How to Teach a Cat Tricks: Sit, High Five, Target and More

Teaching a cat tricks can be a useful form of mental enrichment as well as a way to build practical skills. Cats can learn to touch a target, sit, offer a paw, go to a mat, enter a carrier and respond to recall cues when those behaviors are taught through positive reinforcement.

Start with something simple, identify a reward your cat genuinely values and mark the exact behavior you want to reinforce. Teach one small step at a time rather than physically positioning the cat. Training should remain voluntary, brief and appropriate for your cat’s age and mobility. A trick is only useful if the cat is comfortable participating.

Quick Answer

To teach a cat tricks, choose a valued reward, use a consistent marker such as a click or short word, and reinforce small steps toward one behavior at a time. Target touching and sit are good starting skills. Add a verbal or hand cue only after the behavior is predictable, and keep sessions short enough that your cat remains interested.

Why Trick Training Can Be Good Enrichment

Positive-reinforcement training gives a cat opportunities to make choices, solve small problems and interact predictably with a caregiver.

Trick training can also teach skills that have practical uses. For example:

• targeting can help guide a cat to another location
• mat training can create a predictable station
• carrier entry can make transportation easier
• recall can improve everyday communication

The objective is not to make a cat perform on command regardless of how they feel. Training should give the cat a safe opportunity to participate and earn something they value.

For the complete learning framework, see How to Train a Cat.

Choose a Reward Your Cat Actually Values

Food is convenient, but it is not the only possible reinforcer.

Depending on the individual cat, effective rewards may include:

• small preferred food rewards
• a lick of an appropriate soft food reward
• brief interactive play
• petting if the cat actively enjoys it
• another preferred social interaction

FelineVMA recommends observing the individual cat rather than assuming the same reward will work equally well for every animal. Preferences can also change from one session to another.

If you use food, account for training rewards within the cat’s overall daily intake rather than continually adding extra calories.

Use a Marker to Identify the Exact Behaviour

A marker tells the cat which action earned the reward.

Common markers include:

• a clicker
• a short word such as “yes”
• a quiet consistent sound
• a visual hand signal for some sound-sensitive or deaf cats

Before using a marker for tricks, establish its meaning:

1. Make the marker sound.
2. Immediately provide the reward.
3. Repeat across several easy repetitions.

Once the cat understands that the marker predicts reinforcement, use it at the moment the desired behavior occurs and then provide the reward.

A click is not the reward itself. For a full beginner process, see Clicker Training Cats.

Start With Target Touch

Targeting is one of the most useful beginner cat tricks because it can later help you teach movement, position changes, carrier entry and other behaviors.

You can use a suitable target stick, a capped pen, a chopstick or another safe object the cat can comfortably approach.

How to Teach a Nose Target

1. Hold the target just in front of your cat’s nose.
2. When the cat investigates and touches it with their nose, mark.
3. Reward immediately.
4. Repeat until touching is predictable.
5. Move the target slightly farther away.
6. Reward the cat for taking a step and touching it.
7. Gradually increase the distance.

Do not push the object into the cat’s face. The cat should choose to approach it.

How to Teach a Cat to Sit

Sit is often easiest to teach by capturing a behavior the cat already performs naturally.

1. Wait for your cat to sit voluntarily.
2. The moment their hindquarters reach the floor, mark the behavior.
3. Provide the reward.
4. Repeat during later naturally offered sits.

Once the behavior becomes predictable, add the verbal cue “sit” just before the cat is likely to perform it.

Some cats can also be guided by moving a food lure slightly upward and backward so their weight shifts toward a sitting position. Do not push the cat’s hips down with your hand.

How to Teach a Cat High Five

High five is easiest when your cat already offers a paw toward an object or hand.

Begin with very small steps:

1. Present your hand at a comfortable level.
2. Mark any deliberate paw movement toward it.
3. Reward.
4. Gradually require the paw to move closer.
5. Eventually mark actual paw-to-hand contact.

When contact is consistent, add a cue such as “high five.”

Never grab the cat’s paw and repeatedly press it against your hand. Voluntary paw movement is the behavior you want to reinforce.

Teach a Simple Paw Touch

A paw behavior can be trained separately from a high five.

You might teach the cat to touch your open palm, a target pad or another safe object with one paw.

Mark increasingly close approximations:

• looking at the object
• moving a paw
• reaching toward it
• touching it

This is shaping: reinforcing small steps until the complete behavior is reliably offered.

How to Teach a Cat to Spin

A spin can be taught by guiding the cat through a small circle with a target.

1. Present the target near the cat’s nose.
2. Move it slightly to one side.
3. Mark and reward for following.
4. Gradually guide through a larger arc.
5. Build toward one comfortable complete circle.

Once the movement is predictable, add a verbal or hand cue and gradually reduce how much the target guides the circle.

Do not make a cat perform rapid repeated spins. Keep the movement controlled and comfortable.

