From “catching the ball” to “high fives,” cats can do incredible things just like dogs! Learn how to train your cat to do incredible things.
When I was a kid, I was fascinated by animals. I spent hours fostering abandoned or stray cats that roamed my neighborhood. Cats taught me many valuable life lessons, such as that trust is earned and bonds must be strengthened through food and fun.
And what about cat training? I became obsessed with cats when I was seven years old. Cats can’t be trained and can’t learn like dogs. To the cats, my ignorance was bliss. To the cats, I was just their animated candy dispenser, and in exchange for rewards they would come over to me when I called “kitty, come here,” and paw at me when I said “high five” and “down!” and slap me with their paws when I do. He rolls over when I tell him to, and he responds to simple commands.
Today, I continue to virtually instruct new kitten parents and concerned cat lovers on how to interact with, rehabilitate, and raise cats. I help people understand my naïve idea that cats love people who engage with them and play with them, and that learning is a two-way street.
Your cat can already do incredible things!
Want a super fun relationship with your cat? Learn about what makes cats unique, such as their preferences, natural behaviors, and favorite games. Then choose some behaviors that match your cat’s nature. For example, swatting a ball could be named “rolling”. Cat training works best if you let your cat decide on its own training sessions and keep the following three rules in mind
5-10 minutes. Keep training sessions short and sweet, practicing new moves once or twice a day. In our house, this is at 7am and 6pm.
Reward your cat often. Reward your cat with treats, games, or other rewards that your cat enjoys. Train only on things that interest your cat. If there is a goal, break it down into smaller steps.
Have a positive attitude. Shut out your attitude and impatience. Strong human emotions can scare cats. Avoid looking at them directly, physically punishing them, or repeating things that irritate them, as this may cause the cat to run away out of fear.
Cat Training Tools and Tips
As any cat behaviorist with catnip values will tell you: don’t let your cat do anything that is unnatural and uncomfortable. ‘Every cat has its own personality,’ says Katenna Jones, principal of Jones Animal Behaviour and ACAAB in Rhode Island. “Instead of focusing on ‘tricks,’ it’s better to focus on what a particular cat might enjoy based on their motivations and physical limitations.
After all, what is training? It’s all about linking words and gestures to behavior, just like teaching language. But cats can enjoy training, too. “Games such as high-five, fetch and clicker training can be fun for both you and your cat to avoid boredom,” says Sally Foote, a veterinarian at Foote & Friends in Illinois.
Four supplies you’ll need to train your cat
Snacks: Snacks should be small and soft so your cat can eat them quickly without getting full. Commercial freeze-dried treats, meaty baby food or homemade tuna paste can be served with a small spoon.
TREAT CUP: Fill a cup with treats, shake and reward your cat. Now you have a snack cup! You can buy them online or make them from containers around the house (drink pills, gum boxes, Tupperware, empty soda bottles, etc.).
Goal Stick: Use the Goal Stick as a pointer to guide your cat to a certain location or spot. Target sticks can be purchased or made by putting a strip of cloth over the end of a chopstick or plate and securing it with a rubber band.
Sound Marking: Many cat trainers prefer clicker training. This is because perfect timing and prominent sounds help the cat accurately identify rewarding behaviors. You do not need to purchase a “clicker” sound trainer. A bio-pen or tongue-on-tongue “clicker” can be an equally effective sound marker when combined with a high-value treat.
How to Train Your Cat to Do Incredible Things
From “catching the ball” to “high fives,” cats can do incredible things just like dogs! Learn how to train your cat to do incredible things.
When I was a kid, I was fascinated by animals. I spent hours fostering abandoned or stray cats that roamed my neighborhood. Cats taught me many valuable life lessons, such as that trust is earned and bonds must be strengthened through food and fun.
And what about cat training? I became obsessed with cats when I was seven years old. Cats can’t be trained and can’t learn like dogs. To the cats, my ignorance was bliss. To the cats, I was just their animated candy dispenser, and in exchange for rewards they would come over to me when I called “kitty, come here,” and paw at me when I said “high five” and “down!” and slap me with their paws when I do. He rolls over when I tell him to, and he responds to simple commands.
