Last Updated: 8 months ago
Is it possible to train your cat like a dog? The answer to that depends on what you mean by “like a dog.”
Do you mean it is possible to teach a cat to follow commands and do tricks like a dog?
Or are we talking about training him using the same basic methods that we use with dogs?
Read on to find out if you can train a cat like a dog!
Can you train a cat like a dog?
Yes, you can train a cat like a dog to a certain extent.
While dogs and cats have different temperaments, using positive reinforcement, consistency, and patience can help teach cats tricks, commands, and good behavior, similar to training a dog.
However, it’s essential to understand and respect a cat’s independent nature and adjust training methods accordingly.
Let’s break it down into a more detailed explanation.
Training Cat To Follow Commands
Ever see those insanely cute videos (like the one below) of cats doing outrageously amazing tricks and think, “Hey, I want to train my cat like that!”
Obviously, it’s possible. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have the aforementioned videos to make us feel like totally inadequate cat trainers!
What you need to realize, though, is that these people spent hours upon hours perfecting those routines with their kitties.
Cats may be more independent and even more clever than dogs in many ways, but that actually works against you.
See, most dogs are people-pleasers by nature. Cats? Not so much. You have to really make it worth their while!
Can you use dog training methods on a cat?
Well, that depends entirely on what method you use to train your dog!
If we’re talking alpha training and all that antiquated dominance nonsense, no.
Seriously, go ahead and try to “dominate” your cat. I guarantee he’ll do whatever the kitty equivalent to laughing in your face is!
If we’re talking reward-based training, though, then yes, it’s absolutely doable.
Just like it does with dogs, reward training teaches your cat that if he does A, he gets a tasty B.
5 Tips to Train Your Cat Like a Dog
We’re going to focus more on the second scenario because it’ll actually help you with the first.
1. It’s all about timing and location
Choosing the right time and location for your training session is absolutely essential.
Timing
The best time to train your cat is right before mealtime, when he’s hungry enough to be interested in what you have to offer.
So, if you regularly feed your kitty at 5 PM, time your session for around 4:30.
Along with the right timing, you’ll also want to stick to the right amount of time. Just like dogs, cats learn best when the sessions are short and sweet.
I’d say no more than 20 minutes. Too much longer than that, and they’ll get bored!
Location
If you’ve ever trained a dog, you know that it’s important to choose a distraction-free environment at first. The same goes for training your cat!
Take Kitty into a room away from other pets and noise. Your bedroom is a good option, especially if your cat likes to hang out in there.
Don’t make him feel like you’re trapping him, though.
In fact, it’s probably better to lure him in there with a favorite toy and have someone else shut the door behind you.
Once he masters a trick or command, then you can introduce distractions. For now, though, it should just be the two of you.
2. Use high-value treats
If you’ve ever trained a dog, you know that treats are the key to success. The same goes for cats.
However, here’s the thing: cats aren’t quite as tempted by low-value treats as dogs are. Let me explain.
High-value vs. Low-value treats
When you train a dog, typically you choose low-value treats (things he gets every day) for low-distraction environments.
However, when the task is particularly demanding or the environment is super distracting, you pull out the high-value goodies (things he loves but rarely gets).
My dog gets carrots every day, sometimes “just because.” She doesn’t really have to do anything fancy for them.
Still, when I hold one out and ask her to sit, she does. In other words, I can use them for basic training, even though they’re low-value.
My cats get a few of their favorite cat treats every day as well, sometimes “just because.”
If I were to try to use them in training, they’d look at me like I’d lost my mind. They’re simply not valuable enough to motivate my kitties.
So, when I want to teach them something new, I have to break out the little piece of cooked chicken or the homemade salmon treats.
Bottom line: Make sure you’re giving Kitty a good enough reason to comply with your request.
3. Work with your cat’s natural instincts
If you want to train a cat like a dog using reward training, you first have to teach them what the “reward system” means.
I’ve had both cats and dogs for my entire adult life.
All those years have taught me one thing: dogs almost instinctively know that rewards are something we earn, while cats think that their very existence deserves a reward.
Teach them that rewards are earned
So, teach them that while their existence is definitely worthy of some rewards (like humans, our pets deserve some “no strings attached” goodies on occasion), they have to earn the good stuff!
