Cat training 101: A beginner’s guide to training your cat

When you think of pet training, dogs might be the first animals that come to mind. But cats are intelligent, curious animals that are very capable of learning new behaviours.

Training your cat isn’t necessarily about teaching impressive tricks. It can help with useful everyday behaviours, such as coming when called, using a scratching post, entering their carrier or becoming more comfortable with handling.

The key is understanding what motivates your cat and making training a positive experience.

Can cats really be trained?

Yes. Cats learn through associations and consequences, which means behaviours that lead to something enjoyable are more likely to happen again.

Cat trainer and applied animal behaviourist Julie Posluns, founder of Cat School, uses positive reinforcement and clicker training to teach cats everything from basic behaviours to more advanced skills.

Positive reinforcement simply means giving your cat something they value immediately after they perform the behaviour you want. This might be a small treat, play with a favourite toy, praise or affection, depending on the individual cat.

Rather than focusing on what you don’t want your cat to do, training becomes about showing them what you do want and making that behaviour worthwhile.

The fundamentals of cat training

Before trying to teach your cat a particular behaviour, it helps to understand a few basic principles.

1. Find out what motivates your cat

Every cat is different.

For many cats, food is a powerful reward. Others may be more motivated by a favourite toy, play session, affection or attention.

Experiment with different rewards and pay attention to what gets your cat interested.

Training treats should generally be small so your cat can receive several rewards during a session without eating a large amount of additional food.

2. Reward the behaviour you want

Timing is an important part of training.

Try to reward your cat immediately after they perform the desired behaviour. This helps them understand which action earned the reward.

For example, if you’re encouraging your cat to use their scratching post, reward them when they use the post rather than several minutes later.

Cat behaviour consultant Pam Johnson-Bennett recommends focusing on rewarding desirable behaviour and providing an appropriate alternative when cats display behaviour you don’t want.

3. Start with something simple

Don’t begin by expecting your cat to master a complicated trick.

Choose something easy and build from there.

Good beginner behaviours can include:

• Responding to their name
• Coming when called
• Touching a target
• Sitting
• Using their scratching post
• Entering their carrier
• Giving a paw or high five

Breaking training into small steps makes it easier for your cat to understand what you’re asking.

4. Keep training sessions short

Cats don’t need long training sessions.

Julie Posluns recommends short sessions of around two to five minutes for beginner clicker training. A few minutes of successful training can be much more productive than continuing until your cat loses interest.

Watch your cat’s body language. If they walk away, stop accepting rewards or become distracted, that’s a good indication that it’s time for a break.

You can always try again later.

5. Be consistent

Consistency helps your cat understand what is expected.

Use the same word, gesture or cue for a particular behaviour and encourage other members of your household to do the same.

Mixed messages can make learning much harder. If one person rewards a cat for jumping onto the kitchen bench while another person discourages it, your cat isn’t necessarily being stubborn — the rules simply aren’t clear.

What is clicker training?

A clicker is a small training tool that produces a distinctive clicking sound.

The sound acts as a marker. You click at the exact moment your cat performs the behaviour you’re looking for and then provide a reward.

Over time, your cat learns that the click means they have done something correctly and that a reward is coming.

For example, if you’re teaching your cat to touch your hand with their nose:

1. Present your hand near your cat.
2. Wait for them to investigate.
3. The moment their nose touches your hand, click.
4. Immediately give them a reward.
5. Repeat.

The click itself isn’t the reward. Its job is to clearly identify the precise behaviour that earned the reward.

You don’t have to use a clicker to train a cat, but it can make communication clearer, particularly when you’re teaching behaviours that require precise timing.

Try target training

Target training is another useful foundation skill.

A target might be a target stick, your finger or another safe object. Your goal is to teach your cat to touch or follow it.

Start by presenting the target close to your cat. Cats are naturally curious, so they may move towards it to investigate.

The moment your cat touches the target, mark the behaviour with your clicker or chosen marker and provide a reward.

Once your cat understands the game, you can gradually move the target further away.

Target training can eventually be used to guide your cat onto a particular surface, move them from one location to another or help teach more complicated behaviours.

