Teaching a cat to fetch objects seems like an unrealistic task. However, if we recall Kuklachev’s experience, it turns out that everything is possible.
Cats are very smart and wayward creatures. And they are no stupider than dogs, who happily play ball with their owner and bring slippers and other items. The main reasons for failures in cat training are incorrectly selected details, incentives that are not interesting enough for the pet, and an initially incorrect approach to the issue of training .
So how to teach a cat to fetch objects, what methods to use? Let's try to figure it out.
Choosing a toy
When deciding how to teach a cat to fetch objects, you need to answer the question - what does the cat like to play with ?
The success of the event will depend on the choice of props. What toys does your animal like most? A soft toy? Silicone or plastic ball? Perhaps the animal has its own preferences and loves a baby sock?
It is also worth considering the age and size of the animal. It will be difficult for a small kitten to carry a toy intended for an adult cat.
a toy mouse for training . They are sold in different sizes. Unlike a ball, you can attach a rope to it and then the training will be more fruitful, and the cat will understand what they want from him faster.
The toy must be safe. It is not recommended to play with small balls and other small objects to avoid a life-threatening situation. It is worth paying special attention to decorative details, such as plastic eyes, spouts, etc. During play, they can come off and get into the animal’s esophagus. For the same reason, do not choose balls made of thread and foil.
Why does the kitten not want to sit in your arms?
Every cat, even once domestic, treats humans with caution. When meeting, he usually hides in a far corner and does not let you approach him. There is no need to try to fish him out of a secluded place, since it takes time for him to get used to the surrounding smells in a new home
There is no need to try to fish him out of a secluded place, since it takes time for him to get used to the surrounding smells in a new home.
In an unfamiliar place, due to stress, the cat first huddles in a corner
It is definitely impossible to answer the question why cats don’t want to sit in your arms. There are several reasons for this, and they can be combined.
Character
The reluctance to communicate closely with humans may be inherent in the character of the animal. Some individuals behave independently. Those with the harshest dispositions avoid contact with humans altogether.
Shy cats don't want to be handled for a long time
Breed
There are breeds whose representatives love to spend time in the arms of their owner more than others. The top 8 included:
- Siberian;
- menx;
- Burmese;
- ragdoll;
- Burmese;
- Russian blue;
- sphinx;
- exotic
But the peculiarity of the British and lop-eared breeds is that they refuse to sit on their hands. Therefore, if you find such a cat on the street (this also happens), there is no need to persist. It is enough to establish a trusting relationship.
Other
The cat refuses the hands of the owner in the following cases:
kittens are very active, and their attention is easily distracted by more interesting things; the owner smells of citrus fruits, alcohol, seasonings, hygiene and cosmetic products, and washing powder; grievances experienced in the past - beatings, bullying; fear of loss of balance and heights; non-recognition of other family members other than the one who tamed him; fear of sharp sounds, screaming; if children who do not know how to handle an animal pick it up, they squeeze it and offend it; sudden movements and pinching are made
Cats don't like the smell of laundry detergent lingering on freshly washed laundry.
The likelihood that a cat will be picked up increases in a calm atmosphere. When teaching a dog to hold hands, the environment in the house should be as calm as possible. A scandal, the sound of a TV on, loud shouts will cause fear and disrupt plans to pacify.
Unfortunately, not all small kittens are happy to sit quietly and spend time in the arms of their owner, especially in stressful situations or if the pet is very scared. In addition, not all furry cats require increased attention and avoid close contact with humans. This applies not only to wild street adult cats, cats of certain breeds, but also to kittens that you came out of a helpless little lump. But you really want to cuddle and caress your beloved pet.
Cats are arrogant
In most cases, cats allow themselves to be loved, accept our care, guardianship, and attention. Even a small kitten will not always sit quietly in your arms, allowing itself to be squeezed for hours. Remember that cats are very capricious and freedom-loving animals.
Remember that cats are very capricious and freedom-loving animals.
Why don't cats like to be held? The reasons for this behavior may be the following:
Breed characteristics, genetic predisposition.
Fear of heights, loss of balance. There are cats that are afraid of heights, weightlessness and do not like balance. Sitting in your arms, the kitten experiences fear and discomfort.
Incorrect socialization, adaptation.
Frequent stressful situations, mobile type of nervous system. If the cat is frightened or has suffered severe stress, even the calmest kitten, experiencing anxiety, will try to escape from the hands and run to a safe place.
Rough treatment of animals. Cats remember their abuser very well, and if you used physical violence, the pet will no longer fully trust you.
