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Cats Would Like You to Know They Are Open to Training
Scientific American ^ | 6/15/16 | Julie Hecht

Posted on 06/16/2016 11:16:31 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows

In anticipation, I’d already positioned a tall, sturdy scratching post in a prominent location next to where the couch would go, and Josh had already used it. Now, I walked over to the scratching post and tapped and lightly scratched the top of it. Josh responded by prancing over, tail up and giving the post a full-extension, deep, hard, scratch, really getting his nails in there. When he was done, I plopped down a big wad of his favorite wet food. Oh look! Scratching the post (not the couch) not only feels good, but it also results in what you consider to be some of the best stuff on earth. We continued to work the program. Knowing that cats like to scratch just after a nap or a snack, I made sure to be there to dole out the goodies. Whether he ever considered scratching the couch, I’ll never know. Months later, I still keep it up, intermittently giving him food when he scratches the post.

(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.scientificamerican.com ...


TOPICS: Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: kittyping
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To: Monkey Face

We had a cat my Mom would walk on a leash to the beach and back.

I had a cat I would take bird hunting as a teen and he would retrieve them for me.

But that’s about the extent of any cat training I’ve ever seen:-)


21 posted on 06/16/2016 11:58:59 AM PDT by Harpotoo
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To: Slings and Arrows

You didn’t train the cat - the cat trained you.


22 posted on 06/16/2016 12:05:39 PM PDT by PAR35
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To: Slings and Arrows
The thing is not everything works for every cat.

Has a cat that if you tried to squirt him would try to catch it in his mouth.

To train him not to get on things I got those rubber floor runners with the rubber spikes on the other side. He would jump up, go "ow!" and jump back down.

23 posted on 06/16/2016 12:21:37 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (Proud Infidel, Gun Nut, Religious Fanatic and Freedom Fiend)
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To: Slings and Arrows

The reason it works so well with dogs is they like to please

Cats will do it till they get bored or you aren’t around


24 posted on 06/16/2016 12:49:44 PM PDT by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear

At least you had a very entertaining cat.


25 posted on 06/16/2016 1:27:03 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows (My music: http://hopalongginsberg.com/ | Facebook: Hopalong Ginsberg)
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To: Slings and Arrows

I have two, fairly young cats, about 2-years apart in age. The older one is leash trained, and the only reason is because she LIKES it.

Neither one of them will eat canned cat food, or cat treats! The kitten (8-months old) won’t even smell of it. That makes any sort of reward training impossible.


26 posted on 06/16/2016 2:39:00 PM PDT by SelmaLee (Will crawl over broken, burning glass - to vote for TRUMP.)
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To: SelmaLee

Perhaps you could find something else that they regards as a reward.


27 posted on 06/16/2016 2:42:38 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows (My music: http://hopalongginsberg.com/ | Facebook: Hopalong Ginsberg)
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To: Buttons12

That wouldn’t work with my KC Tuxedo cat. He loved to jump in the shower with me and chase the water splatters. Had him leap into the tub once when I was languishing ... I had to lock him out of the bathroom after that if I wanted a tub bath ... he loved water! When I rescued him out of a deep Kudzu patch he was not even weaned and the first thing I did with him was give him a bath in the sink, to wash fleas off. I guess that set the tone. His favorite game was king on the steps when I lived in a condo with steps that went to a landing then turned and went the rest of the way up. He was also fond of fetching any balled up crinkling paper. ... He’s been over the rainbow bridge for fifteen years, but I still miss him so much.


28 posted on 06/16/2016 4:13:39 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Democrats bait then switch; their fishy voters buy it every time.)
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To: Slings and Arrows
Our big (18.5 lbs) kitty, Patches, died one year ago today. We suspect it was congestive heart failure.

Her smaller (6.5 lbs) littermate, Allie, is doing just fine. When she thinks it is bed time, regardless of the time of day, she will jump up on the corner of the bed and meow until one of us comes and rubs her back. At night she will curl up on my chest with her head under my chin. Makes it damn difficult to read in bed.

Oh, and if I want her to do something I have to tell her in Hungarian thanks to Sweetie Palm.

"Ceterum censeo Hillary esse delendam."

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)

LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

29 posted on 06/16/2016 5:42:22 PM PDT by LonePalm (Commander and Chef)
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To: SelmaLee
The cat trick performer at Mallory Square in Key West can get his cats to do some amazing stuff and all he uses for rewards is their regular kibble (dry cat food). Ours, on the other hand, insist on treats of freeze dried salmon and chicken.
30 posted on 06/16/2016 5:56:38 PM PDT by boatbums (God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.)
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To: Slings and Arrows

Based upon experience from 60+ years of being cat staff and 10 years of dog companionship. You can absolutely make a cat do anything you want it to do if it happens to feel like it at the time!!! Similar to raising children is is much like trying to herd chickens.


31 posted on 06/16/2016 6:25:47 PM PDT by Nuocmam
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To: Harpotoo
"We had a cat my Mom would walk on a leash to the beach..."

When our indoor cats got elderly we would walk them around the yard on a leash.
Some kid stopped his car and told me: "Hey mister, you're dog looks like a cat" (with a perfect straight face).

My wife taught her tuxedo to sit, give paw, roll over, and play fetch.

32 posted on 06/17/2016 2:35:16 PM PDT by Psalm 73 ("Gentlemen, you can't fight in here - this is the War Room".)
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