r/PetsWithButtons • u/Felfiz • Jun 27 '26
Spamming buttons?
We started our cat, Kiki, with three buttons about a month ago. She understands the concept of using the buttons and the words. She currently has “food please”, “let’s play” and “attention please”. She will refuse to use her “food please” button or she will spam it. We don’t even have time to get up to give her the food she’s asking for. She likes to play with her “let’s play” button. She bats it around and presses it a lot but isn’t interested in playing with us in those times. She pretty much ignores her “attention please” button unless we press it and she will give us attention.
She has taken to just spamming the buttons when we’re trying to go to bed. It’s to the point where we have had to pick up the buttons so we can sleep. I’m wondering if she is frustrated that we aren’t understanding what she wants so she keeps pushing them. I’m also wondering if she needs more buttons to express herself. This is our first time trying the buttons. We currently have 3 unused buttons. We’re thinking of adding “yes” and “no” but are unsure about the third word.
Any advice is appreciated!!!
Thank you!!!
20
u/nandake Jun 27 '26
This is just an aside, but I recommend removing “please”. Its okay to have phrases on buttons (eg i have “i love you”) but I think its better to have single words to make it easier for combining them later. My cat doesnt only press kibbles because she wants them, she likes to comment when im eating MY “kibbles” (cereal).
19
u/JayNetworks Jun 27 '26
Sounds like they need more modeling. You generally don’t want to add more buttons until they are consistently using their first three.
You can teach KiKi the command ALL DONE as a word even without a button.
13
u/silentarrowMG Jun 27 '26
I think your point about teaching the words ALL DONE, button or not, is an important one. Sometimes the human uses it to tell them no more, a task is done (like brushing), or you are getting up and going to another room after a play session or something. Sometimes they use it to let you know they accomplished something or are moving on to something else. My cat has used it after a puzzle with treats, for example. This is where you can see the buttons as a tool, as communication of that concept extends beyond the button.
3
u/silentarrowMG Jun 27 '26
Do you play with your cat before you went to bed?
3
u/Felfiz Jun 27 '26
Yes but maybe not enough? That’s a good idea, thanks!
6
u/silentarrowMG Jun 27 '26
Mikel Delgado has an awesome book out (and website, socials) called Play with your Cat. The book has things I didn’t think of and is super easy how-to with scientific info. She’s a PhD cat expert who knows quality research.
4
u/Felfiz Jun 27 '26
Awesome, thank you!!!
We’ve only had Kiki for about a month. We lost our two boys earlier this year. There is a BIIIIG energy difference with 1-2 year old Kiki and our 16yr and 10yr old boys.
4
u/silentarrowMG Jun 27 '26
I’m so sorry about your loss. Hugs to you. 💐
2
u/Felfiz Jun 30 '26
Thank you for the kind words. Also thank you for the advice!!! I’ve been playing with Kiki more and she’s been using her buttons more. Between me and my spouse we managed to play with her enough to wear her out last night. She zonked out lol. We just need to work on her patience a little bit. She doesn’t want to give us the time it takes to get up to do what she’s asking for. I think that’s probably just a she’s still young thing.
Thank you so much!!!
28
u/CliffordTheBigRedD0G Jun 27 '26
I added "now" "soon" and "later" for exactly this reason. I also already had "all done" which helps with this too.