10 Cool Cat Tricks to Teach Your Cat

Did you know that cats can learn cool tricks just like dogs? Find out how to teach your cat some cool cat tricks that you can show off to your friends. Cats have an independent streak that makes them challenging to train. You’ll need patience and persistence to convince your feline of the benefits and fun involved in learning cool cat tricks. Your kitty might not immediately warm up to the idea of performing on command, but eventually, the cat’s inquisitive nature will take hold and the puss will start to learn.

Why Teach Your Cat Tricks?

Studies have shown that the typical housecat sleeps from 12 to 18 hours per day and about 40% of cats may nap for even longer. With your kitty’s laidback attitude, you might wonder why you should even bother teaching your cat tricks.

Besides the fact that they are fun, teaching your cat tricks can have some health benefits. Training sessions encourage activity, responsiveness, and engagement which can all benefit the cat’s mental and emotional health. 

A cat can quickly become bored living a sedentary lifestyle. Your cat might start to gain weight and experience health problems if this lifestyle continues, especially in their senior years. Training fun cat tricks is a great way to encourage more active behaviours and help you bond with your kitty.

In the wild, a feline would spend the majority of its active time hunting, mating, and raising a family. Survival takes exercise, alertness and cunning. Cats in captivity can quickly adapt to a sedentary lifestyle, negatively impacting the animal’s well-being and health.

Benefits of Teaching Your Cat Tricks

Basic cat training, like how to train your cat to use a litter box and even some more advanced practices like training your cat to walk on leash are going to be very beneficial to your cat's health and routine, but teaching them fun tricks can also have many benefits. 

Here are a few benefits of teaching your cat tricks:

• • Maintains alertness
  • Encourages physical activity 
  • Inspires bonding
  • Stimulates the mind
  • Overcomes boredom

Additionally, teaching your cat some cool tricks is just fun. Your cat gets the benefit of learning new behaviours and you get to show off your cat's cool new skills to all your guests.

Tips for Teaching Cat Tricks

Teaching cat tricks is fun for both you and your kitty. While you might think that there is no way your cat will learn to do tricks, like high fives or sitting, it's really not as hard as it seems. Your cat might surprise you with how quickly he picks up his new tricks.

Below are a few tips on teaching cat tricks to ensure success.

• • Keep cat trick training sessions short so your feline does not lose interest.
  • Carry out frequent training sessions for success because a cat learns tricks through repetition. Ideally, you should carry out training sessions several times per day. 
  • Teach only one trick at a time and then move on to the next trick. 
  • Always use treats to train.
  • Train in a distraction-free area of the home. 
  • Consider using a clicker to train your kitty to grab the cat’s attention. 

Teaching cool cat tricks is fun not only for your amusement but also for your cat’s mental stimulation. The time you spend with your furry friend will solidify the bond you share with each other and take your relationship to the next level of pet friendship.

To ensure your cat's training goes smoothly, make sure you have the right tools on hand. Small but flavourful cat treats will help to keep your cat's attention and encourage cooperation. Here are a few of our favourite extra-tasty cat treats:

• • Orijen Freeze-Dried Cat Treats
  • Nutrients subZERO Freeze-Dried Cat Treats
  • Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Rabbit Bites
  • Inaba CIAO Churu Chicken with Shrimp Puree

Choose the cat treats that your cat goes totally nuts for. The tastier it is, the more likely they are to work to get them. Just remember to stick to small treats. If you have to break up their favourite treats into small bite-sized pieces so that you can give several treats without feeding too many calories.

Another tool for training your cat is a small treat pouch. Rewarding effectively is all about timing. Having a treat bag ensures you have treats within reach so you can immediately reward your cat for a successful trick. 

How to Train a Cat to Do Tricks

Training your cat is not that much different from training a dog. You need to choose a vocal command or a word that you use to ask for the trick. One word is ideal, but two words can be necessary for some commands, like high-five.

Cats don't grasp vocabulary as easily as dogs. They will eventually learn the vocal cues, but there are other methods you can use in conjunction with audible commands that will help them grasp new skills quickly.

Here are a few tips for training cat tricks:

Visual Cues

A visual cue, like a hand motion, can complement cat training techniques. Try to use hand signals that suggest the desired movement. You can also use your hand to guide your cat, without touching them. You'll see a few easy examples later in this blog.

Timing Is Important

Timing is important for cats too. As independent creatures, your cat is less likely to adhere to your schedule. Wait until your cat is up and active to try to train some tricks. This will ensure she's alert and ready to participate. Before or after meal times, during playtime, and after going for a stimulating walk with your cat are all great opportunities to start a training session.

