Who says you can’t herd cats? Certainly not the Michigan Humane Society. Its shelter cats are regularly trained to perform such tricks as giving high fives or walking into a carrier.
According to a story on Folger Coffee’s Wake Up to Good News Web site, getting a cat to do what you want it to isn’t such a big deal.
Sam Connelly of Maryland uses her cat Storm to help train search dogs by hiding and waiting to be found. Storm also does mundane things like obeying commands to sit or stay, or walking on a leash.
The Michigan Humane Society goes further, helping shelter cats “to be well-adjusted in the shelter environment.”
C.J. Bentley of the Society says cats need more than just playtime outside the cage.
Melissa Chan of the Houston SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) said cats are active animals (apparently during times when humans aren’t around). “One thing I wish I could tell every cat owner: Cats want to work for their food,” said Chan.
You could have hit me with a baseball bat. I always thought cats felt like they were members of an elite group that should be waited on hand and foot. I never had an inkling that they wanted to earn their keep (other than killing mice, of course).
Chan said cat training can begin by having your pet touch your hand with its nose. Then reward it with a treat. From there, say a word like “touch” when you do it.
She said that trick can be modified to get the cat to move where you want it to by placing your hand above the spot.
For instance, it can be used to get the cat to walk into its carrier or other nesting place.
The only requirements, said the article, are patience, repetition and treats.
The article said training cats “can help prevent problems by changing the terms of your relationship with your pet. ‘The animal learns’ (Bentley said), “When I do this, you’re happy and I get a piece of food – I guess I should focus on making you happy.”’”
OK, so cats can be trained to think about what makes their owners happy. I don’t own any cats at the moment, but if I did they would make me happy by learning to use the toilet.
Lets face it, the worst thing about having a cat around is having to clean up after it. Even when they’re faithful about using the litter, somebody has to scoop it regularly.
Dogs have been trained to do useful, even humanitarian, deeds like searching for lost children or earthquake victims. Why not cats?
Cats don’t have the sense of smell like dogs, but they’re really good climbers. Couldn’t the family cat be taught to climb up on the roof and clean out the gutters?
They’re supposed to be excellent hunters. How about ridding the yard of moles and gophers?
A well-trained cat should have no problem with these assigned duties.
Just say “gutters” and up he goes, or “mole” and down he goes.
After all, your family cat just wants to make you happy, right?
Larry Penkava, who has written Now and Then since 1994, might consider getting a trained cat.
