| Cats Learning from Mistakes |
| Dear Deborah: Charlie, our two year old cat, has been hit by a car not once but twice! Is he stupid? Don't cats learn from their mistakes? Bad Luck Charlie |
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Dear Bad Luck Charlie: Is Charlie stupid? He may
have sustained head injuries and possible brain damage in one or both of
his car accidents. Then again, he may be a clever cat with no
memory of the car accidents because of the trauma and shock that
resulted. Test Charlie's brain power yourself. First, figure out what will work as bait. For my cats, catnip, cat toys and dried minnows work. Then, set up an obstacle for him to work toward overcoming. Start by feeding him the reward or presenting him with a toy. Then let him see you hide it under a large towel. See how long it takes him to retrieve it. Next, do the same test without him seeing you hide the reward. Observe his ability to overcome different obstacles and his ability to remember the trick after he's successfully overcome the obstacle. Do cats learn from their mistakes? Yes. All animals learn from their environments and through trial and error. Just think of how quickly your cat can learn a new bad habit from a house guest who breaks the rules and feeds at the table. |
| For more tips, get Deborah's
book, Good Dog! from your local book store. Deborah also writes for the Family Dog Magazine. Available at Save-On Foods, London Drugs, and in Free boxes everywhere. Send your pet questions to: Fax 604- 732-2088 |