Somali Cat Owner's Sneak Peek Into Their Training Session Shows Some Helpful Techniques
You've likely heard the age-old (and incorrect) saying, 'you can't teach old dogs new tricks,' but what about cats? These pets are just as intelligent and interactive as dogs are, but few people consider actually training their feline friends. Some cats will be more responsive to training, of course, but there's no reason not to try--especially if your kitty is food-motivated!
Summer the Somali cat is a feline who excels at training (with enough practice), and she helped her owner demonstrate some of their go-to cat training tips in a January 18 TikTok video. After getting over the cat's gorgeous fur and graceful movements, it's easy to see how her owner makes training easy and fun. Take a look, and see what you can apply to your own cat's training routine!
What did I tell you--isn't she stunning? The Somali cat's silky brown fur looks oh-so-soft, though her small, expressive face also has me riveted. I'd have such a hard time focusing on training if I were there with her, but fortunately, her mom has an easier time staying on topic. That's especially good news, considering how distracted Summer is, too!
Related: Cat Mom Shares Trick She Used to Train Her Kitty to Be Cuddly
As it turns out, this cat is likely very food-motivated. While it can be a bit of a distraction when you're first beginning training (or re-starting like Summer is), it will be a huge help just a little while later. You can use cat treats as a reward during positive reinforcement training, and it just might keep your cat focused on the task.
Popular Misconception: Cats are Stubborn, Independent, and Unable to Learn
Dog training is an essential part of having a pet canine, so why don't we see cat training as often? It may be because of the common misconceptions surrounding cats' stubbornness and independence. It's true that cats tend to be more self-sufficient than dogs, but that doesn't mean they're unable to learn.
Besides--that's where positive reinforcement comes in! It's important to focus your training on creating positive experiences and rewarding your cat for performing desired behaviors. If you try to teach kitties via punishment, you will only teach them to be afraid of your reactions. Instead, correcting feline behaviors by interrupting them and redirecting your naughty cat's attention can be much more effective.
As Summer showed all her viewers in her video, finding the right motivator for a cat can be the key to successful training. It won't happen overnight--nor will it be the same process as training a dog--but you can teach your kitty almost anything.
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