Dezi laying in cat tree in new harness

#Service Cats: Explaining Rewards and How Kitty Feels About Training

Published on February 6, 2017 by Service Cats U.S.65 Comments

Meow Me would like to fank you all fur your unnerstandin’. Even tho’ Buddy wasn’t ours, we luvved him. After all, mommy had helped take care of him since he came to live with mr. W 7 years ago. Anyways, we know you all came by today fur Service Cat Monday. We’ve got some great questions to talk ‘bout and answer today. ‘Member, ifin ya’ have questions, purrlease leave them in the comments or send us an email. We do our bestest to answer them all in a timely manner. Ifin you’ve missed any of the posts in this series, you can ketch up by clickin’ the links at the bottom of this post. We need to tell ya’, our Service cat posts are not meant to be a trainin’ manual as trainin’ is all ‘bout repetition and reward. Our tips are tailored specifically to kitties, but they also work well with dogs. And, as with all our educational postys, the followin’ will be written in human English fur reader and translation ease. So, let’s get started.

Our first question comes from those amazing Canadian Meezers Shoko and Kali and awnty Jean. They want to know how Raena acts after a training session. Does she want to continue/more training? Is she proud of herself? Is she happy it’s over? Remember, all training sessions should be kept short, fifteen to twenty minutes maximum. We’ve mentioned in several posts that training is serious business, but it should also be fun. And we’ve posted a few stories about our training adventures that shows just how much fun they can be. The goal is for kitty to learn something. It doesn’t have to be the exact task you’re training the fist time, but at least a part of it.

I’s struttin’ mines stuff all the time.

As you know, mommy is starting Raena’s wheelchair driving training. The first complete task would be to be comfortable with the control panel and power the chair on and off. No actual driving or biting of the joystick. So, mommy takes Raena’s fascination with the horn as a win. It shows she’s comfortable with the beeping and if it accidentally gets hit while driving, it won’t startle her and cause her to try to jump off the moving chair. Mommy says it’s always better to stop a training exercise while kitty is still interested. As with anything else, you want kitty to look forward to training the next time. If kitty is hiding, or running from you at training time, you’ve pushed them too far. You can recover from this. Pick a new task and start as if it were the very first time. You can come back to the previous task when kitty/doggy has learned that training is fun. Speak excitedly and expectantly. Use your baby voice. Whatever gets your kitty excited and eager to spend time with you. That brings us to our next question. But we do want to give Raena’s take on how she feels after a training session first.

I’s luvs gettin’ mommy luvvin’.

I’s always excited at the end of a training session. I’s could continue but mommy says we’re all done. Mommy also says that I always sashay around and strut my stuff, so she can’t be sure if I feel proud of myself or am just walking normally. I’s always follow mommy and ask to sit in her lap and get some more loving when training is over. She’s always happy to oblige.

Me luvs mommy luvvin’ too.

Thanks Raena. Now that everybody’s confused…Me acted and acts pretty much the same way. Remember, training is continual and repetitive. Mes sessions are refreshers. And mommy counts anytime me actually performs a task as a training session. So to answer the question about how a kitty (Raena) acts after a training session is: If it’s been done right, kitty will probably exhibit one or more of those emotions. Always stop a session while kitty is still engaged and eager.

Extra luvvin’ leads to this. No trainin’ session happenin’ now.

The next question we got was from awnty Victoria. She wanted to know more about the reward system mommy uses. Mommy prefers praise and love instead of treats. Mommy talks a lot during training sessions. It’s not all telling us what to do, but also telling us that she loves us, she’s proud of us, we’re so smart, she’s so blest, and so on. The tone of praise is gentle, affectionate and almost giddy. The tone used to instruct us is stern but gentle. So, even if you don’t believe we understand the words, we do understand the difference in the tone of voice. Altho’, mommy would argue with you over the fact that we do indeed understand what she is saying.

Rewards also include pats, hugs and kisses. Reward time doesn’t last long. The training session is only fifteen to twenty minutes long, so you need kitty to stay focused. For example, Raena pushes the power button or horn and doesn’t move away. Success. Mommy would say, “Oh Raena, you’re so smart,” and bend into her for a quick hug, and then it’s back to training. And remember, when using love as a reward, Do Not give love during the actual sessions unless kitty/doggy has performed the task correctly. We told you that mommy uses a hand to hold/stabilize us while driving the wheelchair. As tempting as it may be to rub kitty, Do Not! Kitty must not relax into a love session. There’s plenty of time for that later. You know your kitty/doggy best, so you know what kind of love they prefer. If your kitty doesn’t like to be patted on or near the tail, don’t do it. You want kitty/doggy to feel rewarded and not agitated. And Play time has no place during training. Unless you are training kitty/doggy to fetch a toy. Play time is not a “love” reward.

