Though cats are often considered independent and not as trainable as dogs, they can still learn various tricks with just a little dedication and patience. With enough time spent with your cat, you can teach them everything from giving high fives to heel-walking like a pro – no matter their size! So if you have a feline friend and are looking for a way to bond with them, this post is for you! In it, you will learn some new tricks you can teach your cat!
Are Cats Harder To Teach Tricks Than Dogs?
On the surface, teaching tricks to cats may seem more challenging than teaching tricks to dogs. However, cats can learn new behaviors as quickly as dogs; patience and understanding are all it takes. Cats tend to be more independent in their learning process, so finding techniques that work for them can be beneficial.
As with any pet, treats are the key to successful training; by rewarding good behavior and frequently reinforcing commands, cats can perform summoned behaviors such as sitting or shaking hands. Ultimately, cats may take longer to learn some behaviors than dogs, making them appear harder to teach — but with dedicated practice and repetition, they will soon be masters of their craft.
Tricks To Teach Your Cat
Once you realize that cats can be trained just as successfully as dogs, teaching them tricks can become a fun and rewarding experience for you and your cat. Here are some beginner-level tricks that you can start to teach your cat:
Sit
Sitting is a great starting point for training. Begin by holding a treat above your cat’s head, then slowly move it back towards its tail. As your cat follows the treat with their eyes, they will naturally lower their body into a seated position. Once your cat is in a seated position, give them the treat and praise them with a positive tone of voice. Repeat this process several times daily until your cat learns to sit on command.
It’s important to keep training sessions short, no more than 5-10 minutes daily, and use positive reinforcement techniques such as treats, praise, and affection. Consistency is key, so use the same command word, such as “sit”, each time you train your cat.
High Five
Teaching your cat to give a high-five is a fun and impressive trick that can be easily learned. Start by holding a treat in your closed hand and hold it up to your cat. When they reach up with their paw to try and get the treat, say “high five” and open your hand to give them the treat. Repeat this process several times until your cat begins to associate the command with the action of giving a high-five.
Once your cat consistently gives a high-five, you can begin to phase out the treat rewards and use praise and affection instead. You might also try holding your hand up and giving the command “high five” without a treat to test your cat’s understanding.
Roll Over
Getting your feline friend to perform a rollover may take patience and dedication, but it’s worth the effort! Start by getting your cat into a comfortable lying position on their side. Gently guide them as they turn onto their back; when they do, reward them with treats and exuberant praise in an encouraging tone of voice. Continue this process daily until your kitty is completely relaxed while lying on its back – you’ll be surprised how quickly mastery can be achieved!
Once your cat is comfortably lying on their back, you can encourage them to roll over using a treat as a lure. Hold the treat in front of your cat’s nose and move it slowly towards their shoulder, encouraging them to roll over onto their stomach to reach the treat. When your cat rolls over, give them the treat and praise them.
Fetch
Teaching your cat how to fetch is easier than you think. The key is to start by associating fun activities with a toy – objects like feathered fishing poles, crumpled-up little balls of paper, or a soft plush toy that your cat loves interacting with. Cats may not be as eager to play fetch games as dogs are, but if given lots of encouragement and patience, cats can learn the basics quite easily. To get your kitty ready for retrieving playtime, hold up the toy right near their face and make it dangle, so they become interested in it.
Then after they have sniffed and touched the object, drop it on the ground a few feet away and use words like “fetch” or “get it” while also pointing to the toy to help make that association in their head. Keep encouraging them with fun messages and treats if they show interest – soon enough, you’ll have your darling little feline fetching toys right at your feet!
Heel-Walking
Heel-walking is not only a valuable trick that your cat can learn but can be an enjoyable activity that allows you to bond with your pet while providing mental and physical stimulation. The goal of this training is for the cat to remain close to your feet and walk in a slow, orderly way. To start this process, slowly hold treats near your foot and expect success when your cat follows your cue.
For more advanced exercises, you may wish to use a clicker or other special reward-based training tool, but always be sure to stay patient and positive during the process. With practice, your cat can improve their walking skills and eventually enjoy long walks with their owner.
Play Dead
Pay dead can be one of the funniest and most impressive cat tricks to show off! It is relatively simple and can be an incredibly rewarding experience for both you and your feline companion. To begin, choose a command word like “Bang” or “Boom” to signify that you want your cat to lie down and act dead. After repeating the command several times, accompanied by a treat, each time your cat acts correctly, they will eventually learn it.
You can make it even more engaging by using small stuffed animals or toys as props for playing imaginative pretend playmates along with your cat. With their inventiveness and humor, teaching your cat how to play dead can be a great way to give you and your pet hours of entertaining pleasure.
Have Fun With These Tricks To Teach Your Cat!
Finding new tricks to teach your cat can be a great way to stimulate their minds, form stronger bonds with them, and have some good-natured fun together. With patience and consistency, anybody can teach their cats these behaviors, so don’t be afraid to take the time and put in the effort! You might even find that your kitty is an eager and capable student who loves to learn! And if they don’t learn right away, that’s okay too! You can always try again tomorrow!