Bringing a new cat into your home is an exciting time, and while many associate training with dogs, cats are highly trainable and benefit greatly from learning life skills. This training not only enhances your bond but also significantly improves your cat’s overall well-being and makes everyday life, like vet visits, much smoother. The key lies in understanding how cats learn and employing positive, science-backed methods.
How Cats Learn
Cats are constantly learning through their interactions with us. They learn which behaviors elicit positive responses, such as petting when they sit on our laps, or negative ones, like a dreaded trip to the vet signaled by the cat carrier. While teaching fun tricks can be enjoyable, prioritizing essential life skills—like using a carrier, tolerating grooming, and coming when called—is crucial for their integration into our society. Dr. Sarah Ellis, head of cat advocacy at International Cat Care, emphasizes that training equips cats with necessary skills, allowing them to “struggle less” and live harmoniously with humans.
The Power of Positive Reinforcement
To effectively train a cat, understanding what motivates them is paramount. While some cats may respond to praise, most are best motivated by food rewards. Dr. Ellis notes, “There isn’t that need to please… so we have to think about what really is rewarding for a cat, because it’s certainly not our social attention for most cats.” When selecting treats, keep portion sizes small to avoid contributing to obesity, a common issue in pet cats. Consider options like small pieces of tuna, prawns, or specially designed cat treats that can be broken down further. It’s also advisable to be mindful of the treat calories within your cat’s daily food intake.
For cats not accustomed to taking treats from hands, which can sometimes lead to accidental bites, alternative methods include using a spoon, a lollipop stick, or offering wet treats from a tube or dish. Training sessions should be kept short and engaging to prevent boredom or frustration. Observing your cat’s cues—purring and rubbing indicate they’re happy, while walking away suggests a need for a break or a different approach.
Understanding Associative Learning
Cats primarily learn through associative learning, which includes operant conditioning (learning by consequence) and classical conditioning (learning by association with events).
Operant Conditioning: Reinforcement and Punishment
Operant conditioning involves reinforcing or punishing a behavior to increase or decrease its frequency.
- Positive Reinforcement: This is the most effective and recommended method, involving rewarding a desired behavior with something the cat likes, typically food.
- Negative Reinforcement: This involves removing an unpleasant stimulus when the cat performs the desired behavior. It’s generally not recommended due to potential risks to the cat’s welfare.
- Negative Punishment: This occurs when something the cat likes is withheld to decrease an unwanted behavior. For example, stopping petting if the cat bites during the interaction.
- Positive Punishment: This involves adding an unpleasant consequence to decrease a behavior, such as spraying a cat with water for jumping on a counter. This method is strongly discouraged as it can lead to fear, stress, anxiety, and damage the human-animal bond. Studies have shown a strong correlation between the use of positive punishment and increased behavioral problems in cats, including aggression and eliminating outside the litter box.
When consequences for a behavior cease, the behavior will eventually disappear, a process known as extinction. However, during this phase, an “extinction burst” may occur where the behavior intensifies before it stops.
Classical Conditioning: Building Associations
Classical conditioning involves learning through association. A classic example is Pavlov’s dogs, who learned to salivate at the sound of a bell associated with food. In cat training, this can be used for counter-conditioning, such as teaching a cat to associate their carrier with positive experiences. By consistently pairing the appearance of the carrier with highly desirable treats (like tuna), the cat learns that the carrier predicts good things, thus reducing fear and anxiety associated with it. It’s crucial that the “scary” stimulus (the carrier) reliably predicts the reward, and that high-value treats are used consistently.
Other Ways Cats Learn
Beyond associative learning, cats also learn through:
- Single-Event Learning: Learning from a single, impactful experience, which can be beneficial for avoiding danger but can also lead to negative associations, like a fear of the vet after one bad experience.
- Habituation: Becoming accustomed to repeated, non-threatening stimuli, such as household noises like the dishwasher.
- Sensitization: An exaggerated response to a stimulus that may not be inherently dangerous, leading to increased fear or stress.
- Social Learning: Learning by observing others, including humans and other cats. Kittens, especially, benefit from positive social experiences during their sensitive socialization period.
The Profound Benefits of Training Cats
Training offers numerous advantages for both cats and their owners:
- Strengthened Bond: Training sessions, especially when using positive reinforcement, foster a deeper connection between you and your cat.
- Reduced Stress During Vet Visits: Cats trained to use their carriers willingly experience less anxiety during travel and veterinary examinations. Studies have shown trained cats exhibit fewer signs of stress and tolerate exams more readily.
- Improved Welfare for Shelter Cats: Training can be a valuable tool in shelter environments, reducing frustration and boredom, and promoting positive associations with humans, even for shy cats. Research indicates that training can lead to more content and less stressed cats.
- Management of Natural Behaviors: While training can modify unwanted behaviors, it’s essential to provide appropriate outlets for natural feline instincts, such as scratching posts for scratching.
When embarking on cat training, focus on practical life skills that enhance your cat’s welfare and your ability to care for them. Starting early, with kittens, can prevent the formation of negative associations. Keep sessions short, fun, and always use positive reinforcement. Remember, training should be a pleasant and rewarding experience for both you and your feline companion.
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.
