Thread: Kitty learning timeline

Also how about a timeline for halter training and walking on a leash? Playing fetch?

I did these things with Oscar but can't remember how old he was. Buzz and Baxter are pretty good coming to their names (18 weeks) but not making a lot of progress with the halters. They are just starting to love playing hide and go seek.

Originally Posted by KimAZ

Also how about a timeline for halter training and walking on a leash? Playing fetch?

I did these things with Oscar but can't remember how old he was. Buzz and Baxter are pretty good coming to their names (18 weeks) but not making a lot of progress with the halters. They are just starting to love playing hide and go seek.

Your kitties started coming when called by name at 18 weeks?

Ours are going to be 2 and a half soon, and they very clearly do not know their names. :(

We brought Memphis home at 16 weeks and he would look at you and run toward you when his name was spoken at about 19 or 20 weeks. Bubbles was about 7 months when we brought her home. She had a different name already, but she slowly learned her new name over a few months...but she could already open cupboards from the outside and the inside (which caused us quite a fright on several occasions) when she came to us. :-) In all fairness, we had Memphis picked out at 6 weeks and named, so the breeder had been calling him by his name since then until he was old enough to be taken to our home.

I think name recognition is more difficult with two. Everyday for the last 5 or 6 weeks we have played "food chase" by sitting on the floor with a bowl of kibble . I then say one of their names. When the appropriate kitten looks, I again say the name and "go get it", while rolling the food across the floor for the kitty to chase. At first, both would go after the food but now each waits for his name (mostly - they are kittens after all and sometimes just can't resist something flying past no matter who is meant to have it). In the last few days when I call one of them to the kitchen, usually the right one shows up. Baxter is MUCH better at this than Buzz. I used to reward that with a treat (kibble) but now they seem to be happy with "good boy". They only seem to recognize their names when used alone so we always say the name first.

Whiskey learned his name within a month of being with us. He was 3 mos when we got him. He learned to use a pet door/flap within about 2 weeks of us training him. He learned "no" after us saying a few times. In a few months of being with us he learned "upstairs, downstairs, outside, & treat". He learned the harness after about 5 times & knows this is the way to the outside. When he sees the harness he will lay down for us to put it on him & to lay down for us to brush him after he comes back in. He doesn't know how to heel while on the harness. Recently we taught him to stay off the kitchen counters while we cook. He learned this in about 5 days too. He also just as quickly learned that he gets a treat when he's on the perch. We're trying to break that habit. He knows that the sink turns on water, so he'll chew on the stopper or the handle of the sink to let us know he wants a drink. He has learned that doing bad things gets a response from us. So he will meow to get our attention & then push the lamp over while we're watching. So these are our experiences with our kitty.

Atalanta and Persephone (Pea) are finally learning that they have names after being called "kittens" since they were tiny. They are now 7 months old and its really only in the last couple of weeks that they have been responding individually. Often, regardless of whose name is called, Willow comes running to see if there is any food being offered, she is such a gannet.

CatsMom... What harness does Whiskey like? I have a couple different ones including the Kitty Holster. I think it will be better when the boys are larger. The girth is a great fit but the harness is too long at the neck. When did you start training? I'm working on it now by putting the harnesses on for about 10 minutes and then removing them. They don't really complain but do squirm. I haven't taken them outside yet. Any tips? They are 18 weeks. Is it too early to work on this???

As I sit here watching the two of them play, biting, pulling out large tufts of fur that I hope is just ready to come out, I can only come to the conclusion that our children have some learning issues. lol.
I will have to see about trying some sort of food game, but I don't know that we'll keep Penny focused long enough to do something like that. We call her "ADD Kitty" for a reason. She is *so* easily distracted.
James on the other hand will just wander off, even if you are talking to him. Only way to hold is attention is a feather wand, at which point he is so focused he doesn't know anything else.

Originally Posted by KimAZ

CatsMom... What harness does Whiskey like? I have a couple different ones including the Kitty Holster. I think it will be better when the boys are larger. The girth is a great fit but the harness is too long at the neck. When did you start training? I'm working on it now by putting the harnesses on for about 10 minutes and then removing them. They don't really complain but do squirm. I haven't taken them outside yet. Any tips? They are 18 weeks. Is it too early to work on this???

KimAZ,
We didn't take Whiskey outside until he was 1 year old. Only for the fact that we got him in August and I wanted him to get to feel comfortable in our home first. Then winter came & I did't want him out in the cold. I got him the "Come With Me Kitty" Harness & Bungee Leash in the large size. I immediately put the harness on him after a bit of struggle. He wouldn't move while wearing it. So I lifted him up & carried him into the yard. He stood there for awhile and gingerly took a few steps. Then not moving much more, I carried him back into the house. So whenever he wanted to go out, I brought out the harness, put it on & carried him outside. He learned that wearing the harness meant going outside so he'd roll over for me to put it on him. I still carried him out. After a few days of walking around kinda hunched over, he got used to it. As I said before, he doesn't heel, we just follow him around. Good luck.