For that, you’ll want to work with their natural instincts and reward them for things they’re already doing.
I recommend starting with litter training. Cats naturally want to go where they can cover up their “business,” which is why they’re such a breeze to litter train.
When you see your cat coming out of the box, immediately say, “Good kitty!” and hand over a reward.
Continue to condition your cat to see treats as a reward by using them during playtime.
For example, you can hold a treat up above Kitty’s head to encourage him to reach for it or fill an interactive ball with treats.
Basically, whenever your cat does something you like, reward him. It won’t take long for him to learn that the good stuff only comes when he earns it.
4. Start with simple tricks and commands
Yes, I know you want to teach your cat to ride a bike so you can be the next YouTube star. Who doesn’t, right?
However, your cat can’t master complicated tricks until he learns a few basic commands.
Try teaching him simple things like “sit” and “come.” You know the things you taught your dog at first.
Check out the tutorial below for tips!
5. Redirect, don’t punish!
If you’d rather learn how to teach your cat not to do something, this one’s for you.
Just like you should never use punishment-based training with dogs, you should never, ever, ever punish your cat for doing something that you don’t like.
Cats scratch furniture. They barf up hairballs in our shoes. They throw things at us when we don’t pay attention—or at least mine does. They put on obnoxiously loud way-off-Broadway musicals at 2 AM.
None of these things are done out of spite. There’s a reason behind each and every one.
Yes, even when Willow chucks things off the counter in what I swear is a clear attempt to hit me, she has a reason.
Your job is to figure out that reason, then figure out how to either deflect or deter the behavior without taking out your frustration on your cat.
How to redirect negative behavior
If your cat is scratching up your sofa, redirect that behavior by giving her something more appropriate to sharpen those claws on.
We bought a cheap $5 cardboard scratcher from 5 Below that my Zoe just adores. Alex and Willow prefer a fancier scratching post.
If Kitty is singing at the top of her lungs in the middle of the night, redirect her by giving her something quiet to play with.
Sometimes, Zoe sings because she’s lonely. Just inviting her into my room is enough to settle her down (I keep my door closed not to keep her out but because I’m the first to bed in my house).
Got a cat like mine that throws things at you for attention? Make sure her needs are met (does she have food, water, and a clean litter box?).
If they are, ignore her assault. She’ll stop when she realizes she’s not getting anything out of it.
Wrap-Up
That about sums it up!
As we’ve seen, yes, it’s possible to train your cat like a dog, as long as you modify your methods a bit and have plenty of patience.
What are your thoughts? Did you ever try to train your cat like a dog? Share below!
You can’t even believe this! Earlier today, I was wondering if cats could be trained and then just a few hours later, I’m reading this! Cool.
This is so interesting! I’ve never thought about attempting to train my cats but it’s worth a shot.
I had no idea that you could train cats the way you train dogs! That makes sense to train them just before their meals.
OMG! Your post brought me really funny memories. I once tried “dominating” my cat and yes, she’s definitely not happy and so am I.
Anyway, thank you for sharing these tips. I think it’s still great that we can train and teach some tricks to our feline friends.
Oh my goodness. I never would have thought it possible to train a cat let alone train the cat to do dog commands. I have a dog but now I’m thinking I may join the cat side
That’s a interesting post. I didnt know that we can train cats like dogs. This post will be helpful for cat owners.
My friend had a cat that he trained to go through a mini agility course in his living room. So yes cats can be trained. Just time and patience.
Aww reading this made me miss my cat. He was a kitten and very well behaved, I wish I had him now to try some of these things.
I feel like cats are so smart that they would pick it up so quick. My friend lead trained her car
For walks!
I still haven’t tried to train my cats but keep thinking about this post – I’m considering working on “sit” first 🙂
In retrospect, now that my cats have passed and I have a dog, I wonder if my cats may actually have been better trained and listened to me better than the dog does. She’s not bad. But our cats were amazing were extraordinary when it came to listening.
I would love to do this but I think my 11 year old cat has too much power over me and she pretty much does what she wants!!
One of the reasons is that she was raised with a big dog. She bossed (haha) him around. When this 90-pound dog came up to her stand, she’d just bump him on the nose.