Habituation and your cat

Cats and Change: The Importance of Habituation

by Pam Johnson-Bennett, CABC, Cat Behavior Associates

Many cats react negatively to unfamiliar sounds or smells, and when some are faced with something unfamiliar they may view it as a threat. Habituation is used to help a cat get used to stimuli through gradual exposure in a way that isn't overwhelming. For example, if you were trying to habituate a cat to the sound of the vacuum cleaner, it would be good to first leave the machine out so kitty can get used to the appearance of it. Then you can put it in another room, close the door and run the machine. Gradually, you could move it a bit closer in subsequent sessions. They key is to expose your cat to stimuli gradually so she has time to become desensitized to it.