Strong unpleasant odors, according to the cat, emanating from the owner and his hands. Cats do not like the aroma of perfumes, especially citrus notes, or the smell of tobacco. Perhaps you have previously petted another cat or dog and the smell of the “stranger” scares the kitten away.
Street kittens and pets taken from shelters are reluctant to make contact. Since childhood, animals have not received much attention from humans and have been deprived of love and affection. It is possible that a street kitten was offended by a person, and the animal harbored a grudge against us for the rest of its life and no longer trusts the person.
Active, hyperactive, inquisitive kittens are reluctant to sit in your arms. It is difficult for them to sit in one place, much less on your lap or hands. After all, there are so many interesting things in the world.
Choice of incentive
In order for the pet to understand that he did everything correctly, he needs to be praised. Each furry has his own preferences.
Tactile contact
Touch is very important for cats. When a cat thinks that she is doing well and deserves praise, she herself comes to the owner for affection. Therefore, if during the training process the cat has even a small success, do not regret stroking. This way the cat will understand that he is on the right path to understanding you.
Speech and intonation
Cats have a keen sense of intonation. And they themselves perfectly manipulate the owner using the tool in question. By the timbre of the “grumbling” or meowing, the owner understands: the animal is happy or not, it tastes good or so-so, the animal wants affection or to be left alone, etc.
To show your pet what he is doing right, you can start praising him and talking to him affectionately.
Yummy
As treats, you can use dry food granules, pieces of meat, catnip candies, etc. The main thing in this matter is to give in proportion to merit and not to overfeed.
An overfed cat will stop fulfilling the task set by the owner, since he will not see the need to complete it. Before starting training, you can feed the animal half the required amount. This will give him more incentive to interact with his owner.
And if you give a treat that is not deserved, then the cat will decide that he’s done well and can go to bed.
A good solution would be to use candy or catnip sticks. Did it right - bite a couple of times.
Find a quiet place
To keep your cat's attention and teach her something new, it is best to do this in an environment free of distractions. Find a quiet place in the house, preferably a room with few obstacles.
Choose the right toy
Cats usually have favorite things. It will be easiest for you to follow your cat's natural preferences when introducing him to play.
For example, a cat may be most interested in a catnip mouse, a paper packet, a soft shiny ball, or even a treat.
Some cats even enjoy chasing food on hard floors. While they may not get it back, they may come back to "ask" for another roll.
Choose the right time
Time is the key. It is necessary to choose the best time when the cat is ready to play. Even if this is convenient for you, the game may not take place if the cat goes to sleep. Some cat owners find that their cat is most receptive to learning and willing to pay attention immediately before eating.
While dogs tend to go crazy with marathon breakaways, remember that cats are master sprinters. Ten minutes is a long time in the cat world. Stop the play before the cat quits - five minutes is good for most cats.
Training order
So, the toy has been chosen, the treat has been stored, now let’s figure out how to teach a cat to fetch a toy, step by step.
Selecting a location
Clear space within a radius of 1-2 m around you . There should be nothing there that could prevent the cat from running or distract his attention. It is advisable that only you two be in this room.
Timing
The peak activity of the cat family is at dawn and dusk . Getting up in the morning for training is a dubious pleasure. And the household will not perceive the morning awakening with delight. Therefore, it is more advisable to work with the cat in the evening.
When choosing a time for training, you can pay attention to the time period when the cat begins to play on its own. This approach will be more effective, since the cat is already inclined to play and his interest does not need to be “stirred up.”
As the time for training, you can choose the period of planned feeding, about 10 minutes in advance. The feeling of hunger and receiving a treat motivates the animal better, especially in the first stages of training.
Demonstration of intent to play
Take a toy in your hand and call the animal. When the cat approaches, praise him and give him a treat. The animal should see its toy in your hand and become interested in it.
Throwing a toy
Start throwing the toy from small distances, for example, half a meter. This way your pet will quickly understand the rules of the game and what is required of him. As training progresses and the cat begins to return the props, the distance can be increased.
It is important to throw the toy in the same direction so that the cat understands the chain of events: throw -> picking up the toy -> return -> receiving a treat -> throw.
Throwing can be accompanied by commands, for example, “bring it.”
Don't forget to praise your fluffy if he succeeds.
Reward for results
Give a treat only if the animal has completed the task. For example, a cat took a toy in its teeth, but when it saw the tasty treat in its hands, it threw it away. It is impossible to give treats in such a situation, otherwise the cat will not understand the relationship “result = yummy.”
