How to Train a Cat

Dog owners seem to have it easy when it comes to training. There are puppy classes and long lines, endless supplies of treats and Instagram pages entirely dedicated to teaching you how to become a master of recall. But if you asked someone how to train a cat, they'd probably think you were joking at first. It's like most cats never got the memo that training was even an option.

Except cats can be trained, and as long as you don’t expect them to behave like a dog, or find the same methods successful, you’re already on the right track. Maybe you're trying to work out how to litter train a cat because you've just brought a kitten home or maybe you've seen cats out on harnesses looking unbothered and elegant and want to know how to harness train a cat of your own. Either way, it's doable, it just looks a bit different to teaching a dog to sit.

Cats aren't really bothered about pleasing us the way dogs often are, so training one means figuring out what motivates them and working with that instead. That's really what this guide is about: how to train a cat in a way that suits how they think, starting with the basics and building up from there.

Cat training is basically just teaching your cat to do certain things, or stop doing others, using methods that make sense to them rather than to us. It tends to look a bit different to dog training because there's less obedience involved and more encouragement, so it's usually built around rewarding the behaviour you want rather than correcting the one you don't.

For a lot of owners, cat training covers the basics like using a litter tray properly, coming when called, tolerating a harness, getting used to a carrier without a fight, or learning that the sofa arm isn't a scratching post. And once you’ve nailed those essentials, some people take it further with tricks or clicker training.

Not really, but they're definitely not trained the same way a dog is, which is probably where the reputation comes from. Dogs tend to work hard to please us, whereas cats couldn't really care less about our approval and will only repeat something if there's a decent reason for them to bother. But that’s not the same as being untrainable.

Cats respond best to an approach that motivates their specific needs, which for almost every case is food. Once you've found the right treat and prepared with a bit of patience rather than expecting instant obedience, most cats pick things up perfectly well, some faster than others depending on how food-driven or nervous they are.

Before you get into any actual training, it helps to understand how cats pick things up in the first place. Cats are learning from us constantly, whether we mean to teach them anything or not, and most of that learning boils down to a few key things: what's in it for them, how often something happens, and how predictable their day feels.

Cats aren't really fussed about praise or a pat on the head, that's much more of a dog thing. What usually gets their attention is a reward worth working for, and in almost every case, that means food. If a behaviour leads to something tasty, a cat is far more likely to repeat it, and if it doesn't, they'll usually stop bothering fairly quickly. This is why treats are the backbone of how to train a cat.

Cats also need to see a pattern before it sinks in, so one good session isn't going to cut it. The more times a cat experiences the same behaviour leading to the same outcome, the stronger that association becomes, which is why little and often works so much better.

Cats are creatures of habit too, so they tend to pick things up faster when training fits into a routine they already recognise, like right before dinner or during a regular play session. Beyond formal training, routine also shapes a lot of the behaviours cats learn without us realising it. So, keeping training sessions somewhat predictable, at a similar time and place, gives your cat the best chance of connecting the dots.

A lot of cat training comes down to associative learning, which is just a science-y way of saying cats connect two things together over time. They link a behaviour with what happens straight after it, or link an object with however it makes them feel, and depending on how consistent that connection is, they'll either keep doing something or start avoiding it altogether. It sounds complicated, but it's really just cause and effect from your cat's point of view.

How Rewards Help Cats Make Connections

Rewards are what cement that connection. If your cat does something and a treat follows straight after, they link the two together and become more likely to repeat it, which is the whole idea behind positive reinforcement and pretty much every method of cat training. Timing is important too, because the closer the treat comes to the behaviour, the easier it is for your cat to join the dots, whether you're working on how to train a cat to use the litter box or how to harness train a cat.

While rewards work brilliantly for most cats, we also know that not every cat is food driven. So for cats like that, it helps to understand some of the other ways cats naturally pick things up.

Cats pay more attention to each other than we sometimes give them credit for, and kittens in particular learn a lot simply by watching. A kitten who sees their mother use the litter tray or approach something new with confidence is far more likely to do the same themselves. Even adult cats will sometimes take cues from other cats in the house, so a nervous cat living alongside a relaxed one may slowly grow more confident just from being around them.

Sometimes cats work things out simply by trying something and seeing what happens, then adjusting based on the result. A cat might paw at a cupboard door a few different ways before figuring out which one eventually gets it open, or nudge a toy repeatedly until they land on the movement that gets the best reaction out of it. Over time, whatever worked tends to stick, and whatever didn't gets dropped fairly quickly.

Some lessons only need to happen once for a cat to remember them, especially if the experience was particularly good or particularly unpleasant. A cat that's had one stressful trip in the carrier can end up avoiding it for months afterwards, while a cat that's had a calm, positive first experience with something new is far more likely to stay relaxed about it in future. This is part of why first impressions matter so much when introducing anything new, since it can shape how your cat feels about it in the long run.

A few minutes of training here and there can end up making a surprising difference to daily life with your cat, well beyond whatever trick or behaviour you were working on.

