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How to Teach Your Cat to Sit

Member
By stlscientist
User-Submitted Article
(5 Ratings)

Cats can learn tricks too! They just don't want you know. They laugh at the tricks dogs do and don't want you to know they can do them too. Teach your cat to sit using these easy steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Your cat's favorite treats.
  1. Step 1

    Work with your cat over a period of seven or more days. Do not feed more than 4-5 high calorie treats per day during this 7 day training period. If you feed more use a low calorie treat designed for training. These may be hard to find for cats. You can also use your cat's other favorite foods like chicken or tuna. It just needs to be in a form you can hand them. The treat will act as a tool to teach your pet.

  2. Step 2

    Call your cat to you using a firm but friendly tone. When they come show them love and affection as a reward. If they haven't learned to come to you when you call, then call them, find them, and place them in front of where you started calling them. Example: Start calling them in the kitchen. Find them and bring them to the kitchen. Place them on the floor in front of you.

  3. Step 3

    Present the treat to them to smell and remove it from them.

  4. Step 4
     

    Place the treat above their head about a foot. If your cat tries to stand up and paw it from your hand, do not release the treat. Say NO in a firm tone and remove the treat. Hold the treat above their head by about 1 foot again. Directly after they are on their back legs and before they can paw for it lay the treat at their feet.

  5. Step 5

    Pet them and say "Good Cat".

  6. Step 6

    Repeat steps 1-5 three times in the morning and twice in the evening for seven days. After that time practice once per day. As you practice your cat will begin to sit rather than stand, if not, help them by gently placing one hand under their rib cage or front thigh and helping them.

  7. Step 7

    After your cat learns this trick, practice with them at least once per day. Wait no less than one to two months before teaching another trick.

Tips & Warnings
  • Be patient.
  • It may look like they didn't "Get It", but over time you'll see that they did. They just wanted to make you think they didn't so you won't make them do silly tricks.
  • Do not over feed treats. Treats are not a meal and are not a replacement for a meal.
Resources

Comments  

luv2laugh said

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on 5/23/2008 I taught my kittens to sit when they were pretty young - about 6 weeks? That is a great idea with the pawing - that was when of our major problems at first.

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