How to Teach Your Cat Tricks

Anyone whos ever owned a cat knows just how much fun they can be. However, what most people dont realize is that, just like dogs, you can teach your cats tricks, like shaking hands or rolling over. Of course, not all cats are able to do the same tricks, and some are too stubborn to perform simple tricks. If youre interested in teaching your cat some tricks, keep in mind that this will require a great deal of patience on your part, but it can be done.

Check out the following tips on how to get Fluffy to perform on command:

The best time to teach your cat tricks is before her regular mealtime. This way, your cats attention will be focused on the lesson. If your cat did well, give her a special treat before putting out her dinner bowl. Train your cat with a reward so that her brain will begin to associate performing your tricks with getting a reward.

When you train your cat, let her actually see the reward that youll give her. This will serve as a great motivation for your cat to perform the trick.

One of the best places to begin is by training your cat to come when shes called. Of course, this isnt actually a trick itself, but will serve as a good training for your cat. Not only are you laying the groundwork for how shell learn future tricks, youll also be able to call her back from dangerous situations in the future. Try to use your cats name whenever you call her, and once your cat approaches you on command, give her a reward.

If your cat already comes on command, try to teach her a simple trick like rolling over. Teaching your cat how to roll over is the same as commanding her to approach you. Guide her through the motion, then reward her with a treat. Begin to associate the movement with a spoken command, such as Roll over. Eventually, shell learn to associate your verbal command with the required motion and the treat she gets for performing it.

When your cat can perform roll over on your command, you can introduce other simple tricks, like shaking hands. When teaching your cat, place her reward in your hand and let her see it. Hold it in front of her paws, encouraging her to reach out and touch it. When she does, grab hold of her paw firmly and shake it. Again, try to associate this motion with a verbal command and reward her with a treat every time you practice.

When teaching your cat new tricks, its best to repeat the tricks over and over until youve mastered it before moving on to another one. Trying to work on too many tricks at the same time will be confusing for her.

Keep in mind that cats dont have long attention spans, so its best to teach the tricks in short intervals. As much as possible, dont work on them for more than five minutes at a time. Cats really are intelligent animals, but keep in mind that they can be stubborn.