• Calmer vet visits: Cats trained to feel at ease in their carrier cope far better with car journeys and exams, and there's a lot less scrambling about trying to get them in there in the first place.
• A closer bond with you: Spending time training gives you a way to interact with your cat that feels rewarding rather than just tolerating, which ultimately builds more trust between you both.
• Something for their brain to do: Training sessions keep a cat mentally occupied which can take the edge off boredom and the restless behaviour that sometimes comes with it. It’s especially useful for indoor cats that need some extra enrichment in their day.
• Easier handling at home: Cats used to being brushed, having their claws clipped or being checked over make routine care far less of a battle.
• Better wellbeing overall: Studies on shelter cats found that regular training sessions were linked to calmer behaviour, better grooming and even fewer signs of illness compared to cats who went without it.

You don't need much to get started, but having the right basics ready makes the whole process a lot smoother, and saves you fumbling around mid-session while your cat loses interest. Here's what's worth having to hand before you begin.

High-Value Cat Treats

Since food is what motivates most cats, you’ll want to get some tasty treats in to help. Think about what your cat enjoys most, the flavours and foods they usually give you the big eyes for and stick with that. It’ll need to be small enough that they can eat it in one go without stopping to chew like little bits of tuna, prawn, freeze-dried treats or soft training treats. Ultimately, the better the treat, the more willing your cat will be to work for it.

A Clicker or Marker Word

A clicker tool or a specific word like "yes" or "good" helps to give your cat a signal they've done the right thing, which makes it much easier for them to understand what's earning the reward. This is useful, even alongside treats, allowing the click or a word to bridge that gap between you retrieving the treat and giving it to them. It needs to stay consistent, so pick one sound or word and stick with it every time you're training.

Toys, Scratching Posts and Enrichment

How to train a cat isn’t always just about teaching a specific trick or command. Sometimes, it can be teaching them new ways to release their energy – especially if they’re an indoor only cat. Cat essentials like scratching posts, puzzle feeders, wand toys and other enrichment tools help to redirect behaviours like scratching the sofa or pouncing on your feet. Having these in place ready to go makes it easier for them to realise these are an alternative to the behaviour you’re trying to rid.

The Right Litter Tray, Harness or Tools for the Skill

Some training goals need a bit of specific kit to go with them, and using the wrong version can make things harder than they need to be. If you're working out how to litter train a cat, that means a tray that's the right size, depth and location for them. If you're figuring out how to harness train a cat, that means a proper cat-specific harness and a lightweight lead rather than something designed for a dog. Having the right equipment from the start means you're not accidentally working against yourself before the training even begins.

Once you've got your treats and equipment sorted, actually training your cat comes down to a few simple habits more than any clever technique. Get these right and most cats pick things up relatively easily.

• Keep training sessions short: A few minutes at a time is plenty since cats lose focus quickly and won't get much out of a long, drawn-out session. Little and often is the goal.
• Reward the behaviour you want: Treat the exact moment your cat does the right thing, not a few seconds after, otherwise you risk rewarding whatever they've moved on to instead.
• Use the same cue every time: Whether it's a word, a hand signal or a clicker, stick with the same one for the same behaviour. Chopping and changing just makes it harder for your cat makes the necessary connections between what you want and what you don’t want.
• End before your cat gets bored: Try to finish while your cat's still interested rather than pushing on until they wander off. Ending on a good note keeps them keen to come back for the next session.

If you're not sure where to begin, it helps to start simple and build up from there rather than jumping straight into anything complicated. These first few steps are a good way to ease into how to train a cat, and most of what comes later builds on them anyway.

• Start with their name: Say your cat's name and reward them the moment they look towards you, even just a glance. This is the groundwork for pretty much everything else, since your cat needs to associate their name with paying you attention before you can teach them much else.
• Teach them to come when called: Once they respond to their name, build on that by rewarding them for walking over to you. Start close by and gradually increase the distance as they get the hang of it.
• Try a simple hand target: Hold your fingers a short distance from your cat's nose and reward them for touching it. This is one of the easiest things to teach and comes in useful later for guiding your cat into positions or towards specific spots.
• Move onto easy commands: Once the basics are solid, you can build towards things like sit or a hand touch, using the same reward-and-repeat approach you've used for everything else so far.

Yes, plenty of cats can learn tricks and it’s usually straightforward once they've already got the hang of the basics. Tricks aren't essential in the way something like litter training is, but they're a nice way to build on what your cat already knows and give them a bit more mental stimulation along the way.

• Sit: Hold a treat just above your cat's nose and slowly move it back towards their ears. As their head tilts up to follow it, their bottom should naturally lower into a sit.
• Paw or high-five: Hold a treat in a closed fist near your cat's paw. Most cats will bat at your hand to get to it, so reward the moment they lift a paw, then gradually only reward when they touch your hand rather than the air.
• Spin: With your cat standing, hold a treat close to their nose and slowly trace a circle in the air. Their body should follow the treat round in a full turn, at which point you reward them.
• Lie down: From a sit, lower a treat from their nose down towards the floor. As they follow it down, their front end should drop into a lying position.
• Nose touch: Hold a finger or target stick a short distance from your cat's face and reward them the second they touch it with their nose. This one's especially useful since it can be used to guide your cat almost anywhere once they've learned it.

