In human society, the word “bribes” has a poor connotation. It’s either paying someone for something they are supposed to do anyway; or paying them to do something they aren’t supposed to do.
Aren’t our cats supposed to behave because they love us? Won’t bribes undermine the meaning of the relationship?
see more Lolcats and funny pictures
Yes, and no. “Cat bribes” can be treats of many sorts, all offered with two purposes. These two purposes are cat focus, and cat enjoyment.
Here’s how to use bribes:
Shape their day. What do we look forward to in our typical week? Is it an arduous work task or cleaning the bathroom? Usually, not. We look forward to lunch with a friend, going to a concert, or curling up on the couch for a movie or favorite show.
Cats are the same way. We should be part of their day’s highlights. Whether it’s a guaranteed cuddle session, a favorite toy, or a tasty dinner or snack, we should create a routine that our cat can anticipate. They get more enjoyment from it that way, just as we do.
Shape their responses. Bright as they are, few cats have the reasoning and communication capacity to make an outright bargain; such as Don’t mess with this thing, and you’ll get a treat when I get home! The time frame is too long, and the connections too tenuous, for us to make these kinds of trades.
However, we can use the concept to secure a cat’s cooperation in other ways. If a grooming session, medicine administration, or other less-than-happy task must be a part of our cat’s schedule, following it up with a treat of some kind will help our cat “hang in there” to get to the end.
We’d had RJ only a few days when a nasty eye infection appeared, and we had to squirt goo in his eyes as well as his ears. He learned to be more willing with the procedure; so eager to get to the treat at the end we had to carry him to the kitchen, rather than let him bump into doorframes while his eyes were full of goo.
Show a process. Part of my weekend routine is to have a leisurely start to my day, which includes a giant cup of coffee. The cats are glad to see me, and eager to start their weekend routines of heavy play. In order to enjoy my coffee before it gets cold, I put treats into their puzzle box
When my cats’ focus switches from getting me to charge around with a wand toy, to getting me to fill up the puzzle box, we have shaped a routine we both like. Getting the cats to ask for something we gladly give them is much more enjoyable than chasing them away from something they are not supposed to have.
Show our love. While every parent wants to feed their child nourishing food, few parents feel comfortable with not allowing any goodies at all. Cats are similarly dependent on us for some of their enjoyments.
When the cats have done something particularly sweet, clever, or amusing, I’ll break out the treats and share some happiness with them. They get plenty of goodies of all kinds; play, catnip, food, petting and hugging.
Which, we all agree, is exactly as it should be. Which means they aren’t, really, bribes.
Got here from a Link or Search?
There’s more to raising and training a cat with The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See my CAT TRAINING TIPS.
