More, please

You may recall I posted a while back about Michael training our cats to do tricks. The two tricks they can do when properly motivated are high-five and meerkat (standing on hind legs). If they don't see a reward at this point, they couldn't care less. Michael also started teaching Ninja how to sit, but we'll see if that one takes. 

Earlier I was eating some chips and dip. Eve was staring up at me me and high-fived my foot to get my attention, as if to say, "I'm here. Give me a chance to earn one. I'm high-fiving you. Give me one. Pleeeeeaaasssse." So I put my hand down and said, "high five" and she did it to earn a chip. We did that a few times and it was good times. She usually does this now when I'm eating chips. I suppose I can't think of better way of being able to tell whether or not training has worked - the animal initiating the trick when they see a reward they want. It's kind of like she only knows one word in sign language, and it only applies in one specific situation. It's still better than most cats, though.