We all know that cats are very intelligent animals. But what does this really imply? Very often we carry around stereotypical views where dogs are meant to be trained and cats are just meant to be pampered. But did you know that training cats could be extremely useful and fun, both for our feline friends and us?

But what tasks can cats actually learn? Well, almost anything and everything, as long as they seem to be physically capable, and motivated. Any animal can learn what it has to do, by nature and the process of evolution. For example, cats are extremely agile creatures and are capable of learning to jump onto very high surfaces. No matter what, dogs cannot jump this high, even if they tried to.

To teach cats how to do certain tricks, certain behavior has to be enforced on them and eventually they should get rewarded or it. Cats generally work for food, if the food is filling and tasty. Try experiment with your cat to figure out what your cat likes best. Use that food as a reward for the pet. Cats are mostly attracted to cheese bits and olives.

It is very efficient to try and teach your cat some association between a fast sound and the food they consume. You can try using a clicker. When the cat figures out this association, behavior of the animal can be reinforced. So next time the cat heard the clicker, it will do as it is told as it knows its favorite food is on its way.

Simple training rules require that newly learned tricks are rewarded every time the task is performed correctly, and, after that once learned, the pet is rewarded only in a random fashion. There is no necessity to have food available constantly. As long as the food is offered to her periodically, your performer will continue doing what you have taught her. If your pet cat is excreting outside the provided litter box, try bringing her to the box once or twice daily, gently and calmly, and, later then if she excretes inside it, reward her for her effort. But at the same time, do restrict her from the unwanted area that she has been using all along, or cover it with thick vinyl. If there is further behavior problem consult your vet.

In this way your cat gets trained. Cats are excellent pets to have at home. Although cats may not run around your feet as enthusiastically as dogs, their intellectual ability is much higher than that of dogs. Cats are also very quick learners. They can learn how to fetch a toy or learn to jump through loops very easily, easier than dogs in fact! Training of cats is more simple and fun. Playful cats that are very aggressive also benefit from learning varied tricks. It enhances social behavior. Cats learn very quickly about what the owner would require out of it. They are smart creatures and fast learners too. So why not try teaching your cat a few tricks?

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This article has been written by Dan Jackson, he gives advice on toilet training cats and answers questions at http://cathealthissues.net