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Question
I have been clicker training my cat to sit, but I'm not sure if she knows the command. When I bring out her treats without saying anything, she sits anyway and begs for the treat. When I tell her to sit without treats, she also sits (but I'm not sure if she's sitting because she's tired or if not). Does she associate the command 'sit' with the action?
Julia,
I have never used clicker training, but yes, a cat learns by association with a a repetitive word.
Here are some other tips on training a cat to sit:
To teach your cat to sit, start with a hungry cat, a table, and a quiet room. Get your cat to stand up by touching her in front of her tail, then hold the treat a little ways over her head saying her name and the command "sit.".
Slowly move the treat between your cat's ears, but not high enough for her to pick her front paws off the ground and grab the tidbit. Instead, she'll sit. After she does, praise her and give her the treat. Work in short sessions and be patient. Your cat eventually gets the idea!
Teach the cat an association between a word - such as "sit" - and an action by using treats and praise and/or, in your case, maybe a clicker.
Here are some links on cat training for further training tips:
(copy and paste, or type, the whole link into your address bar)
http://www.catsplay.com/dailycat.php3?cat=mind&scat=mind_training
http://www.pets.ca/articles/article-cat_training.htm
http://www.purina.com/cats/behavior/TeachingCatsTricks.aspx
I hope this helps....and good luck with your 'sit' lessons.
Tabbi
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Dear Tabbi
Expertise
My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.
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Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).
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