Bengals are extremely intelligent and very easy to train. Most people think that the cat’s unresponsive nature makes them untrainable. I disagree with this thinking because I know that Bengals can be motivated to obey. They can easily accomplish tricks and commands with the proper training. Kittens need and enjoy playing. So take this opportunity to train them.
It is important to have a trusting mother cat since the mother does the initial training. If you watch a mother cat with her kittens you can observe her methods of teaching. When she is licking her kitten and it starts to move away, she gently bites the kitten holding it where she wants it to stay. A mother cat will do this several times while cleaning her kitten. This is her way of saying STAY. It only takes a few times for the kitten to learn to be still.
I start working with my kittens when they are four to five weeks old. So when training my Bengal, STAY is one of my first commands. When you pick your kitten up and he is squirming, you say STAY. He might not get it at first, but just like his mother you continue to hold him and say STAY making him hold still. This is important if you want the kitten to stay in your lap or let you hold him.
All cats like to sit. So sitting is an easy command to learn. When I want them to sit and they are not obeying, I hold a toy above their heads until they sit down and I say SIT. After much repetition they get this command easily.
Once you have them sitting you ask them to SHAKE HANDS. The best way to teach them is to have their favorite toy or a snack in your hand. They will lift one paw and you praise them and give them what you have. This is also learned by repetition and an easy command.
All cats need to be stimulated; this is part of the learning process. Usually when training I use toys in order to make things fun for them. Obedience training is a great way to entertain your Bengal Kitten. There are a variety of ways to train your kitten depending on their age. What works when they are young gets boring as they mature. They constantly need new stimulation. Most important you have to make learning fun.
When kittens are six to eight weeks old, they develop their stalking and pouncing skills. They love chasing and grabbing anything that moves. I continue with the GET IT command and start teaching them the BRING IT command. Most cats will not bring the item back to you like a dog. So the easiest way to teach this is to attach a string or a ribbon to the toy and when they get it, tell them to BRING IT back. At first they will not understand so you will need to pull the string or ribbon with the toy back to you. While you are doing this you continue to say BRING IT. Eventually the Bengal catches on and will start to return items to you on command without the string.
When I start adding food to my Bengal kitten’s diet I say DINNER and sit the food down. The kittens learn this word very quickly and will be waiting for you at the dinner location when they hear the word DINNER.
I give my kittens snacks sometimes when training. Although, it is something my husband gives to them when he returns home from work. When you say SNACK they are patiently waiting to receive these wonderful morsel of turkey. They will even stand up on their hind legs like a dog and take them out of your fingers.
You need to remember that all animals want to please their owners. This is why it is our responsibility as parents to teach them what we want or expect from them. In training you have to be consistent and firm. Bengals are easy to train because they are smart and have a very good memory. Remember that kittens experience the same joys and excitement that you child does. They are constantly in need of new diversions. So be inventive and stimulate your Bengal. Make learning fun for you and your Bengal.