Choose the Right Incentive

The right reward will keep your cat interested and can speed up the training process. Cats that aren't food-motivated may struggle with training. If your cat isn't interested in food or treats, then you will need to choose a different reward system, like a gentle neck scratch or a favourite toy.

Keep It Simple

When first starting your cat training, it's a good idea to start with simple tricks and commands. Practice easier tricks like "sit" and "high five" and make sure your cat fully understands and consistently demonstrates these skills before moving on to more challenging tricks. Trying to teach too much at once can confuse and frustrate your cat.

10 Cool Cat Tricks to Teach Your Cat

Have you ever looked at a dog showing off all his cool tricks and thought it would be really fun if you could teach your cat those tricks? Fortunately, you can! Start with the basics to help get your cat used to the training process and then you can work your way up to more impressive tricks.

Take a look at the 10 most popular cat tricks to teach your cat. The first five are the easy ones and a great place to start your cat training. Once you've mastered those, you can try out some of the more advanced cat tricks.

1. How to Teach Your Cat to Sit

This trick is actually the same for dogs as it is for cats. It will take some practice, but this is one of the easiest tricks to teach a cat.

1. Simply grab a small treat, and hold it in front of your cat, close to her face.
2. Then raise the treat up and back, staying within a few inches of your cat. The natural reaction is for your cat to lift her head.
3. When you go back far enough, your cat will have to sit or turn to follow the treat. If you keep the treat close enough to her nose, sitting will be the more likely option.
4. As you draw your hand back, use the sit command.
5. If your cat sits, reward her immediately. 

With practice, your cat may associate the word sit with the action. Then you can ask for the sit command without using the treat guide. Ask your kitty to sit before meals, before going outside, and even during playtime. 

2. How to Teach Your Cat to Give a High Five

Have you ever seen a kitty give a high-five? The adorable cat trick encourages your cat to touch its paw to your hand in a show of comradery. 

1. Place your kitty in front of you.
2. Hold a tasty treat in front of your cat at your cat’s shoulder height.
3. The cat may instinctually stretch out their paw to touch the treat. If your cat’s paw touches your hand, give the feline the treat at the same time you say, ‘High five’.
4. If your cat does not reach out, then use your other hand to tap the hand holding the treat. Demonstrating the skill may help your cat understand.
5. Once your cat learns that touching your hand with his paw gets him a treat, the behaviour will become more natural. Continue to repeat these steps until your cat confidently and consistently responds correctly.

Some cats hate their paws being touched, so they may be hesitant to actually make contact. It's up to you if you want to accept a hover paw for a high five, but this training can be an effective tool for helping your cat get comfortable with his paws being touched. 

3. How to Train Your Cat to Come

Cats master the ‘come’ command quickly when you provide positive reinforcement combined with a tasty treat. This is a great trick for bonding with your cat and having them get accustomed to your voice. 

1. Call your cat using the cat’s name or a nickname that they are most likely to respond to.
2. If your cat comes to you, even if it's not all the way, provide a treat and a good boy/girl, for encouragement.
3. Take a few steps back and try the command again. Using a hand motion to signal in combination with the vocal cue can help.
4. Soon your cat will learn that he will receive a yummy morsel any time you call his name which will ensure a positive recall every time.

This one takes lots of patience. At first, your cat may choose not to respond at all. This could be because they aren't aware of the treat or reward. Start your practice with only a short distance between you so that your cat can see or smell the reward. 

4. How to Teach Your Cat to Spin

Another basic command to teach cats is to spin. Most cats learn this trick easily but need lots of practice to associate the spin command with the action. 

1. Show your cat the treat to get her attention.
2. Slowly move the treat in a horizontal circle at eye level with your cat. 
3. Your cat will follow the treat around. 
4. Go slow enough for your cat to follow. If you move too fast, your cat will stop and spin back the other way. 
5. After much practice, you can hold the treat a little further away and ask your cat to spin. 

Some cats will always need the treat to follow, while others will learn to follow just a hand motion with a verbal command. 

5. How to Teach Your Cat to Touch

Most cats are very curious. If you hold out your finger your cat is likely to try to sniff it to investigate. This trick is easiest for cats that are highly food-motivated, but any cat can learn this one.

1. Grab a treat with a strong smell, like freeze-dried liver or salmon bites, in one hand.
2. Switch the treat to the other hand, and use the index finger of the first hand to point at your cat, holding your hand a few inches away.
3.  When your cat comes to investigate, use the command touch. You can simply say "touch", or you can get more creative and use a different one-syllable word, like "boop".
4. Wait until she either touches your finger or gets very close. Reward her immediately with the treat.
5. Try this several times with small cat treats until your cat associates the hand motion and command with the action of touching your hand with her nose.

