How to Teach Your Cat to Give a Handshake

Co-authored by Brian Bourquin, DVM

Last Updated: January 1, 2022 Approved

Contrary to popular belief, cats can be trained to do tricks if you understand how to motivate them. In fact, many cats relish the one-to-one attention that a training session offers and look forward to it. The easiest way to train a cat is to use a clicker. This way, once the cat understands the link between the unique click-clack sound a clicker makes and getting a reward, there are many tricks you can teach it.^{[1]
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Research source
Feline Behavior: a Guide for Veterinarians. Bonnie Beaver. Publisher: Saunders.} One of the simpler tricks for a cat to learn is giving a handshake.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Teaching Your Cat to Respond to a Clicker

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1
Obtain a clicker. A clicker is a small plastic box that contains a strip of stiff metal. When pressed, the metal makes a distinctive "click-clack" noise. Clickers can be obtained in most pet stores.
- The theory behind clicker training is that the cat will learn to link a sound (click-clack) with a reward (tasty treat). The nice thing about a clicker is that it is a distinct sound which is only associated with a reward. Thus, the cat is much more likely to respond.^{[2]
  X
  Research source
  Reaching the Animal Mind. Karen Pryor. Publisher: Scribner Book Company.}
- Although you can train a cat using just words, it can be more difficult. Because you use words in everyday speech not directed at your cat, the cat probably won't pay a lot of attention to them. Furthermore, if you use a command word such as "shake," the cat will likely hear the word in other contexts and not know when it is expected to respond.^{[3]
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  Research source
  Reaching the Animal Mind. Karen Pryor. Publisher: Scribner Book Company.}
2
Find a treat your cat enjoys. Cats can be picky eaters, and a treat that one cat enjoys may be of little interest to another. Training will go faster and more easily if you determine in advance what kinds of treats your cat enjoys most.
- You may want to try buying a small amount of several different cat treats to try them out and see what your cat likes best.
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3
Pick a training time. The ideal time for a clicker session is when the cat is relaxed but not asleep, and sitting near you. You can start any time when the cat is paying attention.
- If your cat has just woken up, it may be groggy. If this is the case, give the cat five minutes or so before you begin training.
4
Train with the clicker. Once the cat looks alert, press the clicker and give it a treat. Repeat this several times over a period of about five minutes.
- Cats only have a short attention span, so don't try to continue your clicker session beyond about five minutes.^{[4]
  X
  Research source
  Feline Behavior: a Guide for Veterinarians. Bonnie Beaver. Publisher: Saunders.}
5
Repeat the session. Later in the day, or the next day, do another clicker session. Continue repeating these sessions regularly until your cat associates the sound of the clicker with a treat.
- Each cat learns at a different pace, but most will figure out the link between the clicker and the treat after two or three five-minute sessions.
- Be consistent, repeating the clicker session once or twice a day, every day, until the cat makes the association.^{[5]
  X
  Research source
  Feline Behavior: a Guide for Veterinarians. Bonnie Beaver. Publisher: Saunders.}
- You will be able to recognize when your cat has discovered the connection, because it will gaze at you expectantly and perhaps lick its lips after your press the clicker.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Training Your Cat to Shake

