Training cats

[Walkabout]

I've had a few cats over the years, but my most recent owner, Bob , seems to be the smartest of the lot so far, so I started to train him to follow a few commands (with treats, of course).

Teaching him to sit was pretty easy; he picked up on that one after just a few pieces of bologna. In fact, I started having trouble getting him to stand up afterwards so I could get him to sit for the next piece. The next thing I tried was "down", and this proved to be somewhat harder. After all, it's not natural to eat when you're lying down, and when I pressed on his back to try to show him what to do, he just kind of bowed in the middle. I finally started to just push him over on his side (gently), and he figured it out. Now when I say "down" he kind of flops over.

My latest attempt have been in trying to get him to sit up and beg like a dog, and it's not working very well. He wants to grab at the treat (or my hand) with his claws, and I can't figure out how to convey to him that this is not right.

Has anyone else had any success with training a cat to sit up? How do you tell them "no paws"?

Next I think we'll try jumping through flaming hoops!

[freckafree]

Bob is a handsome dude! I love that asymmetrical spot of white on his chin -- he looks like he's sticking his tongue out at you.

You need to apprentice Bob to EddyTeddyFreddy's Peanut.

[Walkabout]

Originally Posted by freckafree

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You need to apprentice Bob to EddyTeddyFreddy's Peanut.

OMG, that is hilarious! He must be signaling the Mother Ship!

I wish Bob would do that, but without the paw action. My hands are getting damaged from trying to teach him this!

[Girl From Mars]

We taught our cat Loki (who looks like a maneki neko) to sit, wave, and give us high fives. You don't normally think they can be taught to follow commands, but I think it depends on the cat, the behaviour you're trying to make them do, and the right treats.

[picunurse]

I'm gob smacked. Bob looks to be the reincarnation of our dear departed Maxx.

He was the smartest cat on the planet. He even spoke a little english. He could say "out" and "water". I swear he understood most of what we said to him.
He did the big three dog tricks, (sit, speak and fetch) he always knew when someone was sick or sad.
We still miss him after 3 years, even though we have three other cats.

[Walkabout]

Originally Posted by picunurse

I'm gob smacked. Bob looks to be the reincarnation of our dear departed Maxx.

He was the smartest cat on the planet. He even spoke a little english. He could say "out" and "water". I swear he understood most of what we said to him.
He did the big three dog tricks, (sit, speak and fetch) he always knew when someone was sick or sad.
We still miss him after 3 years, even though we have three other cats.

They do look alike, don't they? Very handsome cat.

How do you teach a cat to fetch? I know Bob would chase something if I threw it, but how do you get them to bring it back?

[HazelNutCoffee]

Originally Posted by WVmom

How do you teach a cat to fetch? I know Bob would chase something if I threw it, but how do you get them to bring it back?

If you ever find out, please let me know. My cat chases stuff all over the place but looks at me like I'm stupid when I try to coax her into bringing them to me.

[Corporal_Nobbs]

My cat Rizzo (No pics sorry, I'm on a ship off Africa) Loves to play fetch, she started instigating it as a kitten. She somehow manufactures balls of paper or foil then drops them for me to launch down the hall. She then brings them back. Again and again.... Other than that she is about as bright as a box of air.

[Dazzling White Diamonds]

Our cat, Tiburon, loves to play fetch. He just... well... just does it. We never taught him - we'd throw his little spongy ball for him to go chase, and he'd bring it back so we could do it again.

Obligatory pix of mah boy right after he came to live with us, and after he'd settled in.

Also, I want to add that he's intelligent, extremely loving, and basically just a great cat to have around. He's captured my heart completely, and he's only been with us just a few short months. Cheeky monkey.

[picunurse]

Originally Posted by WVmom

They do look alike, don't they? Very handsome cat.

How do you teach a cat to fetch? I know Bob would chase something if I threw it, but how do you get them to bring it back?

I honestly have no idea. He just did it. I've had several cats that fetched. The only thing they had in common was they were all part Siamese.
Maxx The Younger fetches too. He, however, is otherwise dumb as a stone.

[SomeUserName]

I just came in to say I also have a Bob. I don't know why but people think it is funny to have a cat named Bob but it suits him so well.

I do have to restrain myself at work though. I work with a Bob and he is the kind of person to say "Hi" everytime you see him. I have hard time not responding like I would to my cat. Hi ya Bob Bob, Bobaloony, Sir Bobalot etc.

I just know I am going slip one day.

[Walkabout]

Bob came to us pre-named. We tossed around a few ideas for renaming him, but Bob seemed pretty appropriate for him - he's just a regular guy.

I tried to introduce him to "fetch" last night. I crumpled up some paper and tossed it. He just looked at it. After I retrieved it and tossed it a few more times, with Bob just looking on, I gave up. I don't think he's a fetching kind of cat.

[Dazzling White Diamonds]

Originally Posted by picunurse

I honestly have no idea. He just did it. I've had several cats that fetched. The only thing they had in common was they were all part Siamese.

Interesting. When I took Tibs to the vet a couple of weeks ago, one of the vet techs who breeds Siamese said that she could see some Siamese in him. I need to put up more recent pix of him - he does kinda have some of the body shape.

Not that it matters - he's totally captured our hearts. He could have pink polka dots, and I wouldn't care. ::grin::