How to Train a Cat

Yes, you can in fact train a cat—as independent as they may be.

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Never Punish

Cats won’t learn from what some owners would consider “discipline.” Worse yet, “punishing” your cat can induce stress. This may lead to behavioral and health problems—not something you want to deal with in cat training or in general. Remember that patience and positive reinforcement are essential if you’re learning how to train a cat.

Get a clicker & treats

Commonly used as training tools for a wide variety of animals, a clicker will set you back just a couple of bucks and help you give positive reinforcement when you’re learning how to train a cat.

Tip: You can also use a regular pen with a clicky button—the important thing is to have a distinct noise you can make instantly.

Most cat training involves offering your cat a treat it likes following a click to mark the desired behavior. These tactics also work when it comes to giving your cat a pill. Without the clicker, your cat may be confused about why it’s being rewarded: If it obeys a command, hears the click, and then gets a treat, it’s more likely to catch on.

How to train a cat to come on command

Cats can learn to respond to a vocal cue and run your way. This step of how to train a cat starts by making a distinct noise before feeding—before you open a bag or can—like vocally call your cat, or click your tongue. Your pet will learn to associate that noise with something positive (food) and will eventually head to you when it hears it. Then, encourage this behavior outside of normal feeding times. Start from short distances. Make the noise, use your clicker when your cat comes, and then reward your pet with the treat. Over time, call the cat from longer distances. The ASPCA recommends up to two “cat training sessions” a day, for five minutes or less, during which you should repeat the behavior up to 20 times.

How to train a cat to use a toilet

Training a cat to use the toilet definitely takes some work, but think of the benefits: You’ll save on litter and enjoy a cleaner home. First, place a litter box adjacent to your toilet. Then gradually bring it closer and closer to the top of the seat—you might need a stool to make the process easier on the cat. Once your pet is accustomed to using a litter box on top of the toilet, transition to a special litter box that fits within the toilet itself. (Buy flushable litter, and expect spillover.) Gradually use less and less litter to get your cat accustomed to doing its business without it, and then, remove the litter box entirely.

How to train a cat to shake hands

This cat training is simpler than you might expect: Get a treat ready, then align yourself to the same level as your cat. Tap your cat’s paw while saying “shake,” and use your clicker when it moves its paw. Repeat training until your cat offers its paw in response to the “shake” command without tapping. Like the “come on command” trick, this can take a few training sessions over the course of a couple of days. Once this skill is mastered, your cat will be ready to star in internet cat memes.

How to train a cat to walk on a leash

Get a harness with a leash that attaches at the cat’s back, not its neck. Before putting it on your cat, leave it out for a few days in areas where your cat goes—like its feeding area or favorite sleeping spot, so that the animal is accustomed to the sight of it. Next, you’ll transition to draping the harness over the cat (without fully attaching it) when giving it a treat. You’ll eventually move to securing the harness around the cat without the leash—leave it on your cat for a couple of minutes at first, then increase the time over the course of a few days. Once your pet is comfortable with the harness, attach the leash to it, and let your cat wander freely inside with it. After a few days, start holding the leash during training. Then: Ease into the great outdoors! Make sure you let your cat take its time exploring a new area, and start somewhere quiet.

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Preparing an Anxious Pet For Fireworks

With the fireworks, loud music, shouts and laughter, and in some areas even the banging of pots and pans or gunfire on New Year’s Eve, our normally calm pets may feel that their world is under attack. Some pets will lose all ability to act rationally and go so far as to jump out of windows or bloody their paws trying to escape through locked doors. It is on these nights, in fact, that pets are most likely to run away in a panic and get lost.

1. Confining Your Pet

Many pets have a favorite hiding place where they go when they are frightened. For some, a crate can lend a feeling of safety and security, but this is not true for all pets. If your cat or dog has not grown up using a crate and is not comfortable with it, they may find it more stressful to be confined and may even injure their teeth or nails trying to get through the crate door. Know your pet. If you cannot use a crate, place them in a room where they cannot hurt themselves or damage your belongings.

2. Using Positive Noise to Distract Your Pet

Even if you have not been using noise conditioning before now, you can still try using a distracting noise to help cover up the alarming sounds. Calm classical music can help to relieve many animals’ anxiety. Turn the music up to a comfortable volume; enough to drown out some of the loud party sounds, but not too loud to be disturbing to your pet. Some pets also like to watch TV. If your cat or dog has a favorite show to watch, set it up so that they can enjoy it for several hours at a time.

At other times, get your pet used to hearing loud noises by playing louder types of classical music, with lots of brass and percussion, recordings of thunderstorms. Play the sounds when nothing else is going on. Give your pet treats when they stay calm during the noise, and speak soothingly when they seem a little nervous. Let them know that everything is okay as you go about your normal routine.

