My Pet World: Yes, you can train a cat – and it’s easier than you think!

Cathy M. Rosenthal, Tribune Content Agency on Oct 8, 2025

Dear Cathy,

Have you seen the Savitsky cats? How did they train them to do those tricks?

— Elizabeth, Garden City, New York

Dear Elizabeth,

Yes – the Savitsky Cats, the Ukrainian mother/daughter team from America’s Got Talent, are a masterclass in positive-reinforcement cat training. Their secret isn’t force; it’s trust. They start by building a calm, playful relationship and letting each cat choose to participate. Then they use a marker, a clicker or a cheerful “Yes!” to instantly reward even the smallest step in the right direction with a tiny treat or a quick play burst.

Behaviors are shaped gradually with targets (a hand or stick to touch or follow), practiced in short sessions of one to three minutes, and then “chained” into a routine. Once a skill is solid, they add a cue, change locations, and slowly introduce stage sights and sounds so the cats learn to stay confident around crates, harnesses, lights, and crowds.

Their success underscores something many people overlook: You can train cats, and it’s good for their mental health. Short, reward-based sessions provide enrichment that reduces boredom and stress, builds confidence, and strengthens the human-cat bond.

You can try the same approach at home. Begin with “touch.” Hold two fingers an inch from your cat’s nose. When she sniffs or bumps your hand, mark it with a happy “Yes!” and offer a tiny treat. Repeat until she’s reliably touching your hand, then add the word “Touch” and move your hand a little higher or farther to guide her onto a stool or through a low hoop. Remember to keep surfaces non-slip, heights low, and sessions brief. Watch for stress signals – flattened ears, tail lashing, dilated pupils, or freezing — and take a break if you see them. Training is simply great communication, one tiny success at a time.

Dear Cathy,

Our four-year-old cat, Beans, is a non-stop eating machine. He inhales his food and is constantly looking for more. He is on a weight management diet, but he is not overweight. We portion his food every day according to the vet's instructions, but most days it is not enough.

We have an array of toys to keep him busy as well as a pole toy that I interact with him. The problem is, between meals, he seeks out my wife and bites her legs when he is hungry. My wife’s legs are scared and always bleeding. Any suggestions?

— Donald, New Hyde Park, New York

Dear Donald,

First, rule out medical causes of constant hunger, even if Beans isn’t overweight. Ask your vet for a blood screening panel (including thyroid), a fecal test for parasites, and a quick dental/GI check. If he’s healthy, focus on how he eats and how he asks for food.

Second, keep the vet-approved daily calories, but split them into four to six mini-meals delivered by a timed feeder so food comes from the feeder, not your wife. This way, when he is hungry, he will sit in front of the feeder and no longer bother your wife for food. If you feed him wet food as well, do so only on a slow-feeder bowl or lick mat to slow his consumption.

Next, to stop the leg biting, teach a replacement behavior: set up a “mat” station a few feet from where your wife sits or preps food. A few times a day, toss one to two pieces of his regular meal onto the mat and say “Mat.” When he steps on it, mark (“Yes!”) and drop another piece on the mat. If he approaches her legs, she quietly points to the mat, turns slightly away, and tosses food to the mat behind him. A calm cat on a mat earns food; pestering legs earn nothing. Do not hand-feed him; only give rewards on the mat. If he contacts her legs, tell her to freeze (no scolding), step away when he lets go, and end all attention for 30 to 60 seconds. Then try the “mat” training again.

As for you, give him two brief play-hunt sessions daily with the pole toy, then set the timer on the feeder to open immediately after. Cats thrive on a simple rhythm: play, eat, groom, sleep. When they can do that consistently, they are less likely to bother their family.

For short-term safety, have your wife wear thicker pants or tall socks, keep Beans’ nails trimmed (or use Soft Paws caps), and avoid fast foot movements that trigger chasing. A pheromone diffuser or collar can take the edge off, which helps during this training stage.

_____

========

(Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal.)