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Train And Walkiing Your Home Cat

While the cat is the most intelligent of all our domestic animals, it is important for cat owners to be clear about the limitation of their cat's thought processes, as attributing human motivations to the pet can interfere with the patient, methodical, approach necessary to treat behavior problems. For example, a cat cannot ponder the past or make plans for the future. It is therefore useless for an owner to punish a cat for something it did even a few minutes earlier, because the cat is incapable of making the connection between the action and the punishment. Conversely, its actions can not be motivated by revenge for some past insult by the owner. Stress caused by the owner's actions, and not spite, is the culprit here.

Cats learn by observation, imitation, trial and error just as humans do. Stories abound which describe cats turning doorknobs to open doors, ringing doorbells, opening cupboards, turning off lights, and even using the toilet solely by observing the owner perform these activities. Many feline behaviorists as well as child psychologists seem to agree that the intelligence of an adult cat equals that of a 2 to 3 year old child. We know how clever and manipulative children of this age are, is it any wonder that cats are better at training their owners than the owners are at training them?

Most cats are very good at looking after themselves, and, on the average, have a life-span of fourteen to fifteen human years. The myth that cats have nine lives is well known, though it is usually meant that a cat has nine "chances" --each time a cat has a narrow escape from an accident he is said to have lost one of his nine lives. Cats seem to have some miraculous escapes, and they also treat life with the greatest respect. A cat will not rush into a situation without first examining its surroundings. Open the door to let it out, and it will size things up before it leaves the safety of the house. At night, it will hesitate while its eyes adjust to the darkness. Its reaction to sudden movement or noise is so swift that it can usually escape threatening danger, just as when a cat falls it nearly always lands on its feet.

The cat's intellectual ability is highlighted by its ability to use the information retained to solve problems. Cats are able to form "learning sets," a skill once thought to be confined to primates. For example, cats that were trained to pull boxes on wheels showed they could combine that skill with their own insight to solve new problems. In one instance, a cat pulled the box to a specific location and used it, step-stool fashion, to reach a desired reward: a piece of food suspended from the ceiling by a string. The full extent of the cat's cognitive abilities is still largely unknown, but they continue to amaze their owners with their ingenious abilities, nevertheless.

Cats can be trained! Contrary to popular opinion, our feline companions can be taught to perform on cue.

All successful training is accomplished through praise and food rewards. While direct correction is employed in canine training, it only confuses, frightens, and alienates felines. (Dogs, being pack animals, are used to being dominated by a higher ranking member of the pack; while cats, being solitary predators, avoid or attack those who show hostility toward them.) The key is to discover the food treat that is most appealing to your cat and to present it to him immediately each time he responds to a verbal cue with the desired behavior.

Does your cat come when called? He should. This is basic feline training. Even though your cat may never go outside, he should master this simple point of feline etiquette. It may come in handy some day. First, decide how you will call him. Will it be "Here kitty, kitty, kitty" or do you prefer to call him by name? (Cats respond most readily to names ending with a long "ee" sound.) Call your cat before you put down his most delicious meal of the day or reward him for coming with a special food treat. It's that easy!

Destructive scratching problems are the easiest of all behavior problems to solve. It's as easy to train a cat to scratch on a proper scratching post as it is to train a cat to use a litterbox--it's instinctual! Just as the litterbox must meet some basic criteria to be acceptable to the cat, so the scratching post must meet some basic requirements. A cat-appealing post should be: 1) at least 30" tall, 2) made of soft wood or wrapped with sisal rope (not carpeting!), 3) mounted in a stable, untippable base. You can make one yourself. It should be placed in front of the previous scratching target--usually in a room where the cat and the family spends a lot of time. To encourage the cat to use it, scratch on the post with your nails and call the cat over (cats are great imitators). Praise him profusely whenever he scratches on it. It will become a healthy and satisfying life-long habit.

Direct correction or punishment of felines only results in owner-absent behavior, so put away the squirt gun. It's time to come up with more creative solutions, strategies that will work when you are asleep or at work as well as when you are monitoring Kitty's activities. Let the environment, not you, convince Kitty of what he does and doesn't want to do. Booby traps, also known as remote corrections, are the secret to keeping Kitty from forbidden areas when you are at home or away. They allow you to be the "good guy" which is very important for Kitty's mental health. Some of these kitty repellents are: solid air fresheners, especially citrus-scented ones, vinyl carpet runners turned upside down, eucalyptus oil on rags and double-sided carpet tape or Contact Paper (to divert scratching activities).
Important: For every activity that is thwarted by these deterrents, there should be many more acceptable places for Kitty to jump on or to scratch

Your kitty may have been a contented couch-potato-kitty all winter long, but now spring breezes are wafting through the open windows and bringing with them the allurements of the great outdoors. What if lately cat has been positioning herself next to the front door, ready to make The Great Escape. How can you enter and exit without seeing a blur of fur rushing past you?
Try carrying a shaker can (an empty soda can with seven pennies in it) and give it a hardy shake as you approach the door. If you are coming in, shake it as you are entering the home. You may have to experiment with a variety of sound deterrents before you find one that makes kitty back off.
Just in case you are not successful, it is wise to outfit your favorite feline with a safety, or break-away, collar and an identification tag. To satisfy your cat's need for fresh air and adventure consider introducing her to a harness and leash and letting her safely explore the great outdoors with you by her side.

