Bringing a new cat into your home is an exciting experience, and while many associate training with dogs, cats are highly capable of learning and benefit immensely from it. Teaching your feline companion essential life skills not only enriches their lives but also strengthens the bond between you and makes everyday interactions, like vet visits, far less stressful. This guide delves into how cats learn and the proven benefits of incorporating training into your cat’s routine.
Understanding How Cats Learn
Contrary to popular belief, cats are not untrainable. They are constantly learning from their environment and interactions, whether it’s associating the sound of a treat packet with a reward or the sight of a cat carrier with an unpleasant trip to the vet. Recognizing these learning patterns allows us to implement effective training strategies. As Dr. Sarah Ellis, head of cat advocacy at International Cat Care, emphasizes, training cats involves teaching them “key skills that they need to live in society with us.” These skills are well within a cat’s capabilities and do not compromise their essential nature.
To effectively train a cat, positive reinforcement is crucial. While some cats may respond to praise or petting, most are highly motivated by food rewards. It’s important to use small, calorie-appropriate treats, breaking down commercial treats into much smaller pieces to avoid contributing to weight gain. For cats hesitant to take treats directly from a hand, using a spoon, stick, or offering wet treats from a tube can be helpful. Training sessions should be kept short, around five minutes, to prevent boredom or frustration, and it’s vital to observe your cat’s cues; a happy cat will often purr and rub against you during breaks.
Cats primarily learn through associative learning, which includes operant conditioning (learning by consequence) and classical conditioning (learning by association with events).
Operant Conditioning: Learning Through Consequences
Operant conditioning involves reinforcing or punishing a behavior. Positive reinforcement, the most recommended method, involves rewarding a desired behavior to increase its frequency. For example, giving a treat when your cat sits on command. Negative reinforcement, where an unpleasant sensation is removed upon performing a behavior, is not advised due to potential welfare risks.
Negative punishment involves withholding a desired item or attention to decrease an undesirable behavior. For instance, stopping petting if a cat bites. However, it’s crucial to understand the motivation behind the behavior. If a cat bites because they no longer wish to be petted, stopping the petting is a form of negative punishment from the cat’s perspective. Positive punishment, such as spraying a cat with water to deter them from jumping on a counter, is strongly discouraged as it can lead to fear, stress, and damage the human-animal bond. Instead, redirecting the cat to an appropriate behavior, like using a scratching post, and reinforcing that action is more effective.
Extinction occurs when a learned behavior ceases because the reinforcing consequence is removed. If you stop rewarding your cat for coming when called, they will eventually stop responding. This can sometimes lead to an “extinction burst,” where the behavior is performed more frequently in an attempt to regain the reward.
Research indicates a correlation between the use of punishment and increased behavioral problems in cats, including litter box issues and aggression. Positive reinforcement has also been shown to be more effective than aversive methods in training. Dr. Ellis further explains that punishment, especially when associated with the owner, can “really damage the relationship” and lead to anxiety or fear in the cat.
Classical Conditioning: Learning Through Association
Classical conditioning, famously demonstrated by Pavlov’s dogs, involves associating a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response. In cat training, this is often used for counter-conditioning, such as making the cat carrier a positive experience. By consistently pairing the appearance of the carrier with highly desirable treats (like tuna), the cat learns to associate the carrier with good things. It’s essential that the carrier predicts the reward, not the other way around, and that this association is maintained consistently.
Other Forms of Learning in Cats
Beyond associative learning, cats also exhibit other learning types:
- Single-Event Learning: A rapid, one-time learning experience, such as developing an aversion to a food or experience after a single negative encounter.
- Habituation: Becoming accustomed to a repeated, neutral stimulus, like the sound of a dishwasher, leading to a reduced reaction.
- Sensitization: An exaggerated response to a stimulus that initially caused a reaction, potentially increasing stress.
- Social Learning: Learning by observing others, including humans and other cats. Kittens, in particular, benefit from positive social experiences during their sensitive socialization periods.
The Significant Benefits of Training Cats
Training cats offers numerous advantages, enhancing their welfare and strengthening the human-animal bond. Teaching life skills such as carrier training, grooming, and accepting veterinary examinations can significantly reduce stress for both the cat and owner.
Studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of carrier training. In one experiment, cats trained to use their carriers showed significantly lower stress levels during mock vet exams and car rides compared to a control group. These trained cats were more cooperative, and the exams were completed more efficiently. Keeping the carrier accessible and positively associated with good things can further reinforce this training.
Training has also proven beneficial for shelter cats, helping them adapt to new environments and people. Clicker training has successfully taught shelter cats various tricks, even those who are initially shy, suggesting that trick training can be a valuable tool for building positive associations with humans. Furthermore, training programs have been shown to reduce frustration and stress in shelter cats, leading to improved contentment and overall welfare.
When embarking on cat training, focus on essential life skills that contribute to your cat’s well-being and your ability to care for them. Keep sessions short, positive, and always provide your cat with the choice to participate. By using positive reinforcement and making training a fun, engaging activity, you can foster a happier, healthier, and more harmonious life with your feline companion.
Apply the Science at Home:
- Identify essential life skills for your cat, such as coming when called or tolerating grooming, and create a gradual training plan.
- Discover your cat’s favorite food rewards and use them consistently; cats are motivated by rewards.
- Consider trick training as a fun way to provide cognitive and food enrichment.
- Avoid punishment-based training, as it can cause stress and damage your relationship with your cat without teaching desired behaviors.
- Ensure you are meeting your cat’s natural needs, such as providing appropriate scratching opportunities, and reinforce these behaviors positively.
Adapted with permission of the publisher from the book Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy written by Zazie Todd and published by Greystone Books in May 2022.
Listen out for more from Zazie in a forthcoming episode of our Research Digest podcast, PsychCrunch.
