How to Train a Cat: Helpful Tips for Cat Parents
You may not see many cats running through an agility course or ads for a cat obedience school, but it is possible to train your cat. In some ways they may already be trained — think about their behavior at dinnertime. Do they come find you at the same time each day? Do they come running as soon as they hear the pop of a can or their food bag rattle? Your cat associates those things with something positive (yummy cat food), which is the same outcome you’re looking for when training them.
Cat Training Is Possible
Training cats is easier if they’re kittens, but no matter your cat’s age, with patience and lots of positive reinforcement it is possible for most cats to be trained. It will take some time for your cat to obey each command you introduce, and you will need to keep training sessions short (just a few minutes) to keep your cat’s attention. It’s also a good idea to make sure your cat is in the right mood — capturing their attention when they’re about to pounce on their toy mouse is probably not going to work.
Positive Training Sessions Are Key
The best cat training methods use positive reinforcement to elicit the desired behavior. You might want to teach your cat some fun tricks or some useful commands like coming when you call. Or you might want to stop unwanted behavior — like your cat scratching furniture or meowing all night. Whatever your motivation, lots of positive reinforcement is the best way to train your cat. This could be using a favorite toy or a special treat that only appears during training. And of course lots and lots of praise. Who’s a good kitty?
Clicker Training Cats
One of the cat training methods you could try is clicker training. Show your cat the clicker, push the button and immediately reward them with a treat or toy. Repeat this as long as your cat is interested. Once they understand a reward is given after every click, they’ll start looking for a reward when hearing the clicker. You can then use clicker training to teach your cat tricks, like teaching your cat “sit.”
How to Teach a Cat Its Name
If you have multiple cats in your house, teaching each cat their name can be useful if you’re trying to get the attention of just one cat. It’s also a cool trick to show people that your cat knows their name!
Start with your cat beside you. Say their name once and if they look at you, give them a reward. If they don’t look at you, get their attention, say their name and reward them if they look at you. When they look away, say their name again and reward them if they look. Keep each training session short, and if you think your cat is getting it, try saying other words and not rewarding them to make sure they truly understand.
How to Get a Cat to Come to You
This method is similar to teaching your cat their name. You can use a cue or a clicker to teach your cat to come to you. If you have a dog that knows the command “come,” use a different cue for your cat so they don’t get confused about who you’re asking to come.
Start with your cat close to you. Say the cue and if they come to you, give them a reward. Get their attention if they don’t look at you, say the cue and give them a reward if they come. Repeat the process over multiple short sessions. Once they’re getting it, increase the distance between the two of you and the distractions. This is a really great “trick” to teach your inside cat, so if they escape outside they will come back to you (hopefully).
Cat Bites: How to Train a Cat Not to Bite
Cat bites generally aren’t malicious in nature; however, it’s a behavior that probably isn’t one of your favorite things about owning a cat. To help save your skin, redirect your cat’s attention to a toy and reinforce their good behavior with tasty treats and praise. You can also just walk away and ignore them for a minute or so to send a message that you don’t appreciate cat bites. It’s a good idea to avoid rough play with your kitty since this encourages biting behavior. As always, don’t use physical punishment for biting as this can lead to fear and aggression. You can learn more pet tips about curbing biting behavior in our article “Untrain Your Pet: Stop Your Cat from Biting You.”
How to Stop Your Cat Scratching Your Furniture
If you’re not a fan of your cat refinishing your furniture with their artwork (scratch marks), try using clicker training to curb your cat’s behavior. Place a scratching post or cat tree next to their favorite scratching place. When you see your cat using the scratching post instead of your furniture, press the clicker and give them a reward. Repeat this until your cat constantly uses the scratching post instead of your furniture. While they’re still learning, it can help to cover up the furniture to avoid temptation.
How to Train a Cat to Stay Off Kitchen Counters
Even though this unwanted behavior can be frustrating, it’s important not to punish your cat or shove them off the counter. You will only make them scared of you, or you could even injure them.
The first thing to do is try to find out why they’re up on the counter. Are they trying to get to a perch by a window? Are they bored and looking for attention? Are they sneaking a quick snack from food left on the counter? Once you’ve worked out why they’re up there, you can work out how to get them to stop. You can learn more training tips in our article “Countering Counter-Commanding Cats.”
How to Train a Kitten to Use the Litter Box
The good news is that most kittens and cats instinctively know what the litter box is for and how to use it. Cats like to cover up their waste, and cat litter provides that for them. So it’s usually easy to train a kitten or even older shelter cats to use a litter box.
The first thing you should do when you bring your new furry friend home is show them where the box is. It should be placed in a quiet, low-traffic area away from their food and water bowls. There should be one box per cat plus one. You may want to start with a low-sided, uncovered box, which is less intimidating, until the kitten becomes comfortable with using the litter. Scooping once or twice a day to keep the box clean is important at the beginning of training to keep your kitten using the box, as cats don’t like dirty litter boxes. If your kitten does have an accident, clean it up as soon as possible with an enzymatic cleaner.
Training Cats Takes Time
Training a cat isn’t the easiest thing in the world, but sticking with it has some benefits for both of you. Training stimulates your cat’s mind and body, which means they are less likely to misbehave out of boredom. Training can also help further your bond with your cat. And who doesn’t want to become closer to their furry friend!