What kind of tricks can you teach a cat? I taught mine to lay down and roll over.?

Question

Hairy is only about 5 months, so he won't do it perfect every time. At least 8 times out of 10 though. He also comes to me whenever I call his name.

Answer 1

Hi there...most people are not aware that cats are very capable of learning more command behaviours than most dogs if the proper techniques are applied.

As a professional animal trainer for over 20 years I specialize in training both domestic and exotic cats. Both my housecats not only understand obedience commands (come, sit, down, etc) but are also toilet trained, can flush the toilet, go to wherever I point, follow a target anywhere, jump through hoops, roll over, fetch, take apart a 3-D layered puzzle, wave, give a high-five, raise a paw to ask a question, fetch, do agility (like dog agility), walk on a leash in public and so much more. They understand both visual and verbal cues/signals as well and learn most new behaviours quite quickly within a matter of days and for the more complex behaviours such as balancing and walking on a basketball in a month.

Training is conducted using operant conditioning through positive reinforcement. We never coerce/mold an animal to learn rather reward desired behaviour with food, praise (most cats only work for food) or toys and always ignore undesired behaviour so that extinguishes itself over time. This is the key technique to train any animal including goldifsh. Yes! You read that correctly... even small fish can be trained to learn new behaviours! Here's some videos of goldfish playing football, soccer and going through a hoop: http://www.fish-school.com/gallery.htm

Answer 2

With lots of patience. Try tossing something that the cat likes (mine likes the really long twist ties that come on toys, rolled into a spiral spring) and see if the cat can catch with its front paws and bring it back to you in its mouth. The cat definitely will have to want to do this, so its more a matter of playing than training.

Answer 3

My cats all know how to sit and speek. They will only do it for a treat tho... My cats will come when called about 5 out of 10 times, but then they are 8 yrs and 5 yrs old and are getting lazy...

Answer 4

My cat is about a yr old. I tought her to steal money...anytime she sees money she will take it. Its so funny. I had some friends over and they left their wallet on the floor and tootsie actually pulled all their money out and ran off with it, they chased her all over the house for like a half hour. Its SO funny. I dont let her steal in public... Just at my house... its kind of a comedian act. Its great! I never keep the money, nor does she!

Answer 5

My cats both fetch, beg, sit, knock on the door, and meow on Que. One of them actually opens doors too, which is a problem from time to time (I didn't teach her that one). Cat's are so intelligent... it depends on the cat how trainable they are. They have to have a personality that allows for change. A lot of cats are stubborn.

Answer 6

When I clap my hands, my cat knows to go to her "home" own area. My older cat taught the younger one how to open a door that swings open toward her. My older cat has taught me to get up at the first yowl to feed her in the middle of the night.

Answer 7

you can teach a cat to do just about anything....cat treats are a good motivator while training...i taught a cat to sit and stand up once..

Answer 8

you can not teach them as much as dogs put you can teach them somethings i taught mine to come when he is told, to sit, to sit and i teaching him to lay down but that is hard

Answer 9

Try playing fetch with him. My kitten would try to play with toys on the couch which is leather and I would throw the toy to the floor so she would play there and she would keep bringing it back then I realized she wants to play fetch - find his favorite toy and throw it and see if he brings it back - it's fun having a puppy-cat.

Answer 10

I taught my kitten how to play fetch . My kitten loves to swim in water.