I know what you’re thinking – “Can you teach cats tricks – and if so, which ones are easiest to teach?”
Most cat owners underestimate their feline friend’s ability to learn tricks, and a big reason why is because they compare their abilities to that of a dog – but you’d be surprised at just how smart your little buddy is.
From learning how to sit to playing fetch and finger targeting – there are a lot of tricks to teach your cat if you have the time, patience, and persistence to help them understand!
Start with Basic Cat Tricks
Alright, so the first step is gathering all the right tools and cat supplies – which not only makes the learning process that much easier for the cat, but also makes the teaching process that much easier for the owner.
The good news is you’ll only need two major things to get started – cat treats and a cat clicker.
The treats are used for positive reinforcement, while the clicker helps your cat associate certain actions, behaviors, and movements with the positive reinforcement. Together, they can help any cat learn a trick.
With those two things in your possession, you can start training your cat – but you’ll want to start with the easier tricks (teaching them to sit or come when called) before moving on to the more advanced tricks.
With that said, let’s take a look at some of the easiest tricks to teach a cat.
1. Teaching Your Cat to Sit
Teaching your cat how to sit when you ask them to is one of the easiest tricks for cats, but don’t let that fool you – it won’t come as easy for cats as it does for dogs, and will still take some effort on your part.
First, you’ll need to have your cat in front of you and a treat in your hand. Start by holding the treat in front of your cat’s nose before slowly moving it towards the back of their head. As you move it back, your cat’s head should follow – forcing them to naturally sit. As soon as they sit, do three things, one after the other:
1) Push the clicker
2) Say the word SIT
3) Give them a treat for a job well done
As you repeat this series of events, your cat will begin to associate the word ‘sit’ with the action of ‘sitting.’ And since they’ll know a treat is on the horizon, they’ll be incentivized to continue following your direction.
2. Teaching Your Cat to Come
Does your cat hide often? Do you wish your outdoor cat would come to you when their name is called? Do you want your cat to come cuddle with you when you ask them to? Well don’t worry – you’re in luck!
First, you’ll need your cat to be in your vicinity. Start by throwing a treat several feet in front of you. Once they get their snack, tell them to ‘come’ or say the word ‘here’ while holding a second treat in your hand.
When they walk up to you, push the cat clicker and give them the treat – as well as a few scratches – for positive reinforcement. This will teach them to find and approach you when they hear ‘come’ or here.’
You can also substitute the words ‘come’ and ‘here’ with their name, if that’s what you’d like.
3. Finger Targeting
Finger targeting is another great way to communicate with your cat and direct them wherever you’d like them to go – and the process is fairly similar to teaching them to come when their name is called.
Start by pinching a treat in-between your thumb and middle finger. While holding out the treat, start waving your index finger (which should be free) until they come forward to grab the treat out of your hand.
This will teach them to use your index finger as a guide – but you can also use the clicker to reinforce it.
Once they master this, you can wave your index finger to guide them just about anywhere. If you want them to jump up on the couch, just wave your index finger – same goes for getting them off the counter.
4. Playing Fetch with Your Cat
Fetch is a classic game for dogs, but that doesn’t mean cats can’t learn how to play. It might take a little longer with a cat (compared to a dog), but it’s possible if you have extra time on your hands each day.
First, you’ll need to grab their favorite toy and their favorite treat. We also recommend spraying some catnip or tuna juice on the toy to better lure them. Once thrown, they should waste no time running to it.
When they get to the toy, push the clicker and give them a treat – but only when they pick it up with their mouth. Once your cat grows accustomed to this, don’t get up after throwing the toy. Instead, stay where you are and only give them a treat when they return the toy to you – this will take some time, so beware.
If they come to you without the toy, walk over to the toy, call them over, give them the toy, and then give them a treat. The more you do it, the more they’ll learn to associate the treat with giving you the toy.
5. Getting Your Cat to Stand on Hind Legs
This one is a lot easier than teaching your cat how to play fetch. Start by holding a treat in your hands and calling your cat over. Instead of moving the treat towards the back of their head (like we did with the sitting trick), raise the treat above their head so they have no choice but to stand on their hind legs to get it.
Once they’re on their hind legs, push the clicker and let them take the treat. Use the same method as the finger targeting – squish the treat in between the middle finger and thumb while waving the index finger.
As they learn the motion, all you’ll need to do is wave your index finger above their head and they’ll know to stand on their hind legs – even if you don’t have a treat in your hand.