A sense of proportion in learning
Classes should last from 3-5 minutes , otherwise the cat may get tired and not want to play next time. Exercising too often will also not be beneficial. 1-2 times a day will be enough.
End of training
To prevent the animal from losing interest in the toy, it is recommended to hide it after training.
Where to start training a cat?
The “catch and praise” technique requires a certain amount of attention from the owner, but it is very easy to accustom the cat to commands and tricks. Cats are able to remember about 50 words from what a person says to them.
- The most memorable phrase that most cats easily learn is “Eat!” Pets remember words by creating a logical chain, since receiving food reinforces the effect of the learned word with positive emotions.
- Using the same method, you can teach a cat the command “Sleep!” — the pet is placed comfortably, then petted and the necessary command is repeated. In the future, the pet will go to its own place to sleep according to the learned command. This will help reinforce the habit of not disturbing you when guests come to the house or you need to clean the apartment.
Adviсe
It happens that the animal refuses to take part in training. How to teach a cat to fetch a toy in such a situation?
First you need to figure out what's wrong with him. The reason for refusing to play may lie in:
- bad mood;
- overwork;
- overeating;
- feeling unwell;
- lack of motivation;
- misunderstanding of the owner’s actions;
- too persistent behavior of the owner, etc.
If physiological causes are excluded and the owner is confident that the animal is healthy, then he should reconsider his actions and look for the problem there. Also, the reason may lie in the animal’s lack of motivation. In this case, it is recommended to change the type of treat and spray the training toy with a solution of catnip.
Give the game a name
Cats communicate with fluffy fur, eyes, tails, and meows, but they certainly understand a lot of human words. Associate the action with the word to help your cat understand it.
Say something like: “Bring it, kitty-kitty-kitty!” in a high, happy tone after you've thrown a toy across the room to encourage your cat to return the toy.
Reward action
Follow your cat's lead and offer whatever reward she likes best to reward good behavior.
How to teach to fetch a toy if nothing helps?
The problem may be due to the animal's misunderstanding of the owner's actions. How to teach a cat to bring a toy back if the animal does not understand this?
Any toy to which you can attach a rope . In such a situation, the learning process will be supplemented by some actions on the part of the owner:
- When the cat grabs the toy, the owner pulls it towards him.
- If the cat lets go of the toy, then we throw it again.
- If the cat doesn’t let go of the toy, then we carefully take it away and reward it with praise and treats.
- When the cat begins to bring the toy without prompting, the rope can be removed.
The question of how to teach a cat to bring a toy back can be difficult for owners who have never trained their pets before. But, as you can see, it is not very difficult and quite doable. The main thing is to be patient and persistent.
How to train a cat to follow commands
Even without training skills, any owner of a furry pet in the process of communication teaches him to respond to his name, use a litter tray and ask for food. If you set a goal, this list can be expanded.
The process of training cats is more complex than dogs. Four-legged friends enjoy following their owner’s commands and seeing his approval. Fluffy pets are more selfish. They prefer rewards and treats to any praise.
Compared to dogs, cats take much longer to learn to follow commands.
Trainer's Toolkit
Since animals do not speak human language, alternative means of communication must be used.
Table 1. Communication methods available to cats
Instrument Description Voice The animal has sensitive hearing. When a person gives a loud command to a cat, it perceives it as a cry. Stress that arises as a response blocks the ability to fulfill a request. Therefore, you should speak to your pet kindly and avoid an authoritative tone. Pronunciation A cat can remember about 50 words and associate them with certain actions
Therefore, it is important to be consistent in using voice commands. For example, if the phrase “fetch-fetch” was repeatedly used in a game with a ball, then a single “fetch” will not serve as a signal for the cat to act. Intonation The pet is well versed in the nuances of the human voice.
It is necessary to pronounce each address to him with the same intonation. Encouragement is the most important component of any training of representatives of the cat family. The method of stimulation depends on the individual preferences of the pet. If food is planned as a reward, you should make sure that this dish is not part of the animal’s usual diet.
Intonation The pet is well versed in the nuances of the human voice. It is necessary to pronounce each address to him with the same intonation. Encouragement is the most important component of any training of representatives of the cat family. The method of stimulation depends on the individual preferences of the pet. If food is planned as a reward, you should make sure that this dish is not part of the animal’s usual diet.
During the training process, you need to show endurance and patience.
5 tips from experienced trainers
Teaching your cat to perform simple tricks is easy. It is necessary to adhere to the basic rules of training and take into account the individual characteristics of the pet.