Today, I continue to virtually instruct new kitten parents and concerned cat lovers on how to interact with, rehabilitate, and raise cats. I help people understand my naïve idea that cats love people who engage with them and play with them, and that learning is a two-way street.
Your cat can already do incredible things!
Want a super fun relationship with your cat? Learn about what makes cats unique, such as their preferences, natural behaviors, and favorite games. Then choose some behaviors that match your cat’s nature. For example, swatting a ball could be named “rolling”. Cat training works best if you let your cat decide on its own training sessions and keep the following three rules in mind
- 5-10 minutes. Keep training sessions short and sweet, practicing new moves once or twice a day. In our house, this is at 7am and 6pm.
- Reward your cat often. Reward your cat with treats, games, or other rewards that your cat enjoys. Train only on things that interest your cat. If there is a goal, break it down into smaller steps.
- Have a positive attitude. Shut out your attitude and impatience. Strong human emotions can scare cats. Avoid looking at them directly, physically punishing them, or repeating things that irritate them, as this may cause the cat to run away out of fear.
Cat Training Tools and Tips
As any cat behaviorist with catnip values will tell you: don’t let your cat do anything that is unnatural and uncomfortable. ‘Every cat has its own personality,’ says Katenna Jones, principal of Jones Animal Behaviour and ACAAB in Rhode Island. “Instead of focusing on ‘tricks,’ it’s better to focus on what a particular cat might enjoy based on their motivations and physical limitations.
After all, what is training? It’s all about linking words and gestures to behavior, just like teaching language. But cats can enjoy training, too. “Games such as high-five, fetch and clicker training can be fun for both you and your cat to avoid boredom,” says Sally Foote, a veterinarian at Foote & Friends in Illinois.
Four supplies you’ll need to train your cat
- Snacks: Snacks should be small and soft so your cat can eat them quickly without getting full. Commercial freeze-dried treats, meaty baby food or homemade tuna paste can be served with a small spoon.
- TREAT CUP: Fill a cup with treats, shake and reward your cat. Now you have a snack cup! You can buy them online or make them from containers around the house (drink pills, gum boxes, Tupperware, empty soda bottles, etc.).
- Goal Stick: Use the Goal Stick as a pointer to guide your cat to a certain location or spot. Target sticks can be purchased or made by putting a strip of cloth over the end of a chopstick or plate and securing it with a rubber band.
- Sound Marking: Many cat trainers prefer clicker training. This is because perfect timing and prominent sounds help the cat accurately identify rewarding behaviors. You do not need to purchase a “clicker” sound trainer. A bio-pen or tongue-on-tongue “clicker” can be an equally effective sound marker when combined with a high-value treat.
9 Brilliant Tricks Cats Can Learn (and Laugh Out Loud If They Want to)
First, choose tricks that your cat already does naturally. Simple actions like “scratching the mailbox” can become habitual if you reward them and don’t damage curtains or furniture. Other natural behaviors include turning over, climbing on bags and boxes, and jumping on counters. Catnip, treats, and toys can be used to entice cats into these behaviors.
When your cat does these behaviors, click and reward him. Once you notice the relationship between the behavior and the reward, you can use words or cues to encourage the behavior. This is an easy and fun way to do this!
Belly Up.
Some cats can do belly ups naturally, while others prefer to keep their paws on the floor. When you notice a cat rolling over onto its side or back, say “belly up.” Then reward it with a click. However, do not reward the cat with a belly scratch!” Cats prefer to be petted on the chin, head, or neck rather than the belly,” says Ingrid Johnson, director of Fundamentally Feline in Georgia and a CCBC-certified cat behavior consultant. Unlike dogs, cats often misinterpret rough petting as predatory or simply unpleasant.”
Come on.