You might consider us bringing mommy the phone or other items a game of fetch; but it is not. Typically a game of fetch entails the human throwing something for kitty/doggy to run after, pick up and bring back. Mommy isn’t throwing the phone, food or anything else. We are learning to bring mommy something from a stationary position. Awnty Victoria had asked how long the loving reward should last, as her kitty gets frustrated after being petted for long periods. This is pretty typical behavior in most cats. Kitties typically warn you by a quick flicking/swooshing of the tail. If this is happening, your reward is lasting too long. Remember, rewards should be quick and only offered when kitty has performed at least some part of the task correctly. There’s plenty of time for extra loving before or after a training session.

Well, we hope this post helps you understand the “Love Reward” system a bit better. Again, if you have any questions, please leave them in the comments or send us an email. We hope to be a bit busy today with mommy’s worker, so we’ll be ‘round to visit when we can.

Do you (your cat/dog) have a favorite love reward?

Have you trained (your cat/dog/human) to perform any specific task (other than feed me now-MOL)?

Till the next time……………………………………….Be Blest!!!

Dezi: Vibrant Blue

Raena: Navy Blue

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses

Deztinee and RaenaBelle

Service Cats

What to Look For Training Foundations Train Kitty to Massage

Smelling Disease Do You Need One Who Bears the Cost

Housing Laws and Exceptions Accommodations and Common sense

When the Handler Dies Proper Training Methods Pt. 1 & Pt. 2

Easiest Task to Train Getting Kitty Ready for an Outing

Discipline: Stop Countersurfing Kitty Internal Disputes

Calling Emergency Help Just What is Kitty Capable Of

Shad: Original Service Cat Harness or Vest Leash or Stroller

Dezi the Wheelchair and the Chest Round and Round We Go

Tumble and Fall Response Raena Calls for Help

The Rest of the Story Raena and the Wheelchair Pt. 1

When to Train

Dezi sits on scratcher

Blest Sunday: Preparing For the Future

Published on February 5, 2017 by Service Cats U.S.58 Comments

(It’s Caturday and mommy seems upset. She’s in and out and on the phone a lot. Finally she settles down and both girls check on her and offer purrs)

What’s goin’ on mommy? Why did you go up to mr. W’s house? Is Buddy okay?

No baby, nothing’s okay.

What happened mommy? Why were there so many peeps outside and all those big trucks with flashin’ lights?

Oh girls, mr. W died sometime last night. All those flashing lights were the ambulance, police, fire trucks and coroner. They came to take mr. W away for the last time.

Our furiend Buddy.

Where’s Buddy? What happened to Buddy mommy?

That’s what I was trying to find out girls.

He must’a been so scared with all that commotion and all those peeps. He’s not very furiendly to begin with. And loud noises really scare him. And he’s mean to peeps he knows, I’s can only ‘magine how he’d be with all those strangers.

Yes, Raena, you’re right about all those things. I’m upset, because they called our local pound to come and catch him and take him away. I know we can’t keep him, and he probably wouldn’t be able to be rehomed. But at least he could have been with someone familiar who cared about him at the end.

Did Buddy go to heaven with sis Lexi?

Yes baby, he did. They declared him feral cuz of the way he was acting and shot him. Sometimes I hate our town and these back water people and their attitudes towards animals. Mr. W’s family didn’t wanna bother with Buddy, and he hadn’t put anything in writing stating his wishes or naming a person to make those decisions. It’s so frustrating when people don’t think about their pets and what will happen to that pet if they die or can no longer take care of them. And of course, this all hit me pretty hard. I do have a plan in place for ya’ll, but the person that was supposed to take care of it, recently died as well. I’m having trouble finding someone to replace them. But don’t you girls worry about that, I’ll get it worked out.

Well then mommy, that just means you can’t leave us.

Me agrees with Raena mommy. You’ll just have to stay right here with us.

I want nothing more girls. We are so blest to have each other.

You got that right mommy. Me might hiss and growl at Raena every now and then, but me is glad she’s here. Pest or not, me does luv her.

Fanky fanks sissy. I’s luvs you too. We are a very blest furmily to have so much luvs.

