Training cats

A cat can be taught commands, on one condition: do not train it the way a dog is trained. A dog works for its owner; a cat works for itself, and the whole craft lies in making the lesson worth its while. The section opens with two articles on why encouragement works and punishment does not, and then come the lessons themselves: the carrier, and five commands from “Sit!” to “Away!”.

• Training a cat You can train a cat. It will not turn into Lassie, but learning a few words brings the two of you closer. Where to begin, and what to reward with.
• Encouragement or punishment? Most of us were taught by punishment and believe it is the key to learning. With a cat it is not. Why reward is what actually works.
• Getting a cat used to the carrier Taking out the carrier means watching the cat bolt behind the sofa. How to accustom it so that journeys stop being a struggle.
• Teaching the command “Sit!” Teaching a cat to sit is remarkably simple, and it comes down to anatomy: picture the cat's spine as a child's see-saw.
• Teaching the command “Lie!” A cat that lies down on command makes brushing and visits to the vet easier, and impresses your guests. The simplest way to teach it.
• Teaching the command “To me!” Your cat already comes running at the sound of a can opener. How to turn that into a real command and make it stick.
• Teaching the command “Go!” Some cats genuinely enjoy a walk on a lead, and a harness is invaluable when travelling. How to teach a cat to walk with you.
• Teaching the command “Away!” The command Away means the cat jumps straight down from where it is. How to teach it, on the same training table as the command Lie.