Reward is one of the most effective methods of training cats.
General recommendations:
- Create illusions of the game. A cat will never do anything he doesn't like. If you transfer training from an edifying plane to a playful one, your pet will learn the trick faster.
- Synchronize the voice command with the required movement. Even if the cat accidentally made the desired “pa” outside of training time, the appropriate words should be spoken. For example, if a pet puts its paw in the owner’s hand, you need to say “High five!”
- Encourage in a timely manner. One of the main mistakes in cat training is late stimulation. In order to consolidate in the animal’s mind the connection between the action and the subsequent reward, there is no need to postpone the completion of the last point.
- Choose your verbal praise wisely. You should not encourage your pet with phrases that are familiar to him. For these purposes, you need to choose an expression that is not used in everyday life.
- Do not punish or scold your pet. Cats are not naturally submissive. The animal does not draw a parallel between educational measures and failure to fulfill a request. Instead, it will begin to hate its owner and stop responding to any commands.
When training cats, you should not show authority. The pet must decide for himself what he wants to do during training.
Swearing and assault are contraindicated
Is it possible to teach a cat to fetch objects on command?
There is an opinion that cats cannot be taught obedience and commands, but in fact this is not the case. At a minimum, Kuklachev’s experience showed us that it is possible to work with cats quite effectively. Of course, in order to bring your pet to the same level that Kuklachev’s cats reached, you will have to spend a lot of time and effort.
However, no matter how old your cat is, you can teach him a few simple tricks. Of course, it is best to start training when the cat is still very tiny, but this is not necessary. The key to learning tricks is patience.
A cat won't try to get your acceptance as much as a dog. Therefore, be patient and do not expect too quick results.
Popular commands and tricks
If you managed to teach the cat the first command, it’s time to start more difficult training. The animal remembers various tricks; the owners are especially interested in how to teach a cat to stand on its hind legs. You need to choose teams in accordance with the character of your pet, as they have individual preferences. Some cats respond better to active commands; phlegmatic individuals prefer calm ones. So, let's see what you can accustom your cat to during the training process:
Stand on your hind legs
This trick looks graceful and seems difficult. In fact, to understand how to teach a cat to stand on its hind legs, it is enough to take a closer look at its natural behavior.
A hungry cat reaches for food and rises above the floor. You need to say “Ask”, and when the cat gets up, she is given a well-deserved treat.
It doesn't always work out right away. At first, unsuccessful attempts are rewarded, gradually raising the tasty piece higher.
Almost every pet can learn this, and with great effort, you can teach it not only to stand up, but also to walk on its hind legs. Such circus tricks always surprise guests and are remembered for a long time.
Bring a toy
Not every cat can learn this trick. Here you need a tendency to carry toys in your teeth. Individual representatives, without training, bring back the thrown ball to continue the fun game.
You need to throw the toy to the side and say “Fetch” or “Fetch.” If the cat runs after the toy and grabs it, you need to lure him back by giving him a treat.
If the command remains unattended, it is necessary to entice the cat with delicious food and make it clear what they want from it. With a well-fed “fluffy” such a trick is practically impossible. Only hard training will help, because Kuklachev was able to do it.
Voice
You can teach a cat to vocalize; to do this, you will have to wait until the pet gets hungry and lets you know about it by meowing loudly.
You need to say “Voice” and after meowing, give him a treat. Soon the cat will understand the relationship between the word and the reward.
The food is given directly to the animal; do not put it in a bowl. It is advisable to conduct training in different rooms so that the cat does not develop associations with a bowl and feeding.
What can you teach a cat
The commands that are taught to dogs can also be taught to cats, especially curious ones. She can learn to sit, lie down, give a paw, fetch a toy and do various tricks. You can teach your pet elements of a circus program: jumping through a hoop, walking on its hind legs, fetching a ball.
Of course, training cats is different from training dogs; these are different types of animals, and they need an individual approach.
Special training systems have been developed for cats and are used by people at home. With regular exercise, even a 2-month-old kitten will achieve positive results.
Special conditions must be created for training, then the result will be as effective as possible:
- Your four-legged friend must be in good health.
- It’s better if the cat ate a long time ago, then rewarding it with a treat works better.
- A good, playful mood between the owner and the cat - it is important that the pet enjoys the process.
- The lesson should not last long, no more than five minutes: cats quickly lose interest in training.
- Age also matters - you should not train small kittens, less than two months old or old kittens, most likely this will not bring the desired results.