Yep Raena, we are. And we have so many pawsum furiends. What happened with Buddy is pawful, but it happens every day. Ifin we could urge you to do one thing, it would be to make purrpurrations fur your furry furmily members befur it’s too late. We are all blest to have so much, but none of us are guaranteed a tomorrow. This discussion may not be the most pawpular, or cheeriest discussion you could have, but it’s one of the most luvvin’ conversations you can have. Whether you’ve spent one day or ten plus years with you furry furmily member, purrparin’ fur their future, whatever that might be, is just as luvvin’ and purrtant as puttin’ fresh food and water down every day.

On another note, would like say fank you to those who have donated to mommy’s dental fundraiser. We’re still a long ways from the goal, but we’re purrayin’ and believin’ that mommy can hold out till we can get enuff to at least get rid of the teeth causin’ so much pain and infection. We purray the infection doesn’t spread and get outta control befur that happens. Ifin you would like to help us, you can donate directly to our PayPal usin’ our email address: lexi.dezi@yahoo.com or by clickin’ here to donate thru the fundraiser.

We also wanna say fanky fank you all fur bein’ our furiends. Each day when we purray fur all of you, our hearts swell with joy. Just a few short years ago, we could have never ‘magined bein’ so blest with so many wonderful and caring furiends. We might not have anypawdy local that cares ‘bout us, but we do have all of you. Mommy says any time we don’t post on one of our regular days, there’s been an email or two from one or more of you checkin’ in on us.

That’s right Raena. We do have the bestest furiends in the universe. Each of us are blest. Sometimes ya’ just gotta stop a minute and see ‘em. So we’re remindin’ ya’ to take a minute today and everyday to give thanks fur the blessings in your lives. We’re also joinin’ the Kitties Blue fur Sunday Selfies. And don’t furget to join us tomorrow fur Service Cat Monday. We got some great questions to answer. Me almost furgot; after our last posty, somepawdy asked how high our ceilings are. We looked at the buildin’ plans and then mommy measured as good as she could cuz there was a little confusion ’bout the plans. Anyways, our ceiling’s be ’bout 12-14 feet high. Yep, Raena is a long tall kitty girl.

Till the next time………………………………………Be Blest!!!

Have you (your human) made preparations for your (you/pet) in the event they outlive you?

If so, is it in writing or a verbal agreement?

Do you think it’s important to have it in writing?

Dezi: Vibrant Blue

Raena: Navy Blue

Mommy A: Black

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses

Deztinee and RaenaBelle

Raena lays on top of the Liberty Cat Tree

How High Can Cats Jump

Published on February 3, 2017 by Service Cats U.S.41 Comments

Hey, is anypawdy out there? It’s me, RaenaBelle. I’s got so much to tell ya’, I’s don’t even know where to start.

Calm down Raena. Ya’ don’t have to say everythin’ today.

But Dezi, I’s wanna tell everypawdy ‘bout mommy’s helper and mines new game. Mommy says she’s so purroud of me.

What? Me thinks you’ve got things mixed up Raena. Mommy’s purroud of how your trainin’ is goin’, not your new game.

Oh Dezi, just cuz she doesn’t say it doesn’t mean she ain’t purroud of me. Did you see her face this meownin’ when I’s jump straight up in da air and hit da ceilin’?

Yep Raena, me saw it. And ifin you think that was purride, you hit your head too hard. Cuz that’s what mommy was thinkin’. You know how much she worries ‘bout us. And every time you go slidin’ across the floor and hit the wall, mommy cringes. When she picks you up and starts rubbin’ ya’ all over, it ain’t luv rubs Raena, she’s checkin’ fur broken bones.

Oh sissy, you’re such a furry fuddy duddy. I’s bet you played the slide game too when you were little.

That’s the thing Raena, you ain’t “little” anymore. And when you hit the walls, it makes a really loud thud. Just like when you jumped up this meownin’ and hit your head on the ceilin’. Ya’ know, scrunchin’ yourself up into a ball and jumpin’ straight up in the air might be amazin’, but what’s the purrpuss? What are you tryin’ to do?

I’s just havin’ fun sissy. Ya’ know, I’s looked it up, and us kitties are said to be able to jump, 6 to 7 times our body length. That would mean I’s could jump higher than our ceilin’; but cuz it’s there, I’s’ll never really know. I’s was knockin’ the magnets off the fridge, but mommy didn’t seem to like that much. So I’s just decided to see how high I’s could jump.

Well, now ya’ know. You’re not a jack in the box, and mommy hates it when you hit your head, so ya’ reckon you can stop now?

