My human has started behaving very strangely. She has purrchased a stick with a large red bauble at the end of it. When with a natural curiosity I walk towards it, she says "beep beep" and gives me dried cat food. This happens twice a day and I am naturally quite happy about this extraordinary way of getting extra food.
But.... an awful thought struck me. Is she training me? I noticed a rather smug look on her face as I succeeded in winning some cat food by putting my face near the bauble. While I am quite happy to play this rather boring game, I am not at all happy to think that I am being trained.
I am not a dog. Cats are never trained. We train humans.
Yours anxiously
Toby.
Dear Toby,
Your dilemma is easily solved. She is not training you; you are training her. You have found this relatively easy way of getting more food, so JDI, Just Do It. Humans have mysterious behaviour patterns, and this red bauble on a stick is just part of their unbelievably ridiculous way of life. Don't despise it. Use it to your advantage.
This odd bit of human activity may be connected with something called clicker training. In your case there is no clicker but instead the word "Beep beep." We cats respond relatively well to clicker or beep activity because it is a transaction in which we win. We get the food: the human does not. The folly of the human is their thinking we are being trained by them.
Just to keep her on her toes, be intermittent in your compliance with this game. Occasionally, when you see the bauble walk out of the room. Or find something to scratch. Or have a good wash. Ignore it altogether. Intermittent response makes the human try harder and may well result in a bigger food reward.
Oh yes, and sometimes look as if you are going to do it and then do nothing. It's a good way to tease your human.
Yours
George.
Oh yes! George is right on the nip, there! As long as you are aware of your peep's ulterior motives, you're actually allowing her to do them. That means... YOU are the trainer and SHE is the TRAINEE. It's all a matter of perspective, I should think. purrs
ReplyDeleteToby, you can STEAL the extra food;
ReplyDeleteyou don't have to put up with her antics and follow the bloody red bubble! C'mon man! Don't play her game unless you have fun!
Diego
Lovely game to get extra treats AND stay in shape! Ha! I have to train my human to do this (she cut on my treats - she thinks I'm chubby) :-(
ReplyDeleteLove
Minnie
My perspective is that.....I'm sooo bored that I'll anything for some fun, attention and entertainment!
ReplyDeleteFrederico
Toby, it's all good - all it matters is that you get the extra treats....
ReplyDeletewhile....you have your human almost down on her knees (it must hurt her a lot) :-)))
Hugs
Minnie
Toby, when you see her coming with the red bubble...just start walking in the opposite direction! Let her exercise for you following you around the house :-) and when she's really tired...just follow the bubble for a bit...she's give you the treats
ReplyDeletewithout much hassle! Let her have a false sense of achievement :-)))
CAT Victoria
George gives sterling advice Toby. But we think long periods of ignoring the daft bauble thing and just do whatever you fancy.
ReplyDeleteTraining apes is long, hard road to travel, especially when there's a comfy sofa to sleep on
Gerry