How to teach your cat to come when called

Recall is one of the most practical behaviours you can teach.

Choose a consistent cue, such as your cat’s name followed by “come”.

Begin when you’re close to your cat and there aren’t many distractions.

Say your cue once. When your cat approaches you, immediately reward them.

Once they’re consistently responding at a short distance, gradually practise from further away. Eventually, you can practise when you’re outside their immediate line of sight.

Pam Johnson-Bennett recommends continuing to reward cats when they respond to a recall cue, even if they don’t respond immediately. You want coming to you to remain a positive experience.

Avoid using your recall cue only before something your cat dislikes, such as being put into a carrier. Otherwise, they may begin associating the cue with an unpleasant outcome.

Training better everyday habits

Cat training can also help with normal household behaviours.

Scratching furniture

Scratching is a natural feline behaviour, so the goal shouldn’t be to stop your cat from scratching altogether.

Instead, provide an appropriate alternative.

Place a sturdy scratching post close to the area your cat already likes to scratch. When they investigate or use the post, reward them.

The scratching post should be appealing enough to compete with the furniture. Some cats prefer vertical scratching posts, while others prefer horizontal surfaces.

Getting into the carrier

The carrier doesn’t have to appear only when it’s time to visit the vet.

Leave it accessible at home with the door open. Place comfortable bedding, treats or favourite toys inside and allow your cat to investigate it voluntarily.

Reward your cat for approaching the carrier, then for looking inside, stepping inside and eventually spending time there.

Breaking the process into small stages can help create a more positive association with the carrier.

Handling and grooming

Training can also help cats become more comfortable with everyday care.

Rather than immediately expecting your cat to tolerate a full brushing or nail-trimming session, introduce handling gradually.

For example, briefly touch a paw and provide a reward. Once your cat is comfortable with that step, progress to gently holding the paw before rewarding them.

Small, positive experiences can gradually prepare cats for more involved handling.

What shouldn’t you do when training a cat?

Punishment isn’t an effective way to teach your cat what you would prefer them to do.

Yelling, spraying your cat with water or physically correcting them may interrupt behaviour in the moment, but it doesn’t clearly teach an alternative behaviour. It can also make your cat wary of you.

Instead, consider why the behaviour is occurring.

A cat scratching the couch may need a better scratching surface. A cat repeatedly climbing somewhere may be looking for a high resting place. A cat waking you early may have learned that doing so results in breakfast.

Once you understand what your cat is getting from a behaviour, you can provide an appropriate alternative and reward them for choosing it.

What if your cat isn’t interested in training?

Don’t assume they’re incapable of learning.

Consider the circumstances.

Your cat may:

• Not find the reward motivating enough
• Already be full
• Be tired or distracted
• Find the environment too stimulating
• Not understand what you’re asking
• Be progressing too quickly

Try making the exercise easier or using a different reward.

If your cat becomes frustrated or walks away, finish the session and try again another time.

Training should feel like a game rather than a battle.

Can older cats be trained?

Training isn’t just for kittens.

Adult and senior cats can learn new behaviours too. Some may need more time to become comfortable experimenting with unfamiliar behaviours, so work at a pace that suits the individual cat.

Training can also provide mental stimulation and another opportunity for positive interaction between you and your pet.

When should you get professional help?

Training can help with many everyday behaviours, but significant behavioural changes shouldn’t automatically be treated as a training problem.

If your cat suddenly starts behaving differently, becomes unusually aggressive or fearful, stops using their litter tray or shows another significant change in behaviour, speak with your veterinarian first. Behavioural changes can sometimes be associated with an underlying health problem.

For ongoing behavioural concerns, consider seeking help from a suitably qualified feline behaviour professional, such as a certified cat behaviour consultant, veterinary behaviourist or certified applied animal behaviourist.

Patience is part of the process

Cats aren’t dogs, and successful cat training doesn’t come from trying to make them behave like one.

Instead, training works best when you understand what motivates your individual cat.

Keep sessions short. Reward the behaviours you want. Progress in small steps and give your cat the choice to participate.

You may be surprised by just how much your clever kitty can learn.