Teaching an old cat new tricks

[Alan]

For a long time I didn't really think of it, but then after I listened to an audio file from George Carlin about cats I got motivated.  Carlin talked about how a cat will do the figure 8, and even start to walk sideways when approaching a person, totally anticipating getting to do the figure 8.   

Oliver has never done the figure 8, so the last week or two I've begun teaching him.  He's getting much better, but it still takes coaxing him around with snapping fingers most of the way around.  For the first time yesterday he did 1/2 of a figure 8 without me even calling him.  Even though he only did 1/2 of it, it was so exciting to see him initiate the figure 8 attempt that I gave him a treat for it anyways without even making him do the second loop. 

If all continues as it's going now, it should just be a matter of a few days until he starts and completes the 8 under his own initiative.   

Alan

[ncjohn]

I might be tempted to just leave it alone. Since most cats do the figure 8 I think it would be cool to have one that does a figure 4 that other cats can't do. Or maybe you could teach him a figure 16 and have him be twice as good as those "common" cats.

smart*** in the mountains......

 

[jsiegman]

I would have thought that half of a figure "8" would have been a figure "o" (zero?)

JKS

[reen]

reen

[Alan]

I would have thought that half of a figure "8" would have been a figure "o" (zero?)

JKS

Yes, either an O or a C, depending on how close he comes to correct performance.   

Alan

[peaches]

He's achieved doing the entire figure 8!
Even though it does take a lot of coaxing.

I think he might be beginning to realize that he will be rewarded with food if he does this trick.
Of course that would motivate him! After all, it seems like food is all he cares about, hahaha.


Here's a picture of Oliver I just edited in paint.
 

[reen]

He's achieved doing the entire figure 8!
Even though it does take a lot of coaxing.

I think he might be beginning to realize that he will be rewarded with food if he does this trick.
Of course that would motivate him! After all, it seems like food is all he cares about, hahaha.


Here's a picture of Oliver I just edited in paint.
 

Is that a porcine pussycat I see?     [I wonder if 'pork' comes from 'porcine?']
You did a grand job with Paint!

[Just looked it up in the online dictionary.]
porcus is the Latin for 'pig.' Hence, porcine.

Oliver's nose is the perfect shade of pink! 


Reen

[Alan]

Wow.  It doesn't seem like May when I started teaching Oliver the figure 8.  The time has so flown by, so here's an update...

Four months later, he has progressed quite a bit in attitude, but for the actual trick, he still does repeated O's sometimes, so I've changed the standard for what he has to do to get food from me.  Now I have the option of feeding him without a correct figure 8 if he at least: goes around twice, either half of the 8 or all the way around in an O.  Also, he must go between the legs at least one time.

I think he's about as trained on this as I feel like dealing with. 

Alan

[reen]

Wow.  It doesn't seem like May when I started teaching Oliver the figure 8.  The time has so flown by, so here's an update...

Four months later, he has progressed quite a bit in attitude, but for the actual trick, he still does repeated O's sometimes, so I've changed the standard for what he has to do to get food from me.  Now I have the option of feeding him without a correct figure 8 if he at least: goes around twice, either half of the 8 or all the way around in an O.  Also, he must go between the legs at least one time.

I think he's about as trained on this as I feel like dealing with. 

Alan

Good grief.  Was that back in May?  [Does anyone know what happened to June, July and August?]
I say good for Oliver!


reens

[Alan]

Well, Oliver still does kind of half-way figure 8's.

Today I took a video of him doing it.  The lighting is bad, but it gives you the idea:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPYWWI_NDlM

Alan

[Lana]

Cute...has more smarts than a lot of animals!

(and the kitty too...lol)

Just kidding!!!!

Lana

[ncjohn]

Hmmmm, seems like he needs to brush up on his numbers. 

Of course from that angle, instead of a figure eight it would have been a figure infinity.

smart a** in the mountains

[Alan]

Hmmmm, seems like he needs to brush up on his numbers. 

Of course from that angle, instead of a figure eight it would have been a figure infinity.

smart a** in the mountains

Yeah, that's why I made the concessions the if he makes a good go of it, he gets to eat.  He has to act like he has a Good Attitude, in that if he rubs a bit, then walks a couple steps toward his dish and meows, he doesn't get it.  He has to pretend he likes Doing It regardless of the food.  When he walks away, I walk away.

BTW, the performance on video was enough to get him fed.  I only feed him a tiny bit at a time because if I give him too much he gulps it and barfs -- once on a lace item that had been washed in in some famous fountain in the holy lands. 

Alan