Can you train a cat to do stuff?

Question

Like dogs fetch and bring back balls or other things.or sit or come to you, things like that.

Maybe a silly question, maybe not, Im sure it can be done in certain circumstances.

and no I dont want a dog, Im just curious.

Thanks

Thanks guy, so many responses.....and some great advice....thanks a lot.

Answer 1

Yes cats can be trained! I have a cat that plays fetch with small cat balls. We throw it she catches it and brings it back to us to throw again. Our Cat also answers us when we call her name!

Answer 2

If you start when the cat is a kitten you have a chance of teaching the kitten small things. You can teach a cat to beg for it's food, that is stand on it's back legs and sort of dance for it's food bowl. Not that easy and you have to start early, but it can be done. You can train a cat to run and grab a piece of paper and bring it back to you. This will work some of the time, but not always. Cats are fickle and will do things one time and not another. A treat always helps to induce them to do things.
Cats were never "progamed" to do tricks, but I do have a friend who works in Hollywood and has managed to train cats to do amazing things. I sometimes wonder how she has done it, a lot of patience I guess, not something you or I would be able to do easily, but it can be done.

Answer 3

It's possible to train cats, but it's a lot harder than training a dog. By nature dogs are pack animals and eager to please the Alpha dog, they are also very food driven, which means that you can reward them with treats. Cats however, are independent creatures and well known for doing what pleases them, rather than anyone else.

The trick with training cats, is to see what type of games they like to play naturally. Some (mainly females in my experience) seem to enjoy playing fetch and perhaps that's the hunting mother instinct in them. Others enjoy jumping games, and the current crazy one I have likes bouncing off the walls.

There is famous Russian clown called Yuri Kuklachev who set up the Moscow Cat Theatre. Watch the clip below and you will be amazed at the tricks his cats perform, especially the cat that does a paw stand on the palm of Kuklachev's hand.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5r5YrSD-8w&mode=related&search=

Answer 4

I have a cat who plays fetch and she can go on for hours, one ofmy cats loves to play with his tail for hours. To trai a cat to fetch you need to take a ball (I use super balls) you put it in a bag or jar of capnip for a while you throw the ball and tell the cat to bring the ball back it takes some time. Hope these web site help. Have fun and good luck.

Answer 5

I'd say yes to some extent, my cats (all six of them) sit for treats. They all come when called, better than the neighborhood dogs do. Two of them fetch, and the others have me trained to fetch for them.

And yes they do stay off the tables, counters etc. so they are well behaved too.

Answer 6

I doubt you can train a cat in the same way as a dog, they are WAY too indepentant for that, & wont respond to the usual methods of training, they like to be in charge, where as dogs will see you as pack leader (if you handle them right) & WANT to please you.

Cats do what cats want do, & generally are VERY clever, & if they want to play games like fetch etc they will, when THEY want too, so you might well be lucky, but if your not...thats just the beauty of cats......though I do think they can be trained NOT to do things, like climb curtains, jump on tables etc, much more easily.....but P' them off, & I'll bet you'll find they do EXACTLY that.......... just to P' you off right back.

I've had cats over the years, that have done some pretty amazing things, even seen off a burgular, & enjoyed rattling a letter box, & then hiding when someone answered the door....... & I would of sworn they had a huge grin on the furry faces, when caught......... the same cat, opened doors bu swinginging on handles
my pesent old Cat Polly, in her youth, used to steal paper money, & hide it behind the bathroom pipes......... showed it to me, one time I was really skint.....I was gobsmacked
& my Mums cat always picks things of the floor for her, & brings them back to her....she's in a wheelchair.

So they are certainly clever enough to learn any trick they choose...... BUT cats been cats, it will ONLY be what they choose......

but I bet you'll have a load of fun trying, good luck

Answer 7

You'll most likely get a better answer from someone else but yes you can but you'll have to put a lot of time into it, don't expect to try to train your cat for 5 minutes a day and expect to see him or her a fully trained cat in a week. I'm no professional but I DO know cats tend to be stubborn and do as they like so it may take a while.

Answer 8

My cat will come when she's called and that's about it. Most animals can trained using positive reinforcment and alternate training. Positive reinforcment means you ignore her when doing something "bad" (like scratching you gently for attention) and praising her when she does something good. Alternate training is when you eliminate undisirable behavior by training her to do something else. For example, you don't want her going on the carpet, so you train her to use the litter box.

Cats, for most part, are pretty low key pets. Some people joke they're more likely to train you! But if you perservere, you can at least train them to come when they are called and other simple things. Just be patient and kind =)
Good luck!

Answer 9

Apparently...

http://www.purina.com/cats/behavior/TeachingCatsTricks.aspx

Answer 10

My cat plays fetch with the rings that come off the milk carton. I didn't really train her, she just likes to play with them so she keeps bringing them back to me. It gets annoying around 3am.

She does sit for treats, though.

Cats used for movies and TV follow commands. They're a lot harder to work with than dogs, I'd imagine because of their independent nature. But with enough reinforcement, anything is possible.