Cats only come when they feel like it, so don’t worry if they don’t jump on you every time you call them. They are not robots and they are not dogs. Nevertheless, if you combine “come” with food, food, and play, you are more likely to get their attention when you need it.
One thing to keep in mind is to call the cat only when it is hanging around, not when it is sleeping.” Mikel Delgado, CABB, co-owner of Feline Minds in California, says, “Nap time is when you should leave your cat alone.” Just as we don’t like our sleep to be disturbed, cats need to be left alone during sleep time. Some cats are frightened and will bite and scratch, while others are simply annoyed at being disturbed.
Horseback Riding
Smart cats often prefer to ride on their owners’ shoulders or backs. To teach a cat to jump on a countertop or cat tree, use the cat’s habit of jumping on the countertop or cat tree, “Ally-oop!” and other words. Cats love to jump onto high surfaces, so this is easy for them to learn. Next, lure the cat to your chest or shoulder with an expensive treat or toy. Stand on two legs first, then three, and finally four. Do not add cues until the cat is confident it can get on top of you. If the cat wants to jump up, start moving slowly and gradually increase the time and distance. If the cat is scared or fidgety, be sure to let it down.
Over here.
You can lead the cat to the desired location with a simple phrase such as “this way.” Each time the cat steps on the target stick with its paw or touches it with its nose, click and reward it to get it to move closer to the end of the target stick. Once the cat learns to aim at the target, teach it to chase the target stick. Gradually increase the reward distance. Got it? Now bring the target stick one to three feet in front of the cat’s nose and watch its reaction. When the cat will happily approach the target stick, add the cue “here”. Finally, use a cue word, show the target stick, or simply point to it.
Pass.
Once the cat has mastered “here,” there is no stopping it. Begin by using a hula hoop or short tunnel as a footstool and letting the cat smell and walk around it. Place the hula hoop in a place familiar to the cat and place food in the center to make the exercise easier. Gradually increase the height of the hoop, but do not exceed the cat’s comfort level.
Impact.
Show the cat a high-value treat and place it in the palm of your hand. Bend your fingers and place your hand under the cat’s nose. When the cat bumps your palm with its nose or paw (the cat’s preference), click on it and open your palm to show the treat. Once you understand this game, pair it with “bump”.
Kittens.
As with the other routines, only perform actions that are natural for the cat. To play this game, the cat balances on its hind legs and places its front paws on a post, your hand or your foot. Lift the treat from the cat’s nose to behind its ears and reward the cat with a click when it follows the treat, lifts its leg and comes to rest in an upright position. Maintain balance and gradually increase the time you hold the position (no more than 5 seconds).
High-five.
Place a piece of food between your fingers about 1 cm above the cat’s paw. When the cat brings its nose close to the treat, take it away and subtly move your fingers in front of the cat as if you are grasping the treat with your paw. You can also encourage this with your cat’s favourite toy. When he lifts his paw slightly, click and reward him. Gradually increase the amount of time you do not give the treat until the paw is raised. Rewards should be given gradually.
Fetch.
With a little prompting, some cats will fetch things spontaneously, while others will not fetch even if there is a room full of live mice. To stimulate a cat’s fetch instinct, use two toys of similar value. Start the game in a small room or corridor and direct the cat’s attention to you. Toss one toy to the cat. While the cat is struggling to get the first toy, prepare the second toy. Praise the cat when it grabs the first toy and immediately start playing with the second toy. （When it returns (with or without the first toy), throw the second toy. When the toy comes back (with or without the first toy), throw the second toy. If he does not let go of the first toy when it comes back, lure him with a treat. If they co-operate, reward them with a click and include a word that identifies the behaviour, such as ‘take’, ‘get’ or ‘throw’.
What your cat values most is enjoying quality time with you. Even if you feel your cat is training you to give it more food, to stop looking at the computer, or to make room for the cat on the sofa, it doesn’t matter who is training whom, as long as the bond brings you joy. As any cat lover knows, whether the cat is flying through an obstacle course or curled up in your lap, what matters is that you share the moment.
By
by Sarah Hodgson
