Although using a clicker is widely accepted in dog training, it was little heard in the cat world until recently. Now clicker training for cats is growing in popularity as cat owners realise just how much this kind, effective training method can enrich their pets’ lives and strengthen the cat-human bond.

Clicker training is a fun way for you to interact with your cat. It will help your cat think of you as pleasurable and rewarding to be with and can greatly increase the confidence of a timid, shy cat. As more and more pet cats these days are confined indoors, clicker training can provide valuable stimulation and exercise, preventing behavioural problems commonly brought on by boredom.

Cats can learn many of the tricks that are taught to dogs such as high five, roll over, wave and sit up and beg. They can also be taught to sit, stay and come when called. One of the most rewarding activities you can teach using clicker training is cat agility. Similar to dog agility, but on a much smaller scale, cat agility has become a highlight of cat shows in the USA and has recently been introduced into Britain. It involves you directing your cat through an obstacle course containing hoops, jumps, tunnels and poles to weave in and out of. Most, if not all, of the obstacles can be home made or improvised using your furniture or household items. All you need in addition is a clicker, a target stick for your cat to follow – you can buy these but you could also use a pen or ruler – and some small tasty treats that are easy for your cat to eat. Make sure that the treats are so appealing to your cat that he will literally jump through hoops to get them!

So you have your clicker, you have your treats, you have your target stick and, most importantly, you have your cat in an alert and slightly hungry mood. You’re ready to start teaching agility!

An agility course is actually a series of individual tricks that are taught separately and then brought together to form a chain. It is easier to form the chain if the last trick in it is taught first so, if your agility course is going to be: hoop – tunnel – weave – jump, then you should teach your cat to jump first, followed by weave, then tunnel and, lastly, hoop.

Now you need to make your cat move a few paces to reach the target. Start by doing what he already knows: hold the target in front of his face, click and treat as he touches it. When you have done this successfully several times, hold the target out again but so that your cat will have to walk forward a little to touch it. When he does this, click and treat him. Keep repeating this and gradually hold the target further away from your cat

The next step is to hold out the target, then slowly move with it so that your cat follows you. Let him catch you, then click and treat as his nose touches the target. Gradually increase the distance you move before he catches you, and move in different directions so he will follow you anywhere. Once your cat is happily and readily following your target stick, you are ready to introduce the jump!

Starting with a low obstacle, place the jump on the floor then lead your cat up to it with the target stick. Let him touch the stick just as he gets to the jump, then click and treat him. When you’ve done this several times, lead him over the jump. Most cats will clear a jump happily but, if he goes around instead, let him catch and touch the target a few times as you hold it just above the jump.

Finally, introduce your verbal cue ‘jump!’ just as your cat is approaching the obstacle. He will soon learn what the cue means you want him to do.

When you and your cat are proficient at the ‘jump’, you can move on and teach the other tricks one-by-one, simply by using your target stick to direct your cat’s movements.

Always keep your training schedules short and never shout at your cat in frustration if he doesn’t ‘get it’ for a while. Keep the whole activity fun and a positive experience for both of you. If your cat appears tired or bored, end your training session and try again when he is more alert. End all training sessions on a positive note by asking your cat to do something he finds easy then clicking and treating him. You will soon notice your cat’s look of excited anticipation when you bring out your training equipment.

Happy clicker training!

Thanks to Debbie from www.catbehave.co.uk for allowing us to publish this article.