Meowllo and welcome to Service Cat Monday. On Monday’s we answer your training questions and tackle topics associated with Service Cats and their training. As with all our educational postys da followin’ will be in human English. And ifin you’ve missed any of da posts in this series purrlease click on da linkys at da bottom of this post. Ifin you have any questions purrlease leave them in da comments or email us via our contact page. Our post today is all ‘bout gettin’ emergency help to our disabled handler/mommy. Awnty Katie and Katie Kat of Katies Furry Mews asked, “How do you train a kitty to dial 911?” So let’s get right into it.
Mommy says, Purrlease remember, our training posts are not intended to be a complete blueprint for your training. These posts are merely tips and tricks mommy has developed over many years of animal training. Mommy adopts a positive method of training closest to the animals true nature. You must always be realistic in your expectations, and never ask more of any animal than said animal is capable of performing. Training is Consistency and Repetitive.
First up you’re gonna need some old fashioned supplies. Our training is ever evolving, but mommy still hasn’t figured out a way to train a cat to dial using a cell phone. If a cell phone is all you have and you’re not worried about being incapacitated, then you can train kitty to bring you the phone, but at this point and time, there’s no conceivable way to train a kitty to use a cell phone. For all of you who just said, “My cat plays games, or My cat can take a selfie, or I’ve seen lots of videos of cats playing with cell phones;” we would say, those phone are already unlocked and the app opened for them. So, you’re going to need a landline with at least basic local and 911 service. We have magic jack and pay one low rate each year for unlimited calling anywhere in the U.S. and Canada. The phone can be corded or cordless but should have a speaker phone feature. This is a typical feature on most phones these days. If you’re using a cordless phone, make sure to attach the belt clip to the phone so kitty will have something to pick the phone up with.
So you have your phone and are ready to train kitty. Make sure you have implemented the bonding exercise discussed in our Training Foundation post. You must make the phone fun for kitty. Use the speakerphone option when talking on it. Let kitty sniff and paw at the phone. Do Not let kitty chew on the cords. If there’s an answering machine, let it answer calls. All these things will cause kittys’ interest to be peaked. Once kitty is comfortable with the phone, you can begin training. First you’ll want kitty to turn on the speakerphone. Put kittys’ paw on the speakerphone button and gently press down while saying, “Call for help, or Emergency”. Repeat this step while gradually calling for kitty to come and press the speakerphone button even when kitty’s nowhere near the phone.
As me said, our training is always evolving; so mommy now uses a preset emergency button instead of the old dialing of 911. All phones allow numbers to be programmed in for the speed dial option. Mommy recommends using the number 1 spot for 911 programing. Typically all one needs to do to complete a speed dial call is to press the assigned number and the speakerphone button. So this step cuts down kitty having to learn 4 pushes to only 2. It’s easier for large pawed animals. It also lessens the chance of accidental number pushes by large paws. When you are ready to train kitty to dial 911, DISCONNECT the phone from the jack. It’s a crime to call 911 without having an actual emergency. And it takes away valuable time and resources from those who have an emergency. So let’s get on with it.
Gently push kittys’ paw on the number 1 and then speakerphone while saying, “Call help”. Repeat this step daily for 10 to 15 minutes in the morning and night. That means kitty will get two training sessions a day. Once kitty can successfully push the buttons by themselves, reprogram the number with a friend or family member who can assist you with the next step. Ask kitty to call for help. When your friend or family member answers the phone, they should say, “911 what’s your emergency.” This will get kitty used to having someone answer their call and let them know what they’ll be hearing. Since you are pre-programming the number, you can choose who your emergency contact is. You might prefer a family member over 911. Whoever your choice, just make sure the number is programmed in so that it’s easy for kitty to remember. Always reward kitty with lots of praise and extra love during training sessions.
When kitty proves to be consistent with their calling for help, check with your local dispatchers for a less busy and stressful time to actually call them so kitty can get the full experience. Check with your local phone company and/or emergency dispatchers to see if they can add instructions to your number for emergency dispatch. When our number comes up on 911 calls, it says to send an ambulance if there’s no response or just meows. Remember training is all about consistency and repetitiveness. Calling for help isn’t something kitty will have to do often, so you must maintain kittys knowledge and ability with continued training. And remember to always reward kitty with lots of praise and extra love during training. You’ve got to keep it fun and rewarding for kitty.
Well that’s it in a nut shell. How long it takes depends on your kitty and whether or not you are committed and consistent. And how successfully you implement mommys Training Foundations. We’re runnin’ outta questions to answer, so ask what you will and we’ll give it our bestest answer. Next week we’ll be dealin’ with our shower duties, so stay tuned. In da meantime, have a pawsum day.
Is there something specific you would like to train your kitty or doggy to do?
Would you want your kitty or doggy to answer the phone?
Till da next time……………………………………Be Blest!!!
Service Cats U.S. 
