Cat training at home
If you are a cat parent, we know you absolutely love their sass and pizzazz. Cats are always known for their cheeky, independent habits and their preference to make their own decisions without depending on their owner. There are a ton of cat memes going around on social media about how smart cats are, and how they make sure that they give their owners a hard time when it comes to providing them with the conventional kind of love that dogs accept. There are always constant comparisons about how obedient dogs are especially in contrast to the independence and sassiness of cats. If you are a cat parent, we bet you have heard a thousand jokes about how cats are hard to tame, are not friendly, and how they just don’t “get cats”. Training cats are therefore seen as something that is harder to do than training dogs. As a cat parent I am sure that you would want your pet baby to be free and happy but at the same time also have some basic manners and good behavioral tendencies. You might have also started So if you are planning on cat training at home because you want to start off simple and ensure that your cat knows the basic behaviors in the right way, then there are some tips and tricks that might help you do it faster and more efficiently. We have put together a few, have a look –
Consistent training – Keep the training sessions consistent and continuous. Skipping training sessions might confuse them and make them forget the commands. Especially when they are little tasks, make sure that you teach them at least once a day. This will help them remember the tasks and also realize that the training they have been given is expected to be followed by them every day for the rest of their lives. You should also ensure that they understand the seriousness of it and do not think it is playtime.
One at a time – When you are teaching your cats, make sure you are teaching them only one task at a time. This helps in reducing confusion and cluttering of information on their part. Be patient with them and start teaching them commands/tasks one by one.
Before meals – Try to train them right before their mealtime as they have proved to be the most receptive during that time. You can give them simple tasks and make them realize that following those tasks will fetch them the reward of dinner. However, ensure that you don’t agitate them too much as it is mealtime, lest they stop trying to listen to you.
Not too much pressure – Do not put too much pressure on your cat to do the right thing or know the right commands on day one itself. It is natural for them to not understand our language at first go. The key is being extremely patient and loving with your cat; you need to keep in mind that they try their best to communicate with you on a daily basis.
Reduce distractions – While trying to train, one of your biggest enemies can be distractions. Cats mostly have sharp, sensitive senses and tend to get distracted easily. This means they might not be able to listen to you properly. So while training, try closing your blinds (so they do not get distracted from the world outside), make sure their toys are kept away and that they have their attention on you.
Short sessions – Keep your sessions short and sweet. Do not try forcing long, excruciating training sessions on your cat. You can try increasing the duration gradually, but even then, keep the overall session to less than 12 minutes.
