Was just reading the 'toilet training' thread & it got me thinking how easily cats can be trained/ taught commands.

Rio knows to
"Sit" for food - he learnt this after only two attempts after nearly sending us flying everytime food came by running through our legs. We didn't want to fall & squish him so it was quite important.

"Get down" - this one only works when I say it - OH gets completely ignored usually used when he jumps on the kitchen worktop but rarely used as he knows not to go up there! This one always gives us a laugh because as as soon as I say "get down" he gives a long, loud meow to answer back before jumping down - he's so humanlike sometimes!!

"Kiss" - this is the best one can be used at anytime & always gets results He kisses by rubbing his face across our cheeks & letting us nuzzle the top of his head. When the treats come out, he jumps up to the top level of his cat tree so he's mummy's face level & gives biiiig kisses without being asked

Does anyone else have any commands for their cats?

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Hmm, I wish! My 6 month old will not listen to anything I say! If I tell him to get down from the worktop, he just stares at me. So I have to physically remove him. When he's about to leap on my other older unsuspecting cat, I shout his name, and he ignores me! The only thing he responds to is me calling his name for food!

My 9 year old girl is a little more responsive, if she is about to nick Loki's food from his bowl I say her name in a low disapproving tone and she runs off. And if I ask her if she wants to go out (in a certain tone) she runs to the window. Oh and get down, but she never really gets on the side anyway. Not exactly commands, but she does listen to me at least! Your kitties must be cleverer than mine!

Hmmm. Call their names and ours will look in your direction, but that's about it. Oh, and if Ono is in the garden and I tell him I'm shutting the door, he comes running in, telling me off at the same time. They do, however, respond to sounds - they miraculously materialise at the rattle of the munchies box or the ping of the microwave.

Pavlov's cats, my OH calls them.

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Bergies and borders - what more could anyone want? Siamese and maine coons, of course!

From the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam:
The Moving Finger writes, and, having writ,
Moves on, nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.
(But you can always edit your post, of course )

I tried clicker training with my two cats as it proved so successful with my dog - it was a complete failure!

I REALLY tried several times a day for weeks & nothing. The cats knew I had treats & would bully me, ambush me & then just hurt me trying to get them. They had no focus whatsoever & just wailed when I would just give up the rewards.

Our 'training' sessions were so bad with Basil especially crying so loudly because I wouldn't juyst give him the treat that it started to upset Toby (dog)

I gave up.

All they seem to respond to is 'dinner' - everything else, espcially 'NO' or OFF' falls on deaf ears.

Ou cat responds to the clicker really well and I can call her in at night with it, which is useful since we live in open countryside. I trained her by clicking twice everytime she had started to eat, so she would associate it with food. She also comes when I whistle at close distance. I'm sure I could train her to do other things but haven't had the need as yet. She does recognise the word 'danger' but that could just be my tone of voice. I think I'll try the kissing command - sounds lovely!

My OH has had cats before & said none of those really responded to anything either - Rio's obviously just an intelligent young man

He responds to his name 99% of the time but when he doesn't we say "what's this?!" pronounced like "wossis" in an overtly chirpy excited manner & he ALWAYS comes to that as it means he's going to get something good - food, cuddles or play etc. Forgot about that one! Just thought it was important to have something that he's guaranteed to respond to

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The part I have made bold ... This is my little Tinks exactly and even her mum Rilly. Itty is a very good girl and she just does it without a sound.

They all respond to their names, and if I shake a box of treats they know to come running ... wonder why Though they don't always get one, so I keep it interesting.

They all know 'NO!' and stop what they are doing.

I've been thinking of getting a clicker to try a few more things, should be fun!

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they all know their names & nicknames, all know 'whats this?' = treats
'din dins' = dinner 'biccis or bic bics' = bicsuits

'naughty!!!!' they ALL know that means its naughty not to do it! lol
'no!!' as above lol!
'do you want to go out?' means the door is openning and they have to reply with 'yes', well, a 'meow'

'get it' means a spider/fly and taylor knows that and he comes running to get it! he will also sit on my shoulder for help to reach it!

'get off' means, well, get off of it lol!

there are more but i cant think right now!

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I click my fingers for that one and Sweetie goes straight into hunting mode, knowing it's an insect

all these clever cats. If I say anything to Mai Tai all I get is a very definite 'No'.
'Take that chicken wing back in the kitchen!' 'Mao!'
'Get down!' 'Mao!'
'Control your children!' 'Mao'
Oh pigeon! She responds to pigeon by rushing to the window and 'chattering'

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How we behave toward cats here below determines our status in heaven. - Robert A. Heinlein
http://www.lambchopsiamese.webs.com