Mookychick Home / How to guides

Train your cat to do tricks!

People always think that dogs are obedient but that you'd never be able to train a cat to do tricks. They're wrong! Mookychick will tell you how to make kitty come at your call, sit down when you tell them to and even go for a walk with you! Welcome to Kitty Boot Camp!

Kitty Boot Camp

All the tricks you'll train kitty to perform will involve food - good behaviour is learned best through rewards, not punishment.

Training your cat to come to you is the easiest trick to start with as kitty already comes to you when it's dinnertime, usually trying to trip you up with its tail like one of Beelzebub's minions.

COME HERE, KITTY

Preparation:

A peaceful room
A specific 'come' command after your cat's name (eg. "Kitty, come")
Your positive signal, so kitty knows they're doing well (We suggest you just use an easy to remember positive word like 'yes')
The reward (kitty's dinner when you're first starting to train them - and once they're getting the hang of training, small bits of whichever nice munchy you know your cat likes)

Training your cat to come to you

Whenever it's your cat's dinner time, give the clear command 'Kitty, come' when you know your cat can hear you. It's best if it's in the same room, at least at first.

When your cat comes to you, give them a positive signal so they know you're pleased with them. Say "come, good come". Say it in a happy, upbeat, firm voice so it's very clear you're praising them.

Give your cat their yum-yums straight away.

Once your cat has learned to come to you for its dinner, move to a new location, repeating the training process in a different room. Start training kitty by serving their dinner in a different room, but only feeding them (and praising them) when they've come to you after your 'Kitty, come' command.

KITTY, SIT

Preparation:

A peaceful room with a table in it for kitty to sit on
A specific 'sit' command after your cat's name (eg. "Kitty, sit")
Your positive 'yes' signal, so kitty knows they're doing well
The food reward

Training your cat to sit

Pop your cat near the edge of the table at the edge nearest to you, and pet them so they're happy and calm

Show them the reward

Give the command 'Kitty, sit' and move their dinner/treat back and over kitty's head

As your cat tips back to follow the food, they'll sit to keep their balance. When they sit, give them the positive signal: say 'Yes, sit, good sit' in an upbeat voice.

Immediately give them their dinner/treat.

Keep this training up until kitty responds to 'Kitty, sit' without you having to move their food over their head.

By this point you shouldn't need to place kitty on the table to get them to sit. Kitty should get the picture!

Hot tip: In the beginning, if your cat does not sit on their own, gently press down on his hindquarters. Then say "Yes, sit, good sit."Be gentle and patient. Remember not to frustrate or frighten your cat. If your cat resists, try again another time. It's always better to have kitty sit on their own.

KITTY, LET'S GO FOR A WALK!

Preparation

A harness (not a collar) and a short leash
A specific 'heel' command after your cat's name (eg. "Kitty,heel")
Your positive 'yes' signal, so kitty knows they're doing well
The food reward
A spoon to hold the reward (you may want to tape the spoon to a stick so you won't have to bend over)

With the dangers of dogs, cars and cat kidnappers, teaching your cat to walk on a lead is a good way to ensure kitty lives a happy, long life - all 9 of them.

Siamese cats are famously easy to train, but all cats can be trained to walk on a leash - it just takes time and patience.

The trick is to be gentle and not give up as soon as your cat says 'no, you must be joking, I'm not doing that'. Seriously, your cat can get used to walking short distances on a leash (not a walk round the whole park) if you teach them the command 'heel'.

Training your cat to walk on a lead

Spend a week or two just getting the cat used to the harness. Put it on him when you feed him so he develops a positive association with his harness - good things happen when that harness is on. Remember to use your positive signal while the cat is eating with the harness on.

After your cat is comfortable with the harness, you may attach the leash. Just let him drag the leash around. Be sure to start the leash training inside your home so your cat feels safe and secure.

Put the cat down at your side and hold onto the leash.

Give the command "Kitty, heel" while you slowly move forward holding a piece of food in front of the cat.

When he takes a step or two forward toward the food, use your positive signal and say "heel, good heel." Immediately give him his food reward.

Repeat this pattern, each time taking a step or two more until your cat responds to the command "heel" and moves forward when you do. Remember to go slowly and take it one step at a time.

Do not take this trick outdoors until your cat is very comfortable with the harness and leash. When you do go outdoors, take it slow. Let him first explore your garden, if you have one, or the area in front of your home, before venturing out into the streets.

Although cats can be leashed trained just like dogs, they will not trot at your side the way a dog will. When you walk with your cat outdoors, he may stop frequently and examine the world around him. Over time, he will come to enjoy his leash and harness.