Certified cat behavior consultant Marilyn Krieger has some tips for teaching those shy shelter kitties how to turn on the charm when meeting new people.

We’ve all seen it: the cat hiding in back of her cage or behind the furniture in the adoption room, missing chance after chance to make a good impression on potential adopters. Certified cat behavior consultant Marilyn Krieger has some tips for teaching those shy kitties how to turn on the charm when meeting new people.

“What you want is for the cat to come forward instead of move away or into the back of the cage,” she said. “You should never, ever force the cat to interact. It won’t work. Instead, teach the cat that good things, wonderful things, happen when they come forward.”

1. Find out what motivates the cat. “Some cats are food motivated, and some, especially kittens, are play-motivated,” said Krieger.

2. Reward the cat for coming forward. “For a food-motivated cat, as soon as he looks up at you for whatever reason, toss a treat in front of him,” she said. “You want him to learn that whenever he comes forward, he’ll be rewarded.”

What about a play-motivated cat? “Get a toy like the original cat dancer, and play with it through the bars if the cat is in a cage,” she said. “When the cat is playing with the toy, gradually bring it a little forward, then give the cat a treat when she follows it. Always reinforce the cat for coming forward.”

3. Add a clicker. Although more commonly used with dogs, cats respond well to clicker training, says Krieger, who uses the technique extensively in her work with cats.

“With clicker training cats, you start out by using what’s called a ‘target.’ I like to use a pencil with an eraser tip, because when you put it through the bars or offer it to the cat, it’s so much like another cat’s nose they almost always extend their nose and touch it.

“That’s when you click your clicker, when the cat’s nose touches the target. Then you offer a treat, and then you repeat it over and over. That way, the cat learns that whenever she touches the target, she gets a treat.”

Once the cat is doing that reliably, you can start increasing the distance the cat has to come to reach the target, so the cat learns good things always happen when she moves forward toward people.

4. Play to an audience. Don’t restrict these play/training sessions to just one volunteer or staff member, Krieger cautioned. “You want to have different people doing this all the time, so the cat gets used to the idea that no matter who comes to the cage or into the adoption room, good things will happen if he comes forward.”

For more information on clicker training for cats:

Clicker training cats with Marilyn Krieger (Animal Planet video)

Using clicker training to stop unwanted behavior and strengthen the bond between you and your cat

The Cat Coach