Wow, we didn’t realize that you could train kitties to do that~
Emma and Buster
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Yep, we kitties are purretty smart. It just takes time, patience and consistency.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
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Reblogged this on Jeanne Foguth's Blog.
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Fank you.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
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We’ve used Magic Jack for years and love it, but I’ve never thought about preprogramming numbers.
I’ve seen emergency call buttons advertised and it seems to me that something like that would be easy for a kitty. Do you happen to know if those things actually work and/or if they are affordable?
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Ifin you’re talkin’ ’bout da I’ve fallen and can’t get up buttons, then yes, they do work, but they connect you to a service. In your home is a speaker box dat they holler at you from and ifin you don’t respond they call your emergency contact. Mommy wouldn’t have one, but they are great fur those who need them. It’s good to find another happy magic jack user. 🙂
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
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We’ve used Magic Jack for years – it even worked when we were overseas.
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Mommy says it’s great and even more reliable than da fone company ’round here. But back when she furst started usin’ it she heard from some peeps dat it was pawful. We just don’t know dat many peeps dat actually use it.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
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When we lived overseas, a lot of expats used it – they still do. I don’t know how many use it here, in the actual US.
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Dat’s really cool to know. We think ifin more peeps knew how good it actually was they’d use it more. ‘Course, they purrobably can’t afford it cuz of their cell fones. MOL
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
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We have a Republic Wireless cell phone (it works off wi-fi signals as well as Sprint towers, so we can use that overseas, too) The actual phone cost about 150 and then you can choose your plan – we pay $10+ tax each month for unlimited calls and texting. You can get plans through them for complete internet, etc. and you can change – or cancel – your plan at any time without penalties.
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Dat’s innerestin’. We’ve never heard of a Republic cell fone, but mommy’s not really up on cells. Dat’s a good purrice tho’, cuz most peeps ’round here are payin’ $100.00 + a month fur cell service. Mommy just has a old tracfone da she uses.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
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We got our cell a few years ago because of the dual-link (tower + wifi) capabilities. The value was a bonus. I just checked their website ( https://republicwireless.com/cell-phone-plans/ ) and realized their plans now start at $15/month for unlimited text, talk and wifi data & go up to $60/month for 6 GB to be added to that…. I have no idea what 6 GB might be, so figure I don’t need it.
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Yeah mommy checked da site too, but da fones are sooooo spensive. Fanks fur da info. tho’.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
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Yes, the phones are expensive, but not as pricy as the name brands and I like the fact that I’m not tied into a contract.
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Yeah, we don’t really know what name brand fones are or how much they cost. We don’t really live under a rock, it’s just when ya’ can’t afford to buy things you don’t think ’bout them or pay attention to them. Mommy couldn’t afford to buy a fone fur $10.00 much less hundreds. So dat was quite a sticker shock when we looked at da site. Mommy’s old tracfone was given to her in exchange fur a haircut. (She was a cosmetologists). And long ago when she activated it, befur we got our catputer, she used her grocery money to buy da minutes to activate. But now her grocery money goes to pay fur da catputer. And well, things have gone up a lot since then, so even when we furinally pay off da catputer, da money will still go to bills stead of grocaries, cuz dat’s where we need it.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
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Wow….that’s pretty amazing!
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This is pretty amazing. Thanks for sharing.
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What happens if there is a power cut and the kitties need to call 911? If there is no electricity, the speaker-phone function doesn’t work.
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Well we’ll just have to hope it’s not needed. Altho’ da kitties can still call fur help even without da speakerphone. We don’t live in areas dat are plagued by power outtages, but we’ve been trained to push either da speaker phone or talk button till we can hear a dial tone. Altho’ most fones other than cell fones don’t work during power outtages. Mommy says ifin we ever had to go fur extended periods without ‘lectricity she would have to find an alternative method of callin’ fur help, but doesn’t find it necessary at this time.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
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Excellent post and right on about never asking more of your fur kid then they are capable of doing. The photos today are precious and priceless. Those eyes = magnificent! ❤
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Fank you. We offen find peeps want their anipal to do somethin’ totally ridiculous. Sometimes we just don’t know what peeps are thinkin’. Big hugs to all of ya’.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
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Cats are the smartest beings in the universe, in my book!
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Hi, This is such an amazing insight for me. I never understood, through my ignorance, the help a service cat could bring. Thank you for enlightening me. There is so much training and a fabulous bond to be created. Besides having two marvelous companions, you have such a valuable support mechanism from them being there. Thank you again, I shall look forwards to more insights and advice, and do a bit of back reading. purrs Erin & peep.
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Fank you Erin and your peep. Ifin ya’ have any specific questions purrlease let us know, We’ve come to take our duties and services fur granted a lot and furget what others might be innerested in.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
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Wow, kitties are amazing, I imagine a 911 dispatcher hearing meows can hardly believe their ears!
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You might be surprised Pete. 🙂
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
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