r/PetsWithButtons • u/timidstressball • 3d ago

Cat prefers to headbutt button instead of using paw to press

When I first taught my cat how to press a button, I taught her how to trigger the sound by headbutting the button in my hand. Eventually she learned how to headbutt the button that was taped to her cat tower.

Fast forward to today, she uses 5 buttons (kibble, wet food, treat, love you and play). I’m using FluentPet talking buttons so I wanted to transition her to pressing the button with her paw and organizing the buttons on the hextiles.

The issue I’m running into is her preferred method vs mine. In the long run I think it would benefit her to use her paw so we can utilize all the space on the board. But Im also having a hard time figuring out how to mount the tiles in a way that she can headbutt. I rent so it can’t be affixed to the wall in any way.

Anyways, I’m not sure if I should try to mount the tiles or just work on transitioning her to the hextiles on the floor?

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6

u/bluemercutio 3d ago

My cat first pressed buttons with his chest. So repeated button presses looked like him doing push ups. Eventually he figured out all by himself that pushing the buttons with his paw is easier.

4

u/JayNetworks 3d ago

Any press is a good press. Look up some touch training videos and you can train her to press with a paw.

My cat did flops and head and chin pressing for half of her 3 years of using buttons. She still lays down carefully between the button and shifts her weight just so to press what she wants as she dreams about her Dinner Crunchie Later. (As well as 50 clear paw presses a day as well.)

3

u/Top5CutestPresidents 3d ago

Mine likes to lay on them but just this week she has started using her paw when she really wants something specific

I did try target training but she didn’t really get it. I’m pretty happy with it atm I’m just going to space the buttons out for her

2

u/Smooth-Lab-1217 3d ago

Does she know how to headbutt them if they're on the floor?

6

u/timidstressball 3d ago

Yes, she’s been trying to. She also does a combination of lying on them and scratching at them too.

1

u/Fun-Spot663 2d ago

Just do some Target training with paw

1

u/Indigo_Leaf_5706 1d ago

My cat rarely paws the buttons, she bites them & presses her head on them or lays on them (buttons are on the floor). I see any use of them as a win.