Training your cat to sit – can it be done?
Many people think it is absolutely impossible to train your feline friend and that they don’t respond to training methods in the same way that dogs do. The truth is that cats do respond to training! In fact, cats were one of the earliest animals tested in scientific studies to highlight the importance of reinforcement in animal behaviour.
So, why do cats do the things they do?
The unique behaviour of felines is often what attracts us to them in the first place. Their quirkiness makes them fun and interesting to live with, but it would be great to train them to listen to you, wouldn’t it? Before we start to train our cats to do, or to stop doing something, we have to start with the very basics. They do not “speak human”, and we do not “speak cat”, but we can learn from experience, and with understanding.
Cats are not quite as social as dogs, but that’s because dogs have been domesticated as social companions to interact with humans. The primary reason cats were domesticated was to hunt and reduce vermin. This rendered them independent creatures, not naturally inclined to work for praise, reward or attention (as with dogs). In order to successfully train your kitty, you will need to use irresistible treats and more importantly, be creative and patient.
What are the benefits of training my cat?
Training your cat brings with it other important benefits. Training exercises will stimulate both mind and body, and this helps them maintain good health. Spending quality time together creates a strong bond between you and your pet. In addition to teaching them fun tricks (like “wave” and “fetch”), you can also teach them a range of useful behaviours, including how to sit, stay or how to return home when they are called. Remember: Patience and a reward will go a long way to ensure success.
The first step here will be to have your cat’s absolute favourite treat in hand. This can be anything from cooked and diced chicken pieces, bits of tinned tuna, meat-flavoured baby food or any good quality commercial treat. Once you’ve decided which treats your cat likes most, follow the basic steps of positive reinforcement training (reward-based training) to entrench the behaviour you want them to learn first.
Let’s suppose you’d like your cat to sit (and stay) on a bench while you prepare his dinner.
You’ll first need to start by teaching him to sit when instructed to do so:
- Make sure you have your cat’s attention and that they are focused on you. Hold their treat in your fingers, near enough to their nose, but just out of reach. When your cat begins to sniff the treat and shows interest, slowly move your hand from his nose, up to just over the head between the ears. Don’t pull away too quickly as this will entice them to stand up. Many cats will follow the hand motion and as they raise the chin upwards and backwards, the natural action is for their bottom to go down.
- The moment your cat’s bottom hits the surface, praise them and give them their treat. If their bottom does not go all the way down on the first few attempts, reward them anyway. Try to do this several times, and give them a treat every time they sit. They will get into the repetition eventually (patience) and you will succeed.
Cats can struggle to focus on still objects that are near their face, so try offering the treat from your palm or putting it down if they don’t take directly from your fingers. Many people use a ‘clicker’ to train their pets, but if you cannot find one, a Bic pen can be used. The moment your cat correctly performs the correct instruction, click once or twice and then offer the treat. Using this method, your cat will learn to associate the clicking sound with the right behaviour. Persuasion, not punishment, is the key to training your cat successfully. If you practice this regularly, you’ll soon have your cat sitting and purring contentedly.