Pattern games were created by Leslie McDevitt, CDBC, CPDT-KA
Pattern games are a simple set of exercises that
provide a predictable and secure structure for
animals in order to help them normalize changes
in their environment (potential "triggers" for
reactive cats). Patterns are safe, predictable,
repetitive, voluntary and normalizing!
It is easier for a cat to counter-condition to a
potential trigger from a place of predictable security.
Once the cat has learned the pattern we then use
the pattern game while in the presence of the cat's
trigger, i.e. a new cat, a new dog, or a new person.
The cat can then process this trigger from a secure
happy state of mind, making counterconditioning
easier.