Have you ever heard the statement that cats can’t be trained? This is a common misconception, and I’m here to tell you it’s simply not true. Most cats are capable of learning a few simple tricks, which can be both beneficial and entertaining. Teaching your cat tricks can serve as a fun form of enrichment and significantly deepen the bond you share. Cats naturally enjoy spending time with their owners, and engaging in training sessions can quickly become a mutually anticipated activity.
You might be surprised to learn that your cat is already trained in various ways, often through established routines. Whether it’s a predictable mealtime schedule or a favorite playtime, cats learn and adapt through routine. Introducing trick training is simply a matter of building upon this foundation by establishing new, structured interactions. This guide will focus on three accessible tricks: coming when called, sitting, and offering a high five.
Getting Started with Trick Training
To begin, you’ll need a quiet, comfortable space for both you and your cat. Gather your cat’s favorite treats – these should be special rewards reserved only for training sessions. Options include store-bought treats, freeze-dried chicken, low-sodium deli turkey, or even small pieces of roast chicken. If your cat isn’t highly food-motivated, a favorite toy or even a few gentle pats can serve as effective rewards. Training cats that are less food-motivated might take a bit longer, but consistency will yield results. A 15-minute time commitment per session is usually sufficient, allowing time to gather your cat and training aids.
An optional, but recommended, tool is a clicker or any object that produces a distinct clicking sound, such as a ballpoint pen. Alternatively, you can create a clicking sound with your tongue. The clicker acts as a marker signal, precisely indicating the moment your cat performs the desired behavior.
Step-by-Step Training Guide
1. Come When Called
Begin in your chosen quiet space with your cat, treats, and your clicker (or chosen clicking sound). Start by clicking once and immediately offering a treat to ensure your cat isn’t apprehensive of the sound.
Next, focus on rewarding a specific behavior, such as your cat looking in your direction. The moment she looks at you, click and then toss her a treat. Repeat this every time she makes eye contact. Once your cat understands that looking at you results in a click and a treat, which often happens within a single session, you can gradually increase the distance between you.
As she begins to approach you, click and treat. While she is enjoying her treat, move around the room, continuing to click and reward her as she follows you.
When your cat consistently comes to you, introduce the verbal cue. It’s best to choose a word other than her name, something simple like “Come” or “Here.” Say the cue just as she looks up after finishing a treat, and click as she moves towards you. Eventually, you’ll want to test this by going into a different room and calling her. When she finds you, click and reward her. Once she reliably comes to you from various parts of your home, the clicker becomes less essential. You can simply reward her with a treat, praise, play, or whatever she enjoys most when she responds to the cue.
2. Sit and Sit Pretty
[Sit on the floor with your cat, or place her on a comfortable elevated surface if floor-sitting is difficult for you. When she approaches you, anticipating a treat, say “sit” and move the treat just over her head. This action will likely prompt her to lower her rear end to the floor or surface. The instant her rear touches down, click and give her the treat, accompanied by verbal praise. Repeat this process a few times, keeping sessions short as sit training can be more challenging for cats than recall. Once your cat reliably sits on the verbal cue, you can phase out the clicker and simply reward her for a job well done.
When your cat has mastered the basic sit, teaching “sit pretty” is the next step. This involves raising the treat higher over her head, encouraging her to sit up on her hind legs to reach it. While she is in a sitting position, say “Pretty” as you hold the treat high. Click and reward her when she successfully achieves the pose. Remember to keep these sessions brief.
3. High Five
The high five trick appears impressive but is surprisingly straightforward to teach. Ensure you are at a similar eye level with your cat. Hold a treat in your closed fist at her shoulder height. When she naturally reaches out her paw to touch the hand holding the treat, click and immediately give her the treat. Over time, she will learn that touching your hand is necessary to receive the reward. At this stage, present your hand without a treat inside. When she touches your open palm, click and give her the treat with your other hand. Once she is consistent with this, begin offering your hand in the traditional high-five position (palm up) and use the verbal cue “High five!” When she touches your palm, click and provide the reward. Like the other tricks, you can eventually wean her off the clicker and simply reinforce her for responding to the verbal cue.
Essential Training Tips
Keep training sessions brief, repeating each trick only four to six times per session. Short, frequent sessions two to three times a day are far more effective than a single long session that can lead to boredom.
Always use positive reinforcement. Never scold or punish your cat for incorrect attempts or lack of performance. If she performs a trick incorrectly or loses interest, simply ignore it and try again later. If your cat walks away, consider the session over and resume training at another time.
Patience is key. Some cats learn tricks quickly, while others require more time. Allow your cat the space and time she needs to learn at her own pace.
Most importantly, enjoy the process. View these training sessions as valuable bonding and playtime with your feline companion. The tricks themselves are a bonus; the primary goal is the shared experience. This approach ensures that both you and your cat will look forward to your training sessions, regardless of the immediate results.
This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.
