Cat Training?

Cats are easy to train to do tricks. All you have to do is find a cat that likes to do something that looks like a trick. Then you tell all of your friends that it's the trick you taught them. As far as the litter box though, keeping the litter box clean is the hardest thing I've found. A few cats are so fussy that they won't use anything but fresh litter. Most will cope with a daily cleaning of the cat box. But only one kitten in a house can become difficult on everyone. The little bundle will want to play at odd hours. You may find more peace for yourself and the misses by having two kittens. I know it sounds counter-intuitive but it has worked for me.

I wonder when Del is going to chime in?

So far the kitten, is right fine about the litterbox. The two older cats have slightly reverted to some kittenish behavior.

I did suggest to my wife that kittens liked to play with kittens, but she said we didn't need another kitten, which I will go along with, since I said we didn't need another cat period, in the first place.

I myself have never trained a kitten all the way up to cat, though I have spoken with cats about things and typically they seem to like me, though I can't do all that high up singsong talk with them.

Del does know about the different cats I have had to deal with, but this is the second time I have to deal with a cat from kitten. In the first case it was a very nice black kitten, but it got the flu and promptly died.

We trained our cat to fetch rubber bands by shooting them just past them on the floor so that it looked like they were rolling down the floor. The cat would paw or bite at it and we would pet it and give it a treat when it dropped the rubber band. We also taught it to come to the kitchen when we ran the electric can opener by opening canned tuna for lunch and giving him the "juice." Only took one time for that trick. If you give the kitten a lick of butter off your butterknife every time you make toast in the morning, and say "butter club" as you push down the toast in the toaster, when your cat heres the toaster noise and trots over, your friends will tink it comes on command. Thats about it for me. Milo

Transcendian,

Don't try the rubber band trick at home unless you know it has a strong aversion to rubber bands - in which case it probably would not retrieve them anyway. If a cat gets a taste for the little rubber worms.... well, as a vet would tell it, its not unknown for cats to meet their demise swallowing rubber bands; ... when the cat's tract gets twisted up in and bound by the rubber band...often veterinary intervention is futile...

"I reward her with pets each time"

What kind of pet is appropriate for a cat? They can't even take care of themselves.

Fish are out...learned THAT the hard way...

Hi Bumble,

Did you get the cat for this purpose? Excellent reason to stay alive! Please, don't invite me to dinner in your house.

Cats accept orders when they want and we, humans, never know when is the moment. You cannot train a cat! They are too independent and/or autonomous.

Someone's wife get a cat. Why? She has an obedient husband?! Or, he is too independent!? What's the purpose to get a cat in a house. My question is important when you have children around. This animal spread sicknesses, develop allergies to humans. Think about the tube as finger nail. It conserve everything from the past for long time, including food (animal meat) for weeks and turn into bacterias and other microbes, and when the cat scratches you, you get infection, sometimes deadly. I like living animals but let them in the nature. It's there place, natural location for them. Good luck with cats, Gil.

Sigh .........

Why get cats? As mentioned elsewhere they will give constant unconditional love and affection, as with any pet they teach children compasion, responsibility and curiosity. They will also give a quick lesson about actions having consquences, thats what those claws are for. If they were so good at spreading sickness and disese half of North America would be dead. They probably do a beter job building resistance and immune systems actually. I know several people who when they first encountering my furry friends had alergic reactions but over time these reactions lessened and now the people are alergy free.

They are also excellent exterminators, remember my cockroach problem? My neighbours and the rest of the building may have them but there are none in my condo unit with Frodo, Gandalf and Aragorn on patrol. When I lived back in Quebec in an old country house mice were rampant in the fields around us. Two of the bravest ones once tried to move in, they lasted maybe 60 seconds.

And best of all was during the famous Montreal Ice storm I was bedridden with a broken ankle in an apartment with no heat for weeks. But I had two little furry heaters who spent most of the time under my covers keeping me warm. I wouldn't give up my companions for anything, the occasional slimey furball is but a small price to pay.

