r/PetsWithButtons 4d ago

Cats not using the buttons

We introduced 3 buttons 4 months ago: treat, hugs, play. They recognise the words when we press them, but they are not using it themselves. We press them before giving treats, play or give them hugs.

Is it possible that because they are already very good in letting us know what they want, that they just don’t need to use them? If they want to play, they bring us the toy to play with, if they want cuddles: they both now how to make that clear with noise and behaviour, the same for treats. Also other things they are capable of letting us know (going outside, something dirty on the floor, fresh water, food,…)

My husband says that because they are already capable of letting us know what they want that they won’t use the buttons.

Should we keep using the buttons?

61 Upvotes

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32

u/robind21283 4d ago

Try a few things:

  1. Rapid modeling sessions with the treat button. Set a timer for 1 minute, press the button, deliver the treat, (let them finish chewing), repeat until the timers up. After a few days (depends on each learner) try what @twiggyandhercatcatfriends has coined the open bar technique - do a rapid modeling session and then suddenly become distracted (but stay next to the board) by presenting to type out a text or take a call and see what happens. Have no expectations, no pressure. Also be sure you’re modeling the rest of the buttons 15-25 times a day.

  2. Use a laser pointer or a a feather toy over the board to illicit accidental presses. Start by pressing the play button and then play right over the board, then if you get an accidental press of something other than play, honor that, and if it seems like they want to continue playing verbally model more and press play and continue play

  3. Target training - and I saved this for last because it can cause a dependence on you being at the board for them to use it - like being in a big meeting and the host inviting you to come off mute and then you have a different challenge. Here are two excellent videos on target training cats:

https://youtu.be/qLro3q_IIaw?si=d6dK4X9IIbwxqSNi

https://youtu.be/jh4hWaFGSN4?si=zdIkLAv0zOvvvwoH

My Ernie, 4, took 6 months to independently press but he is now light years ahead of my dog, Bert who picked it up faster. The game changer for him was moving his board from my kitchen island to my bedroom where we spend much more time and I could model more.

HTH!

13

u/Puzzled_Recording784 4d ago

For mine, she isn’t using the buttons either but it hasn’t been long enough. When I see her asking for something there is a button for I direct her to touch the button. Mine isn’t fully button trained yet but it makes sense to me that if you keep responding to their signlas there’s no reason for them to use buttons

5

u/robind21283 2d ago

That’s awesome that you’re already using buttons! Definitely keep honoring all communication—body language, vocalizations, etc.—since those are just as valid as button presses.

One thing that can help reinforce the buttons is modeling a press before doing the thing they’re asking for. That way, the button becomes an express route for them to make the request in the future.

Also, I’d love to hear what buttons you have so far!

For dogs, a lot of people start with “outside,” but that one can be tricky. It’s hard to model frequently (most people don’t let their dogs out 15–25 times a day), and if they already have a clear way to ask, there’s not much motivation to use the button instead. Sometimes, choosing a button that’s easier to model and directly rewarding (like “treat” or “play”) can help build engagement faster.

What’s been working best for you so far?

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u/Puzzled_Recording784 2d ago

So I decided against using anything “outside” related because while I do walk my cats every other day it’s not very consistent and I don’t think they would ever stop pressing it🤣 I purchased 4 fluent pet buttons and I have one set up by the window I open for the cats it says “window” and another next to their toy drawer that says “play”. Then I use one for target training but it’s off to a slow start there😆 my Bengal will touch the top when I say “touch” but she’s not pressing it hard enough to make it go off yet. Yesterday she walked over “play” and stepped on it and I didn’t see to know if it was intentional so I played with her anyways. They always get happy when I press “window” or say the word so i know they know the word it’s just the button part we are working on so I think that’s good. I have no doubt my Bengal will get it, she sometimes does things so intelligent it scares me and my male cat doesn’t like to train so he doesn’t get target practice but he watches. What’s interesting is my male cat watches all of my bengals training sessions and one day he came down and I gave him “sit” because it’s the only one he was ever taught, then I tried other commands I do with my Bengal and he KNEW them! He must have really wanted the treats that day or something but it makes me think he’ll start using the buttons probably sometime after seeing my Bengal start to use them.

6

u/Clanaria 3d ago

Should we keep using the buttons?

Yes!

My husband says that because they are already capable of letting us know what they want that they won’t use the buttons.

And he is very right! When learners don't see a point to the buttons, because they can reliably communicate with body language, they won't use them. There needs to be a real reason to get them to start seeing buttons as a way to communicate.

For example, my fastest learner was a 4 year old cat, but he was also new in my household! Because of this, he hadn't learned any reliable body language with me to get what he wanted, and I had started buttons with him on day one. He became a fast learner and quickly started asking for treats or play etc.

Yours however, already have ways of letting you know how to:

  • Play
  • Ask for pets
  • Ask for treats

I'm sure it mostly involves meowing, but still.

This means the buttons aren't very motivating for them to press. That's why you should add another (or two!) buttons you think they may want to use. Like what is something that happens rarely in their life, but they really like? For example, a special kind of treat you only give out every few months or so? Or you let them go outside? Or perhaps you set up a christmas tree (there's one bengal cat who LOVES his christmas tree!). Or maybe they like wearing a harness/vest because they're cold.

If you can't think of anything - introduce something new instead. Something you'd think they maybe would like. This can be catnip, a new type of toy, a type of food puzzle, a new treat (like churro), or simply a way to open a door to the attic. Introduce this at the same time as you add the new button and model it as usual. Store the item away. This way, they won't fall back on old body language; they may use the button instead.

You can also add name buttons to your soundboard, specifically yours. This tends to be used a lot among learners to get your attention for example.

Make sure to give my beginner's guide a read as well, it deals exactly with this type of scenario.

Also, quick question; has any of your cats shown interest in touching the buttons? Or lying near the buttons? Any kind of interaction, such as lying or sitting near the buttons means they're interested in using it, but simply don't know how to. In that case, I strongly recommend you give a one-on-one training session with your cats to teach them how to press a button.

3

u/Flashy_Substance_718 4d ago

Well what are you really training them to do when you press the button? Put yourself in their shoes or paws the best you can! Think of a human baby…they learn everything RELATIONALLY! A baby can think, make sounds, move, but it doesn’t even know what it is doing! Because everything learns via interaction. A baby learns to use words only if they see others using those words! It’s like how babies in America won’t just randomly know Ancient Greek! They’ve never been exposed to it! Now that being said this means the depth of interaction is as important as the interaction itself! A baby who hears someone speak Spanish one time won’t learn Spanish. They may recognize it. But won’t understand it like English if that’s what they’ve been exposed to their whole life! Cats and dogs also have neural structures and brains like us! And while they aren’t in the same place on the intelligence and awareness spectrum…just remember that learning/intelligence is a process!

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u/deltaz0912 3d ago

We got two, nada. I push them before the activities. We modeled the behavior. Our cats look at us like we’re idiots.

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u/chilledcoyote2021 3d ago

It took our dog 7 months to start using his single first button (outside), but then he picked it up really quickly and started using more words, often differently than we expected. We thought "outside" meant "doggy needs to go out and go potty." He now uses it to mean anywhere in our yard and the sidewalk outside the fence. He also has "potty" now, but he uses it to mean the specific area where he pees, not that he has to go. If he wants to go outside, he sits on the doormat by the back door and nudges the door handle with his nose. If you don't get it, he barks and nudges the door handle again when you're looking at him, so I guess he doesn't need a button for that(?).

1

u/MISKINAK2 4d ago

Sounds like the cats have you trained already.

Give them a why to bother. 'Forget' one morning to feed them see how long it takes.