Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
- a clicker
- treats your cat loves
- a target stick with a different end -- I suggest adding a ball to the opposite end of your current target stick
Step1
As before, prepare things so that you can quickly give a treat to your cat as soon as s/he does the right thing.
Step2
Holding the clicker in one hand (if you are not clicking with your tongue), put the ball on the target stick in front of your cat. Make short, jerky movements with the ball to entice your cat to swat at it.
Step3
As soon as your cat's paw touches the ball, click! Immediately give your cat a reward for touching the ball.
Step4
Repeat this 2-3 more times. Again, take a break before you do another session.
Step5
After you've done a few sessions with a few repetitions each, and your cat is successful (80% or better), make the jerky movements with the ball smaller. After a few sessions, you should be able to just present the ball and your cat will touch it.
Step6
If you like, you can add distance from the ball like you did with the nose target (Cat Herding 101).