Teaching your cat tricks – with and without a clicker
Are you excited to teach your cat cool tricks and do fun exercises? Then find out now how to get started the best way!
Training your cat with a clicker
A so-called marker can make communication between pet and human easier. Many cat trainers use a clicker. A clicker is a small device that makes a clicking sound at the push of a button. If used correctly, it provides your cat with positive reinforcement to do something.
How to introduce the clicker – 5 steps
Of course, your cat won’t respond to the clicker right away. You introduce it by always clicking whenever your cat shows the desired behavior and then giving an additional reward, such as a treat. This way, the clicker is associated with something positive. If you repeat this regularly, eventually just clicking will be enough.
Your cat shows the desired behavior
Click immediately
Give an additional reward, such as a treat
Repeat, repeat, repeat
Omit the extra reward, just click
After 10 clicker sessions you should take a short break.
Cat training without a clicker
If you don’t have a clicker handy, you can of course train your feline friend another way. Instead of a clicker, you can simply use a so-called marker word. It should be short and catchy, like "Yes" or "Top". You introduce the marker word just like the clicker: Every time your cat shows the desired behavior, you say the marker word and immediately follow it with a reward. Keep doing this until you only need to use the marker word.
Alternatively, you can also try to train completely without a marker. Depending on how motivated your cat is and how much she enjoys training, sometimes a verbal reward, a pet, or a treat is enough.
How do I teach my cat tricks?
Whether with or without a clicker – if you want to teach your cat tricks, it’s important that she understands that a specific action leads to a reward. That means you need to teach her that, for example, she can earn a treat by doing a trick.
Getting started…
The best way to begin is with the so-called finger touch. Here your cat learns to touch your finger with her nose. Alternatively, there’s also a so-called target stick, which she can touch. This is a tool developed especially for cat training, consisting of a telescopic rod with a ball at the tip. Building on this basic exercise you can later teach your cat more exercises and tricks, such as begging.
Sit your cat down on an elevated surface, such as a chair.
Hold your finger or the target stick right in front of her nose.
At the first reaction toward your finger, click or say the marker word immediately and/or reward your cat with a treat. At first, it’s enough if she just sniffs at your finger without actually touching it.
Repeat, repeat, repeat
Keep training sessions short at first and take a break after no more than 10 repetitions.
Building on this…
Now your cat should become active herself. That means, once finger touch or target stick is established, things get a bit more challenging.
Now hold your finger/target stick a little to the left or right, above or below your cat.
If your cat touches the finger/stick, click and/or reward immediately.
Repeat, repeat, repeat
The goal is for her to reliably touch the finger/stick in different positions without having to move much.
Important! Don’t help your cat! It’s tempting to give your cat a little hint by showing her what to do with your other hand or by wiggling your finger or the target stick. But your cat should figure out on her own which behavior leads to a reward. If you help her, you’re taking away that task. If your cat just can’t figure out what to do, take a step back. The task should always be chosen so that she has a realistic chance of being successful.
If that works well, you’re ready for real tricks and exercises.
Help, my cat runs away during training
Do you feel like your cat just isn’t interested in cool tricks because she always runs away? That’s not necessarily the case. In fact, the time of day can affect your training success. Some cats prefer to train in the morning, others in the evening. Try out different times of day.
Another reason could be that the reward you chose isn’t enticing enough. Cats are quite picky and won’t do tricks for just any snack. If the reward isn’t good enough, cats won’t bother. Here’s a tip: Our delicious →Cream Snacks are especially popular with cats.
Of course, it could also be that your training session was simply too long. If your kitty was doing well at first and then suddenly gives up, don’t hold it against her. She’ll surely join in again next time.