I’s don’t know sissy, it’s so much fun. And no, there’s no fotos yet. Mommy worries too much to think ’bout gettin’ the camera. Anyways, I’s wanna tell everypawdy ‘bout mommy’s helper. Furst, we all wanna say fanky fank ya’ fur all your purrayers and good thoughts. But we did get a little giggle when we would read your comments ‘bout our helper. Ya’ might not have noticed, but when we talked ‘bout ‘em, we used words like, helper, worker, they, them, and so on. Most all of ya’ referred to them as she, her, lady and such.

You’re doin’ a good job O. Need some help?

Well, the worker mommy hired is a him. Yep, we’ll just call him O. He’s a young’un at 20 years old. But he has a 3 year old son and girly furiend that he lives with. He has Rotty doggies what just had puppies. Yeah, we’re gonna have to work on that one. I’s got good vibes the day he came out and applied fur the job. Sis Dezi didn’t really meet him that day, she was nappin’. But she met him the day he started workin’ fur us.

Me thought O seemed like a purretty nice young man too. He doesn’t know a lot ‘bout kitties, but he seems to like us too. We told ya’ how pawsumly he cleaned our Liberty cat tree. And the next work day he got all the tracked litter cleaned up in the pawdee box room. The whole pawdee box room got a spic and span shine cleanin’. Me was so impurressed me had to go and check it out. He didn’t seem to mind me checkin’ his work and layin’ in the fureshly cleaned sink, so that’s a good start.

Wha’cha’ doin’? I’s can dust too.

I’s didn’t wait till he was finished sissy. I’s followed him ‘round, just in case he might need some help. We had a blast yesfurday playin’ in the boxes. He was doin’ some dustin’ and tossin’ old magazines and I’s was jumpin’ from pile to pile to pile and box to trash box. I’s made sure none of our toys got thrown in the trash box by mistake. All in all, we really like him and hope it works out and he keeps comin’ to work. But he was a little upset when he left yesfurday cuz he doesn’t really unnerstand the pay schedule.

I’s think ya’ missed a spot. I’s gettin’ purretty tired now, ya’ reckon

you’re gonna need mines help?

He’ll get paid every two weeks. His furst day was actually the day the time period ended, so his furst check’s gonna be fur one day of work. The next time period will be fur the full two weeks and so on. Fur some reason, he seems to think he’s gonna work fur a whole month and a half befur he ever gets a check. We tried to ‘splain that’s not true, but he was confused and sure it is. It’s been so long since mommy worked, she doesn’t recall the specifics, so ifin anypawdy can ‘splain it better shoot us an email. In da meantime, help us purray that he doesn’t give up and quit.

I’s just gonna close mines eyes fur a bit O. Ifin ya’ need

mines help, just holler.

Mommy says young’uns aren’t taught job hunting skills and pay rates and time tables anymore. They get thrown in to the work force with very little knowledge of how it all works. They’re so used to immediate gratification, that they get easily frustrated. It’s unfurtunate that kids today don’t know how to dress fur interviews, write resumes and be respawnsible and reliable. Mommy ‘members a time when she was applyin’ fur a waitressin’ job. She showed up in a purrfessional skirt and top, resume’ in hand. The manager was so impurressed, he gave mommy the assistant managers job instead. She wasn’t qualified at that time, but she quickly learned. And she got that oppurrtunity cuz she had been taught job huntin’ skills in high school. Anyways, we hope it works out with O, cuz we do really like him; and we’ve got an inspection comin’ up next week.

I’s gonna wrap it up now, and go play. We’re joinin’ Rascal and Rocco and their pawsum co-hosts fur the weekly Pet Parade. We hope you all have a pawsum weekend.

Till the next time……………………………………..Be Blest!!!

Luvs and Hugs and Kitty Kisses

RaenaBelle and Deztinee

Raena watches worker clean the cat tree

Mewsy Wednesday

Published on February 1, 2017 by Service Cats U.S.38 Comments

Meow mommy. Me luvs you verrrrry much.

I love you to baby. Are you ready to write your post?

It’s hard to tell, but the indicator lights are lit up sayin’ to add

water and nutrients. It’s really cool.

Me sure is. Me has so much to tell everypawdy. Furst up is our pawsum AeroGarden. The dill is really getting’ big, altho’ you did furget to take fotos. And you even used some of that fresh basil in your pasta gravy the other day. Was it good mommy?

It sure was Dezi. And it was so cool to be able to just pinch off what I needed and have it keep on growing. I can’t wait to be eatin’ salads.

