Sometimes it’s external factors, sometimes it’s my bad photography, sometimes it’s the mood of the week.

But yes, BerlyH208 knows the menagerie and their personalities well, so their stories are the canon.

That’s how the cats joined in.

We started because the Pitt/mix needed to wear some items of clothing (long story, she was this way before I adopted her).

When my significant other and I bought our house, the dogs and cats mixed, the the orange cat (snarf) saw the doing doing hats, he tried doing the tricks I was teaching him, to get treats too.

So we tried the hats, and over the course of a few months, all of the cats were joining in.

Now I bring out the ring light and a hat, and I have a full house at the bottom of the stairs.

Even just little stuff, like sitting, coming when called can be a good start.

Start small. Buy a specific bag of treats, and a simple headband. Hats that cover their ears are a lot harder.

Pick a photo spot, use the same spot all the time.

Praise them for trying, and only give those treats when trying hats, success of fail.

If they get bored/walk away, don’t force them, keep us pawisitive. Multiple smaller sessions is better than everyone getting frustrated. Don’t let your own frustration/disappointment show.

The goal is to build/reinforce muscle memory. To use smells, positions, etc, to help them remember how it works, and that it’s safe and fun.

And a camera trick is to hold your phone upside-down, it helps if they don’t want to look up.

We use different treats/spots for all of our activities, be it training, nail clipping, brushings, ear cleanings. Takes me less than 10 minutes to do 5 cats nails. Muscle memory is key.

Bonus: Silly Hat Cat Setup

https://imgur.com/gallery/tFwMlVp