So you’ve welcomed a furry new family member into your home, and you’re raring to go on training them. But wait – where do you even start with teaching your cat? We know it can seem daunting, but you’ll have your cat hunting down their food in no time with our how-to guide. Because here, you’ll find the best tricks to teach your cat. From the basics of getting them to use a litter tray to more complex concepts like sit, stay and come, we’ve got it all covered.
Here Are The Best Tricks to Teach Your Cat
The Basics Of Clicker Training
Clicker training is a great way to teach your cat new behaviors. It’s a simple, positive reinforcement method that uses a clicker (or any other marker sound) to mark the desired behavior’s exact moment. Once your cat has learned that the clicker means “good job!”, you can start using it to teach new behaviors like coming when called, fetching, or even going to the bathroom in the litter box.
How To Get Started Teaching Your Cat Tricks
Now that you have your supplies, it’s time to get started! The first step is to make sure your cat is comfortable with the clicker (or chosen sound) and the treats. Click and treat once to ensure your cat isn’t afraid of the sound. Then select a specific behavior to reward, such as looking in your direction. When your cat looks at you, click and toss her a treat.
Repeat every time she looks at you. Once your cat understands that offering you attention results in a click and treat (often in as little as one session), you can start to increase your distance from her. From there, the sky’s the limit! You can teach your cat all sorts of tricks, like jumping through a hoop or playing fetch.
The Best Tricks To Teach Your Cat
Some of the best tricks to teach your cat are pretty simple. You can start with rewarding them for looking in your direction or coming when called. As your cat becomes more comfortable with the clicker sound and the treats, you can start to ask for more complicated behaviors. Just be sure to keep things positive and fun—cats are savvy and will quickly learn what gets them good things!
Tips For Success When Teaching Your Cat Tricks
As with any training, be consistent and patient when teaching your cat tricks. Rewards (such as treats) are essential, as is spacing out training sessions throughout the day to avoid boredom. Start with easy behaviors that your cat is sure to understand, such as looking in your direction, and then gradually increase the difficulty. And have fun! Cats love learning new things, so you’ll begin enjoying these training sessions.
Why Your Cat Needs To Know Tricks
Cats look adorable when they sleep in a sunbeam or play with a toy. But they become even more precious when they can do clever tricks. That’s right—it’s time to teach your cat some basic commands. There are plenty of reasons why you should do this. For one, it will give you a deeper bond with your kitty. Plus, it’s always amusing to see a cat do something out of the ordinary. Finally, teaching your cat tricks can actually help keep them mentally stimulated and healthy.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You’ve made the life-changing decision to teach your cat tricks. Whether your motivation is to make your cat the most popular pet in the neighborhood or simply give them a new skill, clicker training is a great way. With patience, practice, and plenty of positive reinforcement, you and your cat can become trick masters in no time.
