Jun042008
Cat Clicker Training - Is It Possible to Train a Cat?
Filed under Training & Behavior, Videos by moderncat at 10:49 pm on Jun 04 2008
This video outlines the steps of clicker training a cat. I’ve heard of this technique, but I was never really clear about how it is supposed to work. I always assumed that the clicker was for deterring bad behavior but that is not the case. Clicker training is a positive reinforcement method and the clicker sound is used to communicate when the animal has done the right thing. Positive reinforcement, also known as operant conditioning, rewards the animal for positive or desired behavior. The video helps to clarify.
Karen Pryor, an expert in clicker training, narrates this video made by clicker trainer Catherine Crawmer. You can find quite a bit of information on clicker training at www.clickertraining.com.
Has anyone ever tried this? How did it work for you?
1 Paintandsoulon 05 Jun 2008 at 8:26 am
I have been working on training with my cats, and a clicker is just ONE way to do it. I really think it comes down to just understanding cats! Get a book on cat behavior or on how to understand your cat and once you’ve read it you’ll know how to train your cat (we know our cats, but we still don’t always understand what motivates their behavior). With or without a clicker! I’ve been working on mine for a month or so now and have eliminated all litter box issues and taught my two kitties the Come command. They also know to stay off the kitchen counters, and what blankets are ‘theirs’ in the living room (so they don’t constantly get tons of fuzz all over the couches). It’s really easy once you know what motivates them, and the weirder part is THEY LOVE IT. They love training time! I wrote a blog about it on sparkpeople, and personally I would recommend the How to train your cat in 10 minutes a day book if you want to know how to train them. I’m actually going to work on toilet training as soon as I get back from a trip, they’re already going in an elevated litter box next to the toilet.
http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal_individual.asp?blog_id=1234251
2 bereon 05 Jun 2008 at 9:24 am
im not totally agree with this… not even about dogs… its kinda strange to see a trained cat.. just let them be
3 Daisy the Curly Caton 05 Jun 2008 at 9:50 am
That agility course at the end was amazing. This was really timely, because we just ordered the clicker training kit for cats a few days ago and cannot wait to get started.
4 tesseracton 05 Jun 2008 at 9:52 am
Just this past Saturday, I was at an animal training center at a nearby college, and they were using this technique on an african lion. The lion could do all kinds of commands and tricks.
5 jmuhjon 05 Jun 2008 at 5:06 pm
Why anyone should need to try to bend the will of a very intelligent, naturally clean, powerful, athletic, agile, beautiful creature to their bidding is, to me, pretty twisted. Want a slave? GET A DOG.
6 Beaon 06 Jun 2008 at 2:50 am
I have clicker trained my cats, it’s not only for agility! You can train the cat to IMPROVE behaviour, things like not jumping on counters or darting through open doors, get along with other pets, allow themselves to be examined (ears, teeth, brushing, get in the cat box for transportation without turning into a tasmanian devil!) or just fun games such as paw you for treats, sit or stand up. The cats love it, I guarantee, since they know they’ll be rewarded with food and it’s a great bonding tool!
7 Angelon 10 Jun 2008 at 4:01 pm
I have done basic clicker training with my cats - just simple tricks like sit, high-five, lay down, etc. I started because I was having a hard time dealing with my cat’s self-mutilating behavior, and while teaching her tricks was not the solution to her problems it was another way for me to interact with her in a positive way and engage her intellectually. The cats do seem to enjoy it, especially the treats that come with the training.
8 yellowducon 23 Aug 2008 at 11:51 am
I haven’t heard about clicker training before, but I do have two distinct sounds that I make which my cats distinguish between good behavior and bad behavior. For bad behavior, I snap my fingers (loudly), and they get that whatever they are doing is not acceptable. The other sound I make is by rapidly flicking my index finger against my thumb. That part of my index finger is calloused and a little rough, so the sound is louder than just rubbing my fingers together. It is also soft enough of a sound that the cats find it either pleasing or interesting, but they have learned that it means something good.