Postcards from the Furkids

Training Your Human

The March issue of Cat Fancy magazine has an article (p. 20) entitled 40 Ways Cats Train Their Humans. Do not let your cats read this. There _just might_ be a trick they didn't know (yet). The one ours have never used (that made me laugh out loud) was this one:

• Another way to wake your sleeping human is to extend one claw, reach out and pull down her lip.

Has your cat ever done that? Mine just walk on my head.

I'm pretty sure that our guys sent some of these in; they must use my computer when I'm out of the house.

• If your human is sitting in the bathroom, walk in and sit on her lap. (Raven)

• When he's in the shower, use his towel as a comfy bed. (Bebop)

• To sleep under the covers near your human, paw the covers near her head until she lifts up the blankets to let you snuggle underneath them. (Bebop)

• If your human sleeps late, swish your tail back and forth over his face to wake him up. (Mezzaluna)

• Have your human carry you from room to room to look out the windows together (Raven & Bebop)

• Sit next to your human's computer keyboard and STARE at her until she plays with you (Squirrel & Bebop)

• When guests sit at the table for dinner, jump on the table and go from person to person for food. Odds are better when you train several people at once. (Bebop)

• Train your human to leave water dripping in the sink so you can always have a fresh drink from the faucet. Look at her with sad pleading eyes until she complies. (Better yet, mew. Bebop)

• To receive treats, go to where they are kept and yell until your human gets the idea. (Squirrel)

• If you usually receive treats every evening when you come in from the screened-in porch, get a second helping. Go back, bang on the door, go to the treat cabinet and yell. She'll get the idea. (Squirrel)

• Wait until your human leans over something such as a table, then walk onto her back, circle once and lie down. (Bebop)

• When it rains, look out the window, then let your human know that you do not appreciate the weather change and she should fix it, now. (Raven)

• Try opening cabinets that are not shut tightly. Rearrange the cereal boxes. (Bebop, Mezzaluna, Raven)

• For advanced trainers, opt for a cabinet over the refrigerator. (Bebop)

• Stand near the drawer that houses the fishing pole toy and stare pitifully until your human retrieves the toy and plays with you. (Squirrel)

• Drawers make a nice place to curl up for a nap (as does a nice cardboard box! Mezzaluna)

• Train your human to leave closet doors ajar. (Mezzaluna, Raven)

• Allow your human to start to put you on the cat tree. Place your front paws and chest on the tree, leaving your back end in your human's arms. Relax and settle in. (Raven)

• Do not take medicine when first offered to you. Force your human to be creative abut it. (Mezzaluna gets a twice-daily pill.. but first we have to play "Can't catch me".)

They didn't print these:

• Walk across the floor, slowly getting lower and lower until your belly touches, then flop over on your side. Your human will have no choice but to give you a belly rub. (Raven)

• Lie on the floor, belly up, head tilted and stare soulfully at your human. if she gets up to pet you, run quickly into the kitchen and stand by the treat jar! (Squirrel)

• Walk across the desk between your human and her keyboard, then fall off the desk. She'll have no choice but to catch you and then cuddle you. (Raven)

• If STARING doesn't work when your human is using the computer, pat her gently on the arm (Squirrel) or bump her shoulder with your head (Bebop). Repeat as necessary until she stops typing and pets you.

• Lie near the top of the stairs with your paws extended. Either your human will have to step over you very carefully or at least she will have to pet you on the way by. (Mezzaluna)

• Walk behind your human's legs, brushing gently, then lie down on the floor. Enjoy the hopping she does to avoid stepping on you when she turns around. If she steps on you anyway, look pathetic. (Raven)

• If you usually get treats at bedtime, pretend you don't know what time it is. Start mentioning snacks an hour earlier. Stand next to the treat canister and paw at it. If that works, try pushing the time back even farther. (Squirrel)

• Hide in plain sight, preferably up near the ceiling on a tall bookcase, then watch your human run from room to room calling for you (Raven, Mezzaluna)

• Walk onto your human's lap while she's reading a book. (Raven, Mezzaluna, Squirrel, & Bebop). Bump the book with your head until she puts it down. (Bebop, Mezzaluna). For extra credit, nibble on the edge of the cover (Bebop, Squirrel). After she puts the book down, walk past onto the window sill and settle in for a nap. (Raven, Squirrel), stretch out on her legs (Bebop) or allow her to give up on the book and pay plenty of attention to YOU (Mezzaluna)..

Training Your Human - posted by Vicki at Fri, 04 Feb, 21:03 Pacific | «e»