| Clicker training incorporates the use of a | | | | 4. Note that practice periods should be |
| clicker as a reward or encouragement when | | | | short. More can be learned in three brief |
| training a cat. | | | | five minute sessions per day than hours of |
| | | | boring and stressful repetition. |
| Cats are able to relate with the clicker, | | | | |
| displaying good actions and behavior. Clicker | | | | 5. Correct bad acts by ignoring and clicking |
| training is often linked with conventional | | | | when good behavior is displayed. Click when |
| condition, where cats associate sound with | | | | your kitten uses the litter box or when it |
| food and operational condition and where cats | | | | plays on the scratch post, not on the |
| execute movements for food. | | | | furniture. |
| | | | |
| A clicker is found to be more effective than | | | | 6. Click for accidental and voluntary actions |
| verbal command because cats can hear clicker | | | | nearing your objective. You should entice |
| sounds more clearly than a voice, as human | | | | the cat into a position, but never pull or |
| voice tones change while the clicker sound is | | | | push it or hold it. |
| always steady or constant. | | | | |
| | | | 7. Never wait until your cat performs the |
| The click is brief and concise, whereas a | | | | perfect act that you told it to do, instead |
| voice, phrase or a word, is fairly long in | | | | click and reward for little actions towards |
| cats' point of standing. To say 'good boy' | | | | the correct direction. When your cat is |
| will take time than a click. | | | | signaled to sit and it crouches in its back, |
| | | | click. |
| With the use of a clicker, cats can be | | | | |
| successfully trained in three simple steps: | | | | 8. Carry the clicker at all times when you |
| obtaining the cats behavior, marking its | | | | are with your cat, so you can catch good |
| behavior, and reinforcing its behavior. | | | | acts. |
| | | | |
| Guidelines when training with a clicker: | | | | 9. Make sure to put aside the clicker when |
| | | | you are scolding your cat. |
| 1. To make a sound, push the clicker's spring | | | | |
| end and then release. Treat the cat. | | | | The non-confrontational character of a |
| | | | clicker makes it an ideal tool for training |
| 2. When you notice a behavior that you want | | | | your cat. |
| your cat to continue on doing, click during | | | | |
| while the behavior is being performed, never | | | | You too, can be happy with the results, |
| after it. | | | | having achieved all positive behaviors that |
| | | | you worked for with your cat. With lots of |
| 3. Click only once, to express enthusiasm | | | | understanding, love, and patience, cat |
| towards the act of your cat and add more | | | | clicker training will continue to give you |
| treats. | | | | wonderful results that you and your cat will |
| | | | benefit from for years to come. |