Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 4: The Basics of Successful Cat Training
• Method 2 of 4: Learning with a Clicker and Treat in Hand
• Method 3 of 4: Learning with a Clicker and Aim
• Method 4 of 4: Clicker and Saucer Training

Everyone is familiar with the adage that "you can't teach an old dog new tricks," but is it even possible to teach any tricks to a cat, whether young or old? Usually the answer to this question is yes, but it all depends on the particular cat and your patience. You can try teaching your pet the high-five command in a few relatively simple ways. At the very least, your efforts will help you strengthen your relationship with your furry friend.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: The Basics of Successful Cat Training

1. 1 Understand that cats can be trained. Cats are known for their independence and self-centeredness, which sets them apart from other pets. That is why it is far from always and not everyone understands that these animals are trainable and may even want to learn. Such training is possible, and its result will be quite interesting. It is important to use rewards so that the cat associates the desired behavior with a treat or other reward.
   • For the best motivation, it can be helpful to find out what the cat loves the most. You can offer your pet a few treats and see which one she prefers.
   • Cats love to be involved and even supervise the learning process. For example, it is usually best to let your pet decide whether to continue with the lesson or not.
   SPECIALIST'S ADVICE

   

   Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

   
   
   Veterinarian, Royal College of Veterinary Surgery Dr. Elliot, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal care. Graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery. Has been working in the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

   Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
   Veterinarian, Royal College of Veterinary Surgery

   Pippa Elliot, Licensed Veterinarian, advises: “Get creative with your pet's favorite treat. Try small bites tuna, steak, ham, freeze-dried liver, chicken, or sausage... All cats like something, you just need to find out what it is. "

2. 2 Don't try to teach a cat the way a dog is taught. Domestic dogs have been bred for centuries to help humans and obey their commands; in cats, on the other hand, independence was traditionally maintained to hunt rodents. Not surprisingly, the approach to training these two species of animals must be different.
   • Your cat will be more likely to cooperate with you if you reward her for the desired actions. Don't even think about punishing your pet for training purposes.
   • Dogs usually tend to continue the lesson until the owner gets tired. Cats, on the other hand, prefer short lessons and usually decide for themselves whether to end them.
   • Organizing a 5-10 minute lesson and using treats as rewards for a hungry cat (before feeding) is often a powerful learning system.
3. 3 Work with whatever animal you have. Yes, younger dogs learn new tricks faster than older dogs, and the same goes for cats (and humans). Therefore, it is ideal to start training a young cat, but this should not bother you too much if your animal is already old.
   • It is always better to work with any cat (especially the old one) in one bundle, and not against each other. In addition, the best candidate for training will be the cat that himself is inclined to touch various objects with his paws, and not the one that prefers to bite everything.
4. 4 Find the right incentive. Dogs are capable of working for praise, a pat on the head, and a completely unremarkable treat. Cats, on the other hand, need something more seductive to reward than dry cat food pieces.
   • For your lessons to be effective and last longer than a few seconds, you need to find a “valuable treat” that will motivate your cat to work.
   • A good and affordable treat for a cat can serve as small pieces of chicken or tuna. If your cat prefers a softer treat, such as a baby meat meal, a large syringe will help you to dispense it.
5. 5 Use a clicker. The clicker is a small training device that makes a click when you press on it. Clicking a clicker is like the sound of a metal cap removed from a glass bottle or the sound of a fountain pen clicking. In fact, you can use any other suitable object instead of a clicker. However, a real clicker is very inexpensive and can be freely purchased at a pet store.
   • The clicker serves as a kind of "anchor" that provides a constant connection between the action performed by the pet and the receipt of a valuable treat.
   • You need to practice using the clicker before you start training your cat. You are required to click the clicker with one hand and dispense the treat with the other hand at the same time. Alternatively, you can try both of these actions with one hand at the same time. If in the course of the lesson you have any hiccups and overlaps, this will not contribute to the training of the cat.
   • For clicker training, find an area free of noise and distractions. Do not use verbal praise, the clicker will speak for you.
   • At the stage of accustoming your pet to the clicker, it is a good idea to use the “touching the nose” technique. Hold a target (such as a table tennis ball attached to a stick) over the cat's head. Click the clicker and give the cat a treat at the moment when his nose touches the target (ball).
   • For more tips, check out How you can train your cat with a clicker and how to train him to give a paw.

