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Yes, cats can learn tricks. Use a reward your cat genuinely likes, mark the instant they do the behavior you want, and keep practice brief and voluntary. A clicker is optional; a consistent word can work too. Start with a simple target or sit, then build more complex behaviors in small steps. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior notes that “Cats can learn all sorts of parlor tricks using positive reinforcement.” Source: AVSAB, “The Teachable Cat”.
Before you start: make training comfortable and worthwhile
Choose a quiet moment when your cat is relaxed. Have a reward ready before you begin: it might be a small food treat, play, a toy, or another thing your individual cat values. There is no single best reward for every cat. Keep the session short, let your cat choose whether to participate, and stop while they are still engaged—ideally after a success.
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Training is for a healthy cat who is not in pain and is not showing fear, anxiety, or other protective emotions. Don’t use a trick session to push through distress or try to solve a behavior concern by insisting on compliance. If you suspect pain or have concerns about your cat’s behavior, consult a veterinarian. Feline Veterinary Medical Association guidance sets these welfare boundaries for positive-reinforcement work.
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Choose a marker
A marker tells your cat exactly which action earned the reward. You can use a clicker or a consistent spoken word such as “yes.” Mark the desired moment, then give the reward promptly. If you use a clicker, first make the sound and immediately give a reward several times so your cat learns that the click predicts something good. A clicker is not essential: a clear word or social praise can serve as a marker. If the click sounds too loud for your cat, the FVMA suggests wrapping the clicker or keeping it in a pocket. FVMA training techniques handout and AAHA’s Cat Training 101 describe these approaches.
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1. Teach a nose target
A nose target is a useful first trick because it gives your cat a clear, simple action to repeat. You can use a finger or a suitable household object; a dedicated target stick is optional.
- Hold the target close to your cat’s nose without touching or crowding them.
- When your cat investigates and touches it with their nose, mark that instant and give the reward.
- Repeat while your cat remains interested. As touches become predictable, move the target a little farther away and reward each touch.
Keep the target at a comfortable distance and let your cat approach it. The goal is a voluntary nose touch, not following an object under pressure.
2. Teach your cat to sit
Many cats sit naturally, so you can begin by noticing and rewarding the behavior rather than physically positioning your cat.
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- Wait for your cat to sit on their own.
- As soon as their hindquarters touch the floor, mark the moment and give the reward.
- When your cat starts offering sits predictably, say “sit” just before the behavior, then mark and reward it.
If your cat does not readily offer a sit, AAHA describes gently moving a reward slightly above the head as a possible lure. Don’t push your cat into position or use the cue to compel compliance.
3. Teach a paw touch or high-five
Shape a paw action in small, comfortable steps. Start by rewarding a glance toward your hand or a slight paw movement, then gradually reward closer approaches and, finally, a gentle paw touch to your hand. Mark each step you want to build on. Avoid grabbing, lifting, or forcing your cat’s paw.
A marker is especially helpful when your hands are occupied or you cannot deliver the reward at the exact instant of a paw touch. Mark the action first, then give the reward promptly. The FVMA includes high-five as an example of when marking can help bridge that brief delay.
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4. Teach a wave
A wave can be shaped from the same small paw movements used for a paw touch, without requiring contact. Mark and reward a slight lift, then gradually wait for a more distinct raised paw before marking. Once your cat reliably offers the movement, you can add a verbal cue just before it. If your cat does not offer a paw movement comfortably, choose another behavior rather than trying to make one happen.
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5. Teach a turn or spin
Use a treat or target to invite a small turn, rewarding each comfortable step toward the full movement. At first, mark a head turn or a short shift of the body. Gradually reward a larger turn, then a complete rotation if your cat offers one willingly. Keep the movement easy and stop if your cat loses interest or appears uncomfortable.
6. Teach a step onto a mat
Place a small mat on the floor and reward your cat for noticing it, moving toward it, and eventually stepping onto it. Build the behavior gradually: mark each step that brings your cat closer to standing on the mat. When your cat is reliably stepping onto it, add a cue such as “mat” just before the action. A mat can become a familiar place to go, but it should remain an invitation—not a spot where your cat is trapped or held.
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7. Teach a jump over a low object
Only try this if your cat is healthy, comfortable with movement, and interested in the activity. Begin with a low, stable object and reward your cat for approaching or stepping over it. Increase the challenge gradually, and keep the setup safe and easy to pass around. Don’t raise the obstacle to make your cat jump, and stop if your cat hesitates, avoids it, or seems uncomfortable.
8. Teach a paw to a target
Some cats may enjoy touching an object with a paw. Present a safe, stable target within easy reach and reward any voluntary interest at first. Then mark and reward a paw movement toward it, gradually reserving the reward for a gentle paw touch. Keep the target still and avoid holding or maneuvering your cat’s limb.
9. Teach a turn toward a carrier
Targeting can guide a cat toward useful places as well as support entertainment. To build a voluntary approach to a carrier, reward your cat for looking toward it, then for moving closer, and then for approaching its opening. You can gradually reward further steps, including entering, as long as your cat stays comfortable. Keep the carrier accessible and do not shut the door as a surprise. The FVMA describes target use to guide a cat toward a carrier and reward entry; the 2022 AAFP/ISFM Cat Friendly Veterinary Interaction Guidelines also discuss choice, carrier training, and cooperative care in veterinary interactions.
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10. Build a trick of your own with shaping
Shaping means rewarding small actions that move toward a final behavior, then gradually raising the criterion. It lets you teach a more complex action without forcing your cat through it. The FVMA illustrates the method with cat-door training: reward successive steps from looking at the door through walking through it. Apply the same principle to a simple goal that suits your cat: choose an easy first step, mark and reward it, then wait for a slightly closer approximation before rewarding again.
When should you add a cue—and when should you stop?
First help your cat understand the action through repeated, rewarded practice. Add a verbal cue only once the behavior is predictable: say the cue just before the action, then mark and reward. If your cat does not respond, don’t repeat the cue more insistently or force the behavior. Pause, make the next attempt easier, or end the session.
Watch your cat rather than the clock. Turning away, disengaging, or showing fear or anxiety are reasons to stop, not challenges to overcome. No fixed learning timeline applies to every cat, and not every cat will enjoy or learn every trick. Keep the experience voluntary, and consult your veterinarian if pain or a behavior concern may be involved.
Does cat training have to be about tricks?
No. The same reward-based skills can support everyday cooperation, such as following a target toward a carrier or choosing to enter it. For veterinary visits and handling, choice and cooperative care matter more than performing a trick on cue. The aim is to make useful interactions easier for your cat, not to replace veterinary care or insist on participation when your cat is distressed.
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