Cats can be surprisingly trainable with their intelligence and playful nature shining through when learning tricks.
From learning basic commands like sit, stay, and lie down to impressive feats like jumping on hoops and walking through the tunnel, this guide will explore the fascinating world of cat tricks that transform playtime into a fun and rewarding experience.
1. Sit
When it comes to tricks to teach your cat, the first thing you will do is "sit."With this trick, you get them to sit, then hold your hand in the stop sign and say "stay," if they obey it and remain as told, you reward them with a treat.
First, hold a treat and allow them to smell it. Then, slowly lift the treat over your head toward the back and it will follow the treat with their eyes automatically sitting down. To move the treat, use the command "Sit" to help your cat process the command word with the action. If they do, praise your feline friend verbally and offer the treat as a reward.
2. High-Five
This is another fun trick, which is similar to shaking hands. To teach your cat a high five, hold your hand and wait for them to touch with their paws. Once they touch your hands, you can provide them with a treat.
First, you need to show your cat a target stick and allow them to sniff it, offering a reward so that they associate the stick with something positive. Then, introduce a hand signal like raising your hand for them to touch after getting the target stick. Reward quickly as it touches the target in response to high-five motions.
3. Come When Called
This one is a productive and famous trick if you have an outdoor cat. By teaching your feline friend to come when called, you can help them from getting lost or into dangerous situations. It is a handy trick for pet owners who want to get out at night.
Start by using its name and give it a treat or some reward it loves. That way, your cat learns to associate good things with coming when you call them. Once they get the idea, try calling from other rooms in the house and treat them until it comes to your call wherever you want them to be.
4. Touch A Target Stick
This trick is crucial to many other tricks, so teaching it to your cat early in your training program is essential. First, you hold a target stick in front of it a few inches from its nose. Reward with a treat after it touches the ball at the end of the stick.
If they don't sniff the target, rub a treat on the end of the target stick and try again. Repeat this exercise until your feline friend touches the target stick's end. Also, try moving it in different directions, rewarding your cat for a successful target every time.
5. Roll Over
This trick is fun to impress your friends and family. To help your cat learn this trick, ask them to roll over and start by getting them to lie down on their side. Then, wait for them to roll over onto their back.
When your cat is lying on the floor with ample space around them, kneel beside them and start rubbing their body. They will likely lean toward your hand and rub their face against you. Then, reach over your pet and start rubbing your hand on the floor, they will probably roll toward your hand for more fuss.
6. Spin In A Circle
Spinning in a circle is a cute trick to teach your cat, which can impress your friends and family. It is a bit more advanced, but it is still a fun trick it will enjoy doing.
To spin in a circle, get them to follow the treats you hold. Once it follows its reward, slowly start moving your hand in a circular motion. As a result, your feline friend also continues to move in circles following the treat, forcing them to spin around. Once they spin, give your cat a treat and praise them for following your command.
7. Jump Through A Hoop
Cats are agile and athletic animals, so asking them to jump through a hoop is an easier trick to learn for them. Choose a larger hoop that can fit through easily for your feline friend.
First, teach your cat to jump through a hoop, hold it high, place a treat on the other side, and wait for them to jump through to get it. Once it steps through the hoop, raise it a couple of inches off the ground and repeat the same exercise, remembering to reward each time it steps through. Use a combination of your cue word and the target stick to make them jump through the hoop.
8. Shake Hands
This mesmerizing trick sees your cat offering you their paw to shake hands on request, further impressing your friends and family.
First, touch their paws by giving them a treat several times so that, they can be comfortable with your paw touches. Then, offer your hand to your cat with your palm facing upward and gently touch their paw while adding a cue word "shake." As soon as your pet extends its paw, say your cue word and give it a treat. Once it becomes comfortable, reduce the frequency of rewards with treats, but keep praising occasionally to keep them interested.
9. Stand On Hind Legs
Standing on their hind legs is an easier trick your feline friend will learn quickly. To guide it to stand on its hind legs, hold a treat above your it's head and choose a cue word such as "Up," so it has to stand up to get the reward.
Repeat the trick by giving your cue word and treating it whenever it stands up. Then phase out the treat until it stands on its hind legs when advised. Once they stand up, give a treat and praise them for their performance.
10. Walk On A Leash
Another cool trick you can make your cat learn is to walk with you on a leash together. Training to wear a harness and walk on a leash are invaluable skills. Your pet should learn to be an indoor pet and live in heavy-traffic areas.
Ensure your harness fits properly so they're comfortable while guiding them to walk with a leash. Then make them wear harnesses, and reward them with treats and praise. Use toys and treats to encourage you to walk on the leash, ignoring resistance and rewarding your pet. Allow your feline friend to sniff around unfamiliar areas and sounds, while calmly with the leash reward and praise it. You should patiently take them on a leash if it is comfortable to walk with.
