A Step-by-Step Guide to Training Your CAT. UK Edition.

Cats are fascinating creatures with unique personalities and behaviours that make them great pets. Despite their independent nature, cats can be trained to perform various behaviours and tricks that can improve the quality of their lives and the bond they share with their owners.

However, training a cat can be a challenging task, especially for first-time cat owners. In this guide, we’ll take you through the step-by-step process of training your cat in the UK, starting with the basics and moving on to more advanced training techniques.

Understanding Your Cat’s Behaviour

Before you start training your cat, it’s essential to understand how they communicate and behave. Cats are intelligent and intuitive creatures, and they require a lot of mental stimulation to stay healthy and happy.

Understanding your cat’s natural instincts and behaviours will help you develop a training plan that is effective and engaging.

1. Positive Reinforcement Training

Cats respond well to positive reinforcement training, where they are rewarded for exhibiting good behaviour. Positive reinforcement can take the form of treats, praise, and affection. Unlike punishment-based training methods, positive reinforcement does not involve physical or verbal aggression, which can lead to fear and anxiety in cats.

When training your cat, it’s important to use rewards that are high-value and appealing to them. For example, most cats love tuna or chicken, and you can use small pieces of these treats as rewards for good behaviour.

Additionally, verbal praise, such as “good job” or “well done,” can also reinforce good behaviour.

2. Scratching Behaviour

Scratching is a natural behaviour for cats that allows them to stretch, sharpen their claws, and mark their territory. Providing your cat with an appropriate scratching post or pad is essential to prevent them from scratching your furniture or carpet.

The scratching post should be tall enough for your cat to stretch on and stable enough to withstand their weight. Place the post in an area where your cat spends most of their time, and encourage them to use it by placing treats or catnip on or near it.

3. Comfort and Safety

Cats are sensitive animals, and they can become stressed or anxious if they don’t feel safe or comfortable. It’s essential to create a positive training environment that is free of distractions and that your cat feels secure in.

Additionally, make sure your cat is in good health before starting any training program. If your cat has any health issues or is recovering from an injury or surgery, consult with your veterinarian before starting training.

Basic Training Commands

Once you’ve created a comfortable and safe training environment for your cat, you can start teaching them basic training commands.

Basic training commands are simple behaviours that every cat should know, such as sit, come, and stay. These commands will help your cat learn more complex behaviours and tricks in the future.

1. Sit

Teaching your cat to sit is a fundamental behaviour that can help them learn other commands. To teach your cat to sit, follow these steps:

• Hold a treat above your cat’s head, and move it slowly towards their back.
• Your cat will naturally sit down to follow the treat.
• Once your cat is in the sitting position, say “sit” and give them the treat.
• Repeat this process several times until your cat associates the word “sit” with the behavior.

2. Come

Teaching your cat to come when called is essential to their safety and well-being. To teach your cat to come, follow these steps:

• Choose a short, simple word or sound to use as a recall command, such as “come” or a whistle.
• Stand a few feet away from your cat and say the recall command while holding a treat.
• When your cat comes towards you, reward them with the treat and praise them.
• Repeat this process several times until your cat responds reliably to the recall command.

3. Stay

Teaching your cat to stay in place is another important behavior that can prevent them from getting into dangerous situations. To teach your cat to stay, follow these steps:

• Ask your cat to sit or lie down.
• Hold a treat in front of your cat’s nose, and say “stay.”
• Take a step back and wait a few seconds before giving your cat the treat and praise.
• Gradually increase the distance and time that your cat stays in place, rewarding them each time they successfully stay in place.

Advanced Training Techniques

Once your cat has mastered the basic training commands, you can move on to more advanced training techniques. Advanced training techniques are more complex behaviors and tricks that require more time and patience to master.

Here are a few examples of advanced training techniques:

1. Leash Training

Leash training is a great way to provide your cat with exercise and mental stimulation while keeping them safe outdoors. To leash train your cat, follow these steps:

• Choose a comfortable and secure harness that fits your cat’s body.
• Introduce your cat to the harness by placing it on them for short periods while rewarding them with treats and praise.
• Once your cat is comfortable wearing the harness, attach a leash and let them explore their surroundings.
• Reward your cat with treats and praise when they walk on the leash and respond to your commands.

2. High-Five

High-five is a fun trick that you can teach your cat to impress your friends and family. To teach your cat to high-five, follow these steps:

• Hold a treat in front of your cat’s paw.
• When your cat reaches for the treat, say “high-five” and reward them with the treat and praise.
• Repeat this process several times until your cat learns to associate the word “high-five” with the behavior.
• Gradually increase the distance between your cat’s paw and the treat to make the trick more challenging.

3. Toilet Training

Toilet training your cat can save you time and money on litter and litter trays. However, toilet training is a more advanced technique that requires patience and consistency.

To toilet train your cat, follow these steps:

• Place a litter tray near the toilet and gradually move it closer to the toilet each day.
• When your cat is comfortable using the litter tray near the toilet, switch to a litter tray that fits on the toilet seat.
• Gradually remove the litter from the litter tray until your cat is using the toilet directly.

Troubleshooting

Training a cat can be a challenging task, and you may encounter some issues along the way. Here are some common problems and solutions to help you troubleshoot your cat’s training:

1. Lack of Motivation

If your cat seems uninterested in training, try using high-value treats or toys to motivate them. Additionally, keep training sessions short and frequent, and take breaks if your cat seems tired or uninterested.

2. Aggression

If your cat becomes aggressive during training, stop immediately and give them a break. Consult a veterinarian or animal behaviorist if the behavior persists, as aggression can be a sign of a more serious underlying issue.

3. Forgetting Commands

If your cat seems to forget commands, go back to the basics and retrain them with positive reinforcement techniques. Also, make sure that you’re not introducing new commands too quickly and that your cat is comfortable with the current commands before moving on to more advanced training.

Training your cat can be a fun and rewarding experience for both you and your feline friend. With patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement techniques, you can teach your cat a variety of behaviors and tricks that will improve their quality of life and the bond you share. Remember to create a comfortable and safe training environment for your cat, and to be patient and persistent in your training efforts. Use the tips and techniques in this guide to help you train your cat like a pro in the UK, and enjoy the rewards of a well-trained and happy feline companion.