3. Natural Calming Therapies for Pets

Lavender oil, which has been found to reduce car anxiety in dogs, can be helpful. Make sure the oil has the name Lavendula augustifolia or Lavendula officinalis. It can be used either on the skin or by letting your dog smell it. Try spraying the lavender oil on your dog’s favorite blanket. ProQuiet, a chewable tryptophan tablet, or in syrup form, can also help in calming dogs and cats. And canine pheromone sprays can be helpful for the mildly affected.

For cats, many owners find that Feliway sprays are very helpful. Feliway is a synthetic copy of the facial pheromone cats use to mark their territory as safe and secure. It can be used as a plug-in room diffuser, or as a spray.

4. Exercise Your Pet to Calmness

A happy, well-behaved pet is a tired pet.
Get your dog outside to a park (or the equivalent) for as much exercise as they can handle.
If you have a cat, plan out your day to spend time with feather wands and laser pointing toys. Keep your cat moving for as long as you can before the evening’s festivities begin.
Hopefully, when the noise starts, your pet will be too tired to get stressed out by it.

5. Distract Your Pet With Toys and Games

Give your dog or cat some food puzzles to play with during the time when there will be a lot of noise, or get a few new toys for them to play with.

If you have a cat, try spritzing catnip spray on the new toy to keep them interested, and for dogs, stuff a puzzle toy with peanut butter to keep their attention focused.

6. Talk to Your Veterinarian

If your veterinarian is already familiar with your issue, you may be able to have your vet call in an anti-anxiety prescription for your pet. This will not be helpful if you have never talked to your vet about your pet’s anxiety before; most veterinarians will not call in a last-minute prescription for a pet they have not previously diagnosed with noise anxiety.

7. Leave Home for the Night

Do you have friends or family who live in a quiet place? If you know for sure that none of the tips here will help your pet’s severe anxiety, pack up the travel crate and all of the other things you will need for an overnight away from home and then hightail it to a quieter neck of the woods.

If you are a dog owner living in one of the warmer Southern states, you may even consider grabbing a tent and “roughing it” in the peace and quiet of nature. Now that’s celebrating the New Year in style.

8. Don’t Hold Back on Comforting Your Pet

Finally, forget everything you have heard about ignoring your pet’s anxiety for fear of encouraging it with attention. Imagine how you would want to be treated if you were feeling that level of anxiety. Would you want to be ignored and brushed aside? Would being comforted by a loved one make you more scared or less scared?

The best thing you can do for your pet when they are anxious is to stay calm – show your pet by example that there is nothing to be afraid of – speak soothingly, show lots of calm affection, and give treats when they are being calm. Some pets will learn from this that as long as you are near they are safe and they may stop being as clingy.

But remember that our pets, like us, can be high strung and may always need to be comforted during noise-filled events.

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Diabetic Pet Tools and Resources

ON THE GO TRACKING

Pet Diabetes Tracker Mobile App

The Pet Diabetes Tracker App helps pet parents better track and manage diabetes in dogs and cats.

Manage everything — from food and water consumption to blood glucose curves.

You can also create reminders and alerts so you are always prepared!

Download on Android and iOS

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Pet Owner Resources

Blood Glucose Curve Generator

VISIT | Monitoring glucose levels checks insulin performance.

Glucose Curve Kit

DOWNLOAD | Includes: Glucose Curve Workpad • How-to Instructions • Interpretation Guidelines • Pet Diabetes Tracker

Is Your Pet at Risk for Diabetes?

TAKE THE QUIZ | Take the quiz and find out, then follow up with your vet for any next steps.

Feline Insulin Administration Guide

DOWNLOAD | All the details you need about preparing and giving a dose to your cat.

Canine Insulin Administration Guide

DOWNLOAD | All the details you need about preparing and giving a dose to your dog.

Diabetes Monitoring Sheet

DOWNLOAD | Get all the information you need to know about using Vetsulin in one place.

Guide to Managing Feline Diabetes

DOWNLOAD BROCHURE

Guide to Managing Canine Diabetes

DOWNLOAD BROCHURE

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Can Pet Insurance Help Fight Pet Cancer?

Is pet insurance worth it?

This is a very common question from pet owners, and there is no “right” answer. It really is a family decision. But consider another question that may help you get to that answer:

If your pet experienced a medical emergency tomorrow,

do you have the financial means to treat them?

As a veterinary cancer care provider, we often see uninsured pet owners struggling with this very question. It is not uncommon for pet owners with the desire to treat their pet’s cancer forced to make medical decisions based not on what is best for their pet – but on what they can or can’t afford. In the most tragic of situations, euthanasia may be the only financially viable option. This can be a truly heartbreaking decision for any family.

