can you clicker train cats in the same way as dogs?

[jenny]

hey guys,
now i know you can clicker train cats, but does it work in the same way as clicker training dogs?
and what potential does a cat have

[smudgley]

It is possible to clicker train a cat (apparently) & it has exactly the same principle as a dog, but I don't have any experience trying to clicker train a cat & would imagine they would not be so responsive by a long way. Mainly because it's all about the reward & how much they want it. We all know a labrador would virtually do anything for a treat! But a cat, well that's a different ball game. A cat wouldn't respond to / associate praise in the same way a dog would either.

That's my thoughts anyway.:cool:

[JemBob]

smudgley agreed :lol:

[jenny]

on one of my animal behaviour seminars i think they were talking briefly about why a cat socialisation class wouldnt be effective compared to a dog one cos cats are more independant.

but im sure i heard someone on the course say that if you control the food more, ie hand feed from a kitten, then its easier to clicker train them and get a closer bond, or something like they are more dependant then.
or something like that.. i wasnt really listening :roll: :lol:

[JemBob]

personally i wouldnt want to clicker train oscar he is perfect the way he is and we are close anyways and i got him at the age of 5 and only had him a year he is my little baby :)

[smudgley]

on one of my animal behaviour seminars i think they were talking briefly about why a cat socialisation class wouldnt be effective compared to a dog one cos cats are more independant.

but im sure i heard someone on the course say that if you control the food more, ie hand feed from a kitten, then its easier to clicker train them and get a closer bond, or something like they are more dependant then.
or something like that.. i wasnt really listening :roll: :lol:

I'm sure that's right. But even if you only hand fed with the clicker (& no other food) I still don't think you'd get a cat to do what you wanted by association.

What seminars have you been to? Who was speaking/lecturing?

[jenny]

I'm sure that's right. But even if you only hand fed with the clicker (& no other food) I still don't think you'd get a cat to do what you wanted by association.

What seminars have you been to? Who was speaking/lecturing?

at the time i was mostly interested in the dog part, so havent remembered any of the cat behaviour, jus somethin i seem to think i may have remembered. lol.

the seminar was part of the COAPE courses, the lecturers were peter neville, sarah whitehead and val strong

[smudgley]

at the time i was mostly interested in the dog part, so havent remembered any of the cat behaviour, jus somethin i seem to think i may have remembered. lol.

the seminar was part of the COAPE courses, the lecturers were peter neville, sarah whitehead and val strong

Excellent. I went on a COAPE course recently with Peter Neville. :)

[Snoof]

Sounds a little like an easy way to get a clingy cat, without having to work to understand the cat's individual personality (the bit about hand-feeding from kitten to get a closer bond).

I can see the point of trying to clicker-train cats to do certain things, but to use it to control the human-to-cat relationship seems a bit... cheap. I can see the point if you have a cat with problems - I'm still considering trying it with my boy. But just doing it because you want to steer your cat towards a certain type of "emotional" upmake... I don't know.

[jenny]

Excellent. I went on a COAPE course recently with Peter Neville. :)

which course did u do?
im doin the diploma course and still have 2 more weekend seminars to attend, one in april.
im a bit behind on my reading tho :shock:

[smudgley]

which course did u do?
im doin the diploma course and still have 2 more weekend seminars to attend, one in april.
im a bit behind on my reading tho :shock:

I only did a 2 day course on animal behaiour, but it was very good. I did consider doing one of the cat couses, but they are so expensive.
Have done several different dog courses over the years, but not any cat ones really.
Have been asked recently by my manager to do a dog breeders advanced course (Cavill) but that's all home working & done via correspondense (sp) I said I don't have time at present with all my cat rescue stuff etc. I'd like the qualification, but not the hard work that goes with it :roll:

[Julie84]

Sorry for digging up past threads, but I saw this and had to comment.

I started clicker training a couple of months ago but it is a bit patchy because it is when I have the time (and a quiet house!).

I decided to try clicker training, not so I could control them, but to provide more mental stimulation for my boys (which I do sometimes have concerns about because they are indoors all the time). Murphy is very receptive and loves it - we haven't got that far yet, a few basic skills, but I have only introduced and established one cue word which is 'dinner'. When I say dinner they both go and sit on their mat in the kitchen and wait while I prepare their food - no snaking round my legs or climbing on to the work surface or trying to eat it out of the pouch while I'm holding it or fighting to both get there head in one bowl, they sit very patiently and watch me. I only taught Murphy this (Thomas doesn't accept bribery! ;) ) Tom has just copied his behaviour, which made it very easy for me. When I have put their meals into their separate bowls, I place them on the floor, say dinner again and then they start eating. It is easier for me but also has much greater implications. For example, when I'm cooking tea, and want to get something out of the oven, I say dinner and the boys go and sit in their place on the far side of the kitchen. I can open the oven safely without worrying if the cats might try and jump up and can place food on the side without worrying a cat might jump up and eat it (when they were very little, they did a lot of this!). When I have finished, I give them both a yummy treat and then they know they can move again.

I don't want my cats to jump through hoops or do somersaults but the interaction between us and the positive outcomes of some of their learned behaviours is really great. At the moment I am using clicker training to try and make them more comfortable with walking outside on a lead. They are both comfortable wearing a harness and lead (and now understand that if they feel tension on the lead they need to walk backwards or stop rather than pulling on it) but are scared of the outside world. Now it is getting a bit warmer and lighter in the evenings I will try taking them round to people's (quiet) gardens to see if that helps them.

If you find something your cat really likes then clicker training isn't really that difficult at all. Murphy has Natures Menu moist cat treats (which I cut into tiny bits). The pieces need to be small enough so they don't take time to eat it and to keep them interested. I find it best to do a bit of training just before tea time when they are hungry because cats are so wilful - I suppose if you free feed this wouldn't be so easy I suppose. Training doesn't last very long, normally only up to 20 or 30 clicks (which would be up to about 10 minutes). When we started, we were only having about 5 click and treats per session as you need to finish the 'game' while they are still interested - if you 'bore' them they will be wary about doing it again.

It can be very useful for training your cat to accept nail trimming, brushing and coming when called though - cats are very intelligent and soon realise it might be worth sitting through something if they get rewarded at the end.

I think some people get scared by the phrase 'clicker training'. How many people shake the biscuit box (or have some other stimulus) to get their cat to come in? It is the same principle really. :)

[dinahsmum]

Really interesting postJjulie, with lots of food for thought.
Here's a website/book http://www.clickertraining.com/training/cats/catbook/index.htm?loaditem=catbook&itemnumber=2
Might think of this for the kitten(s).
Pity all we animals can't communicate in the same way!

[janey83]

Ive torte my cat to give me his paw for a treat! Ive not used a clicker thing.

[Elaine]

I started clicker training Eva about a year ago, more for things like training her to not jump onthe kitchen table and stuff. She will give you a high five, which was something that she had started and we adapted it, coz it is cute. Other than that i dont want her to be a circus animal and have recently been using the clicker with her and Bernie and can now get her to come into the same room as him with out too much fuss and a treat if she doesnt go into a hissy fit. Consistancy is the key but thats something I have been terrible with lately. Too much other stuff going on.
I introduced my friend to it as one of her cats had decided to be an indoor cat but wasnt looking very happy and gaining alot of weight. Now she has been stimulated by some clicker training the difference in her is quite amazing.
I must get my friend to join cp as i think she would love it here.

[Naomi]

This thread brought a smile to my face as i remember what my daughter was doing the other day with Moli.

She was trying to get Moli to do a 'down stay' :roll: The amazing thing is tho that Moli will sit when told to by my daughter before she is given any food :shock: