You know how people say that it’s impossible to train a cat? They’re wrong. You can train a cat. It might not be easy, but it’s possible. For some people. And some cats. In some highly specific situations. Because let’s be real- yes, it’s possible to train a cat, but odds are that your cat training is going to go very wrong. Hilariously wrong. Most likely, your cat will end up training you. 

Hey, don’t be mad at yourself. Even the CIA failed at training cats. And although it’s rough to realize that you have been outsmarted by your feline and that your months and possibly years of training was pointless… you do have to admit that, looking back on it, it is hilarious. And that’s what the person in this thread is going to realize eventually. Yes, it hurts now, but eventually, you’ll let the cat win and look back at this moment and laugh. 

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    r/CatTraining coopsier my cat has weaponized his training against me Behavioural

    And this is exactly why you don’t train cats. Not because they can’t be trained. They can be. You just don’t want to risk it. You train them to do one thing, and they will find some way to use that thing against you. It is a known fact. We all know it. This person simply had to learn it the hard way. 

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    like actually. i've been doing the re- association training with scratching with my cat basically since i first got him 6 or 7 months ago. he'll scratch the couch, i pick him up, place him at his scratcher, he scratches, he gets rewarded. EVERY website i've read on how to appropriately train a cat to stop this behaviour says to do this. for a month or so it worked and he didn't touch the couch, until recently.

    Any kind of reward system training for cats is bound to end in disaster. Every time. Because it’s just a matter of figuring out what it is that they’re allowed and not allowed to do and then purposefully doing or not doing it. It’s very simply. Actually, we have to be on the cat’s side in this one, because you truly should have seen this coming. 

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    here's where it's gone wrong: he knows that if he misbehaves, gets corrected, he'll get a high value reward when it correct him. ITS DRIVING ME INSANE. i've stopped giving high value rewards and he's testing me i KNOW it. my couch, my bed, my brain can't take it anymore I'm actually losing my mind.

  • 4

    he's had enough instances of high reward that as soon as i'm done correcting him, he BOLTS to where he gets his high value rewards (churu, or being let out on the balcony for cat grass). it's to the point now that he starts scratching furniture to get my attention for little things now too, like meal times.

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  • 5

    does anyone have advice to train a cat against this behaviour other than re- positioning him? has this ever happened to anyone??????

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    for context, he's a 9 year old domestic medium hair cat, being treated for hyperthyroidism. not very rambunctious or overly affectionate. generally chill and confident otherwise.

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    edit to note: he does use his scratch post every day for cat purposes and he has various other scratching posts, mats, and platforms throughout the house too.

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  • 8

    munchkinfeatures 22 days ago Your cat is training you 184 д Reply Share

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    coopsier OP 22 days ago LMFAO he's posting on r/ human training like

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    Fair-Calligrapher563 · 22 days ago Start moving him without the reward. Keep the rewards sometimes but random and if you know he's bating don't give in. Just keep moving him until he gets bored. 89 Reply Share

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    coopsier OP 22 days ago i'm thinking that those random times where he does get reward it should be low tier reward? little kibble treats that he's not too fond of but is still better than regular food?? 41 Reply Share

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    But_like_whytho 22 days ago Yes, that's a great idea. Personally, I don't use any food rewards for changing behaviors. I'm sure it goes against all the cat training literature, but I've found that

  • 13

    moving them elsewhere and giving them a treat, I simply cuddle them with kisses and lots of baby talk. They hate it lol. It changes their whole brain activity, do it enough and eventually you won't have to pick them up, you simply getting up is enough for them to stop. 66 Reply Share

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  • 14

    coopsier OP 22 days ago LMAO i love this, and my boy hates being picked up and cuddled AND it's not enforcing a fear response from him too. excellent 34 Reply Share

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    sandpiper2319. 22 days ago You are correct. You are training him to scratch the furniture so you will move him to the post and get rewarded. I would get some kind of deterrent for scratching on the furniture like that sticky stuff. Eventually he will tire of having to test the furniture and hopefully you won't need it.

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    coopsier OP 22 days ago i'm ngl you saying that validates me sm thank you . i'll look into sticky stuff, hopefully it doesn't damage fabrics?? he's unbothered by natural deterrent sprays unfortunately

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  • 17

    sandpiper2319 .22 days ago I would also put a scratching post close to where he scratches the furniture. After he is using that consistently you can move it away over time. You will probably need more than one. They don't have to be big. Use different styles

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    coopsier OP 22 days ago i'm definitely gonna see about plastic sheets on the couch and stopping high reward treats. also hope. huge amounts of hope

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    • zephxv 22 days ago They're too smart. In my bedroom there is a unit with a lot of collectables displayed, some of it rare and expensive, and it's pretty much the only place in the house that he isn't allowed. Since he was a tiny kitten, we have religiously been picking him up and putting him outside the room if he climbs it, and closing the door. Now, if the door is closed and he is in the room with me and he wants to leave, instead of just walking to the door, or signalling in any way that he

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  • 20

    coopsier OP 22 days ago LMAAAAO that is diabolical. i've been trying to do the same with my desk. he's not allowed on my desk but only in one specific spot so when he wants in it he just romps around until i pick him up and place him there ☺. i'm more convinced now than ever that this little training technique does not work and we've been fed lies by cats ⑲

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