Yes, plenty of cats can be taught to wear a harness and walk on a lead, although it can take a little more patience than with a dog, since cats are naturally a little more independent than their canine companions.

It starts with getting your cat comfortable wearing a proper cat-specific harness indoors, rewarding them for wearing it in short bursts before you even think about attaching a lead, and only heading outside once they're completely relaxed with the whole setup. It's also worth remembering that your cat will always lead the way rather than the other way round, so it's less about going for a walk together and more about giving them a safe way to explore outdoors on their own terms.

We've written a full step-by-step guide on how to harness train a cat, covering everything from choosing the right gear to building up those early sessions, so head over there if you want the complete walk-through.

Yes, and in most cases, this is one of the easier things to teach your cat since they naturally want to bury their waste. Knowing how to litter train a cat comes down to having the right setup from the start including a tray that's the right size for them, a litter they're happy to dig in, and a spot in the house where they don’t feel disturbed while using it.

For kittens or cats new to a house, popping them in the tray after meals and after waking up helps them get into the habit early, and rewarding them when they use it properly reinforces that it's the right spot to go.

Yes absolutely, and it’s a big part of learning how to train a cat. A lot of what we consider bad behaviour is just a cat doing something natural in a place we'd rather they didn't, like scratching the sofa, jumping on the counter or pestering you in bed at 3am.

But rather than telling your cat off, it's far more effective to work out what's driving the behaviour and give them a better option instead, such as using a scratching cat post or relieving their boredom with a puzzle feeder. And rewarding your cat when they choose the alternative helps that habit stick far quicker than any amount of shouting ever would.

Even though many of us react almost instinctively with "no!" when our cat does something we'd rather they didn't, it doesn't really teach them much beyond the fact your loud voice is scary. Like with any animal, shouting or saying no doesn't work, but a different approach will get you there quicker.

• Use redirection instead of telling off: If your cat's scratching the sofa, gently pick them up and pop them by the scratching post instead. They learn what they should be doing this way rather than them just being interrupted.
  
  
• Make unwanted behaviour less rewarding: Cats keep doing things because something about it pays off, whether that's your attention, a great view from the counter or a snack left within reach. Take away whatever's making it worthwhile and the behaviour should start to fade on its own.
  
  
• Reward the better choice: Every time your cat picks the scratching post over the sofa, or their own bed over the counter, throw them a treat for it. Cats repeat what works, so they’ll often do the behaviour again with the hopes of getting the same reward.

If training isn't going the way you hoped, it's rarely because your cat is being stubborn on purpose. There's usually something getting in the way and it’s worth taking the time to consider if there’s something else they might need help with.

• The reward isn't good enough: If your cat's taking their time or wandering off mid-session, the treat probably isn't worth the effort for them. Try something of higher value like a bit of chicken or tuna, and see if their attention comes back.
• The session is too long: Cats can get bored quickly, so if you're ten minutes in and getting nowhere, that’s likely the problem rather than anything your cat is or isn't understanding. Just make sessions shorter and see if you start to notice a difference.
• There are too many distractions: Noisy children, other pets or even just an interesting noise outside can pull your cat's focus somewhere else entirely so training somewhere quiet and familiar gives you a much better shot at holding their attention.
• Your cat is stressed, tired or unwell: Cats who aren't feeling quite right rarely have the energy or patience for training, so if sessions have suddenly gone downhill, it's worth checking whether something else is going on before assuming it's the training itself.

If you're hoping for a quick fix, like getting your cat to use the litter tray perfectly within minutes using nothing but a few treats, then no, it’s not that easy. But it's not difficult either, so long as you've got the right tools and a bit of patience to go with them. You don't need to spend all day training your cat, five to ten minutes here and there is plenty, and they'll get there in their own time.

Every cat is different too, with some picking things up faster than others depending on their age and personality. As long as you use the right approach and avoid the common mistakes that trip a lot of owners up, training a cat is one of the easier things you can do with them.

Training a cat was never going to look like training a dog, but that doesn't make it any less possible. Once you stop expecting the instant obedience you see with dogs and start paying attention to what motivates your cat, you'll find they're a lot more capable than most people give them credit for.

Maybe you're just trying to get the litter tray sorted, teaching them to walk nicely on a harness, or trying to stop them treating the sofa like their own personal scratching post. It all comes back to the same few things: good treats, short sessions, staying consistent, and giving your cat the time they need to get there.

Here at WOOOF, we've got everything you need to get started, from litter trays and training treats to harnesses and enrichment toys to keep your cat busy between sessions. Give it time and a bit of patience, and we guarantee your cat is going to surprise you.

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