Teaching a cat to sit is very much like teaching a dog to sit. You will need a clicker and a high-value treat. For a cat, a high-value treat could be freeze-dried chicken or morsels of canned food or tuna. Begin with your cat in a standing position and hold the treat above (and slightly behind) his head, just out of his reach. Your cat’s natural reaction will be to lower his rear so that he can keep his eyes on the treat. As soon as your cat begins to lower his rear, click and offer a treat. As your cat learns that he will receive a treat for starting to sit, you can progress to waiting until his rear touches the ground. Be sure to vary the placement of the treat so that your cat gets used to sitting in different locations. Watch KPA CTP Kelsey Fernandez demonstrate in this video!

Congratulations—you’ve just taught your kitty to sit! For more tips on training your cat, check out Karen Pryor Academy’s Train Your Cat course!