11. Open A Door
If your cat can open a door on command, that will save you from getting up and letting it out of the room. Choose a lightweight door that swings freely and is easy to push.
Using a target stick, encourage them to come closer to the door and touch it for a reward. After your pet understands what you want it to do, help them to stand up and adds weight against the door so that it swings open. Reward immediately with a treat. Choose a verbal cue, such as "open the door," and use it whenever you want your feline friend to open.
12. Play Dead
Play dead is a trick mostly associated with dogs, although these feline friends can sometimes learn to do it too. To play dead, get your cat first to lay down on their side and wait for them to roll over onto their back. Once they are on their back, give them a treat and praise for their good behavior.
Wait until your pet is lying flat out, give a verbal command such as "play dead," and give praise. Also, add hand gestures, such as pointing your finger, and give verbal commands to reward a treat.
13. Fetch
Some cats enjoy chasing and rescuing objects. This trick involves teaching them to return one of their toys when advised. Select a lightweight toy that is easy to carry and is ideally one of your feline companion's favorites.
Begin by playing with the toy near your feline friend and encourage them to play with it. Toss the toy a couple of feet away and after collecting it, reward it with a treat or praise. Give your cat a high-value treat every time it returns with a toy, reinforcing the behavior and encouraging them to repeat it.
14. Wave Goodbye
Induce your kitty with a treat near their nose, slowly moving it up and sideways. Say "goodbye" as the paw lifts, and reward them with high-value treats. Teaching to wave a paw to say goodbye is fun, that's sure to raise a smile.
Use a hand gesture or a verbal command to tell your cat to wave goodbye by showing them the hand gesture and giving verbal cues such as "Bye-bye." Then, gently hold their paw moving it in a waving direction, and reward with praise. Once they get an idea, stop holding your their paws and use your hand gesture far away, while giving verbal commands. If they grab it, treat them with high-value praise.
15. Ring A Bell
For cats who like to play with bells, it is an awesome trick to learn when they want a treat or want to go outside. To teach them to ring a bell, start by attaching a bell to their collar. Then wait for them to ring the bell and give them a treat.
Once they are familiar, place the bell on a flat surface where they can investigate ringing the bell, and give them a treat. Your pet begins to associate hearing the ball and getting a reward after repeating the process several times. Whenever you see them ring the bell, praise them. Once the cat get the purpose of ringing the bell, they will do the same whenever they want a treat or to play outside.
16. Lie Down
Treating your cat to lie down on request can be very handy when you take it to a vet clinic and want to groom it. Cats are naturally curious and food-motivated, so we can use these traits to teach them new behaviors.
Hold a tasty treat near their nose and slowly lower it towards the ground. As your pet follows the treat, their body will naturally dip down. The moment the chest touches the ground, say " lie down" and reward with a treat and praise. Once your feline friend understands the verbal command, use the hand signal and cue together and praise when responding accurately.
17. Walk Through A Tunnel
In this agility trick, you ask your cat to walk through a tunnel on command as it tends to negotiate tight spaces naturally. Use a specially designed tunnel and place it in an open area in your home.
Begin by tempting them into the tunnel using their favorite toy or a few treats inside the tunnel. Once they enter and start walking through, give them praise and a treat, encouraging them to enter the tunnel with a positive experience, and will likely do it again in the future. Once you keep practicing your pet using treats and toys, it should eventually walk through it easily.
18. Sit On Shoulder
Teaching your cat to sit and balance on your shoulder is best done when your feline friend is a kitten. It is a difficult trick for dogs to jump onto a person's shoulder from the floor and stay there. You should maintain patience and practice training these tricks.
First, lift them on your shoulder a few times for fewer seconds, using positive reinforcement, praise, and treats. Gradually, increasing the duration, repeat the process until they are confident enough to sit on your shoulder in exchange for treats. Try to walk around the room as they have exceptional balance, it might stick on your shoulder comfortably for a treat or praise.
19. Stay
The "stay" command advises your cat to remain where it is, only moving off when you tell them to move.
Ask the cat to sit and stay in a particular place. As it stays in one place for fewer seconds, you provide treats and verbal praise your pet. Gradually increase the duration and distance of the stay command using your verbal commands. If it remains in place, praise and give them a treat and repeat the process time and again, unless it gets used to it.
20. Use Scratching Post
Teaching your cat to use a scratching post will help prevent damage to your furniture and provide a natural outlet for stress.
Choose a tall post mounted on a firm base so that it doesn't topple over when it uses it, and place it close to the spot where it loves to scratch. Sprinkle some catnip on the post to get attracted. When they show interest in scratching the post, encourage with a treat and praise. If you find your feline friend scratching on your furniture or floor coverings, say "No" and redirect their attention to the scratching post.
