Every cat lover knows that part of a kitty's charm is that they like “being a cat”. Felines take pride in their independence and choose when they want to acknowledge you. They are often just as happy to ignore you and go about their day, which in many cases, endears them to their pet parents even more.
Having a cat that responds immediately with eagerness, happiness, and glee like a dog does is probably never going to happen. But you can still train your cat to listen to you, and even have them pleased to do so!
Training your cat to listen to you involves consistency, praise, and lots of affection. Keep training sessions short and sweet because cats get bored quickly and do not have the same attention span as a dog, for example. Train your cat in different areas of the house so they learn to associate the command with the behavior and not just the room they are in.
Consider why you want your cat to listen to you. Is it so that they will come when called? Don’t expect the same recall abilities seen with eager to please dogs. Cats just have a different outlook on life!
To train your cat, you’ll need treats, toys, patience, and kindness. As with training any animal, positive reinforcement is always the best way to go. With cats, in particular, punishment does not garner a good response.
Felines don’t understand punishment the way many other animals do. Training them to want to listen is the best way. Remember to teach your cat that tasty treats, a warm lap, and lots of playtime are rewards happily handed out when good behavior is seen.