A ginger cat waiting for a treat

Clicker training is a positive reinforcement technique used in animals. Commonly known as a training method for pet dogs, but it was originally used with performing sea mammals, you can use it to train your cat too.

The benefits to training a cat include strengthening your bond, exercise, mental stimulation, fun and of course learning good behaviour. Let’s look at how cat clicker training works and a step-by-step guide to get you started.

Clicker Training for Cats

Training cats with a clicker is the same as for dogs or other pets. A plastic clicker is used to make a distinctive click sound whenever your pet carries out the correct behaviour. The click is then quickly followed by a reward, usually a cat treat but it can also be a favourite toy.

It’s important to use a distinctive sound, like a cat clicker, so that it can’t be mistaken at another time when no command is being carried out.

What Can Clicker Training Be Used For with Cats?

You can use clicker training to teach your cat tricks, like getting your cat to sit or stay, and to redirect scratching and climbing habits. You can train your cat to scratch a post instead of furniture, or to climb a multi-tiered climbing tree rather than your curtains, and to keep off surfaces like shelves with ornaments on. You can also litter train your cat using a clicker, just remember the tasty treats.

How to Clicker Train a Cat

To get started with cat clicker training, you need to build an association between the click and the positive reward of the treat that your cat will respond to.

Without getting your cat to complete a command, simply click and immediately reward with a treat every time. Repeat this process a few times, then gradually increase the time between click and treat. Don’t lengthen the time until your cat shows signs of anticipating a treat after hearing a click.

When a click and reward association has been established, the next step is to teach your cat that what they do initiates a click and therefore gets them a treat. ‘Touching’ is a fun trick to start with as it's easy to learn and amusing to do. Use a target stick which can be something like a chopstick or spoon but nothing with a sharp end.

To begin, put the target stick near your cat and wait for them to sniff it. When they touch it with their nose, click the clicker and reward immediately. Timing is crucial with clicker training so make sure you click at the exact moment they touch the target.

After a few touches, start to move the target further away so that your cat must move to touch it. Click and reward. Once they've mastered touching, you can then use the target stick to lead them to place, such as into a carrier or off a countertop.

During the initial stages of training, the clicker sound should be followed by a positive reinforcer such as a favourite treat within 2-5 seconds. Keep within this time frame to ensure the association is made and maintained. Repeat this process until you are sure your cat has made the association. This is usually learnt quickly but is dependent on age, breed, distractions and their motivation for food.

Training is best done when your cat is hungry. Once the association has been solidly made, the response to the click will be maintained but the positive reinforcement can slowly be reduced. Eventually, food does not need to be given after every click.

What Are the Benefits of Cat Clicker Training?

Cat clicker training uses positive reinforcement to encourage desired behaviours, making it an effective and rewarding method for training cats. Cat training with a clicker allows you to quickly reward a behaviour during the command, allowing your cat to associate good behaviour with a reward and encouraging future good behaviour. Using a clicker also allows you to praise and reward from a distance, rather than waiting for your cat to return to you.

Can I Clicker Train Multiple Cats at Once?

Training multiple cats at the same time is difficult as you need to click at the right moment, and it’s unlikely they'll complete the commands at the same time. If you have multiple cats, it’s best to train them separately. Make sure you have a quiet place to train that is free from distractions. The training sessions should be short, so you won’t have to keep them separated for long.

What Are the Best Cat Breeds to Train?

Any cat can learn with the clicker training method, but some breeds may be particularly fast learners. These breeds generally have higher energy levels and are naturally curious and intelligent. They’re also usually very friendly breeds that are eager to please their owners. Some of the best cat breeds to train include:

What Should I Do if My Cat Loses Interest

You should never try to force your cat to partake in clicker training sessions. If your cat walks away, let them have a break and try again later. They may be finding the sessions too long, or the reward is not appealing enough. Try changing the treat to something of higher value like tuna, prawns, ham or a more active toy.

Remember to keep training sessions short. If your cat is actively engaged in the training, they may vocalise by purring or miaowing for the reward, and their body language will be relaxed with their gaze focused on you.

Training a cat with a clicker involves building an association between a click noise and a treat reward. You can use a clicker to teach new tricks, to use a litter box, or to redirect scratching and climbing habits.

Using a clicker helps to build a stronger association between action and reward as you can click at the exact moment your cat completes the right command. Training your feline friend can be fun and is a great way to bond. It may seem challenging to start with but you’ll both have it mastered in no time!

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Additional content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Felis - www.vetlexicon.com/treat/felis

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.

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