To the OP, training them? I've heard it can be done but have never been successful at it myself.

except for lap dogs

Trained staff

Its a long time now since we had a cat, but when we did I found that they responded better to sign language than verbal? and I'm not referring to slap or kick in the rear end. We had a cat that responded to me rubbing a finger from side to side on the floor to indicate that I had seen a mouse and he would fly into action, looking every where for it.

Regards JD.

Hey, does anybody know if anyone has ever succeeded in training Del?

Only Mrs. Del has had even a modicum of success in that regard.

Get a hungry cat.

We have 9 cats(accidentally). The ones who were raised in the house and always had enough to eat are aloof and ignore our wishes. The strays we've taken in are hard street cats, food whores who will do anything for food. I suspect that's where all the show cats come from, like the cat man in Key West.

Hi Stick,

Don't forget to nourish this new hungry cat. If you starve too much, the cat will eat you.

With nine (9) cats my question is: How much allergy you people have in your house? Watch it when you caress or feed one. The other eight (8) can attack you! Jalousy is cat's normal sentiment and human can be the victim.

You have to return to school to learn what to do to teach something to cats. The learning process is long without end because there is no result with cats, Gil.

It'a all a matter of viewpoint. From the cat's view, your training started a few months ago. My wife attempted "heh heh" whenever Arthur jumped on the counters or otherwise was ungentle-cat-ly. Soon, Arthur uttered a clear and distinct "Heh" whenever we got out of line. We quickly learned the command, so I guess the training was successful.

Or, we could claim credit for 'training' Arthur to speak.

I would make you bark ... no problem as many times as I wanted to. "S"!

Kittens are like any other children - they learn by observation and imitation - things that interest them. Little White Shoes used to turn off the alarm clock, answer the telephone (to stop the ringing) could operate light switches, understood the principle of the doorknob - although she didn't master it. I never left the toilet open, but she would wee down the bathtub drain - she understood the principle of water flushing & cleanliness. I never tried to teach her anything, but this was before I had human children and White Shoes was my buddy; I spent time with her and praised her cleverness. Just like children - it has to do with the amount of time spent - and plenty of affection.

Yes it's totally possible. You can't force them, it's more persuasion than force. It only takes a little more time then with dogs and you have to keep them motivated all the time.

Food always works.

Have fun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFAin7j6sGA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOJMh_TRqq0&feature=related

I have never trained a cat, but my oldest son did. Everytime he went poopy, the cat came to see it. The cat was messmorized by the flushing. Before long, the cat stood on all fours on the wooden toilet seat and did her business on e regular toilet. No litter pan for her. She never learned to flush it

My cat opens doors by reaching up and turning the handle. Most handles are lever type, but the cat can open round handles as well. Both cats learned on their own and have never got a reward (treat). She has a phobia about closed doors.

PEbob

Hi all

We have found by spraying the cat with water from a spray bottle discourages him from climbing up on the table etc. Unfortunately in summer (hot in Oz) he climbs up to get sprayed, because the evaporating water cools him. Works better in winter.

Tony

Forget it mate, it's like fighting a loosing battle. Cats are felines I never could understand women. I suggest you direct your question to your wife and good luck.

richard f.

I have trained 5 cats to sit on command, and one of them to stay. The training always started with sitting before I put the food bowls down. I accompany the spoken command with a raised first finger - and in quiet situations they obey just the signal.

"No", "Off", "In", "Out" and "Down" are the next most important. My current male cat knows what it means, knows where he's not allowed, but defies me to get to the kitchen window sill - but only when I'm not looking.

Three of them know, understand and obey the command "upstairs".

My first cat understood the phrase "We're going to see the Dog Lady" when I warned her that we were going to stay with my Mum (who had dogs).

Safi used to come home when I whistled. "Hallé-hup" was understood as a command to jump.

I started all the training as soon as I got the cats/kittens. I've been much slacker in training the three born-as-home kittens, although they do know their call signs - they're just ignoring me at the moment...if I call them, it's a sign to hide!

