If there is one thing that most of us recognize about our cats, it’s the fact that they can be somewhat independent. Even if you have a cat that seems to follow you around the home and lays in your lap any time you sit down, they will still show a streak of independence because they are only doing these things “because they want to do them.” That is why some people feel as if training a cat to come on command is practically impossible.
Although it can be difficult to train a cat, especially in comparison to training a dog, it is by no means out of the question. What it will take, however, is some patience and time. If you’re willing to put in the effort, you might be surprised to find that teaching your cat to come to you on command is not all that difficult after all.
The first, and perhaps most important thing to recognize about training a cat is the fact that they will get bored of the training sessions very quickly. Typically, you can expect to train your cat for anywhere from five minutes up to 10 minutes at a time. If you go beyond their tolerance level, it is going to be counterproductive to continue. It is much better for you to keep your training sessions short and do them frequently throughout the day, perhaps even four or five times.
The easiest way to train a cat to come to you on command is to use a treat. A number of cat training tools can be used, including a clicker, but most cats will respond to a treat. You can use store-bought treats that are specific for this purpose or you can cut up tiny pieces of chicken to offer to them. Make sure it is tasty and fits in well with what your cat enjoys eating. If they enjoy the rewards, teaching them to come to you will be much easier.
The real key is to get the cat to learn your vocal cues and then have them run in your direction. Start by having a cat a short distance away from you, use the command and offer the treat to them. If they are close enough to see the treat, they will come for it and eventually, will understand the connection between your vocal cue and getting something pleasurable. As you continue to work with your cat, start out a longer distance and eventually, they will come to you anytime they hear the cue.
It is possible to use a clicker for this type of training rather than a vocal cue. Just keep in mind, you may not always have the clicker with you but it is always possible to call out when you want your cat to come running.