Cancer is the number one cause of death in older dogs and cats. The sad reality is that there is a 50/50 chance that your beloved dog or cat may develop cancer.

In many cases, however, cancer does not have to be a death sentence. Cancer care for pets is evolving with new medical advancements presented every year. New treatments such as stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) are opening doors to treat cancers that were previously untreatable. Therefore, just like in human medicine, there is a need to prepare financially for your pet’s veterinary care. With pet insurance on your side, you will be able to focus your decision on what’s best for your pet without carrying the burden of finances on your shoulders. Pet insurance can provide the freedom of not having to choose between your pet and your wallet.

Is pet insurance worth it? If your pets are cherished members of the family, you want to be able to provide the best care for them, and you don’t have the financial means to cover treatment – then yes, pet insurance is absolutely worth it.

How much does cancer care for pets cost?

Similar to human health care, the veterinary profession has doctors that have chosen to undergo additional education and training to be board-certified specialists in a specific field of medicine. Veterinary oncologists, who are specialists in diagnosing, staging, and treating cancer in pets, provide veterinary cancer care. Veterinary radiation oncologists specialize in the use of radiation therapy to treat cancerous tumors.

Specialty care requires board-certified specialists and advanced equipment to perform the latest procedures. And as medicine continues to advance, pets are receiving better care and living longer. However, with a higher level of care comes at higher costs—making it all the more important for pet owners to carry insurance for their pets.

The costs of treating pet cancer vary depending on each individual patient’s treatment plan. Some patients may only need SRS to treat a cancerous tumor. Other patients might need a combination of treatment options like surgery and ongoing chemotherapy. As such, costs vary widely but can easily add up to $10,000 or more.

Does pet insurance cover cancer care?

• As long as your pet is covered by pet insurance before a cancer diagnosis is made, most pet insurance will cover cancer care. If your pet has already been diagnosed, the cancer is considered a pre-existing condition. No pet insurance covers pre-existing conditions. Therefore, the earlier you can ensure your pets – before they develop an illness or condition – the better.

• Most major pet insurance providers offer a variety of coverage plans. Cancer is often included in a specific plan or can be added as a rider. Most carriers cover even the most advanced treatments, subject to their individual exclusions for things like pre-existing conditions. Contact the insurance provider to ask which plans include cancer care. Make sure to check whether they cover diagnostics and testing and get a list of which cancer treatment options are covered.

Which pet insurance is right for my pet?

• This will depend on the amount of coverage you want. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you want your pet insurance to include wellness care?

• Do you want coverage for integrative medicine like acupuncture or rehabilitation?

• Does the provider offer a multiple pet discount?

• Does the pet insurance company cover older pets?

• Does the plan cover diagnostic testing needed to diagnose cancer?

• Does your pet have a hereditary or congenital condition that must be covered?

• Is your pet prone to a specific condition or illness?

(E.g. Golden retrievers are genetically prone to developing cancer. German shepherds are prone to hip dysplasia. Chihuahuas are prone to patellar luxation. As we know, just because a breed is prone to a certain condition does not mean it’s exclusive to the breed. Cancer can and does affect all breeds.)

Finding the right pet insurance plan for your pet is not as difficult as it may seem, but it does require some comparison shopping. Most insurance providers are available to speak on the phone to guide you to a coverage plan that is right for your pet.

As a starting point, contact your primary care veterinarian to get more information about your pet’s health, breed (for genetic conditions) and current conditions. Your veterinarian may be able to give you more information about your pet that can help you ask the insurance providers the right questions.

My pet has cancer, but I don’t have pet insurance. What can I do?

Here are some resources you can look into.

Crowdfunding

Use crowdfunding to ask friends and family for their support. Crowdfunding sites like GoFundMe are a great way to share your story, provide updates, and collect financial support. Ask your veterinarian whether you can include his or her information so people can verify that your situation is real.

Host a Fundraising Event

Plan a fundraising event. A fun way is to plan a party at your home or a nearby park. Invite friends and family and have multiple ways people can donate. Love baking? Bake small desserts people can purchase. Are you a talented Martha Stewart type? Create some crafts that people can purchase.

Look for an Organization

There are organizations and programs that provide financial aid to pet owners struggling to pay their veterinarian bills. Some organizations focus on specific breeds or pet conditions. Ask your veterinarian or your state veterinary medical association whether it can point you to an organization that might be able to help.

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Don't forget to subscribe to our email newsletter for more recipes, articles, and clinic updates delivered to your inbox (here). Or, you can keep up to date by liking and following our Facebook page (here).

Related: We have more information under our cat health + dog health + client care categories.