Naughty No More by Marilyn Krieger

Author:Marilyn Krieger
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BowTie Inc.
Published: 2011-05-16T16:00:00+00:00

In preparation for future lessons, continue to increase each cat’s clicker training skills until they both easily follow the target, stand on their own placemats, and sit on cue. Working with both cats will also help increase their sense of security and strengthen and build the relationships you have with both cats.

It may take a few days, a week, or longer until your cats are each responding favorably to the other’s pheromone-laced sock.

Second Grade

Now that your cats are in the second grade, it’s time to add another activity to their training. This one revolves around everyone’s favorite pastime—eating. The goal is for the cats to break bread together while still separated by the closed door. You will need delicious food that the cats adore. Start by placing the feeding stations about 4 to 6 feet away from each side of the closed door. If your cats refuse to eat because they are stressed over their close proximity to each other, back the stations further away from the door until they are at a comfortable eating distance. Decrease the distance from the door by 1 to 2 inches per feeding until the feeding stations are close to each other, still on opposite sides of the closed door. You will know if you are expecting too much too fast if the cats refuse to eat or exhibit aggressive behaviors. If your matchmaking tactics prove to be too optimistic, move the dishes back to a comfortable distance and proceed more slowly.

Continue the pheromone exchanges twice a day, using clean socks each time, but with a change in venue. The sock location should change gradually—the goal being each cat’s favorite napping area. At each scent exchange, slowly inch the socks toward each cat’s individual sleeping area. Take your time, moving the socks about an inch at a time, over a period of days. Move them only when the cats are responding positively or neutrally around the socks, displaying no signs of unhappiness, aggression, or stress. If you hurry the process and place the pheromone-scented sock directly in your cat’s sleeping quarters, she will probably abandon the spot and seek out a safer, scent-free place to nap.

Don’t forget the clicker during this process. Clicker training will help fight the boredom blues and will stimulate the cats. Keep clicking and then treating for positive and neutral responses to the socks. You can keep things interesting for both you and the cats by continuing clicker training in other respects. After they stand when requested on their mats, teach them to sit, stay, and shake.

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