Teach Your Cat to Go to a Mat

Mat or station training is both a trick and a practical household skill.

Place a non-slip mat, towel or small bed on the floor and allow the cat to investigate.

Reinforce progressively:

1. looking toward the mat
2. approaching it
3. placing one paw on it
4. placing multiple paws on it
5. standing or sitting fully on it

Once the cat reliably goes onto the mat, begin rewarding short periods of remaining there.

Add a cue such as “mat” or “place” only after the behavior is predictable.

Teach a Cat to Jump Onto a Platform

A low, stable platform can become another useful target location.

Start with a surface that is:

• non-slip
• stable
• large enough for the cat to stand comfortably
• low enough for the individual cat to access easily

Use a target or reward voluntary movement toward the platform.

Mark one paw on the surface, then two paws, then all four.

There is no training benefit in making the platform unnecessarily high.

Teach Voluntary Carrier Entry

Carrier entry is more practical than many traditional tricks.

Leave the carrier available in a familiar area with the door secured open when appropriate. Then reinforce:

• looking toward the carrier
• approaching it
• sniffing the entrance
• placing paws inside
• walking fully inside
• remaining inside briefly

A trained target can also be used to guide the cat toward and eventually into the carrier.

Do not push or chase the cat inside during training.

For the complete process, see Cat Carrier Training.

Teach Your Cat to Come When Called

Recall can begin as another simple training game.

At very short distance:

1. give one consistent recall cue
2. mark movement toward you
3. reward completed arrival

Increase distance gradually and only later introduce mild distractions.

Cat recall should never be treated as a guarantee of safety outdoors. Use How to Teach a Cat to Come When Called for the full progression.

Use Targeting to Teach Following

Once a cat understands a nose target, you can gradually teach them to follow it for several steps.

Start by placing the target only a short distance away. When the cat follows and touches it, mark and reward.

Over time, increase the movement gradually.

Following a target can later help with:

• moving onto a mat
• walking onto a scale
• entering a carrier
• changing position during cooperative care

Can You Teach a Cat to Ring a Bell or Press a Button?

Yes, some cats can learn to touch a stable bell or large push button, but the equipment must be safe.

Use only an object that:

• cannot easily tip onto the cat
• has no loose strings or small detachable pieces
• does not produce a painfully loud or frightening sound
• can be operated without trapping a paw or claw

A simple approach is to use targeting:

1. reward investigation of the object
2. reward a nose or paw movement toward the activation area
3. mark actual contact
4. gradually reinforce the contact that activates it

Supervise the first sessions and stop using any device that frightens the cat or creates an injury risk.

Keep Training Sessions Short

There is no universal session duration that suits every cat.

A good session ends while the cat is still willing to participate.

Signs that it may be time to stop include:

• walking away
• grooming instead of participating
• looking repeatedly elsewhere
• no longer accepting a normally valued reward
• showing tension or frustration

Frequent brief sessions are usually easier than pushing through one long session after the cat has disengaged.

Teach One Behaviour at a Time

Do not introduce target, spin, high five and mat cues simultaneously to a beginner.

Build one clear behavior first.

You can practice a previously learned skill at the start of a session and then work on one new goal.

This makes it easier to identify exactly what is being reinforced.

Add a Verbal Cue After the Behaviour Is Predictable

A cue is most useful after the cat already understands the physical behavior.

For example, if your cat regularly sits during training:

1. say “sit” just before you expect the sit
2. cat sits
3. mark
4. reward

Over repeated successful trials, the word begins predicting which behavior can earn reinforcement.

Avoid repeating the cue continuously if the cat does not respond.

You Can Also Add a Hand Cue

Some behaviors can be paired with a visual hand signal.

For high five, for example, the presented palm may naturally become part of the cue.

For sit or mat work, you can introduce a consistent hand movement once the underlying behavior is established.

Keep signals distinct enough that the cat can tell them apart.

Add Distractions Gradually

A trick learned in one quiet room may not immediately work somewhere else.

Generalize the behavior in stages:

1. quiet familiar room
2. different position within that room
3. another familiar room
4. one mild household distraction
5. slightly more activity

Reduce the difficulty if performance suddenly drops.

Do not assume the cat has forgotten the behavior simply because the environment became harder.

What If Your Cat Loses Interest?

Do not keep repeating the cue.

Instead, consider whether:

• the session has lasted too long
• the reward has become less valuable
• the environment is distracting
• the behavior progressed too quickly
• the cat is tired
• the cat simply does not want to train at that moment

End the session and try again later.

Voluntary participation is more useful than forcing additional repetitions.

Food Motivation Differs Between Cats

Some cats will work enthusiastically for tiny food rewards. Others lose interest after only a few repetitions.

That does not mean the cat cannot learn.

Experiment with appropriate rewards and consider what the individual cat values at that moment.

Never deliberately make a cat excessively hungry simply to increase training motivation.

Play Can Be a Training Reward

A cat that strongly enjoys interactive toys may work for a brief play opportunity instead of food.

