It is a good idea to train your cat to do tricks in exchange for occasional rewards. It will enrich her life and give her confidence and sense of control on what she gets. It also strengthens the communication bonds between the two of you.

 

Among the things cats can be trained to do on command are to sit, roll, shake hands (paws) and do hi-five with the owner. Even fetching and jumping through hoops is possible with some breeds.

 

Kittens learn more easily but adult cats can be trained too. Also, some cats are easier to train than others.

 

Only the principles involved are outlined here, see the book section for details on the specialized method(s).

 

Method

 

The method uses a clicker, requires patience and consists in making the required behavior attractive to the cat.

 

First, obtain a clicking device, available from pet shops, but a toy clicker or even a biro clicking mechanism will do. A training wand would also be required.

 

Then, find a suitable moment when you can have the attention of your cat, who must also be fairly hungry and thus eager for treats. Suitable time would be just before feeding time.

 

The general idea is that you induce the cat to display the desired behavior and then immediately click and give the reward, which can be a little petting but preferably a bit of dry food she likes. The clicker is required because there should be no appreciable time lapse between the cat performing and getting the reward, otherwise she will not form the association between the two. Similarly, the treat should be small and quick to eat, so the cat remembers what it was given for.

 

With patient repetition, the cat will learn to associate behavior with reward. After she has learned the trick, the clicker can be phased out and the reward given only occasionally. In fact, treating every time seems not quite as effective as keeping the cat on her toes.

 

Bear in mind that cats have fairly short attention spans and can also get bored, so keep training sessions short. Stop as soon as your cat loses interest or concentration.

 

Example: Training your cat to sit on command.

 

This would be a good, easy trick to start training with. 

 

For extra effectiveness, smear the tip of the training wand in tuna oil. Wave it around to attract the cat’s attention, and when she’s near, raise the wand just a little higher than and behind the cat’s forehead.

 

The cat will naturally lean back to follow the wand and in doing so will have to sit down. As the cat is sitting down, say the word “sit”, which will be the cat’s cue for performing the action. Then, the moment her bottom touches the ground, click the clicker and directly offer the treat.

 

Repeat the process over the next couple of weeks, till the cat consistently performs the sitting. After that, gradually phase the clicker out and only give treats occasionally.