Do you ever wish your cat could learn to do tricks like dogs do? Well making this a reality is easier than you’d think. Cats are naturally very observant and pick up on things quickly. This helps them understand the messages we try to send them in training.
Why Should I Teach My Cat Tricks?
Teaching your cat fun tricks will be beneficial to both you and your cat. It’s a great bonding exercise, and will stimulate your cat’s brain and body. Some tricks can keep your cat safer, and others can be used to impress your friends. Lastly, it will give you and your cat something to do, and learn.
Probably the most important thing to train your cat is to come. This can keep your cat safe, alert them for feeding time, and saves time that could be spent searching for your cat.
Step 1. Come up with how you want to call them. This can be a sound, or their name.
Step 2. When it’s meal time, say this sound or name in a calm voice. Do this until they come to their name or sound instead of a sound of a can being opened. This shows they understand that you making this sound means food.
Step 3. Start calling them at times other than meal time. You can use treats to reinforce until your cat understands.
Another good trick for your cat to learn is sit. This can help when you’re preparing food and don’t want the cat to get under-foot, keep them still while you’re grooming them, and impress people with your cat’s intelligence.
Step 1. Hold the treat over the cat’s head. Slowly bring it backwards so that the cat naturally lowers itself, and say sit.
Step 2. As soon as the cat’s bottom touches the ground, give it the treat.
Step 3. Repeat this until the cat can sit when you tell it to.
If you’re up for a challenge you may want to try teaching your cat to walk in a circle. This trick is a very fun one that will definitely give people a good laugh.
Step 1. Show the cat you have a treat in your hand. The cat will want to follow it.
Step 2. Slowly move your hand with the treat around in a circle above the cat. Give it the treat when it completes the circle.
Step 3. When your cat gets the hang of this, move the treat to the other hand and make sure the cat doesn’t see it. Make the circle with your finger this time. When your cat completes the circle give it the treat.
Tips for training
These are some helpful hints that will help you teach your cat more effectively and efficiently.
- Be patient
Cats are smart and can figure things out pretty quickly, but make sure to be patient and not give up if your cat isn’t getting it at first. If you get frustrated, the cat will feel it and get frustrated too.
- Be precise
Say your command clearly and in a calm voice. Don’t make commands too long or confusing, and don’t make crazy motions. Only say the command once.
- Be consistent
By repeating the same steps exactly, your cat will learn what you want them to do quicker. Mixed messages confuse your cats just like they do people.
Cats have different personalities and capabilities than dogs, and cats are generally not as obedient as dogs. However, you can teach your cat some important commands and tricks, which can be useful or fun for you and your cat, and can help you communicate and interact with your cat.
Work Cited
Krouse, Lauren, and Catherine Barnette. “Can You Train a Cat?” Great Pet Care, 23 March 2020, https://www.greatpetcare.com/training/can-you-train-a-cat/. Accessed 12 March 2024.
