Training and cat are seldom used in the same sentence. Most people think that cats are incapable of being trained.
Many cats are incredibly affectionate and loving. They just need you to be the “alpha” and demonstrate your leadership and initiate the rapport-building process.
Certainly many times cats act like loners who seem content on doing their own thing. But they are also playful, loving, and members of the pride.
Sure, cats act aloof, independent, and laid back. They even act like they own the world. If they were human, they would be the ones who believe “It’s all about me.” That is because they seem to do what they want, when they want. Yeah, yeah, that doesn’t strike most people as being ideal training material. Ah, but it is.
More and more people are discovering how fun it is to train their cats in basic and advanced obedience work and tricks (everything from sit, stay, and come, to jumping through hoops, twirling, and high-fiving). The additional reward is their cats enjoy it too.
If you keep your cat’s mind active and stimulated, they will be happy to play and learn. They’re like a two-year old child – don’t tell them its good for them and they’ll enjoy it!
I have always started with easy things that the cat naturally likes to do “reach up with their paws”, “roll over to be petted”, and so on. With rewards and praise, they quickly learn to have fun at this new game and jump at the opportunity to learn more.
Simply put, cats are like children. They enjoy knowing their boundaries and they are more than willing to push them every chance they get. But remember that you are the alpha in this pride and stand firm.
