Once your cat gets the hang of this, you can add multiple hoops.They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but the real question is, can you teach a cat any tricks at all? Cats are well-known and admired for their independent, regal behavior, a trait that often leads many to believe that cats can’t be trained. After a few rounds, your cat should walk through the hoop after just hearing the click. Hold the treat and clicker directly in front of the hoop, click, and wait for your cat to walk through toward the treat. Once your cat has learned that a clicker means a treat, place a small hula hoop between you and your cat and have a treat ready. Jump Through HoopsĪll cats need exercise - even indoor cats require outlets to climb, pounce, ambush, and run, according to the ASPCA.

This trick might take a few sessions stretched out over a couple of days for your cat to master it. From there, according to the Animal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), you can start to increase how far your cat has to reach until they get closer and closer to touching your hand. Repeat this until your cat offers its paw in response to you saying “shake” without tapping on them. If your cat starts to paw at your hand, quickly pull your hand and treat away so you don’t accidentally reward the pawing behavior. Tap their paw while saying “shake,” and use the clicker when they move their paw. Start your training session with a treat in hand, then align yourself on the same level as your cat. Shake HandsĬats can shake hands just like dogs. Just use treats and a clicker to reinforce their behavior every time they sit and stay on the stool. Try training them to sit and stay on a stool that’s far away from the door to help prevent your cat from getting outside and hiding or putting themselves in danger. You can also try to train your cat from door dashing to begin with. Here are a few fun tricks to get started with. It’s also helpful to train your cat at the same time every day - before mealtime, if possible. Using the clicker during the desired behavior, not after it, is the key to helping your cat associate the sound with the behavior and getting a treat.

When you begin your training sessions, remember to keep them short so your cat stays focused. 'Clicker training is excellent for active cats who thrive on mental stimulation,' says Dr.

Typically, they will obey a command, hear a click, and then get a treat - it helps them catch on more quickly. They help your cat associate the desired behavior with a treat so they understand why they are being rewarded. Get A ClickerĬlickers are an excellent and commonly used tool for training cats. According to Lianne Virenius, DVM, veterinarian at Antioch Dog and Cat Hospital in Kansas City, 'These rewards should be very small - you don't want to contribute to a weight problem when training your cat.' Some cats might prefer extra attention instead of food, but if that's the reward, make sure it comes after the desired behavior so they understand why they are getting a little extra love. Wet food, canned tuna, cubed chicken, or store-bought treats are all great options for rewards. Furthermore, punishing your cat can make them disengage from learning altogether - and it can induce stress, which may lead to behavioral and health problems. Remember that cats, unlike dogs, won’t learn from what some pet owners would consider “discipline.” The most effective way for a cat to learn is to focus on good behaviors and reward them. Set Up A Reward Systemįirst things first: It’s important to plan ways to reward your cat for their efforts. As a cat parent, you already know the perks of having a feline companion - but did you know that you can also train your cat to do cool tricks? A lot of people think that cats are impossible to train, but with a little effort and patience, they can learn tricks just like dogs can.

Easy cat tricks