Many people think that cats are untrainable because of their independent nature, but the reality is different.
Our beloved felines can learn many things, as long as the training is done with patience, consistency and a positive attitude. One of the most useful things we can teach them is to come when called.
The education of one cat living up to her name isn’t just a gimmick. It can prove to be very important for her safety and daily life. If the cat goes out of the house, if it hides somewhere or if we need to find it quickly, answering our call can make a big difference.
What steps should we take?
The first step is to choose a specific word or phrase to use each time. Usually the cat’s name or a short word like “come” is enough. It is important to always use the same tone of voice, preferably calm and cheerful. Cats are very sensitive to sounds and understand the mood in our voice more than the words themselves.
The key of course is positive reinforcement. Every time the cat comes near when we call it, we must reward her immediately. The reward can be a tasty treat, toys or cuddles, depending on what she likes best. In this way it associates our voice with something pleasant, and becomes motivated to repeat the behavior. Yelling and strong reactions never help. Instead they create fear and reduce her trust in us.
OR education it must be started in a quiet environment without distractions. For example, we can be in a room of the house and call her while she is a few meters away. As soon as she comes to us, we immediately give her the reward. This process needs to be repeated for several days or even weeks.
After the cat begins to respond within a room, we can gradually increase the difficulty. To call her from another room or when there are more sounds and movements around her. If he keeps coming, it means he has made the connection between the call and the reward. When you reach this level, you don’t have to give treat every time, but you can continue with game and petting to maintain the behavior.
It is also important that the cat does not associate the call with negative experiences. If, for example, we call the cat only when to trim its nails or to give it a pill, it is only a matter of time before it stops responding. The call must be accompanied mainly by positive moments.
Can we train our cat if it is no longer young?
The age of the cat plays less of a role than many people think. Kittens usually learn faster because they are more curious and willing to explore, but still and an adult cat can be successfully trained. The most important element is consistency. If we use different words or don’t reward properly, the cat gets confused and training becomes much more difficult.
Every cat has its own character
Some cats are social and understand what we ask of them immediately, while others are more reserved or independent. This does not mean that they cannot learn, but that they may need more time and patience. The process of education it should not be done under pressure but as a daily game that strengthens our relationship with them.
With positive reinforcement, repetition and proper communication, most cats can learn to respond to their guardian’s call. This habit, apart from being practical and can save our friend from many dangers, helps us to build a closer relationship of trust with her.
