What is Positive Reinforcement?

by Courtney Mroch | More from this Blogger

31 Mar 2007 03:20 PM

If you've been following my Tabby tales, you know I'm questioning what to do about her and the way she's behaving towards Mr. Meow.

If you haven't, here's a quick lowdown: At first the adjustment period was going well. For the first three weeks. Then she got very aggressive towards Mr. Meow. A vet visit confirmed she wasn't spayed (as we'd first been led to believe) and she might be pregnant. So we got her spayed, but things haven't gotten better.

Now I'm trying to intervene and teach her new behaviors when it comes to Mr. Meow. I'm trying to use a method called positive reinforcement. The trouble is, it's a learning process for all of us.

My first reaction when I see her chasing Mr. Meow is to yell "Stop!" and/or "No, Tabby, don't do that!"

But that's something a dog would respond to. (A species I've had a lot more experience with than cats.) Positive reinforcement is something someone like Supernanny Jo Frost often uses on her TV show.

I don't have children, just pets (who have been extraordinarily easy to train, until Tabby came along), so I'm not all that hip when it comes to disciplining principles with problem children.

But apparently I need to do things like the following:

• Immediately give Tabby and/or Mr. Meow praise and/or a reward when they do something good (meaning something I want them to do).

• The "reward" can be food, a favorite toy, or even just loving pats and chin scratching.

• Be consistent.

• Make sure my timing coincides with the behavior I want to reward. (e.g. If I want to reward them for getting along, I throw them a treat there and then. I don't make them come to me for it, or they'll associate coming to me with the reward instead.)

The key to cat behavior, apparently, is association. If I yell at Tabby every time Mr. Meow is around, she'll associate the two. If I praise her, she'll associate it with that.

Now I just have to train myself to act accordingly and the happy household I once enjoyed might return!

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Learn more about Courtney Mroch

Courtney Mroch is a wife, a proud pet parent, and a writer. She's been with her husband, high school sweetheart Wayne Pryor, over 20 years, married 11 of those. She's "mom" to Mr. Meow, a.k.

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