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Cats are very intelligent animals that, like dogs, we can teach you tricks. With patience any cat can learn tricks simple. If your cat is young it might be easier, but even an adult cat can perform the tricks with the proper motivation.
It is a very rewarding experience that will bring you closer together. You need to have the patience to observe the results, but before long you will be seeing your cat's new abilities.
In this article by PeritoAnimal we will explain how teach your cat to sit, in a normal way and on its hind legs.
How to Teach Cats Tricks
You must choose a time of day when the cat is active, you must not wake him up to learn how to do tricks. It must be a playtime between you and the cat. You will need to go through several training sessions before your kitten understands what you are asking.
Use always the same order for the same trick, you can choose any word, but it must always be the same. "Sit" or "sit" are some of the options you can use for this order.
Use something your cat likes as a reward, otherwise you'll lose interest immediately. You can use cat snacks or some canned food. You can also use small pieces of chicken. The main thing is that your cat likes it and gets your attention.
You can use a "Clicker" combined with the reward you choose. This instrument lets you emit a sound that your cat will associate with the reward.
sit trick
Teaching your cat to sit is the simplest trick you can teach him. I can teach you two variants of this trick.
Seated:
The cat sits and stays still until you order otherwise. This is your cat's usual sitting position. It's the simplest trick you can start training your cat with.
standing on its paws:
In this position the cat stands on its back legs, raising its front legs. You can start with the first trick and, when you've mastered it, move on to this one.
Teach to sit on both hind legs
To teach your cat to sit on its two hind legs should follow these advices:
- Get your cat's attention. You should be active and peaceful, in an environment you know.
- Raise the reward above your cat without your cat reaching it.
- Say "Up" or "Up" or whatever word you choose.
- Don't let it reach the food and say "No" if you try to touch it with your paw or reach with your mouth.
- Little by little you will adapt your body position depending on the distance from the reward.
- When you stay still on your paws, it's time to give him the reward.
will need multiple sessions for your cat to understand what he has to do. The number of sessions is something that depends from cat to cat, some understand faster than others.
Remember to be patient and avoid yelling or scolding your cat. The time to teach you something new should be fun for both of you. If you get tired and lose interest during a session, it's best to leave it for another time.
teach to sit normally
teaching the cat to sit is still easier than the previous trick. The position we want is more natural so your cat will sit when you give the order.
The training sessions should be identical to the one described in the previous step. Use another word other than "Sit", "Down" or whatever you choose. It is not necessary for you to try various distances, the essential thing in this trick is that you don't try to get the reward. You must sit and wait for you to give him the reward.
You can use this trick in many situations and little by little you can eliminate the rewards. Although it's always convenient to repeat a training session every now and then and reward him.
Be patient
Remember that each animal is unique, each has its own personality and character. Any cat can learn tricks but not all will take the same amount of time.
He must be patient and take it easy, even though your cat understands everything quickly, he will need to repeat some drills as usual. That way you'll stay motivated and won't stop doing tricks after a while.
Don't get upset with your cat if he doesn't obey you, or if he gets tired of training. You must understand your character and adapt a little to it. Encourage him with your favorite food to train and you'll see how your interest arises again. Always use positive reinforcement.
