Training智商低猫咪：Effective Behavior Techniques

Cats, unlike their gregarious counterparts, are often seen as solitary creatures. They dine alone, bury their waste alone, and hunt alone. When it comes to the activities of other cats, they often adopt a "meh, not my problem" attitude.

But have you noticed that the habits of your feline friends, particularly the less desirable ones, can be surprisingly contagious? Cats possess a remarkable ability to learn from their peers. In the wild, kittens as young as four weeks old begin to learn the art of hunting, with their mothers providing them with prey to eat. Initially, it's dead prey, then live prey, and eventually, the mother demonstrates hunting techniques to teach her kittens how to forage.

Thus, mimicry and learning by observation are innate survival instincts in cats. This ability doesn't just apply to kittens; it extends into adulthood. Besides hunting, cats can also learn social behaviors and even "untypical cat behaviors," such as shaking hands, by watching others.

However, in the real world, our domestic cats often use their learning abilities in the wrong places, much to the chagrin of their owners. They seem to pick up on the bad habits rather than the good ones.

This " observational learning" ability is a treasure, and cat owners can harness it in clicker training to guide their pets towards positive behaviors. Here's a tip: in multicat households, why not try group training? I'll walk you through the process step by step:

Step 1: Set a training goal. Choose the smartest cat and start with it. Once it's successful, step in as an assistant.

Step 2: Train the less intelligent cat with the basic association of a clicker and treats. Repeat this several times to ensure the cat understands the connection. This basic training is usually a breeze for cats.

Step 3: Let the assistant cat demonstrate, and the student cat will observe.

Keep the student cat's attention, perhaps by showing them the treat. This will help maintain their focus.

Step 4: After the assistant cat demonstrates the target behavior three times or more, let the student cat try it. Use gentle guidance if needed, like gently touching the student cat's nose.

If the student cat doesn't respond, continue with the assistant's demonstration.

Step 5: Continue until the student cat initiates the target behavior, and the learning session is complete.

Key Points:

Never give treats to a cat that hasn't performed the target behavior. This can confuse them.

It's best to train before mealtime.

Choose a treat that both the assistant and student cats enjoy.

By the way, the skill of using a clicker as a pointer is very practical. It can be used to train "follow" commands, which can help cats happily enter places they might not like (like a carrier).

So, cat owners in multicat households, make the most of your cats' "observational learning" ability and nurture their good habits!