I find negative reinforcement does work...one finger tapped on the back of a paw with "No!" gets the message across. I have been known to pick adults cats up by the scruff if they've done something terrible whilst bellowing ferociously; it usually has the desired effect. Tickling behind the eears is one of the best "petting" rewards, along with "Good Girl/Boy" or "Clever Kitty".

Various of my cats have also kept an eye on me - if I look like dosing off again when I'm supposed to be getting dressed, I'm brought back to the present.

There are only two stimuli that Del understands: bribe him with tinned salmon or tuna and threated to take away his bows!! And never believe him when he says that Squirrel told him to do it! (And never believe the Skwirrel when he says Del told him to do it )

You really want to check out this web site http://www.catmankeywest.com/

Now they are trained!

Hi Spock,

Finally, I discovered that someone makes money with cats! Good for the trainer but doesn't give more or better food to the cats. Ultimately, I call it exploitation or creation of animal slavery to produce profits, Gil.

NB: First time I see that cats are useable for something! I was in China, and there is no cat there but I saw big if not giant rats. Someone can sell them and make money. In the restaurants, they serve small rats and they are delicious. They best is in Nan Hai in the Guang Dong province, close to Guang Zhou (Canton), and people call it "The Rat District" with over 20 restaurants serving only rats. It's better than beef! Try it, Gil.

NB: Now I understand why Mao Ze Tung eliminated cats. He wanted to preserve rats for the restaurants and for foreigners to enjoy good and tasty Chinese food.

Mousie Dung?

Yes, cats are untrainable. You're better off getting a dog instead. You can train them with ease.........

Case in point: I have 5 pure bred Border Collies and a Welsh Pembroke Corgi. All are trained and highly intelligent. My wife even quips sometimes that they're "Smarter than the average Grad. Student....."

Beers & Cheers! The weekend is upon us finally!!!!!

Can't train cats???

see web site in the previus post.....

Be that as it may, he already has the cat, so your "dogs are better than cats" is a moot (and biased) point at best.

I prefer dogs because they are more fitting companion animals than cats, and they go places with more ease than cats. (Although I did once have a cat who adored car rides) Going on a trail ride is much easier with a dog!

You don't train a cat they train you. First it's just constant meows. Finally they realize you don't understand what their saying so they show you. If they go to the door and meow they want out. By the food dish is evident they want to be fed. In between the romps across the bed at night they want attention.

Well good luck.

Feed at regular times and then they only pester when you're late.

Tell them "No" when you're not letting them out for reasons best known to you.

Cats can be trained. Dogs also train their humans...

Feedings no problem she don't like wet food so dry is down all the time in a couple of places. She is a stray that wonder up at work. Kinda bonded to me. Of the 50 employees none will tell her no but me. So she likes to push the issue when I do. Just wish I could get her to stop casing the ferals at their feeding time. One these days one is not going to run and she will get her butt whooped. Don't look forward to the doctor bills when she does. She don't even like the fact she has a new roomy. A kitten someone abandon that I thought was feral until catching it for TNR.

Ah...feeding these critters! I was a vet tech for some years, and did finally find out the best way to feed a cat. <whatever it wants! ahaha>

seriously, dry food is better than canned, nutrient wise. Canned food is watered down dry food. Also, cats teeth need to be used,and the dry kibble allows them to use their teeth and jaws, and actually scrapes tartar off the teeth so the cat can enjoy a full set of choppers longer than a cat who was fed canned food.

Brands? Anything without sugar in the ingredient list. DO NOT FEED MEOW MIX! That is the number one worst food available for cats. It has a high amount of sucrose, which is highly addictive to cats, and not that much nutrition. I fed Exclusive (available at feed stores) which is a relatively inexpensive food, nutritionally balanced, and cats like it. You can buy large bags, (20 lbs) and save, but it comes in 5lb bags f that one cat family.

