Tabby training: OSU study shows benefits of cat training

A new Oregon State University study shows cats are far more trainable than most people think, and the benefits go both ways. On this episode of Oregon On The Record, host Michael Dunne talks with Monique Udell, an OSU professor who directs the Human-Animal Interaction Lab, about her research on cat-child training. The study paired 36 children with developmental disabilities with their family cats for a six-week training program covering basic commands, harness training and cat body language. The results: children took on more caretaking responsibility, cats showed increased sociability, and the child-cat bond grew stronger over the following year. Udell also discusses cats' potential as therapy animals, the “adventure cat” movement, and how training can boost stimulation and welfare for indoor-only cats.