This will be a very short post because the reason why dogs are self-evidently much easier to train than cats can be delivered in a succinct way according to Dr Bradshaw. There are two reasons behind this well-known difference between dogs and cats.
Firstly, dogs find the simple act of human attention rewarding whereas cats “do not find human attention rewarding in its own right”. If this difference is true it must because the cat is essentially a solitary creature whereas the dog is a pack animal.
Because of this difference the reward when training a cat is nearly always food. For the dog it can be affection. I suppose the point being made here is that as a dog is rewarded by our affection it is much easier to provide the reward.
The reward of course is part of positive reinforcement in training.
Secondly, dog behavior can be “shaped” into something useful for humans. An example is the sheepdog herding sheep. This is a modification of the hunting behavior of the wolf, the dog’s wild ancestor. The various forms of cat behavior cannot be shaped or adopted in this way.
I think the point Dr Bradshaw is making is that we train dogs to do something useful for us whereas cats were domesticated to prey on rodents but they don’t need training for that; we let them get on with it. The only reason for training a cat is for our pleasure. There appears to be no functional purpose to it.
Perhaps there is a third factor. Dogs are more needy than cats. The dog wants to please whereas the cat has a more take it or leave it attitude. The desire to please lends itself to being trained.
I agree that cat shows can and should be beneficial for cats. They raise the public profile of cats. As long as the breeders act responsibly they help. I am pleased that India has its own cat association and I am interested in seeing how it develops.
The Persians at 40,000 RS is the price they cost in the West. Western prices are hitting India but then you are becoming more Westernised.
lol and Dees should be Dees and we’d not want you any other way.
We let people be people, so why not let cats be cats, I love every inch of them and their wild ancestry instincts and if I was a cat I’d lash out at anyone who tried to train me 😉
Well I’m sure cats can be Trained and I agree with What Ruth says let Cats be Cats. Dogs and Cats really are different. I sometimes think Jasmine Acts like a dog as, she chances after things and hold them in her mouth and carrys them around. Even Leaves and branches come inside. Nice to see other peoples photos esp the Show Photos.
Dear Mr Ahsan Ul Haq,
At least we both from different sides of the border are not discussing “Politics” but “Cats”.Michael has been instrumental in indirectly creating the “Cat Club” in Mumbai as i was inspired by his articles on “P.O.C” and hence canvassed through the internet of having a “Registered Cat Club” and “Cat shows” in India.After years of “Facebook” articles on “Mumbai cat club” and “Persian cats upkeep and breeding” as well as blogs a cat club finally materialized with the “Indian cat Federation” owing allegiance to the “World cat club” of Germany having their first show in Bangalore in 2013.As you mentioned “Cat Shows” are sponsored by “Pet food conglomerates” who have their own vested interests in mind, generating profits.But , so is also all other forms of business including sports, most notably “CRICKET” .The “Mumbai cat show” was the first cat show i ever attended in my life and was impressed about the conduction of the event although the participating cats on the first day were sparse.”Dogs” as pets and dog shows are very popular in India and seems the sponsors didn’t advertise the event properly through proper channels. On the second and last day it was a good large gathering and more competitive cats, a success.”Cat Shows” and “Recognized cat registry” society’s are essential for developing and regularizing the cat breeding hobby as well as cats as pets.Do you’ll have a registered cat club in Pakistan ?At the Cat show in Mumbai i came across a Pakistani origin lady now settled in India who exhibited two traditional Persian kittens costing Rs 40,000 each! This is a fortune for a cat in India.My opinion is that “Cat Shows” benefit cats and the cat community as it regularizes and standardizes the breeding as well as the pet industry in cats.Below is the photo of the pair of kittens worth Rs 80,000 approx.
The only real training I desire from any cat is in reference to using the litter box. “PLEASE use the box, my darlings. How can you miss a great big box like this one?” Maybe I should just pour a 1 inch layer of litter all over the kitchen floor.
The same, I feel, with dogs. All I ever required was that they go to the door when they needed to be taken out.
My one, and only one, experience with a pup at obedience school was with my beloved Hobbes. When all people were walking around the track with theirs, Hobbes wouldn’t budge and pooped in the middle of the track. We were sent home. But, that was him, a stubborn German.
Ahsan, you said it all.
Sorry, Harvey, but cat shows hurt my heart the same as seeing a small child forced onto a stage by a parent demanding she perform.
Cats should be cats, dogs should be dogs, children should be children, and Ruths should be Ruths. LOL!