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1
Choose a time and place to train your cat. Once your cat has linked the clicker and a treat, pick a time when it is attentive but relaxed. Just before you would normally feed your cat is a particularly good time, because the promise of treats to a hungry cat will sharpen its responses.^{[6]
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Research source
Reaching the Animal Mind. Karen Pryor. Publisher: Scribner Book Company.}
- Work in a peaceful place with few distractions so that the cat concentrates solely on you.
Press your clicker and give the cat a treat to remind it of the connection between the clicker and the food.
Gently lift one of your cat's front paws. It's a good idea to lift the same paw every time. The cat will learn the trick more easily if you are consistent.^{[7]
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Research source
Reaching the Animal Mind. Karen Pryor. Publisher: Scribner Book Company.}
While holding the paw in your hand, press your clicker with the other hand, and then give your chosen command-word for the trick, such as "shake." Then give the cat a treat.
Release the cat's paw and give it a couple of nice pets. This further reinforces that you are pleased with the cat's behavior, and makes the training experience more pleasurable for the cat.^{[8]
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Research source
Reaching the Animal Mind. Karen Pryor. Publisher: Scribner Book Company.}
6
Repeat the process. Repeat this cycle as many times as the cat is willing during a period of about five minutes.
- If the cat spontaneously lifts the correct paw at any time during the training, immediately click, say the command and reward. This sends a strong message that the behavior you require is to lift the paw.^{[9]
  X
  Research source
  Reaching the Animal Mind. Karen Pryor. Publisher: Scribner Book Company.}
- You want your cat to enjoy these sessions. If the cat seems uncooperative or disinterested, don't force this issue. Let it wander off and try again another other time.^{[10]
  X
  Research source
  Reaching the Animal Mind. Karen Pryor. Publisher: Scribner Book Company.}
7
Wait, then repeat. Later in the day, or the next day, repeat the entire process. Lift the cat's paw if it fails to do so on its own, and also immediately click and offer a treat when the cat does it spontaneously.
- It may take several sessions before your cat starts to raise its paw without you taking it first, and several more before it will do it on command.
8
Command before the click. When the cat starts to frequently lift its paw on its own, try giving the command "shake" without the click. When it places the paw in your hand, then click and reward.^{[11]
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Research source
Reaching the Animal Mind. Karen Pryor. Publisher: Scribner Book Company.}
- The click promises a reward, and the command tells the cat the required action to get it. Your goal is to get the cat to respond to "shake" without the click because it associates the command with a treat.
9
Reduce the treats over time. Eventually, it will become unnecessary to give a reward each time the trick is performed.^{[12]
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Research source
Reaching the Animal Mind. Karen Pryor. Publisher: Scribner Book Company.}
- However, do reward the cat at least every three to four times so it doesn't get disheartened.^{[13]
  X
  Research source
  Reaching the Animal Mind. Karen Pryor. Publisher: Scribner Book Company.}
- Always conclude each session with a treat. Ending the session with a treat gives the cat consistent, positive reinforcement of the desired behavior.^{[14]
  X
  Research source
  Reaching the Animal Mind. Karen Pryor. Publisher: Scribner Book Company.}

Expert Q&A

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Question

Can you train an old cat?

Brian Bourquin, DVM
Veterinarian
Brian Bourquin, better known as “Dr. B” to his clients, is a Veterinarian and the Owner of Boston Veterinary Clinic, a pet health care and veterinary clinic with three locations, South End/Bay Village, the Seaport, and Brookline, Massachusetts. Boston Veterinary Clinic specializes in primary veterinary care, including wellness and preventative care, sick and emergency care, soft-tissue surgery, dentistry. The clinic also provides specialty services in behavior, nutrition, and alternative pain management therapies using acupuncture, and therapeutic laser treatments. Boston Veterinary Clinic is an AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) accredited hospital and Boston’s first Fear Free Certified Clinic. Brian has over 19 years of veterinary experience and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University.

Brian Bourquin, DVM

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

It's always harder to retrain good habits versus bad habits, but you can train an old cat new tricks. Just remember to avoid punishing your cat, as this can really cause disrepair to your bonding with the cat.

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Question

Whenever I try to shake hands with my kitten, she holds my hand and starts biting. What should I do in this case?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

It sounds like the kitten is young and thinks you are offering your hand as a toy for her to play with. In this case, stop, because you don't want to accidentally train her to bite fingers. Consider switching to a pointer as a signal, and tap that to her paw to give the cue. Also, work on her NOT chewing your hand when it's close by. To do this, when she's resting and calm, place your hand as close as you can without her biting. Then reward the good behavior of not biting.

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Question

How can I encourage my cat to play with her toys and not need so much attention from me?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

Ironically, if you give your cat undivided attention for five to 10 minutes, twice a day, she will probably be content and settle down, leaving you in peace for the other 23 hours and 50 minutes a day. To help her play when you're not around, try toys containing catnip, and rotate the toys so she has a 'new' one every day. Provide mental stimulation using puzzle feeders, and site a cat tower near the window so she can watch what's going on outside.

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Tips

Some cats just won't respond to treats or clickers.^{[15]
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Expert Source

Brian Bourquin, DVM
Cat Behavior Trainer

Expert Interview. 20 December 2019.} They also might not want you to touch their paws. If so, you should reconsider whether this is the right trick for your cat.

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You don't have a clicker? No problem! Get your phone on the Play Store/App Store and get a clicker app.

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Reward your cat as soon as it puts its paw on your hand. A delay will make it harder to develop an association between the action and the reward.

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Warnings

Don't force your cat's paw to stay in your hand. Your cat may scratch you to get away.

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Avoid forcing the cat to learn a trick. If it's not interested, try again another day.

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Declawed cats can have very sensitive paws, especially if they were declawed recently. Be especially gentle with a declawed cat.

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Never punish a cat. Even one yell, shake, or squirt bottle can do disrepair to your bonding with your cat. Encourage your cat and use positive reinforcement instead.^{[16]
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Expert Source

Brian Bourquin, DVM
Cat Behavior Trainer

Expert Interview. 20 December 2019.}

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