Coming when called is a crucial skill for any adventurous cat, ensuring their safety if they ever slip out of a harness or wander too far. This guide provides a step-by-step approach to teaching your feline companion this important command, building on their existing behaviors and positive reinforcement. While the original article focuses on outdoor adventures, the principles apply to all cats, enhancing their safety and your bond.
Understanding Your Cat’s Existing Responses
Your cat likely already responds to certain sounds, such as the crinkling of a treat bag or the pop of a canned food lid. This pre-existing association is a powerful tool for training. As veterinary behaviorist E’Lise Christensen explains, you can leverage these strong associations to teach a new command. The key is to pair your chosen verbal cue with a sound or action your cat already recognizes and responds to positively.
Establishing the Training Routine
Choose Your Cue: Decide on a consistent verbal cue. This could be your cat’s name, their name followed by “come,” or a phrase like “Here kitty, kitty.” Consistency is vital, especially if multiple people interact with the cat.
Create the Association: Begin by calling your cat when you are standing right next to them. Immediately follow your cue with the familiar sound of a treat bag crinkling, and then present a treat. This teaches your cat that your call leads to a desirable reward.
Gradually Increase Distance: Once your cat reliably comes to you from close proximity, begin to increase the distance. Move a few feet away, deliver the cue, and then the treat sound. Reward them immediately upon arrival. If you’re using clicker training, the click can serve as positive reinforcement at the moment they perform the desired action.
Vary the Environment: As your cat masters the command at increasing distances, practice in different rooms of your home. Introduce distractions and practice when your cat is engaged in other activities. If possible, enlist another person to help, practicing calling the cat back and forth between you.
Outdoor Practice (Optional but Recommended): If your cat is leash-trained, take this training outside. Practice calling them when they are engaged in outdoor activities like sniffing or exploring. This simulates real-world scenarios where a quick response is essential for their safety.
Essential Training Tips for Success
- Keep Sessions Short: Limit training sessions to five minutes to maintain your cat’s focus and prevent frustration.
- Practice Regularly: Consistent practice is key to reinforcing the behavior and ensuring your cat retains the skill.
- Positive Reinforcement Only: Never punish your cat for not responding. Cats learn best through rewards. Punishment can lead to fear, stress, and behavioral issues.
- Always Reward: Even if your cat takes a while to respond, always offer a treat when they eventually come. As Christensen notes, cats don’t typically come when called in the wild, so it’s a learned behavior worth rewarding.
- Avoid Negative Associations: Do not call your cat for unpleasant experiences like administering medication or vet visits. In such cases, it’s better to go to your cat. This prevents them from associating your call with negative events, which could lead to them ignoring you when it matters most.
Training a Deaf Cat to Come When Called
Deafness in cats, particularly in white, blue-eyed breeds, does not preclude them from learning to come when called. Instead of verbal cues, you’ll need to employ visual signals. Options include:
- Light Cues: Use a penlight, flashlight, or even flicker the room lights.
- Vibrational Cues: Stomp your foot on the floor to create vibrations your cat can feel.
- Hand Signals: A distinct hand wave can also serve as a visual cue.
Choose a visual cue that works best for your cat and consistently pair it with the treat reward, just as you would with a verbal cue. Remember, positive reinforcement remains the most effective method.
By implementing these strategies, you can effectively train your cat to come when called, enhancing their safety and deepening your connection. This skill is invaluable, especially for cats who enjoy exploring the outdoors.