Chicken is the best 'flavor' of cat food to feed (dogs or cats) Do avoid beef. Rice is a filler that is not really digestible, but way better than wheat based fillers (less chance of allergic reaction) Vegetables are something we humans put in pet food because we think it's nutritious, but it has no real benefit for cats. (dogs do get some trace minerals from vegetables, but only fresh, not the freeze dried crud they put in dog food)

As far as pet vitamins go, again, they are really unnecessary unless you are feeding bargain pet food. Save your money and buy the pet a new toy instead.

To each his own...

Don't rain on another person's parade.

Pointless platitudes possibly persuade people, painfully.

Alliterations challenge, but rarely inform.

Oh look, a string.

Again, frankly biased and not pertinent to the topic at hand...

Dogs are just as likely to get fleas as cats. It's whether the owner is responsible, not the animal's fault.

Where I live, there are rattlesnakes. Cats will hunt and kill them, whereas dogs will either avoid them or go bark at them, with a likelyhood of getting bit. Our vets here have reported treating many dogs who have been bit, but zero cats.

That is a smart animal in my book!

With animals, and even humans, food is an important training tool. I did one time tell a temporary wife, who said that she thought she was better than me, that if she quit feeding me, I'd leave. After she said she thought she was better then me, I went and got a passport, and a .38 revolver. -My point being that I could get whatever power was generally available to free men, with good enough records.

Some cats actually seem to seek me out and like me regardless of whether I feed them or not, and since they seem to gravitate towards me I do tend to reciprocate. My problem with pets is that they need me or my wife to feed them on a daily basis, so I feel trapped to a predictable schedule.

Possibly cats sense that I as well have my own agenda. Some people have severe problems with that fact.

Since my wife went ahead and got the cat, well since it is a kitten, I thought I might attempt to train it to act in cat food commercials, or movies, so as to make it a moneymaking actress cat.

There probably is someone in Hollywood with a stable of cats and dogs they make a good living from.

I never worked on a Cat Food Commercial, or on a movie that depended on good acting from a cat or even a live dog, but it is a niche job, sort of like picture cars or model making.

"There probably is someone in Hollywood with a stable of cats and dogs they make a good living from."

Weeelllllll....yes and no...and not in Hollywood!

I worked for a vet in the Bay area, and one of her clients was an animal sanctuary/training facility, which supplied animals for movies, TV, etc. They had all kinds of critters, including a giraffe, a full grown tiger, chimpanzees, raccoons, etc etc.

The raccoon was brought in for neutering. When he groggily woke, he was looking around for a while, his little hand-paws rubbing his belly. He soon started to get agitated, pawing at his, erm...area, and looking at me as if to say "HEY! I came in with 'em, and I'm not leaving until you GIVE THEM BACK!"

The giraffe was (I swear) suffering from an inflamed throat...

The tiger had exploratory surgery (he had signs of a bowel obstruction...) and I was the anesthesiologist. The lung capaity of these great cats is mind boggling! The paws are the size of dinner plates, the claws big as your finger. The sheer power in these magnificent beast is undefinable.

I will never forget those times...

The facility had a large crew working long hours to keep everything going smoothly, and the amount of money spent monthly was huge! I don't think they got rich doing it, but they did love what they did, and they kept the animals for the life of the animals, working or not. It was a unique place, and really well run.

We had a cat in the home for a year before we received a puppy. In anticipation of potential conflict between the two, I installed a cat flap in my bedroom door so as to allow the cat a place to escape harassment. It took the dog about ten minutes to figure out how to use the flap. Two years later the dog is too big to use the flap and the cat still has to paw at it over and over, testing and re-testing, before cautiously poking her head through, and then sprinting the last bit.

Now, every time I hear the cat flap swinging back and forth, over and over, I think, "That is the dumbest animal I have ever owned."

(We love our cat)

-A-

(AND our dog)

Every time I turn on the computer, my cat jumps up, stands flat in front of the screen and arches its back to block my view. It knows I should be doing other things. It's like having a personal secretary. The cat makes sure I'm out of bed by seven, and at night, that I'm back in it again by eleven. Teach the cat tricks? It's not lack of intelligence. The cat just can't be bothered.