Walking Your Cat

While there is some concern that giving your cat a taste of the great outdoors will turn him into a demanding puss who sits by the door meowing incessantly to go out, many feline experts believe that the greater danger lies in providing a living environment for the cat that is unchanging and unstimulating -- just plain boring. The stress of boredom can be a contributing factor in a number of destructive behavior problems (eg., furniture scratching) as well as in some physical and psychological problems (eg., obesity, over-grooming, feline depression). While much can be done to make the home environment more interesting for the cat, nothing can compare to the excitement of the ever-changing outdoors.

Of course, allowing Kitty to roam outside freely would be irresponsible in most cases. Unsupervised, your cat faces the very real dangers of road traffic, irate neighbors, disease, and other predatory animals. Leash training can add a new dimension to both of your lives. Cats look forward to their outings just as much as dogs enjoy their walks. If taken out at approximately the same time every day, Kitty will learn that this is the only time he can go out and there's no point in pestering the owner at other times.

It's always easiest to introduce new experiences to kittens who tend to view life as a big adventure. However, even older cats can be trained to accept a harness and leash if the owner is patient, persistent, and sensitive to the cat's body language. Each small step of progress toward the ultimate goal is rewarded with praise and food treats. At no time should the cat be punished or scolded. It may take weeks of conditioning for the adult cat to feel comfortable with this procedure, but the result is well worth the effort involved.

How to Get Your Cat to Do What You Want (how to train your cat to walk on a leash):

Step 1. Purchase a harness that is designed to pull from the chest, not from the throat. A harness is preferable to a collar because if properly fitted, it will provide less opportunity for Kitty to wriggle out of it. You should be able to slip two fingers between the harness and the cat. If it is too loose, the little escape artist will be out of it in no time. The leash should be lightweight and detachable and have a clip that closes tightly. We do not recommend from ‘figure eight' style harnesses, as these can pinch Kitty and make the harness uncomfortable. Instead, the preferred design should be an "H-style" design, with two independently adjustable loops connected by a third piece of material. SmartCat has a comfortable and easily adjustable harness.

Step 2. Let your cat get used to the harness and leash by leaving them near his favorite sleeping place for a few days. The training process begins in the home. Before placing the harness on the cat, prepare Kitty's favorite meal--something so delectable that it makes him forget about everything else. Immediately after placing the harness on him put the food in front of him. Praise him profusely. After he is finished eating, let him walk around for awhile. Distract him with toys if he seems unhappy with the harness. After he has visibly relaxed, the harness can be removed.

Step 3. Attach the leash to the harness. Don't try to walk Kitty at this point, just let him walk where he pleases, dragging the leash behind him. Always supervise these sessions in case the leash gets caught on something. Most cats will accept the addition of the leash readily, but if yours becomes agitated, divert his attention, as before. Encourage Kitty to walk, and when he does, shower him with praise. Keep these daily training sessions short and positive.

Step 4. Once your cat is at ease with the harness and leash, pick up the leash and walk around the house behind him, being careful to keep the lead slack. At this point you do not want to restrict the cat's movement, just let him get used to having you follow him. Practice this for a few days.

Step 5. Now its time to teach Kitty to go where you want him to go. Using a sweet, high-pitched voice, encourage him to follow you. (Kittens have a natural follow-Mom response.) Don't expect him to walk like a dog. Allow Kitty to wander from side to side within the confines of the length of the leash, but do not veer off your predetermined course. When the cat feels resistance, he will either walk in your direction, or lie down. Patience and persuasion are the key words here. Never pull or jerk the lead to force your cat back in line. One bad experience may turn your cat against leash training forever.

Step 6. Once Kitty is walking comfortably on the leash inside, you can introduce him to the outdoors. It may be best to simply sit with Kitty on the stoop outside for the first few jaunts. Let him become used to the sights and sounds of this new, and somewhat scary, world. You'll know when Kitty has adapted to this new environment. He will look relaxed, nervous tail twitching will stop, and he will show an interest in exploring. Let him. Now find a quiet location that will present as few frightening elements as possible and follow the same procedure you used to accustom Kitty to walking on a leash indoors. (Remember, never leave the cat outside unattended.)

Now your feline friend can join you for walks around the neighborhood, picnics, even window shopping. Trips away from home (eg.to the vet) will also be easier for you and less traumatic for your cat.