Learning, Training and Behaviour 107
Shaping behaviour (successive approximation)
Even if we use a lure it is rare that the cat will do exactly what we want straight away,
especially if we are expecting a reasonably complex behaviour. So in many cases we
need to ‘shape’ the behaviour.
Each time the animal offers the behaviour it will be slightly different and the aim
of ‘shaping’ is to concentrate on rewarding the actions that are closest to what we
want. So, to begin with we would reward a behaviour that is ‘near enough’ to what
we want and then each time the cat does something that is a bit closer to what we
want, concentrating on only rewarding those behaviours and ignoring previous
behaviours that were not so close, so that eventually the cat is being rewarded for
doing exactly what we want it to.
Practical feline example
If we want to teach the cat to lie down and relax on a mat or cat bed we may shape
the behaviour as follows:
● Reward initially for just going near the bed.
● Then reward only for putting at least one foot on the bed.
● Then reward only for standing on the bed.
Box 7.3. What is the best conditioned reinforcer to use with cats?
The stimulus should be one that is easy and quick to impart and is sufficiently salient
for the cat. Unless the cat is deaf, a sound is often the best choice because the cat
does not need to be looking at the trainer at the time. Sounds can also be of short
duration and easily ‘turned on and off’.
The sound also needs to be one that the cat is unlikely to hear often in everyday
situations. A clicker, a device that produces a loud audible ‘click’ is often used for this
type of training with other animals; however, there can be disadvantages in using a
clicker with cats:
●●Cats can be comparatively sound sensitive and a clicker may be too loud and
potentially frightening for some.
●●Using a clicker or any other sound-producing device may require some practice and
coordination to get the timing correct.
A verbal signal, such as a specific word or sound can be a better choice when train-
ing cats:
●●The word or sound should be produced clearly, concisely and loud enough for the
cat to be aware of it, without being too loud that it might startle the cat.
●●Avoid using sounds that could upset the cat, e.g. shhh or hissing noises.
●●Aim to make it sound the same each time you use it. Even if you choose a special
word there could be various ways in which it may be pronounced.
●●Avoid using the cat’s name or often used words or phrases, e.g. ‘good boy/girl’, that
are commonly directed towards the cat, although single words from such phases,
e.g. just the word ‘good’, can be used because this will sound quite different.