Is that what you planted when you cleaned out the AeroGarden earlier this week?

Yes it is honey. I potted up the basil and dill and put in our lettuce pods. According to the instruction sheet I should be able to start eating salads in about three to four weeks.

Me can’t wait to see it mommy. How are you gonna keep sis Raena out of it?

Well Dezi, I hope at this point, the new has worn off for both of you and ya’ll will let my lettuce grow without bothering it.

Me? Me didn’t take off with the pod caps or try to pull the pods out of the base; that was all Raena’s doin’.

Yes honey, I know. But you had your turn at it too. Don’t blame everything on your sisfur.

You tell her mommy. At least I’s didn’t try to eat it all up.

(Dezi glares at Raena) Me didn’t try to eat it all up. You take that back!!!

Now girls, let’s not fight. Peace and love. Remember, peace and love are better than sour pusses. Neither of you hurt the garden, so it’s all good.

(Raena drops her head and coyly twists from side to side) I’s sorry sissy. I’s didn’t mean it.

Fanks Raena. Me’s sorry too. Anyways, we’re still bein’ cautious, but optimistic. Mommy’s new helper started on Monday, and things went really well. The worker’s s’posed to work 3 days a week. Today will be the second day, so we’ve got our paws crossed that they show up. We’ll tell you all ‘bout them on Furiday, either way. Anyways, Raena was so fascinated by the whole thing, that she stayed close to mommy and watched it all. Our cat tree got quite the cleanin’. Let me tell ya’, it hasn’t been this clean since the day it came into the house. All our toys got stacked up so the floor could be vacuumed too.

Yeah, I’s got a little worried they was gonna stay stacked up. So I’s had to see ifin I’s could still play with ‘em in a pile like that. Fankfully, mommy put them all back on the floor after the cleanin’ was done. Whew!!!

Oh Raena, mommy wouldn’t make you play with your toys from a stack. But you are gonna have to learn to stay outta the way.

Why sissy? I’s might can help.

Help? With what? You can’t push the vacuum or the mop. And as floofy as your tail is, swooshin’ it from side to side doesn’t actually mean you’re dustn’. It’s more like you’re scatterin’ all those allergens and dust in the air so none of us can breathe.

Hey, do you need some help there?

Well sissy, at least I’s tryin’.

Alright girls, be nice.

Sorry mommy.

Me’s sorry too mommy. Guess we better wrap it up and get ready. What time are they s’posed to be here?

1 o’clock sissy. But what difference does it make; it’s not like we can tell time?. Well, lessen you’re talkin’ ‘bout tummy time. I’s fur sure know when it’s meal time and treat time. Speakin’ of treats, ya’ reckon we could meow mommy into a few now?

Good one Raena, but me doubts it. Come on, let’s go play and take a nap befur it gets too noisy to do so. And don’t furget, we have the fundraiser up (click here) to help mommy get her dental work. We did wanna say, that it seems a lot of peeps got hung up on the cost fur the cleanin’. Mommy didn’t include that in the cost fur the fundraiser cuz she didn’t plan on havin’ it done in the furst place at least not at that office at that price. She just wants to get rid of the painful teeths and infection they’re causing and get the partials so she can still talk and eat and smile with her mouth open again (she’ll be losing most of her bottom teeth). You can also donate directly to our PayPal by using our email address: lexi.dezi@yahoo.com.

Till the next time………………………………….Be Blest!!!

Dezi: Vibrant Blue

Raena: Navy Blue

Mommy A: Black

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses

Deztinee and RaenaBelle

Service Cats U.S.

I Audra, am the human behind Service Cats U.S. aka DezizWorld. I am disabled and use cats as service animals instead of dogs. They are just as capable and can perform duties other animals cannot. We started our online journey to bring awareness to the ability of cats and to help others understand the relationship between a service animal and their handler/person. We offer training tips and tricks that I have learned through the years along with other information on all things feline. We began this journey in 2014 with Lexi and Dezi. They have since gone on to heaven, but our journey continues. This blog is about our daily life from the kitty's point of view. I want this blog to be interactive and get to know all of you, so comment and visit often. I will also offer advice, training tips and education when possible. Copyright © 2014 - 2021 {Audra High via Deztinee High and RaenaBelle High} All Rights Reserved All personal content (story's, poetry, etc., videos and music) are the property of the human behind Deziz World, and may not be used, copied or otherwise re-published without prior written permission/consent from the author (A. High-the human behind Deziz World). We have an amazon.com wish list and a PayPal account if you would like to help/donate to us.

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