Cat training basics

By Charlotte Francesca Stiles, DVM

We all know and have heard of teaching dogs to do things, but what about when it comes to training cats?

The fact is that there are actually a variety of reasons for training your cat which both pet parents and their cats are sure to benefit from.

In this article, we’ll go through the basics of cat training such as:

Benefits of training a cat
General tips for training a cat
Examples of commands for cats
Types of cat training

What’s the best way to train a cat?

Whether you’re training them for fun such as to bring you things, give you a high five, or for more practical reasons such as walking on a lead, or waiting in a specific area, there are many benefits to training a cat.

Aside from strengthening the bond between you and your cat, it can also help reduce unwanted behaviors, provide a source of enrichment for your cat, and even make difficult jobs (such as taking them to the vet) less stressful.

Before we start with the actual methods of training, let’s take a look at some general tips to keep in mind when training your cat:

Take it slow - build up your cat’s training slowly, be patient, and don’t expect them to learn overnight. It can take weeks or months to teach your cat their new skill.
Start easy - choose a task that isn’t too complicated (such as coming when you call them) in the beginning and then move onto more complex tasks.
Choose the right environment - the most effective (and fun) training takes place in a relaxed environment with minimal distractions.
Stock up on the perfect reward - use your cat’s favorite healthy treats as positive reinforcement, perhaps cut into smaller pieces to decrease the risk of overfeeding.
Timing is key - it’s best to take your cat’s routine into account when attempting to train them. This means waiting until after their nap and preferably before they’re fed (if you’re using treats as positive reinforcement)
Be mindful of the length of training - maximally 5 minutes at a time is plenty long enough

Types of cat training

In this section, we’ll go through a few common ways to train cats and their associated examples.

Don’t forget, when it comes to all types of training, it’s best to keep consistent to increase your cat’s understanding.

Litter training

Even if your cat has access to the outdoors, it’s always preferable to litter train them. Luckily, cats are pretty instinctive when it comes to litter training, so apart from being sure to facilitate the perfect area for them, pet parents don’t need to put much effort into training them.

We’d recommend the following when helping your cat discover the perfect place to defecate and urinate:

Litter - Choose an unperfumed, preferably organic, vet-approved source of litter.
Cleanliness - Remember to empty and clean their litter box daily (cats don’t like using dirty litter boxes).
Positioning - Put the box in a quiet, but easily accessible area, away from your kitty's food.
Multiple cat households - it’s best to have one litter box per cat

To teach your cat how to use the litter box, you can try showing the box to your cat and perhaps putting them inside. You can also try moving your cat inside the box when they look like they’re about to urinate or defecate or just after they’ve eaten. When they do successfully use the box, be sure to reward them with treats.

Once your cat has worked out how to use their litter box, they are unlikely to have any accidents. However, if you do notice any accidents or abnormalities, it’s best to contact your veterinarian as it could be a sign of a health condition.

With our Lifetime Protection Membership, you can access veterinary professionals anytime by phone, email, or live chat, so if you have questions about your pet or their training you can quickly get the help you need.

Transport training

Sometimes it’s necessary for our cats to travel, and is often a stressful experience for both them and us!

By training them to get used to being in their transport container, we can help them feel calmer and make the process smoother the next time you have to take them on a trip, such as to the vet.

After you’ve selected the perfect cat transport container and stocked up on your cat’s favorite snacks you’re ready to begin the following:

Place the container in a frequently used area of your and your cat’s home.
Heighten its appeal to your cat using treats, their favorite toys, if possible, items with their scent on.
After some time, try to encourage them to enter the box using rewards such as treats or a scratch in their favorite spot to reward them when they enter. You can also try feeding them close to the carrier and gradually moving them inside.
After a few successful entries, begin to start closing the door when they’re inside.
After you’re able to close the door, start practicing carefully walking around with them in the container.
When your cat is comfortable being moved around in the container in your house, you can progress to taking them for a short walk outside the house or in the car.

Clicker training

Clicker training involves training your cat to recognize a wanted behavior based on a clicking sound made from a clicker device. The idea is, that over time, your cat learns to associate the click sound with a specific behavior or action, and the encouragement of a reward.

The kind of training that involves a reward is referred to as ‘positive reinforcement training’.

To get started, find yourself a suitable clicker, your cat’s favorite treat, and follow the steps below (source):

‘Charging’ the clicker - in an appropriate area (as we mentioned above), make the clicker sound once, and then give your cat a treat straight away.
Repeat the above step over and over, for example, a couple of times a day for a couple of weeks.
The next time your cat performs a behavior (or close to it), make the click sound and reward it.

This method can be used to train your cat to perform a variety of commands and tricks such as:

Coming to you
Staying in a specific place
Sitting or lying down

Visual Cues

Visual cues can be used to help teach cats things such as ‘high-five’ and sit. This can be done by using various hand signals and treats.

For example, you can teach your cat to sit using visual cues and a treat as follows:

Encourage your cat to smell your hand using a treat hidden inside.
Keep your hand high above their head.
Move your hand backwards.
As they try to get the treat, they will most likely sit.
Repeat the above steps.

Auditory Cues

Similar to clicker training, this involves choosing a specific sound or noise to signal to your cat that they are about to be rewarded following the exhibition of a specific behavior.

You can use commands such as:

‘Sit’
‘Stay’
‘Wait’
‘Come’

Another common example of an auditory cue used for cats, is calling your cat’s name for them to come to you.

Conclusion

We hope you’ve enjoyed reading our guide on the basics of cat training and learning how it can be both fun and hugely beneficial for you and your cat.