Cats are un-trainable, however they are clever enough to train you. Mine does whatever he darn well pleases, and nothing more. If I am sitting lonely and bored, he will stand 8 feet away and stare, no matter what I try. If I am in front of the computer, he is pacing the keyboard purring and arching until I push the computer away and pet him.

They are EXTREMELY smart, but will not learn. They do what they please. If you figure out a way to convince them that they please to do something you want to train them to do, then you won the battle. You didn't train them, however, you just convinced them what you wanted is what they wanted. Good job for playing the mind game with grace, but don't kid yourself that you "taught" them anything. They did not learn from the likes of you - they solved their own problem. If you give them the hint that they learned and YOU are really the one in control - they will NEVER do it again (while you are watching). They are bigger control freaks than most women!

Dogs are highly intelligent, but in a dumb/naive sort of way. They are easily tricked and easily trained. If you want a trainable pet, get a dog. You can even train them to NOT eat the cats (not sure why, but you can), and they won't eat them, even though in the evolutionary food chain cat looks like a thanksgiving dinner to them. Best off, a dog will love you unconditionally - like a small child. You can forget to water them or get caught in traffic and be late to take them for their daily constitutional, but they still are excited when you get home and genuinely happy to see you again. They don't judge and never stop loving.

When the cat sits and stares at you - he is judging: you hair is out of place, your teeth are yellow, your breath stinks, you are too tall, you are too short, too fat/slim, whatever it is you are doing you are doing wrong. They do add 5 years to your life, though, which is a good reason to have them free-loading around the house. Of course, if you trip over them and break a hip, those last 5 years might not be worth it!

Cat's: Highly intelligent - YES, trainable - ABSOLUTELY NOT.

Cats also love unconditionally. They can sulk, but so can dogs (ours did). Whenever I've been ill, the cat stays close. When I went through a very bad patch, the cat kept me going, loved me and generally helped me get to work (perhaps she just wanted me out of the house!).

I think you should talk to your cat more, or get him toys. He sounds lonely.

I have to admit, I haven't found a way to stop the newspaper / book / PC effect in general. One of my cats will settle if I tuck him under my arm and cuddle him when reading in bed...it's like having a living teddy bear!

A friend of mine and my sister 'saved' three wild kittens that were outside her shop. She asked us to watch them one summer, and, well, my sister inherited two, and I one. My sister's two are inide only cats, and have never been out (it actually scares them when the door is opened) They watch "Bird TV" on the huge picture window that overloks the garden. They are expert bug hunters, and will 'alert' when there is a big bad bug like a centipede or a wasp. (Somehow they know not to go after these.) Of course, they do get into trouble, usually when no one's home, or at night when everyone is asleep. Some nights there is a LOT of noise from the kitchen area, and one or both of the kittens will come flying into the bedroom, then act all nonchalant.

As far as training goes? I have heard that alot of people have been successful in training their cats to use the toilet. Question is, do you want to share the same loo as your furry butted friend?

Play a certain game, and make it fun, and you 'taught' a trick. Aside from that, just reaching a point where you and cat can live together in relative pace with minimal blood shed and you're golden.

Anyone who believes they are untrainable need to see this web site..

YOU WILL FLIP...

http://www.catmankeywest.com/

I have a hard time reading the minds of the people around me let alone a cat's to know what it thinks. That blank stir may be just that, who knows. I believe your placing too much on a cats ability to reason.

Unlike cats, dogs are pack animals and being part of a pack they are more likely to respond to the wishes of the pack leader. Doing what the leader wants for praise, being accepted and food. There are very few species of cats that form group societies. Feral cats in the wild will form colonies. Most are just tolerant of each other spending most of the time alone roaming. That is the biggest reason dogs are easier to train. With the dog or cat your family has just replaced the pack/colony and you are the leader.

True...The dog lives to please the leader, since the pack leader is integral to the health and safety of the pack. Like horses, the leader is the number one top priority. Cats? Not so much.

