Cat Training

Once you start a training program, you will find it a lot of fun, and will be impressed with your cat‘s enthusiasm. Why not go on to bigger and better things? Many cats can be trained to do all the characteris-tically doggy commands: sit, lie down, roll over, shake hands, heel, and jump through hoops. In fact, some cats put dogs to shame in this department.

To train the cat to heel, just hold a food treat, bend over like Groucho Marx, say -Kitty, heel" and start walking. To get the cat to sit, hold a food treat at nose level and lift it upwards and backwards over the cat‘s head. As her head goes back, her rear end will sit down. Reward the cat as soon as she sits. If the cat backs up, do the exercises in a corner. If the cat rears up, you are holding the food treat too high. (This is how to train your cat to stand on her hind legs.) To get her to lie down, start with the cat in a sitting position, lower the treat to the ground between her forepaws and hold it palm down.

By now you should have a good idea how to use a food treat to lure the cat to specific areas of the house and to entice her to assume a variety of body positions. You can also use toys such as a catnip mouse or ball to entice and lure the cat into the position you want.

A Complete Guide to Cat Training