How to Teach Your Cat Tricks
You might think cats are impossible to train, but you’re only half right. While some cats prefer to live their lives unencumbered by obligations or tasks of any kind, others enjoy a little challenge, especially when it comes to treats.
If your cat falls into the latter category – and most cats fall into this category – you can teach them some tricks. As Robert Dollvet and his world record holder, the cat, Didga, showin the video below , cats can do all kinds of things, from a simple handshake to skateboarding:
In addition to some serious cat tricks, this video offers many great tips on the basics of cat training. If you want to teach your cat how to do cool things, this is what you need to know.
Cat training basics
Cat training is very similar to dog training – above all, you must be consistent and positive. Use these pointers to get the most out of your workout:
- Be patient: take your time to teach your cat the whole trick at once – both of you will just get upset. Instead, break it down into small steps and gradually work your way up.
- Do this to waste your cat’s time: use some really good treats as a reward. Wet food, canned or freeze-dried fish, or these coarse meat tubes will work for most cats. If you are not particularly motivated to eat, extra pets or playing with a special toy may be the best motivator.
- Get the Clicker: The mechanical clicker teaches your cat to expect a reward when it hears a specific sound. When they do the trick correctly, click the clicker, treat them to and praise them.Cat School has a good clicker trainingvideo on YouTube to get you started.
- Reward, not punish: Whether it’s treats or toys, only give your cat a special reward during training so that it becomes a positive experience they associate with performing a specific action. And never lose your temper – punishment will get you nowhere.
- Take your time: you can spend as little as five minutes a day training so as not to distract your cat from wandering. Yes, that means it can take months for your cat to master a trick. Maximum 15 minutes for training so as not to get tired.
- Be committed: The training process will take time and patience, so be prepared to endure it if you want to be successful.
Remember, training should be fun for you and your cat. If this starts to seem like a chore or an impossible logic puzzle, take a step back and rethink your strategy.
How to teach a cat
If you’re not sure what you want to teach your cat, here are some popular options to get you started. (Work on the tricks one at a time so your cat can fully master them before moving on to anything else.)
- Harness and Leash : Train your house cat with a harness and leash so you can take it outside for exploration.
- Shaking : Teach your cat to shake your hand.
- Name Recognition : Getting your cat to walk up when called is especially helpful if it slips out of an open door or window.
- Hoop jumping : You can also replace the hoop with your own hands in a mug.
All cats are individual, but generally speaking, the more they are motivated by food, toys and / or affection, the easier it will be to train them. (Training is a particularly good hobby for those of us with active, chaotic cats .) But some cats don’t really care about any rewards, which makes training very difficult. You know your cat better than anyone – don’t be afraid to dump her if she needs more time and patience than you are willing to give.
This article was originally published on September 27, 2017 and was updated on June 4, 2021 with new links, updated information, and a new header photo. It has also been edited to reflect the current Lifehacker style rules.