How to teach your cat simple, but helpful, commands

Teach Your Cat to Sit

• 1

  Place the cat on a table, or sit down in front of her.

• 2

  Hold a treat just in front of and slightly above her nose.

• 3

  Make sure the cat is paying attention to the treat. If she isn't, she might not be hungry. In that case, try again later.

• 4

  Say "Sit," and raise the treat diagonally toward her until it is over her head.

• 5

  Watch for the moment the cat sits down. As she follows the treat straight over her head, she will probably sit because it will help her look up at the treat dangling in the air.

• 6

  Give her the treat the moment she sits down. Praise and pet her.

• 7

  Do this several times a day for as long as it takes. Eventually, she will sit down when you give the command.

Teach Your Cat to Come

• 8

  Ring a bell, click a clicker or use some other loud and easily recognizable sound when you are about to give your cat his meal. At the same time, call out "Come Fluffy!" or whatever your cat's name is.

• 9

  Begin by using fixed meal times and fixed locations. Even if the cat does not come at the sound of his name and the bell, he will soon smell the food, figure out that it is dinner time and come running. In this way, he will learn to associate your command with food.

• 10

  Start to vary things once your cat is used to coming to dinner at the sound of your command. Try calling him at other times of day, or from other locations. Give him special treats sometimes. Other times, just give your cat his usual food.

• 11

  Try cutting out the bell once your cat gets used to coming every time you use it and call him. He should still come at the sound of your voice.