For example:

Target touch → marker → short wand-toy chase.

Play rewards can be especially useful for cats that are highly play motivated or when caregivers want to avoid relying exclusively on food.

Adapt Tricks for Senior Cats

Older cats can still learn, but the behavior should match their physical comfort and current abilities.

Useful lower-impact skills can include:

• nose targeting
• sit if comfortable
• mat training
• carrier entry
• simple paw touches
• short recall within the home

Use non-slip surfaces and keep resources easy to reach.

Respect Mobility Limitations

If your cat has arthritis, weakness or another mobility problem, avoid making jumping part of the training goal unless your veterinarian has confirmed the activity is appropriate.

Possible signs of reduced mobility include:

• hesitating before jumping
• using lower surfaces than before
• stiffness
• difficulty with stairs
• changed landing technique

A sudden reluctance to perform a previously comfortable physical trick should not automatically be interpreted as stubbornness.

Avoid Unsafe Jumping Tricks

Do not teach dramatic leaps simply because they look impressive.

A platform trick should use a stable surface and a height appropriate for the individual cat.

Avoid:

• unstable furniture
• slippery landing surfaces
• long jumps across gaps
• jumping near stairs or hard edges
• repeated high-impact jumping

Training should improve enrichment, not add unnecessary physical risk.

Cat Trick Difficulty Ladder

This ladder is based on how many learning components the behavior usually involves. It is not a ranking of intelligence, and an individual cat may find one supposedly easy skill harder than another.

Level	Tricks	Training Focus
Beginner	Target, Sit, Come	Single clear behavior, immediate reinforcement and simple cues
Intermediate	High Five, Spin, Go to Mat	More shaping, body movement or duration
Advanced	Behaviour chains	Several already-learned behaviors performed in a deliberate sequence

Beginner: Target, Sit and Come

These are useful starting skills because each can be reinforced in small, clear steps.

Targeting also becomes a foundation for several later behaviors.

Intermediate: High Five, Spin and Mat

These behaviors can require more precise shaping, a longer movement sequence or duration in a location.

A cat that finds paw handling uncomfortable may still find spin easy, so the categories should remain flexible.

Advanced: Behaviour Chains

A behavior chain combines multiple skills that the cat already knows.

For example:

Go to mat → sit → high five.

Do not build a chain until each component is reliable independently.

“Advanced” refers to combining multiple established behaviors, not simply teaching something visually impressive for SEO purposes.

A Simple Trick-Training Progression

1. Identify a preferred reward.
2. Condition a marker if you plan to use one.
3. Begin with target touching.
4. Teach one simple behavior such as sit.
5. Reinforce small successful steps.
6. Add the verbal or hand cue after the behavior becomes predictable.
7. Practice in another familiar location.
8. Add mild distractions gradually.
9. Move to intermediate skills only when the foundations are comfortable.
10. Combine behaviors into chains only after each individual behavior is established.

Understanding why cats repeat reinforced behaviors can also make training easier. See Cat Behavior Explained.

FAQs

What are the easiest tricks to teach a cat?

Target touching, sit and short-distance recall are useful beginner skills because they involve behaviors many cats naturally offer or can learn through simple shaping. The easiest trick still varies between individual cats.

Can older cats learn tricks?

Yes. Learning is not limited to kittens. Adapt the behavior to the cat’s mobility, health and motivation. Senior cats may be better suited to low-impact targeting, mat work, carrier entry and other skills that do not require high jumping.

Do I need a clicker to teach cat tricks?

No. A clicker can precisely mark a behavior, but some cats find the sound unpleasant. A consistent verbal marker, visual signal or direct immediate reinforcement can also be used. If you use a clicker, always follow the conditioned click with the expected reward.

How do I teach my cat a high five?

Reward voluntary paw movement toward your presented hand, then gradually require closer movement until the paw touches your palm. Mark and reward successful contact. Add the verbal cue only after the behavior is occurring predictably.

Why does my cat stop participating during training?

The session may be too long, the reward may no longer be valuable, the environment may be distracting or the difficulty may have increased too quickly. Stop rather than repeatedly giving the cue and try an easier, shorter session later.

How long should it take a cat to learn a trick?

There is no universal timeline. Learning depends on the individual cat, the behavior, reward value, environment and consistency of training. Progress according to successful repetitions rather than expecting every cat to learn a skill within a set number of days.

Bottom Line

The best cat tricks are built through clear communication and voluntary participation rather than physical guidance.

Start with a reward your cat values and teach a simple target touch or sit. Mark the exact behavior you want, reinforce small steps and add cues only after the behavior becomes predictable. From there, you can progress to high five, spin, mat work, carrier entry, recall and eventually simple behavior chains.

Keep training brief, adjust rewards when motivation changes and adapt physical tricks for senior cats or cats with mobility limitations. Training should remain safe and enriching even if your cat never progresses beyond the beginner skills.