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Teaching Cats
to Sit on Cue
What is it?
Teaching cats to
sit using a cue word and hand
signal gives you a common
language.
Teaching cats to sit
is also a great way to provide
needed mental exercise and
gentle family leadership. If
dogs are known for their work
ethic, cats can be described as
having family values.
Why teach your cat to sit on
cue?
It is easy to
teach a cat to sit. The
same
lure-reward and positive
reinforcement principles
and methods
that are used to teach dogs
apply to teaching cats. The key
word is "positive"
training
methods. Cat's do well if
encouraged and rewarded. Cats
respond to conflict with
avoidance. Keep training fun and
be patient.
Teaching your
cat to sit on cue is one
of the most versatile and
important
lessons for
any
cat to
accomplish. You can use
a sit
on cue
to shape a number of desirable
cat behaviors in
a cat. Once your cat has learned to
sit, you can ask for a sit
before meals, greetings, and any
other privileges to gently
remind your cat that you are the
provider of all good things.
When your cat sits
every time, begin to
treat every other
sit, then
the BEST sit of
three or five
attempts. Phase out
the food rewards
over several weeks.
Never phase out praise. |
What to do
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Start with a hungry cat
that's looking for attention
and tasty food treats. The
goal is to use the treat to
lead your cat into a sit
position.
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Give your cat a treat for
free. Then, allow your cat
to lick the second treat as
you raise it slowly up (nose
pointed up) and release it.
-
For the third treat,
continue pointing the nose
back in a teeter-totter
motion that makes it easier
for the cat to sit to get to
the treat. Go very slowly.
-
Just
as your cat
sits, say, "Sit,"
and immediately release
the treat and
coo, "Good kitty."
Repeat this
exercise about six times. Try to
quit while you are ahead
NOTE:
If the cat's front feet rise up,
you are holding the food too
high or going too fast.
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"Helping you raise a fabulous feline
friend for life." |
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