And the blank stare? I believe cats just like to f*ck with us. Humans seem to have been put on this planet for the sheer amusement of felines.

And if it weren't for those da*n opposable thumbs, cats would overthrow humans and rule the world!

But someone needs to be around to open the cans...

I think it's just the cats you got. Each one seems to have it's own personality. Just playing with one never got that look. She even went and fetch the ball dropping it at my feet so I didn't have to case it. The question is, she learning to fetch or am I being conned in to throwing the ball for her. Either way she being conned to. Been hiding in that office since her capture 4 weeks ago. Needs to come out and socialize.

Here I thought we were put here to be some cats dinner and we just got smarter then them.

I was never successful at training any of my cats. However, one of my cats was very successful at training me. He was (may he rest in peace) my best buddy for over 20 years, a 20+ pound orange short hair. He taught me:

1) Never put the toilet paper on the hanger with the tip hanging off the front.

2) Never put the cat food in the cabinet under the sink without installing child latches.

3) Never piss him off so bad that he pays me back by pooping on the middle of the bedspread.

4) That going to the bathroom at 2 AM in bare feet I was guaranteed to find a cold wet hairball in the middle of the hallway.

5) that running across the waterbed at 6 AM on a Sunday morning is a great way to get me to chase him around the house as well as feed him.

I miss those days <sigh>

Hooker

SLARF!!!!

Oh yes, the toilet paper...then there is the inevitable "Look what SOMEBODY did!" look they give you when you discover your bathroom, hallway, etc covered in shredded TP.

The food tip reminds me that we DID teach our cat to read once! He was very picky eater, so when we found a food thathe really liked, we bought a buttloadof it. He read the labels and decided that he no longer liked that kind, would not touch it afterward. So we got stuck with a huge amount of realy expensive cat food, and a skinny cat. <sigh>

Heard of clicker training? Well cats get the same reaction by "hack' training (dogs learned to do it by watching cats) NOTHING will get a human out of bed faster than THAT sound "hrrck hurrck HUURRRCKKK"!

Very few things will wake me up from a deep sleep but a nearby (especially on the bed) "hrrck hurrck HUURRRCKKK" gets my attention in no time flat!!!!

Reminds me of the time I woke up in the wee hours of the morning. I was sleeping on my back and thought I was having a heart attack due to extreme pressure on my chest and much difficulty breathing.

I opened my eyes to barely see a set of eyes looking intently back at me, barely an inch away. The look on this 22 pound cat's face was like, "GOTCHA". We then proceeded to a merry chase around the house with my wife screaming, "Would you two knock it off!!"

Hooker

I had two cats that I trained to come running when I would peck the side of their dinner bowl with a spoon. I did this by mixing old out of date shrimp with their food. They would actually scramble to beat each other to the bowl (so much for finiky eating). Beyond that they were un-trainable. I couldn't even train them that the top of the engine block in my old truck was not a cat bed. They both met their end in the fan belt...

I once taught a pig to fly.

Sorry, I know that is off topic because it is so much easier to do than teach a cat to do tricks.

We inherited a kitten that had an ill mother. We really took the kitten away too early. (for it's own health) We are paying dearly for that. It has no social skills. It will scratch just for the fun of it. Arms, legs, water-beds whatever. It is a strange cat now. It will take off running into our cloths closet and run up the cloths up onto the shelf, just to jump onto the ground run another lap around and over everything and do it again. Climbs up on top of tall bed headboard and dive bombs wife and I in middle of night. (claws out) Does real well in litter-box, except has no idea why he should be using his paws for something. So he just goes about his business, and paws at the sides of the litter-box. Loves attention, and cuddling. Until it decides to swat us with claws out. Toilet paper was purchased exclusively for him. Ripped to shreds as soon as he spots it. We had to hide it in a cabinet to keep any. He learned to open the cabinet. We now use boxes of facial tissues.

Is it wrong to get a sheet of clear plastic and block his path?

We have had kittens and cats for as long as we have been married. I don't think training is the word I would use to describe the relationship. Think about the expression "What's in it for me" That is closer to human-cat relations. Good luck.

