I’m trying to be logical about planning my next buttons, but I’m stressing myself out 😂 

Does the location of the buttons/hextiles in relation to the ones I already have make a difference in regards to how they’ll be learned? 

The black words are the categories I have now… the red are what I’m considering moving forward. Does this make sense? As I’m looking at others, I feel like I screwed up. Haha. 

I just recently invested in a pet cam to angle onto Ginzo’s board and more accurately record his button presses.

I’ve noticed something that I think is interesting over the past week that I’ve had the camera.

He often will go and sit by the board for periods of time when no one is around (particularly in the early morning or late evening). Sometimes he sits in the nook where his “food” “water” and other “things” buttons are. Others he will sit right in front of the camera, facing the board near where his “want” “all done” and “later” buttons are. He doesn’t press any buttons, but this morning he seemed to almost lift a paw tentatively to press a button and then put it back down.

Am I reading too much into this? Is he just being a cat looking for something to chase? Or what?

I’m running into an issue lately where Ginzo will press a button for an object (i.e food, water, play) but then refuse the object when presented to him. 

I’ve been modeling “want” and trying to ask him “want food? Want water? Want play?” With a yes or no based on his response but is there anything else that this might indicate? 

Sometimes I wonder if he’s just commenting on the world like “that’s water” or “move the water” or just trying to communicate SOMETHING I don’t have a word for… I just can’t figure it out. 

Help! 

I’m considering adding one of the above buttons for Ginzo but unsure which one would work better. 

For context, he has a bit of a nervous temperament in general, but is incredibly sensitive when there’s a bunch of noise. In my apartment we have an obnoxiously loud AC unit that goes on and off frequently and I’ve noticed him getting a bit less expressive or willing to play when it is on, especially if the TV Is also on (which has to compete with the AC) or someone is doing dishes, washer is running, etc. 

Would it make sense to add a noise button or a concerned button or both? He actually has pressed the “hmm?” Button once or twice when the AC has come on, but I’m remaining skeptical about that interpretation.

Any advice ir thoughts welcome! 

How long did it take your learners to figure out how to answer yes/no questions? 

I’m hesitant to add more buttons until Ginzo learns the ones we have, but he isn’t quite figuring out the response portion of the question. 

I’ve been modeling: “what want now?” “What now?” Want food/play/cuddles/treat?” 

Usually he will answer the “what want now” or the “what now” questions with a “desire button” but he hasn’t quite figured out that he can respond yes or no to a specific request. 

Any modeling tips are greatly appreciated! 

Does anyone else cat prefer to lay their bodies on the buttons instead of using their paw? 

I don’t mean like temper tantrum roll, because Ginzo does that when he’s frustrated. But I mean like intentionally activating the button with their body instead of their paw? 

Ginzo will do a bit of both (paw and body) but I find it interesting that he knows how to position himself “just so” to activate the buttons when he lays on them. 

Sometimes it gets messy and he’ll activate a few at a time so we’re working on clarification questions and yes vs. no... but I was just curious if anyone has seen this before! 

Anyone else’s learner say “all done” or “later” or both in succession when they don’t feel like chatting?

Ginzo has done this a few times now and it usually takes a second for me to realize what he means.

Tonight he asked for play, which we did, followed by food, which I gave him...then he said “all done” quite a few times, followed by “later” and laid down next to his board.

When I walked away he stayed pretty comfy on the floor (which usually if he wants something he will ask for it using the board).

I really stink at getting videos of Ginzo using his buttons because I haven’t set up a camera yet, but we had our longest ongoing conversation tonight and I wanted to share.

Previously, he’d press a “want” button and then I’d get it for him and move on, but I think he’s finally figuring out the “descriptions” allowing us to move from one task to the next instead of aimlessly press buttons.

Ginzo: food
Me: food now *places food near him*
Ginzo: *refusing food* play
Me: ok... play now, food later *breaks out the toy*
Ginzo plays for a few minutes
Ginzo: food
Me: ok... play all done, food now *hands him food*
Ginzo eats his food for a minute
Ginzo: treat
Me (realizing he’s got it all down to a routine): ok, food all done, treat now. *gets him treats*
Ginzo eats his treats
Ginzo: now
Me: what now, hmm?
Ginzo: ....cuddles
We cuddle/pet for a little while.
Ginzo: now treat
Me: ok, cuddles all done, now treat *gives him treat*
Ginzo eats the treat
Me: all done treat
Ginzo: play
Me: ok... play... play now
We play for a good while
Ginzo: cuddles
Me: ok... play all done, cuddles now
We cuddle/pet for a bit.
Ginzo gets up repositions himself next to the soundboard and lies down.
Ginzo: all done... later
Me: all done? Later? Ok...
I walk away and he lays his head down for a bit and then walks away from the board to do his own thing.

I just introduced the “hmm?” and “what?” buttons. 

Ginzo really picked up on the fact that “now” gets him something IMMEDIATELY, so he’s been pressing that button almost as a way to get my attention without any elaboration.  
I have now been starting to ask him to elaborate: “what now, hmm?” Then waiting for a response, or helping him choose with modeling. 

However, last night, Ginz was playing with a straw while I was eating dinner. The straw got lost under our area rug and he couldn’t seem to get it out. He immediately went over to his soundboard and pressed the “hmm?” button without hesitation. 

I interpreted this as “where did it go?” Or “help” but Since we’ve only been modeling it for a few days and definitely NOT in that way, I wanted another opinion. Is that just me looking for meaning in a random press? Trying to be scientific, but man it seemed so intentional!!  

This has happened a few too many times now for me to chalk it up as purely coincidence. 

Ginzo has been pressing “cuddles” (which for us is a general “pets” term) and then while I’m letting him, he’ll press “play” and roll on his back and do his bunny kicks 😂 

Is this a real 2 word sentence??