. Clicker training cats also helps them feel secure, it reduces stress, it strengthens the bonds between cats and their people and it is mentally stimulating. Here’s how to train your cats using clicker training: Clicker training your cat has benefitsĬlicker training can be used to teach cats tricks such as shaking hands, rolling over and jumping through hoops on cue, and it’s also very effective for stopping unwanted behaviors and building new ones. It is based on the scientific premise that animals (not just cats) repeat behaviors when their actions are immediately followed by rewards or positive consequences. It is a reward-based training technique rooted in classical (remember Pavlov’s dog?) and operant conditioning. Clicker training, the same method your family uses for dog training, is very effective for training cats and for changing annoying behaviors. Unwanted behaviors can be stopped through a combination of addressing the reasons for the behavior, positive reinforcement and changing the environment. Contrary to popular belief, you CAN train catsĬat behavior problems can be resolved, and cats are easy to train. Others, instead of working to change the behaviors, will turn cats loose outside, believing the cats will be able to “fend” for themselves. Many people surrender their cats to shelters and/or have them euthanized for behavior problems that can be resolved. Sadly, these fallacious beliefs often have serious and sometimes fatal consequences for cats. Two of the most common are that cats will do whatever they want, regardless of input from the people around them, and that they are untrainable. We live in an era where information about cats and cat behavior is readily available, yet many people still believe myths and fallacies about them. Not only does he love cats and prefer living with them over dogs, he has also trained one of his cats to give him “high fives.” He wants me to help him convince his family that “bad cat behavior can be changed and that cats can be trained the same way dogs are trained.” He says he always had dogs in the house but never cats, because “family members either don’t like them, are indifferent to cats or think they belong outside where they can keep vermin in check.” The family, which uses clicker training to train dogs, “believes that cats just do their own thing and that they can’t be trained.” They also believe that “cats are loners, and that bad behaviors can never be changed.” But Alan is different. I recently heard from a man named Alan who comes from a family of professional dog-trainers. ![]()
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