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Many people who have only recently been lucky enough to have a kitten at home do not yet know a large number of important things that are necessary for a furry family member to feel comfortable. So, many people wonder how to accustom a kitten to a name in a short time.
This article will be devoted to this particular topic. You will learn how to choose the right name for a cat so that she likes it, and how to quickly accustom a baby kitten to a new nickname.
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Choose a suitable nickname
Choose a sonorous and simple nickname to make it easier for your pet to get used to it. You should not use complex names, even if the kitten is a descendant of the great British feline family.
Shorten your full name to a short nickname: ideally one or two syllables. A good solution is to use hissing and whistling letters in the kitten's name.
Do not change the name when you have already started training the kitten. So the baby will not understand what his real name is.
I eat, listen and remember
Probably the surest way to make a kitten understand his name is to combine the learning process and feeding. By the way, this is exactly the example of the development of a conditioned reflex against the background of an unconditional food reflex, which was discussed at the beginning of the article.
The food must be prepared in advance, before the “student” is invited to a legitimate lunch. Otherwise, instead of reacting to the name, the baby will learn to come running to the kitchen when he hears the sound of the refrigerator opening or the rustling of a bag.
When the preparatory measures have been completed, the pet is called to the feeder with the usual “ks-ks”, supplementing the vocal accompaniment with a rubbing movement of the index and thumb near the cat’s bowl, while the “ks” is interspersed with the name. For example: kys Music, etc.
While the animal is eating, they stroke it, continuing to pronounce its name. Over time, “kys” is excluded from the call sign for lunch or snack.
Start training
Cats are not eager to please people like dogs. The best motivation for mustachioed pets is reward. Choose the treat for your kitten that he likes the most.
Wait until the cat is a little hungry. Take a treat in your hands, gently call your pet and reward him if he comes up. Call your cat using gestures and the classic “kitty-kitty” while he is not yet accustomed to the name.
Call the kitten by name when you feed or pet it. Describe the actions that the cat does out loud: “Murzik is playing,” “Murzik has come to eat.” This way learning will go faster.
Path through the stomach
For example, you can get interested in food. Cats understand this language very well. Every time the owner is going to treat Murka with something tasty or offers another portion of lunch or dinner, he must call the pet by name. Of course, he won’t immediately understand what’s going on. Then you need to bring it to the bowl, stroke it, point to the poured warm milk or a piece of chicken, while saying a nickname. Soon the pet will easily associate its name and food and thus learn to respond to its name.
Let the kitten get used to the name
Never say the kitten's name when you scold it. The baby should associate the nickname with pleasant emotions: this is the only way the kitten will want to come when called.
Say the name during games to form another positive image in your cat's head. Talk to your kitten as often as possible.
Always give a treat when the kitten comes when called. This way the baby will not feel deceived.
Kittens get used to their name within a week or two of repetition. Adult cats take a little longer.
Some useful tips
Some owners claim that their kittens categorically refuse to respond to a name. They only come running to the food cry of all the cats and cats “ks-ks”. But what can they do if they themselves have taught their pets this way? There is an exit.
The next time you call the furry king to have a meal, be sure to add a name to the well-known cry. In about one. Gradually reduce the number of "ks" by adding more name. Over time, completely eliminate the standard cat call for lunch. And always call by name only. You'll see, the kitten will quickly get used to it.
Advice. Constantly talk to your pet, saying its name. Otherwise, he will respond to her only when he is hungry.
It would be nice if all family members are involved in teaching the kitten its name. This is necessary so that the baby understands and accepts his name. Otherwise, the cat child will perceive only the one who taught him, and will ignore the rest.
Make it more difficult
A week after the start of training, it’s time to increase the difficulty level. Call the kitten from a distant place: first from the other end of the room, then from another room.
If the cat lives in a private house, try calling the pet from the street. You should not do this if the kitten has never left the house before.
When the cat unmistakably comes running to the name, stop saying “kitty-kitty” and using gestures. Remove treats over time. After about a month, the kitten will follow the command without additional incentives.
When is the best time to start?
Naturally, you need to start accustoming your pet to its nickname as soon as it gets into the house. The optimal age for removing babies from a mother cat is 12-13 weeks. At this age, they are already sufficiently socialized, accustomed to the tray and scratching post, and have not yet lost interest in acquiring new knowledge. Experts recommend separating kittens from their mother no earlier than 12 weeks. These kittens:
- more self-confident;
- make contact easier;
- adapt more easily to new environments and people;
- learn faster.
Problems in training adults. It is more difficult to accustom an adult animal to a nickname. He has already formed certain habits, his character has become “settled”. An independent cat is reluctant to retrain. She's already comfortable. The main thing is to feed on time, change the toilet regularly and caress.
If a cat stubbornly ignores all efforts to teach him to respond to a certain name, then you can get by with the usual “kitty-kitty.” But with a persistent and correct approach, even an adult animal can be accustomed to a nickname. But this may take several times longer.
What not to do when studying
Do not hit or scold the kitten if it does not obey: this will completely confuse and frighten it. Try not to even say your nickname in an irritated voice. If you want to discuss your baby’s dirty tricks with your loved ones, do not mention his name.
Do not exclude the treat until the cat begins to run up to the call without making mistakes. This will confuse your pet.
Call your cat the same way and do not change the name. This way the kitten will quickly understand what you need from him.
If the kitten does not respond
Sometimes pets don't want to come when called. This may be due to the pet being stubborn or poorly trained: in this case, it will simply take more time.
If the kitten does not respond to its name or other ways to call it, contact your veterinarian. It is possible that the baby is deaf. White cats are more likely to suffer from hearing problems.
Tidbit or “carrot” method
When the results are noticeable, the education process turns into an entertaining activity. Results can be achieved much faster if incentives are applied for each task well completed. As a rule, a favorite snack acts as a reward: a piece of sausage or meat. The most important thing is that the tailed friend really wants to receive it at the time of training. To deepen your pet’s results, you can carry a treat with you at all times in your trouser or robe pocket. In this case, it will be possible to start classes at any convenient time, when the little “student” is in the appropriate mood.
As soon as the kitten appears near you, you need to attract its attention with your fingers, be sure to call it by name. It is important here that everyone living in the house calls the baby the same name, otherwise the kitten will get confused. When the “student” pays attention to you and comes up, treat him with a tasty morsel and gently stroke or scratch him behind the ear, while still saying his name. Gradually, the result will become so strong that without giving a treat, it will be enough to simply call the kitten and it will come running. Although it wouldn’t hurt to reward him with tasty treats from time to time. After all, a conditioned reflex can fade away over time, just as it appeared. The animal will not want to run up to you if you do not offer it anything.
Petstory app - an online assistant for cat owners
If, despite prolonged efforts, the cat does not get used to responding to the call, consult a veterinarian. Install the Petstory app on your smartphone, and a specialist will answer your question within a few minutes.
Perhaps your veterinarian will advise you to contact a veterinary clinic to rule out that the animal has hearing problems. In this case, Petstory will also help out - using the service you will make an appointment at any veterinary institution in your city at a convenient time.
Download the specialized application for pet owners Petstory on the IOS and Android platforms using the link – https://petstory.ru/prilozhenie-konsultacija-veterinar/.
