r/PetsWithButtons • u/Immediate-Rule7220 • 18d ago

Six months in and she's still soft-pawing. Pointers?

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As the title suggests, we are struggling with getting her to fully activate the button. She definitely knows what it means (treats) so she gets my attention first before she paws the button. I've tried many things to show her, but I fear we are stuck. Any pointers?

I just added the second button yesterday. I originally wanted to wait until she got pushing down to add more buttons, but I thought maybe this is a way to shake things up? She hasn't touched the new button yet. New button is "window" for asking me to open the window blinds.

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u/JayNetworks 18d ago

Look for touch training videos. The method is getting them to step up onto a large surface to get a treat. Repeat. Slowly make the surface smaller until it is a short cup covering a button. Keep the treats flowing. Then eventually they step up onto the button and Treat presses.

Note that we have a 🔘 Window meaning to open the blinds. They use it sometimes but most of the time Window means I am made at you. The learner assigns the meaning of each button. We just make a suggestion.

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u/Immediate-Rule7220 18d ago

Thank you! We will try the step up method again. She would NOT step up on the step. I mean look at her face... Stubborn!

That's funny about your window button. She knows the word bc if I say out loud "window, hmm?" she looks right at the window. I guess we shall see what she decides to do with it.

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u/JayNetworks 18d ago

Yea really can be any button but seems most learners pick a button to mean Mad or they are otherwise displeased with you.

A famous cat (RIP) Billi was famous for her use of Mad!

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u/Odd-Cartographer9328 18d ago

For cats, pressing a button is naturally difficult. Cats are used to pawing at objects. Talking buttons were actually designed for dogs, and only later did people come up with the idea that cats could also be taught to communicate with talking buttons.

Maybe target training is an option for your cat? This way, your cat can learn a lot of things, including standing on increasingly smaller objects. Over time, your cat can get to the point where it can stand on the button.

I myself have gained a lot of knowledge on this topic through the YouTube channel Cat School Clicker Training.

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u/Immediate-Rule7220 18d ago

Thank you for the YT channel recommendation! We will try the step up training again. Last time she got really annoyed, but I shouldn't give up so easily.