Each time cat comes near you, secure it behind the neck.

Suspend in mid-air over toilet and release.

Push handle to flush.

Eventually, you will get lucky and cat will have used the toilet.

At this point, you may consider the cat Toilet Trained, though the septic-unclogging bill may approach the equivalent of the vet's.

You'll never again find cat hairballs in the middle of the floor as you're walking barefoot in the night, massive destruction on the floor near where priceless fragile items previously occupied a shelf, smell strange ammonia-like aromas wafting from damp corners of house and garden that should not be damp, and your kitty-litter bill and wasted scooping time will be quickly reduced.

Of course, you'll not get any more of those endearing head-butts at 2am either...and you may miss the excitement of suddenly finding dozens of claws piercing your shoulder in greeting as you enter the garage.

Del is untrainable. =b

Your comments on removing a kitten too early are so very true. I am living with a now nearly grown cat that has missed much social learning from his mother.

I have experienced life with cats who were taken too young, and it's usually just unpleasant habits that cause problems.

One cat who was weaned too young had the gross habit of suckling earlobes. The worst part was that she drooled while doing this action, and cat drool running down one's neck is just "eeewwww".

Another cat, a polydactyl blue named Terror, used his extra toes to suckle on. He grew to well over 25lbs, and still sucks his "thumb".

If the cat is very naive, it is always best to keep them inside, never out. A dog, other cat, or wildlife can easily make off with small cats if they have no self preservation skills, and those do come from the mother.

Didn't have to! Our gelding, Sunny Jim, has always been really fussy about his "house", and never potties in it. Even if it is really storming out, he will stick his butt out to do his business! So when the new mare came, it was he that got her trained!

Usually, in horses, the mare is the be all and end all, and whatever she want , she gets. I have seen my sister's mare push the other horses around just because she could. I was very interested to see how this very young mare would do here. Well, instinctively, Sunny bowed to her every wish...at first. But when she started to potty in the "house", he licked her out, and now makes her stay in the smaler area near the entrance! Basically "WE don't potty here, and if you do, you're out"

There is an easy way to 'train' horses to go in a certain area. I learned it by mistake. They tend to have favorite potty places they will always use. If you pile the manure in one area, thy will go there. And pea gravel is used to get them to urinate in a certain area (for some reason, horses always pee on pea gravel...aptly named!)

My litter are now 11 weeks old and understand:

• Come here
• No
• Off

reliably. I was teaching them "upstairs" over the weekend. It'll stick eventually.

If I have to say No or Off more then three times, then it gets said again with a one finger tap to the paw.

They're starting to come to me for cuddles...

Training the cat is easy. Learning to speak Cat; that is hard!

and you have to speak Cat by playing charades with your cat, while wearing a combination foil and felt suit, illuminated solely by infrared light, and making funny purring noises, flicking your ears, flexing your claws, and twitching your tail appropriately.

Chris

ps.. they have newfangled motorized litter boxes... really cool. a pressure switch under the exit point.

Cats can be trained to a certain degree.

It depends on the man who does it.

I can see almost immediately if he will succeed when I see how he has trained his wife.

The two easiest things are dog/cat conversion: to make cat bark and a dog miaaaw. The cat needs a fair amount of gas and a match - so it does woaooff.

This is a only one time trick. For the dog he needs to be frozen and you'll need a circular saw - it does Miaaaw. Also one time.

YOU DON'T NEED TO DO THE TRICKS UNLESS YOU HAVE PLENTY OF CATS (lol)

But now serious:

I had a cat that jumped through my folded arms on command.

I never got my wife to do it.

Food is the way, but it takes time. It took me a week to get my cat to sit on command, just like a dog, but it now slays the neighbours when they see it done......

It was done at mealtimes, I would push its bottom on the ground and say sit, then pick up the cat food to serve it, every time the cat got up, I would put the tin down and push its bottom down and say sit. It quickly cottoned on that food/milk was not progressed when it stood!!!

