has anyone clicker trained their cat?

[basildonbond]

Yes I know I"ve posted in the doghouse but I figured clicker training is more common among dog-owners so I'd be more likely to find a dog-owner who's expanded their clickering repertoire as it were than the other way round

dcat is partway through a long convalescence after being hit by a car - he's obviously feeling a bit bored now so I was wondering if clicker-training him a few things might keep him amused

He's about 5 (rescue so don't know exactly how old), very talkative and normally extremely active. He has very sharp claws however and has never learned to retract them fully when taking something from us so would like to avoid things like high five in order to minimise damage to me

Any ideas?

Once you've got him used to the idea that click = treat you could try playing 101 things to do with a box. I've not got much experience with cats but my sighthounds who aren't particularly interested in learning tricks love the box game so it's definitely very engaging.

There's also a section on that site about training cats so there might be something useful on there.

Yep cats love clicker training - they can be fussy over the treats so make sure it is something they love.
I trained ours to use the loo, much to the DC's disgust as the cat could never flush it

excellent articles and ideas here on clicker training cats

thanks - we've been trying to charge the clicker today - he loves dreamies and little bits of chicken so will use those

amazingly he's not put on any weight since his accident - he lost half a kilo in the first 2-3 days and since then he's been bang on 4.5kg despite spending the past month sitting in his crate and eating like a horse - so I think we'll be ok with training with food as he's obviously in no danger of getting fat

I did a bit just to prove to DH that I could! with DCat a while back.
DCat is however thoroughly convinced that he is a dog so he may not have the same level of disdain as most normal cats :o

Yes I clicker trained our two when they were getting a bit bored as indoor cats. Mainly just sit/high five/jump up onto something. A colleague trained hers to jump through hoops- literally! (That bit might not be advisable if he's on restricted exercise.) Also recommend Nina Ottoson dog toys for bored cats esp if food motivated.

I tried to clicker train our ragdoll but she is very ignorant and just didnt want to do anything for me. The dogs love clicker traini g but she just didnt get it

The beautiful moggy girl was clicker trained PFC long before DC when I had time on my hands.

DCat trained herself. I used to work the four dogs together and one day the cat joined the line and copied them!