Pet Owners' Manual: Train cat to lie on mat, not your computer

Rewarding feline for good behaviour is key

The best way to get your cat off your computer is to train him to lie on a mat by your desk, Yvette Van Veen says.



Our cat lies on my computer when I am working. I move him to the floor and he immediately comes back up. How can I get my cat off my laptop?

There is a rule in psychology that states, “It’s better to be praised than punished. It’s better to be punished than ignored.” Many pets will misbehave if “bad” is gets them attention.

Removing a cat from a desk is attention. That reward keeps many animals coming back for more.

Instead of figuring out how to get the cat off the computer, teach the cat to lie on a mat. Teach an appropriate alternative.

Most cats are motivated by food and thus highly trainable. The challenge is finding appropriate cat-size treats. Owners must pay close attention to weight management and they must ensure nutritional requirements are met during training.

Freeze-dried chicken flakes into very small portions, making it a good treat option. Cats can be rewarded frequently, without feeding excessively.

Felines often love busy toys. These products keep animals occupied while owners are preoccupied. Some come in the form of balls that periodically drop kibble as the animal plays. Others are filled with canned versions of food. Pets can lie on a mat while licking at their supper. These toys appeal to an animal’s need to hunt their dinner. Exercise increases without adding any additional calories. Cats earn their supper instead of getting free access at a boring bowl.

Pets need enrichment activities. Children are not expected to sit politely in a playpen with nothing to do. Doing nothing is boring and leads to misbehaviour. Similarly, animals without activities become bored and then quickly become a nuisance.

Start by encouraging the cat to use a mat placed next to your desk. Do this when you are not preoccupied with work. Use small treats to reward the pet for staying in the correct location. Once the pet learns that being on the mat gets plenty of positive reinforcement, you can start rewarding him for behaving while you work. When new habits solidify, switch to busy toys so your cat stays entertained, but also well-mannered.

Our dog has an odd phobia. He hates his monthly heartworm treatments. These are drops placed on the back of his neck, meaning that it does not hurt. Can I teach him to like his drops?

Fear of heartworm drops is a common complaint and not odd at all. We tend to expect that painful processes might trigger fearful reactions. It comes as a surprise when a seemingly mild treatment triggers such a negative reaction. At the end of the day, the animal decides what is or is not pleasant.

For example, many people are afraid of spiders or snakes. That fear makes sense. Some snakes and spiders can kill you. Other people are afraid of clowns, even though clowns do not typically kill or hurt anyone. Fears are very personal.

The easiest solution is to switch medication. Ask the veterinarian if a suitable alternative exists.

Should you wish to put the effort into training, use an eyedropper and gradually desensitize the dog to the process. At first, reward the dog for looking at the dropper. Then progress toward touching the dog on the shoulders. Eventually, fill the dropper with water and get the dog used to water dropped on his back.

The key to any successful desensitization program is to work within the dog’s comfort zone. If you notice that the dog tries to move away, he is communicating his discomfort. Listen and ease up. Slow, measured progress gets dogs over their fears.

Yvette Van Veen is an animal behaviour consultant. Write her at