The touch command and one finger are common for this cat trick but you can get creative for a funnier, shower trick. For example, You can use a closed fist and the command pound it.

6. How to Train Your Cat to Speak

Yes, you can train your cat to speak!  Some cat breeds are known to be more vocal than others, such as the Siamese. However, any cat can master the ‘speak’ command. It's believed that cats learn to vocalize differently to their humans than they do with other cats, so it's not a stretch for them to learn to respond to a specific vocal cue.

1. Talk to your cat and when the kitty replies with a ‘meow’  immediately give your furry friend a tasty treat. Transition to using a "speak" command, and start only rewarding when they respond to that verbal command.
2. Be prepared for the fact that this could lead to your cat "asking" for treats more often than you'd like. Once your cat understands the reward system, stick to only rewarding when your cat responds to the chosen voice prompt. This will help to prevent your cat from yelling all day long and expecting a treat for it.
3. If your cat is already very vocal, then you may find this helps her understand when it's appropriate to speak. Reward her when she meows in response to you, but ignore her when she yells just for attention.

7. How to Teach Your Cat to Jump Up

This fun party trick is not for everyone. Teaching your cat to jump into your arms or onto your shoulder shows off some serious skill, but it's not without its risk. Your cat will cling to you to secure her landing, so be prepared for a few claw marks when you first start practicing. 

1. Start by closing the height distance between you by either kneeling on the ground or placing your cat on a chair. 
2. Hold a small treat at your shoulder level.
3. Use the command up or jump. 
4. Using your free hand to tap your shoulder or chest can be helpful for some cats. 
5. At first, your cat will be hesitant to jump, so may default to climbing his front paws up to reach the treat. 
6. Let him practice this for a bit, then take a step back so that your cat has to leap to reach you. 
7. Be prepared to catch your cat at first. Cats aren't always as graceful as we think. 
8. When you are comfortable, you can start practicing from a larger distance, with your cat on the ground and you standing. 

A pro tip for teaching your cat to jump up on you is to make sure her nails are trimmed and you are wearing clothes that cover your skin. Young kittens and older cats will have more difficulty with this strict due to size or mobility, so make sure you are never asking your cat to make a jump that could put them at risk of injury.

8. How to Train a Cat to Roll Over

One of the easiest cat tricks to teach is to train your cat to roll over. Many cats already demonstrate this skill when trying to get attention or when stretching after a nap, so it's more about rewarding the behaviour and adding the command.

1. Sit beside your cat while it is lying down. 
2. Hold a treat about an inch away from the cat’s nose.
3. Arc the hand that is holding the treat, so your cat can tilt its head to sniff the treat.  The cat will usually incline his head toward the treat to follow it. 
4. Move the treat slowly so that the cat rolls to his side. 
5. Give the treat to the cat when the cat rolls on his side.
6. Repeat this cat trick at least six times. Soon your cat will roll quickly to his side for a treat. You can then advance to encouraging your cat to roll completely over to receive the treat.

9. How to Train Your Cat to Jump Through a Hoop

If you have been to a circus or the famous Seigfried & Roy tiger show in Las Vegas then you have seen a lion or tiger jump through a hoop. You might be surprised to learn that a common house kitty can also learn this fun cat trick with minimal ease. You’ll need to invest in a small hula hoop to carry out this cat trick.

1. Hold up the hula hoop in front of your cat, keeping it touching the ground.
2. Place a treat in your hand and stick your hand through the hoop from behind.
3. Call your kitty and show them the treat. When they come to investigate, slowly pull your hand back through the hoop so that the cat follows.
4. Give the cat the treat when they have successfully walked through the hoop.
5. Always use the same command, like "hoop" or "through" to encourage the cat to walk through the hoop.
6. Once this skill is learned, raise the hoop slightly off the ground each time until your cat has to jump to clear the hoop.

Once your cat masters this trick, you can use other shapes and obstacles using the same technique. With enough practice, you can teach your cat to go through a whole homemade obstacle course.

10. How to Teach Your Cat To Do Leg Weaves

One of the more advanced cat tricks utilizes a skill that most cats already have, just not one that they do on command. When cats want attention, they tend to rub up against our legs, some even going so far as to weave around us as we walk. You can take that cute but annoying habit, and use it to teach your cat a fun new trick.

