It’s a common myth that while we can train dogs to be obedient and do tricks, it’s cats who train us. Now, while there may be a grain of truth in that — my cats certainly rule the roost in our home — it’s very possible to train cats.
Why consider clicker training? Imagine teaching your cat to come when called (especially helpful at dinner time), to enter their carrier willingly for vet visits, or even to give you an adorable high-five. Beyond these practical benefits, training sessions provide crucial mental stimulation for your indoor cat, create opportunities for exercise, and, best of all, strengthen the special bond you share with your pet.
What is clicker training?
Clicker training is a form of positive reinforcement training that uses a small device to make a distinct ‘click’ sound. The magic happens when you pair this click with a reward — usually a tasty treat. When your cat performs a desired behavior, you click at that exact moment and follow with the treat. The clicker acts like a camera, capturing and “marking” the precise behavior you want to reinforce. This clarity helps your cat understand exactly which action earned them their reward, making it more likely they’ll repeat it.
Getting started with clicker training your cat
Clicker training is great as it doesn’t require expensive equipment or attendance at training classes. All you need is a clicker, some treats, and some time in a quiet environment.
The Clicker
Most people opt for a commercial ‘clicker’, available at pet stores and online. The advantage of using a specific pet clicker is that it has a unique sound, so your cat won’t encounter the sound at other times and become confused (unlike voice commands). It’s also quick and immediate, which is important when teaching your cat which behavior links to the reward. However, any unique sound will do, so feel free to get creative!
The Reward
Training will be most effective if the reward used is high-value, as your cat will be more motivated to achieve it. For many cats, this will be a treat. Choose something with a strong odor that will be appealing to cats — usually something meaty or fishy. Only use a very small amount of food each time so you don’t upset their usual dietary balance or add too many calories to their day. A tiny taste is enough to motivate most cats!
For some cats, food rewards are just not their thing. If your cat is more motivated by play, keep a special toy just for a training reward.
The Environment
Just as I work best in a quiet office free from distractions, your cat clicker sessions will go best if you set up a good training environment. Choose a time when your cat is relaxed and calm but not asleep, and isn’t full but also not ravenously hungry. Keep the room free from distractions such as noise and other pets where possible.
Steps to Clicker Train Your Cat
Here’s how to start clicker training your cat, broken down into simple, achievable steps. But before teaching commands, you’ll need to create a positive association with the clicker. This process, called “charging the clicker,” is simple:
- Get your cat’s attention
- Click once
- Immediately give a treat
- Repeat several times during your first few training sessions
Your cat will quickly learn that click = treat. This foundation is crucial for all future training success. Once your cat understands the clicker, you’re ready to train specific behaviors with a clicker by following these steps:
- Select one simple command to start with, such as “sit” or “come”
- Watch for the desired behavior to occur naturally. When your cat sits, immediately click and treat. They might look confused at first, but they’ll soon connect sitting with rewards
- Add a verbal cue like “sit” once your cat consistently performs the action. The sequence becomes: word → action → click → treat
- Once the behavior is reliable, only click and treat when your cat responds to the verbal cue
- Gradually reduce treats while maintaining clicks for correct responses
More Advanced Clicker Training for Cats
Now that you understand the concept of clicker training, try some more advanced uses. Why not teach your cat to roll over? Or high-five you?
Actions speak louder than words
If you want to go a step further, consider using a cue ‘action’ rather than a cue word for a command. You may need to start with a fairly obvious physical gesture before you move on to more subtle cues. Can you clicker train your cat to jump onto a chair when you raise your hand in the air? Or teach them to turn around if you turn around first?
Practical purposes
Clicker training can be a fun and fulfilling way to enrich your cat’s life and strengthen your bond, but it can also have some practical uses. Clicker training can be used in cats as a positive way of smoothing difficult tasks, such as vet visits, grooming, and litter tray training. It can also be used to reduce unwanted behaviors by teaching an alternative, such as by training a boisterous kitten to chew a specific toy rather than your furniture.
Chaining
If you and your cat are really up for a challenge, consider ‘chaining.’ This involves linking a sequence of events together into a chain, leading to some impressive displays.
Common Problems with Clicker Training Cats
If you’re finding clicker training hard, don’t panic. Although cats are intelligent, they are also fiercely independent, making training more challenging. Let’s look at some common problems.
Disinterest
If your cat doesn’t respond to the clicker, wanders off during training, or generally seems very uninvolved in the whole thing, take a break for a few days and then try again. Ensure you have the tastiest, smelliest, most high-value treat, or the most desirable toy possible, and keep training sessions short. Keep expectations manageable — your cat won’t learn complex tricks immediately, and training needs to be consistent to make progress.
Over-excitement
On the other side of the spectrum, some cats get very stimulated by training, which can lead to their predatory instincts coming to the fore. Some cats, especially youngsters, get mouthy, pounce-y, or highly energetic during training sessions. Always keep training sessions short and calm, use toys to redirect inappropriate play behaviors, and make sure your cat has enough play time structured into their day.
Treat dependency
Clicker training relies heavily on treats, but some cats will focus solely on the food reward and fail to progress further when the rewards are reduced. This step does need to be done slowly — use very small treats and reduce the frequency of rewards very slowly rather than just cutting them out. Some unpredictability about how often a treat will come can be useful to keep motivation high.
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