There are many misconceptions about positive cat training and we’ve called on the expertise of our Feline Wellbeing Panel to dispel some common untruths about training and bust some myths that may be a barrier for you to #BeCatCurious!
If you haven’t already started your positive training journey with your cat, visit the International Cat Day page and start your training adventure today! You can also see everything that we’ve got planned for International Cat Day itself on the 8th August.
Click below to be taken to the answer to each myth:
That might work for some cats, but it wouldn’t work for MY cat
‘Angry’ cats are trying to dominate you
Kittens don’t need socialisation
You can’t ‘teach an old cat new tricks’
Positive training takes too long
If you miss your cat’s socialisation window, there’s no point in training them
‘Angry’ cats don’t respond to positive reinforcement
Cats should be forced to do things
Cats do not like their owners’ company
Cats don’t need as much attention as dogs
You should punish cats for unwanted behaviour
Cats are harder to train than dogs
Food is the only reward you can use to train
That might work for some cats, but it wouldn’t work for MY cat
Myth busted by Lauren Finka
When it comes to training, all cats will learn through the same basic principles and associated cognitive processes.
When exposed to different situations or stimuli, cats will start to associate these experiences with specific outcomes (whether good, bad or indifferent). As a consequence, the cat may then regulate their behaviour in order to help them to achieve (or equally avoid) these specific outcomes in the future. However, how each cat perceives a specific situation and the associations they make can vary between individuals.
These differences may be due their personality as well as physical and emotional state at the time of training. Therefore, for effective training to place, its important that the behaviour the owner wants to encourage in the cat is ultimately associated with a sufficiently positive outcome for that individual, and that the training context does not inadvertently induce an unpleasant experience such as anxiety or frustration. This may require some experimentation to find the most suitable forms of reward for a particular cat (i.e. a specific food type, play, attention etc) as well as paying close attention to the cats’ behaviour and body language during training to ensure that they are comfortable and positively engaged.
“Angry” cats are trying to dominate you
Myth busted by Trudi Atkinson
An ‘angry’ cat is a cat experiencing frustration:
“I can’t get away from something I feel threatened by!”
“The good thing that I was expecting (e.g. food, comfort, safety, the opportunity to engage in normal behaviour) is not available for me.”
An angry cat does not want or need to dominate. An angry cat is a cat that needs more predictability and control over its own environment.
Keep your cat happy not angry: Provide escape routes and access to high safe places. Be predictable in your handling and husbandry. Allow your cat the right to choose and the right to be a cat.
Kittens don’t need socialisation
Myth busted by Trudi Atkinson
Socialisation is the process whereby kittens, aged between 2 to 8 weeks, learn to recognise and to develop appropriate social behaviour with other cats, and with other species that they live with, including people.
A lack or insufficient socialisation as a kitten will produce a cat that is ill equipped for its future life, and is very likely to suffer continual fear, anxiety and general poor welfare.
A well socialised kitten – one that has had regular positive and enjoyable contact with friendly cats and dogs, and very importantly with all types of people (young, old, male and female) – will be a far more confident, friendly, and happy pet.
You can’t ‘teach an old cat new tricks’
Myth busted by Trudi Atkinson
A decline in the senses and cognitive ability that can sometimes accompany old age might make learning a bit slower and require more patience and ingenuity from the trainer. But as long as the brain is still functioning, so is the cat’s ability to learn.
As well as other important considerations to help keep your older cat happy and healthy a little bit of simple training can also help to keep their minds active.
Positive training takes too long
Myth busted by Mikel Delgado
If you miss your cat’s socialisation window, there’s no point in training them
Myth busted by Mikel Delgado
‘Angry’ cats don’t respond to positive reinforcement
Myth busted by Linda Ryan
Cats are stubborn
Myth busted by Vicky Halls
Cats should be forced to do things
Myth busted by Vicky Halls
Cats do not like their owners’ company
Myth busted by Marta Amat Grau
Cats don’t need as much attention as dogs
Myth busted by Marta Amat Grau
You should punish cats for unwanted behaviour
Myth busted by Lucy Hoile
Cats need to be the boss
Myth busted by Lucy Hoile
Cats are harder to train than dogs
Myth busted by Naima Kasaboui
Cats cannot be trained
Myth busted by Franck Peron
Cats don’t remember training
Myth busted by Franck Peron
Food is the only reward you can use to train
Myth busted by Franck Peron