Method 2 of 4: Learning with a Clicker and Treat in Hand

1. 1 Sit on the floor facing the cat, hold a bowl between you and the pet. Get in the habit of giving your cat treats at the start of the lesson to get his attention.
   • Note: This method is probably the simplest of the ones mentioned in the article, but like other methods, it is based on the use of a clicker.
2. 2 Show the treat to the cat by stretching it out to about shoulder height and give the command "high five." If your cat tries to mouth the treat or does nothing at all, remove your hand with the treat, wait 5 seconds, and try again.
3. 3 Click the clicker and give the cat a treat as soon as he somehow reaches out to him a paw. Practice consistent use of clicker and reward.
4. 4 Repeat the entire process until the cat uses only its paw to reach for the treat. Do not expect your cat to endure lessons lasting more than 5-10 minutes, most likely they will be even shorter.
   • If the cat loses interest quickly, return to the activity in a few hours. It is best to do exercises before feeding, then the cat will very much want to receive a treat.
5. 5 Start rewarding your cat only when it is touching your hand with its paw. Stop giving treats for light touches or slips.
6. 6 Eliminate the treat from the process when the cat begins to consistently follow the command. Continue clicking the clicker as the cat touches your hand with its paw.
   • Subsequently, start rewarding the cat for using only one paw, be it left or right. You must train him to always use the same paw.
7. 7 Change the position of your hand to a high-five position with your palm facing the cat at eye level. Proceed to this step only when the cat is already constantly touching your empty hand on command.
   • The goal is to prompt the cat to perform the high-five command by opening the palm of the hand in front of him. Practice opening your palm quickly in front of the cat and pulling it back sharply when the cat touches you (or refuses contact). Your movement should be quick and concise.
8. 8 When the cat is comfortable, start practicing the command with different positions of your hand. You can even try folding your hand into a fist!

Method 3 of 4: Learning with a Clicker and Aim

1. 1 Sit on the floor facing the cat. If you put a bowl of a cat between you, you will attract his attention, for which you should reward him at the very beginning of the lesson.
   • Note: This method is based on the use of a clicker and a target, which can be a table tennis ball attached to a stick.
2. 2 Hold the target over the cat's head so that it cannot reach it with its mouth or nose. If the cat reaches for the target with its head, remove it, wait 5 seconds, and then try again.
3. 3 First, encourage any paw movement with the clicker and the treat. Then move on to encouraging only those paw movements that are directed towards the target. Then start rewarding the cat for using only one paw (right or left).
   • If the cat uses the wrong paw or makes unsteady movements, remove the target.
   • To work with this method, you need to be able to click the clicker and dispense a treat with the same hand, since you will be holding the target with the other hand. Practice ahead of time so that you will succeed in the lesson.
4. 4 Start holding the target closer to the palm of your hand. Finally, try covering the target with your palm and supporting it with your thumb.
   • Gradually bring the target closer to your palm until you can cover it with your hand.
5. 5 Replace the target completely with your hand. Stretch out your hand to the cat, palm down, and when he touches it with the right paw, click the clicker and give the treat.
6. 6 Enter the voice command "high five" at the moment when the cat stretches out its paw. The choice of "high-five" for such a gesture of the cat is quite obvious.
7. 7 Bring your hand down so that your palm is facing the cat and is at the level of his eyes. When the cat is comfortable with the new hand position, you can move on to exploring other variations of this trick.

Method 4 of 4: Clicker and Saucer Training

1. 1 Prepare for the lesson. Place 10 slices of tuna or any cat's favorite treat in a saucer. Find a quiet place and sit facing the cat.
   • Place a chair or small table next to it on the side on which the cat's paw will be located. That is, place the table to the left of the cat if he will work with his left paw, or to the right if he will work with his right paw.
   • Note: this method is the most difficult of the ones mentioned in the article and is a simplified version of the clicker training originally invented by Karen Pryor.
2. 2 Give the cat one piece of saucer treat and then set it back on the table. If the cat makes any movement towards the saucer, immediately click the clicker and reward him with a treat, as well as returning the saucer to the floor.
   • If, after receiving the treat, the cat decides to follow the saucer to the table, calmly return it to the floor and treat it with a treat from the saucer.
   • If the cat does not move, try to seduce him by moving your hand towards the table and saucer. If the cat moves, click the clicker and treat him to.
3. 3 Stop the lesson when all of the treats have been consumed, or if the cat loses interest in what is happening. Repeat the lesson the next day or a few days later. Pre-feeding training is usually most effective.
4. 4 Begin to reward the cat only for more pronounced paw movements. Only click the clicker and treat the cat when he deliberately raises his paw in the direction of the treat.
   • Gradually become more demanding in terms of which paw movements you encourage. In the end, you should only start rewarding your cat for a raised paw with outstretched toes.
5. 5 Start placing your hand in the path of the cat's paw as it begins to descend. Place your hand, palm down, so that the cat catches it with its paw when lowering. At the moment of contact of the paw with the hand, immediately click the clicker and give the cat a treat.
6. 6 With each next attempt, raise your hand a little higher up to the level to which the cat can still reach with its paw. You should stop at about shoulder height.
   • Slowly but surely, you will transfer the cat's attention as you perform the trick from the saucer to your hand.
7. 7 Continue to raise your hand higher and begin to change its horizontal position (turn your palm sideways). Force the cat to reach further for contact with the hand. Encourage only deliberate and strong cat touch.
   • Eliminate the treat saucer from your training over time. To keep the cat interested in learning, hold the treat in your hand and treat the animal periodically.
8. 8 Rotate your hand to the classic high-five position, with the palm facing the cat and the fingers pointing up. Giving the hand such a position should be a signal for the cat to execute the high-five command.
9. 9 Continue training. Practice in different rooms and in different environments. Let other people try asking the cat for a paw. Complete the process with a high-five voice command.