If you’ve ever owned a cat, or even lived with one in an apartment or home, then you know that they’re pretty hard to train. They’re also super cute and adorable so it can be tempting to just let them do whatever they want — which is why we have this guide! We’ll show you how to get your kitty on board with house training, litter box training and other basic commands that will help make your life easier.
Step 1 – Learn what motivates your cat
The first step is figuring out what motivates your cat. This can be difficult, as cats are notoriously hard to train (and we all know how stubborn they can be). But there are ways to help them understand what you want them to do and make them feel good when they do it!
As a general rule of thumb, the more “human” or “cat” things you have around your house, the better. That said, don’t worry too much about whether or not your cat likes those things—just make sure that whatever motivates him doesn’t involve food (unless he’s eating).
You’ll also want to think about what kind of rewards work for each specific situation: Is this behavior something that should happen every single time? Or does it only need positive reinforcement once in awhile? Make sure these things line up with how often an animal needs positive reinforcement and when s/he would most likely get tired of doing something over and over again (like walking on his leash).
Step 2 – Set up a reward system
Once you’ve got the cat’s attention and are sure they’re watching, it’s time to set up a reward system. Rewards are important because they help reinforce behavior and keep them interested in what you want them to do.
- Make sure the reward is something they like; if your cat wants food or treats, give those!
- Reward them when they do something that helps get your point across (such as sit on command). Be consistent—if you only reward at first when your cat sits down on command, then he’ll stop doing it out of boredom. Instead, try rewarding every time he sits down for about 5 minutes straight without any distractions around him (you can even use this opportunity as an excuse for petting him!).
- Don’t just give one type of reward all week long: mix things up! For example, some cats love toys but others prefer food; some like attention more than anything else while others may not care either way unless there’s also playtime involved – so find out what works best for each individual animal individually instead trying one approach which didn’t work well at all.”
Step 3 – Be consistent
The best way to become more consistent is by using treats as rewards for good behavior, which will help reinforce positive behaviors and encourage continued good behavior over time. For example, if your cat doesn’t like being held but does enjoy being petted on its head (and this is something that happens regularly), try training him/her by holding him/her upside down so that he/she looks up at you before petting his/her head again; this will help teach him/her what it means when you want him/her held upside down so that he knows exactly what needs doing next time!
Step 4 – Be patient!
Cats are not like dogs. They require more patience, and they take longer to learn how to trust you. If you can be patient, consistent and kind with your cat, it is likely that he or she will eventually learn to trust you.
Cats are emotional creatures who respond well when their needs are met through affection or food reinforcement. If a cat does something wrong (like scratching on the furniture), don’t yell at them—they understand what is wrong without being told so repeatedly! Instead try using positive reinforcement techniques: give them treats every time they do something right; praise them when playing together; show affection by petting their head gently while giving verbal praise such as “good job” or “nice kitty.”
Step 5 – Make it fun!
Encourage your cat to play with a toy or treat every time you click the clicker, which makes training much easier. If you’re using positive reinforcement, be patient and calm when training your cat. Trust me, once they figure out that clicking means something good will happen (like getting food or playing), they’ll want to repeat it over and over again!
Use a clicker to train your cat by placing treats in their mouth as soon as they perform an action you want them to repeat (like following you around and sitting on command). Then wait until they’ve mastered the behavior before rewarding them with food or another type of treat – this is called “rewarding” rather than “reinforcing.”
Cats are quirky little creatures, but they can be trained.
Just like dogs and other animals, cats are very intelligent and independent. They also tend to be stubborn and playful—and that means they may not always want to do what you tell them to do if you try to force it on them. But there are ways around this problem: Cat training is a great way for your cat to learn new tricks or behaviors that will make him happier!
The most important part of understanding cat behavior
Cats may be most commonly associated with women, but they’re also a popular pet for many men. And while we’ve learned a lot about cats over the years, there’s still much to learn. The most important part of understanding cat behaviour is knowing what goes on in their heads—and knowing how that changes as they grow up and experience new things.
Cats are independent.
Cats are not pack animals. They don’t look to their companions for guidance or support, but rather they act as individuals and have their own independent lives. Cats can be territorial and will defend their territory against other cats, dogs or even people if threatened. Cats also have a strong sense of self-preservation so they will often protect themselves from dangers that might harm them in some way such as predators attacking from behind or possibly another animal (such as a dog).
They’re mysterious.
They can be independent, and they don’t always act the way you think they should. And yet, no matter how much time you spend with them or how many other pets you bring into your home, cats will always have their own mind.
They aren’t easy to understand either: whether it’s because they’re being coy or just being secretive (and we all know that cats are notoriously private), there are many things about cat behaviour that make us want to throw up our hands in frustration when we try to figure out why something happened or what we should do next time—and sometimes even when things seem like they’re going okay!
They have a variety of vocalizations.
Cats have a variety of vocalizations to communicate with their owners and with other cats.
- Meow: This is the most common cat sound, but it can also be used as a noise that represents fear or aggression.
- Purr: A soft, gentle sound that often means “I’m content,” but also indicates submission in some situations.
- Hiss: A hiss is often associated with aggression or warning; it’s loud enough to be heard over all other sounds in your house (and sometimes on TV).
Cats can be social animals, too.
While cats are often thought of as independent individuals, they do need other cats in order to feel comfortable and secure. They also benefit from having a sense of belonging—which is why it’s important to give your cat access to other animals when possible.
If you’re looking for more information on how cats interact with other pets, check out our article on how to introduce two dogs or even just one!
A cat’s behaviour is influenced by its age, gender and past experiences.
It’s important to understand the difference between a cat’s behaviour and its personality.
A cat’s age will affect how it behaves: older cats are more likely to be laid back while younger ones may be more energetic or mischievous. A male cat will tend to be more aggressive than a female one; likewise, if you have multiple cats living in the house with you then there will be inevitable conflict over territory or food when they all want something at once!
You need to see what’s happening in the present, not just what happened in the past.
Cats are intelligent creatures, with a memory like humans. They can learn from their experiences and from other cats. Cats can be trained to do tricks like coming when called, sitting on command, jumping through hoops and more.
But you need to see what’s happening in the present, not just what happened in the past.
