The Temperament for Training a Cat

There are many factors to consider in determining your cat's trainability:

Curiosity and Playfulness:
A cat or kitten that is bright, alert and curious will be ideal for training. The cat should berelaxed in your company.

Independence:
Do not worry if your cat shows some degree of independence. A cat's ability to amuse himself can be used to your advantage when training.

Affection:
All domestic cats, providing they have been socialized from an early age, have a natural empathy with people, although this markedly differs according to circumstances and environment.

Shyness versus Friendliness:
If you placed these two characteristics at opposite ends on a horizontal scale, you might think that you should naturally pick the most friendly cat or kitten. In most cases, this selection may prove to be the best one and you can get him to perform tricks in front of your friends, but the shy cat may still have training potential. Once he gets to know you and trusts you, it is very likely that he will be loyal and loving. It is quite likely that his devotion will make him extra responsive to your training efforts besides bringing him out of himself.

Age:
The age of your cat or kitten does have some bearing on his aptitude for training. Basically, you should not choose a cat that is too young or too old, although there are always exceptions to the rule.

Sex:
Gender is not important in choosing your trainee. Both make and female kittens, providing they are neutered, will turn into well-adjusted adults. Both sexes can be trained; one being no better than the other. However, you would probably find difficulties in training an unneutered stud cat. Breeding queens have strong, mothering, protective instincts that may get in the way of training.

Health:
A healthy cat is a happy cat, and it is essential for your cat to be in good physical condition before you proceed with any form of training.