train kittens

Reward or punish – how to train kittens?

Do you have a new member in your family? When novice pet parents bring a new dog home, training is one of the first thoughts that come to their minds. However, the same can only sometimes be the case with cats. Most individuals never think of training the cat since they assume they will be aloof and independent. 

Cats also require training because it is a fundamental part of their life. Remember that experts are there to help you with tips and tricks and the common commands you can teach your cat, who will thus turn out to be your best friend. In your checklist of what to do next, the training must be at the top of the priority list.

Guarding home furniture 

At the very first instance, you need to understand that cat training is your responsibility. Cat training teaches the cat to link desirable behavior with a reward. When you do this, you may inspire them to limit their bad behavior and start the desired one, so they may live a healthy and happy life. Although cats will not instinctually work in collaboration with human beings, they learn to follow your commands and perform the trick just as dogs do. Cat training will provide them with positive physical stimulation and mental coordination. It will help them reduce aggression, anxiety, and destructive behavior. 

Are you thinking about how to protect furniture from cats? The answer is training and more training. Consistent training will also assist you in picking up on the cat’s body language and learning what the furry friend is trying to communicate. The more you will understand their behavior and the prospects of the behavior, the better it is. Many factors play a vital role in cat training, and thus you must know these in detail.

Fundamental points you must know before training the cat

Follow a checklist before training your cat; you must stock up on the treats. For novice parents, one thing is vital: you must know that cats require motivation. Unlike dogs, these species will only be eager and excited to learn once rewarded. If you want to make the most of the training session, stock up on the treats and delicious food items that your cat loves.

  • Find the correct time

If you look at the daily life of cats, you will understand that they have a predictable hunting cycle, grooming, eating, and sleeping. So, your training session must fit into this cycle. Try training the cat after their nap because they will be ready to start playing and will more likely focus on what they are doing. They will also be hungry, so they will work hard to get that tasty treat.

  • Keep training

You can segregate the training session into small parts to ensure consistency and frequency. Cats come with a short attention span. The training session must be below 15 minutes because they can only take it for that. If you want to accomplish the goal of training your cat, remember that their focus will be short. Remember that the aim is ensuring progress and not perfection.

  • Eliminate distraction

If you are serious about training your cat, the background needs to be considered. Find a comfortable and quiet place away from other members and pets of the family. If there is noise and constant distractions, you will not succeed in training your cat. The training session will be unproductive. Distracted animals cannot focus.

  • Be consistent

Avoid confusion and utilize signals and alerts that will help you command your cat aptly. Aside from moving away from distractions, it would help if you were consistent with your cues. Ensure that the family members also know the correct cues and signs that will help them maintain consistency. Training the cat will not be a challenge if you work as a team.

  • One skill at a time

One skill at a time should be your aim. Try to teach the cat simple things at first and then progress. If you teach them multiple items at a time, it will overload them. Once they master one skill, they must move to the next.

  • Repeat

Repeat, repeat, and repeat. Once the cat masters a single skill, repeat that frequently outside the training session. Repetition will reinforce the cat’s behavior. It will help them internalize the skill, and you will get a trained and groomed cat.

  • Use the power of positive reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is effective not only in human beings but in animals as well. When you focus on their good behavior and reward them for the positive action, they will continue doing that. Do know that constant yelling and shouting at them will not help. It will not provide you with productive results. If you avoid these and use positive reinforcement, it will help you.

Remember that learning new skills and behavior takes work. Along with this, you must be patient with your cat. When you are patient with your cat, they understand it; they will slowly and consistently work on their skills and become your worthy friend.

  • Common training methods

Now that you have mastered the above points, it is time to work on the training methods. Here are a few vital points to discuss, whether you are using hand signals, clickers, voice cues, or a mix and match of these.

Clicker training is an effective training method among cats. All you require is the correct tool that makes the clicking sound gentle and helps the cat draw a link between the two. The aim is to associate the clicking sound with the reward. Following this, you can associate new desired behavior and skills with clicking.

  • Hand signals

Hand signals always work wonders. It is a viable way of training the cat. The main point here is associating distinct commands with a hand gesture. For instance, you can make a fist when you want the cat to sit or follow another order. They will associate the link between both these gestures, which is how they will start training.

  • Voice cues

Voice cues are uttering certain words to indicate a specific command, similar to the earlier method; the point here is associating the word with the behavior and reward. The more you use these, the better the cat will associate both parts.

Train your kitten to become a disciplined companion!