I only did it to stop it knocking the food and milk out of my hands with its friendliness when I was getting its meals ready......

Feline brains are capable of understanding complex meanings. They can translate these meanings as well to " Cat Language " and in order draw their own conclusions and making their own decisions. A Cat will only follow orders when he or she wants to, is because the Intelligence of the Cat is on a much higher level than the humans. Although their brain complex is built on a simpler scale storing less information´s then humans brains can but excellent in remembering images from the past they learned. Their brains can connect these images with words, and when they hear a word can also see the object in their imagination the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses. Imaginativeness, vision. 'popular imagination created a world of demons', 'imagination reveals what the world could be'. Imagination is the faculty of imagining, or of forming mental images or concepts of what is not actually present to the senses, and the action or process of forming such images or concepts and build up these images to correct meanings translated to the Cat language. Than the cat will decide when an order can safely be carried out or not. If yes and the Cat knows that to follow the order is a good idea, than will do so. We can not teach a cat to jump out of the Window from the top of a skyscaper a very tall building with many storeys. When the cat finally made up his or her mind that the order is worth to follow, will make up a good plan on how this action will actually carried out in practice. When we want a cat to understand and follow instruction´s we Just simply look in the eyes and talk to that cat in understandable english language and explain everything from the start until the and of the entire idea about what we want from the cat to do for us. Well, the cat is intelligent and knows the meaning of the word " milk " or " Fish " and " Business " We can deal with the cat only if we give back something in exchange, and the cat will follow the orders. So if we dont forget to promis the cat something that we know for sure that we can convince the cat with, will most likely follow the order.For example if you meet a cat on the street and you know the cat is hungry, you stand before the cat and look in the eyes and explain that you have something at home that probably will like to eat and that if he or she follow you all the way home and will be rewarded, no matter where you live or how long you walk will follow you home, and you can also drop by to your friend´s house on the way to say hello and tell the cat to wait outsite until you come back and continue the jurney to your place, the cat will wait outside and follow you futher all the way home.

Cat can be trained to be " Watch cat " for a dog or other animals to be like bodyguards:

Cats are used in scientific experiments such as:

http://www.ns.umich.edu/htdocs/releases/story.php?id=7633

The " Fast Fried " cat is a delicatess in China.

I think you might be right. I think they have psychic powers. seriously.

"The " Fast Fried " cat is a delicatess in China."

delicatess = delicacy

sry... you are right... I checked : Delicacy: the quality of being beautiful and delicate in appearance. Daintiness, fineness. 'the daintiness of her touch', 'the fineness of her features'. Well, where I am right now, they say: " Delikatess " and therefore I mixed up.( Promis to check my spellings next time.) Well, for me is a little hard to imagine any feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and being unable to roar as delicate on the dining table extremely pleasing to the sense of taste and being yummy(?) Cats do have a few special qualities of being able to perform or better seeing and hearing abilities deem to be phychic powers. They usually use these powers to tell in advance the location of a hidden catnip.

no worries.. I just was helping out. I realize that you have good english skills.

but for accuracy, the correct definition of Delicacy in this application would be:

2 : something pleasing to eat that is considered rare or luxurious

(all the same, I'm not about to eat Cat. )

Chris

Oh I thought that was where he was leading with the word delikatess, like in delicatessen the place i go to get my roast beef and ham sandwiches (I think I may need to verify the source of ham from now on).

Have you tried deli-katess on viande chevaline?

(new meaning to "nervous"?)

Or "food reward"?

_{(ran out of edit time above)}

Lion has different attitude;

For the first time I hear that a cat can somehow be trained. I know that these are very smart animals and they can really understand very much, but to make them do some kind of team .... it sounds incredible. My cat can protect me and so without any training, the secret is that she just loves me. I just take very good care of the animal and feed cat best cat food to prevent vomiting here, the cat feels my love and care and repays with the same coin.

Yes, cats can easily be trained. I trained my cat to be a government bureaucrat, and he is currently working for the DMV, and will soon be ready to collect a fat pension.