Teach Your Cat to Give a Handshake

Cats are some of the most amazing animals on earth and are very intelligent. They're also some of the most stubborn. But that doesn't mean they can't be taught to do tricks on command. With a little patience and a lot of love, your kitty can be a world class performer in no time.

Steps

 * 1)  Arrange training session a couple of hours before cat's regular mealtime. S/he should be a bit hungry. No need to starve the cat!
 * 2)  Have your cat's favorite treat on hand.
 * 3)  Show kitty the treat. Let them smell it.
 * 4)  Offer your hand that does not have the treat in it by holding it palm up, slightly cupped, in front of kitty's face just above his eye level. Use a short word to associate the action with, so that saying "Shake" or "Give Paw" will make the cat handshake. In search of the treat, your cat will instinctively put their paw in your hand.
 * 5)  Immediately reward with treat and say "Good Cat!"
 * 6)  Repeat three or four more times. Begin again either later that day or the next day, remembering to use the command.
 * 7)  Praise your cat!

Tips

 * Start training before cat's meal.
 * Reward with a very, very small amount of food until cat performs trick on command.
 * Cats have short attention spans, so don't try for more than 3 to 5 minutes a session.
 * Have patience! It may take two days or more for your cat to learn this trick.
 * Cats are independent creatures so you might find that some will require persistence to train. The younger you start the training the more responsive they will be to you and the more likely you will succeed.
 * Most cats follow a laser light, so it is good to have one on hand to hold their attention while training them.
 * Access information on ways to teach your cat tricks.

Warnings

 * Avoid forcing the cat to learn a trick. If he's not interested, try again another day.
 * Training may be somewhat stressful for your cat. Take your cat's temperament into consideration before attempting.
 * Declawed cats can have very sensitive paws, especially if they were declawed recently. If your cat is the sort of cat that freaks out if you get anywhere near its paws, you may wish to reconsider teaching it this particular trick.
 * Don't force your cat's paw to stay in your hand. You will be scratched.
 * Never punish any animal for not responding to such training. A cat's behavior is based on his/her need for survival, not for performing tricks.  Avoid hitting, spraying, or hurting your pet in any way if there is no response.
 * If you use a laser light make sure you do not point it into your cat's eyes.

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Communicate With Your Cat
 * How to Bathe a Cat
 * How to Cool Your Cat Down in the Summer
 * How to Dog Proof the Cat's Litterbox
 * How to Leash Train Your Cat
 * How to Pet a High Strung Cat
 * How to Recognize a Cat's Sense of Humor
 * How to Grow Catnip
 * How to Litter Train a Kitten
 * How to Choose Safe Pet Food
 * How to Tame a Feral Cat
 * How to Catch a Stray Cat