1. Stand with your legs apart, with one foot ahead of the other, like you are taking a step.
2. Gently toss a treat just through your legs and point to encourage your cat to walk through and retrieve it.
3. Use the command "weave", or another command of your choosing as they pass through.
4. Once your cat has fully cleared your front leg and retrieved the reward, toss another treat back through your legs in the opposite direction and point. Repeat several times.
5. Once your cat is comfortable walking through your legs, start using the same vocal command, but instead of tossing the treat, hold the treat between your legs, on the opposite side that they are standing. As they follow the treat through, slowly bring the treat forward so your cat ends up in front of you but still off to the side. Reward.
6. With your cat in front of you, take a step forward so that your cat is once again to your side. Hold a treat on the other side of your leg gap and let them follow the treat through your legs and then forward. Reward.
7. Repeat slowly. Once your cat understands these steps, you can try doing 2 or 3 steps in a row before rewarding with the treat. 
8. With practice, you will eventually be able to speed up your steps, not too much, so your car will weave a figure 8 pattern around your legs as you walk. 

Although all cat tricks are meant to be fun and engaging, not every cat will master every trick. Start with the simpler ones and slowly work your way up to more advanced tricks like this one. If your cat just can't seem to get the hang of it, don't be discouraged. Try some different tricks or switch up your rewards. 

How to Train a Cat to be an Indoor Cat

Your cat isn’t that far removed from its wild ancestors. Many kitties start to grow restless when the sun sets and want to head outdoors for an adventure. They feel the urge to hunt and wander. This is especially true if your cat is not neutered or spayed.

Cats that are used to free-roaming outdoors will have a different routine and different skills than a cat that has spent it's whole life as an indoor cat. While the great outdoors offers plenty of exercise and stimulation that is good for cats, it also present many dangers. This is why indoor cats live longer on average.

If your cat is obsessed with nature, you may think it's impossible or cruel to restrict her to only living indoors, but sometimes it's in their best interest to make this change. The good news is, you can train your cat to be indoors only, but it will take time and practice.

You’ll need to transition your cat from outdoors to indoors slowly. Cats often take a long time to become accustomed to an indoor-only lifestyle. They will claw at windows, meow and dig at doors trying to convince you to let them outdoors. 

Here are a few ways to train your cat to be an indoor-only cat:

1. Feed your cat indoors only. By associating meal time with being inside, your cat will start to see the positive things about being a house cat.
2. Provide a warm bed, cat toys, and ample areas to snuggle. A safe, cozy, and fun indoor space will help your cat adapt.
3. Use treats to lure a cat indoors and to direct a cat away from the door. Once inside, treats, toys, and other rewards can be used to keep cats away from entryways and prevent accidental escape.
4. Provide your cat with plenty of activity while indoors. The outdoors present an exciting and dynamic environment, so to keep your cat satisfied inside, you need to offer plenty of activities, toys, and puzzles to keep them entertained. 
5. Create an indoor cat grass garden to give your cat a little bit of outside on the inside. Cat grass is good for digestion, and can also provide your cat with a way to express some of their natural instincts. 

Don't Rush Your Cat

If it feels like your cat is untrainable, then you might be moving too fast. Learning fun tricks might not come easy to all cats. Young kittens may learn faster than adult cats that already have an established routine and pattern of behaviour. 

Practice is important, and you may have to repeat steps over and over to make sure your cat understands the vocal and visual cues. Take as much time as is needed to help them learn, and do your best to avoid getting frustrated or upset. 

If you feel the tension rising, take a break and try again later. Every cat is different and will learn differently. You may find that your cat will pick up some tricks right away while others take days or even weeks of practice before they understand. 

Remember not to try to teach too much at once. Focus on one trick at a time. With time and patience, you should be able to teach your cat some fun parlour tricks that not only make you look like a super cool cat owner but also provide a stimulating and satisfying activity for your smarty-pants cat. 

Frequently Asked Cat Trick Questions

Can cats really learn tricks like dogs do? 

Yes, cats are capable of learning tricks through positive reinforcement training. While their learning style differs from dogs, they can be trained to perform a variety of tricks and behaviours.

What's the best way to start teaching my cat tricks? 

Begin with simple tricks that align with your cat's natural behaviours, such as "sit" or "paw." Use treats and praise as rewards to motivate your cat and reinforce their successful attempts.

Are there specific tricks that cats are more likely to learn? 

Cats often excel at tricks that mimic their instinctual behaviours, like "fetch," "high five," and "jump." However, with patience and creativity, you can teach them a wide range of tricks.

How do I use positive reinforcement for training tricks? 

Positive reinforcement involves rewarding your cat with treats, praise, or play whenever they successfully perform a trick. This encourages them to repeat the behaviour to earn the reward.

What if my cat isn't responding to training? 

Cats have their own pace and preferences, so be patient and adjust your training approach. Break down tricks into smaller steps, and ensure you're using high-value treats and a calm training environment.

How often should I train my cat for tricks?

Short and frequent training sessions work best for cats. Aim for a few minutes a day, using positive reinforcement and keeping the sessions enjoyable to maintain your cat's interest.