Cat Tricks and Leashes?

Question

Two questions:
Does anyone know any cool cat tricks and how to teach them to your cat?
When I put a leash and harness on my cat, he won't walk and therefor I assume he doesn't like it. Can you teach your cat to get used to it, or will he never want to be on a leash?

Answer 1

Hi there...cats can learn a whole host of behaviours (or what people call "tricks") as well as being leashed train.

Here's a website that lists how to train kitties to sit, sit up, lie down, walk on a leash and a bunch more: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061127201218AAW9MZJ&r=w#RJYoXDu9A2XVqtfM2_s6_OH.YxQ7CnAFGc8J6J_jjOqo5ME3z.W.

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

A lot of cats are afraid of harnesses but do very well with collars. You should try a collar with a leash and see if you get the same response. The process also depends on the age of your cat. If it is a kitten, you can train it to use a harness or collar and leash. Just make sure the cat feels rewarded whenever it is wearing the collar or harness and that could help the training.

Answer 3

He is probably way too old to learn tricks, with cats training needs to start at about 3 weeks old. Cats can not be walked on a leash with a collar their necks are not muscular enough to withstand any amount of pressure from a collar. They can do serious damage to the neck and vertebrae. They do have cat safe harnesses that would work but getting him to cooperate is probably going to be very difficult since he is 9 years old.

Answer 4

Yes - absolutely you can teach your cat to accept a harness and leash. This is what you do:
1) Put the harness on cat - make sure he/she is comfortable (harness not too tight nor too loose). At this point, your cat will keep on wanting to just lay down. Don't be discouraged.

2) Leave the harness on cat for 10 -15 minutes. He/she may attempt to walk then fall down n his/her side again. The cat will keep doing this until he/she realizes that s/he can actually walk and run around wearing th strange gear.

3) Remove harness after 10 - 15 minutes and do it again next day and the next until your cat has realized he/she can walk around wearing the harness. This will take probably 2 - 3 day - a week max.

4) When your cat has accepted the harness and could walk around wearing it, attach the leash and let the cat drag it around for a bit - again until you feel the cat is no longer spooked by it.

5) When you feel cat has accepted walking around with harness with leash attached, take hold of the leash and walk around with him inside the house - allow him to lead. Cats are not dogs and they will not "heel".

6) When you're BOTH comfortable with harness and leash, and it is calm and peaceful outside (nothing to spook the cat), go take kitty for walkies. Allow him to lead.

Answer 5

My cat has a leash and collar, and when I put it on her, she rolls over and attacks it.

What you have to do is take the cat somewhere it'll find interesting, put the collar and leash on it, and put it on the ground. The cat will walk around a little and sniff, but it sure won't act like a dog and take off running.

Answer 6

my cat walks on a leash because the heavy part is under his chest instead of on his back. start the cat young with the harness. i use a figure-8 harness, backwards. this way there is no way to cut off the cat's air supply if he falls and tries to hang by the harness. this WILL happen.

Answer 7

my cat does not walk on a leash or do any tricks but my kitten will walk & play

Answer 8

i know one trick that both my cats know...i get them on the leash with the harness and gt them kinda close to the street. riend of ours bonking the horn. BOTH cats do flips and breaks for the house. also, if you want your cat to get used to te leash, let him where the harness around the house to get used to it. and onceconvinced him its something good, by giving reastart taking him outside and give him treats outside.i once had a cat that you literally had to drag outside with his leash

Answer 9

I am still training my kitten. But, with the leash my kitten hates it. But, good luck

And happy holidays