Translated by Nick R
Although it is not as common to talk about training cats as it is for dogs, you can indeed teach and train these animals.
So if you want your feline to have good behavior and surprised with the tricks you can teach him, read on to find out what you need to get it.
Table of Contents
Is it possible to train a cat?
As I said before, it’s possible to train your cat, although it can be a little more complicated than training a dog, not because cats are less intelligent but because they are more independent than canines.
Therefore, having a very good relationship with your feline is important to make it easier to train it and teach it new tricks.
Ideally, your cat should have been properly socialized from an early age, this means that the feline has had contact with different animals, people, objects and sounds so that he reacts much better to different situations and is more willing to follow orders.
What do you need to train your cat?
First of all, be patient. Don’t despair if your cat doesn’t learn quickly or doesn’t pay you the attention you expect, everything takes time. If you stress and scold your cat, he will probably be less attentive and less motivated to learn.
On the other hand, you need positive reinforcement, which is the best way to teach your pet something new since he will associate the action with the reward. You can use a snack or cookie that your feline really likes.
And finally, you need to devote time to it. Training sessions should be short, but consistent, that is, if you are teaching a new trick, dedicate a certain time of the day for several days until your cat learns it. You can add the training sessions to your cat’s daily routine so that he gets used to it.
Very easy tricks to teach your cat
Attend when called
- Choose the treat, it can be a special cat snack or a toy that your feline loves and motivates him to come to you.
- Go to the other side of the room, away from where your pet is, but allow him to observe you. Show him the reward and use some command for him to associate it with the action of going to you and having a reward, it can be “come here” or just “come”.
- Do this for several days, in short 5-minute sessions. Do this in different areas of the house and each time further and further away. Once he starts to understand, do the same, but in a place where your cat cannot see you, i.e., in a different room.
- Reward him as soon as he comes to you. You will gradually remove the reward so that he comes to you without needing a treat.
Sitting
- Same as above, first choose a treat, either a treat or a toy that he really likes and catches his attention.
- Show him the treat in your hand and move it over your cat’s head without giving him a chance to catch it. He will sit down by looking backwards and when this happens you will say the command “sit” and give him the treat.
- At first, your cat won’t understand why you are rewarding him, but then he will associate the action of sitting with the treat.
- Then you can do the same thing, but with your empty hand, until your pet doesn’t need a reward to sit.
Jumping
- Likewise, choose a snack or some accessory that your pet likes so he will give you his undivided attention.
- Show him what you have in your hand from a good height and he will try to reach it, so when he jumps, say the command “jump” and give him the treat immediately.
- If you want him to jump from one place to another, simply show your cat the treat on the surface you want him to jump to, and when he does, you reward him and say the command.
- Remove the treat little by little and your cat will understand what to do just by the action of your hand movement and the command.
Greeting
- Again, choose the reward you will give him, it can be a cookie.
- Show him the cookie in your hand and close it, when he puts his paw on your hand say the command “say hello” and give him the treat.
- If your cat doesn’t put his paw on your hand, you can take his paw and put it on your hand yourself, say the command and reward him until he does it by himself.
- Gradually take away the reward so that he doesn’t get used to only heeding you when you give him something.
High-five
- Choose the reward, and show it to your cat.
- Put your hand higher than your cat and when he reaches out and touches it with his hand you say “high five” and give him the treat.
- If he tries to get the treat any other way, close your hand and say “no”.
- Do this several times a week, in short sessions until you don’t need the treat.
Lie down
If your cat already knows how to sit, it may be a little easier for him to learn this other trick.
- Likewise, choose a treat and ask your cat to sit.
- When he does, bring the treat in your hand close to your cat and then down to the floor, guiding him.
- If he stops or doesn’t try to lie down, don’t scold him or do anything negative, just don’t reward him and try again.
- As your cat stretches out you can give him the reward and say “lie down” until he is completely lying down.
- As above, do this several times and gradually remove the reward.
Turn over
Once again, choose some snacks that will drive your feline crazy.
When he’s in front of you, show him the treat in your hand, and then take your hand around your pet so that he starts circling around following the treat.
When he goes all the way around, say the command “lap” or “turn” and give him his reward.
Recommendations for training a cat
As I had said before, be very patient, if in the training session you get stressed because your cat is not learning at the speed you want, end the session and resume it later.
The best way for your cat to learn is with positive reinforcement and not scolding, so take a breath and remember that they can’t understand us immediately, you must take your time to teach them with love and affection.
