Can cats learn tricks? My attempt with the clicker
18.8.2026
Translation: machine translated
Video: Valentina Sproge-Werndli
Cutter: Valentina Sproge-Werndli
Support: Pierre Niedegger
Jasper and Joy are masters of doing nothing. Can clicker training turn my lazy house cats into eager trick artists? I gave it a try.
16 hours of sleep a day? What sounds like a dream to me is completely normal for my cats. And when they aren't sleeping, they're dozing. Although they have plenty of opportunities to play and climb, I sometimes wonder if they are bored. After all, indoor cats with balcony access lack many of the stimuli that outdoor cats encounter daily. That's why I want to provide them with more mental stimulation.
A good way to do this is clicker training. It not only keeps cats occupied but also adds variety to their daily routine. Along the way, you can teach them various tricks. According to clicker expert Chris Gasser, this works with almost all cats.
For this, I need three things: treats, a quiet place, and a clicking sound. I create this either by clicking my tongue or using a clicking device. This is a very simple tool with a button to click and, on some models, an extendable rod.
Almost like a magic wand. So: Time to let the magic happen.
1. Linking the clicker and the snack
As a first step, my cats need to learn that the clicker means something positive. To do this, I start by just clicking and immediately giving a treat. Click, snack, click, snack, click, snack... Chris advises giving five treats, taking a five-minute break, and then rewarding them five more times. And doing this five times a day.
This works quite well. Both Jasper and Joy understand the principle after just under a week. Only I find it quite boring.
But I realize: sticking with it is worth it. Never for long, but regularly.
2. Touching the target stick
A few days later, I dare to take the second step. I extend the rod, the so-called target stick. It feels a bit like magic. Jasper and Joy now have to touch the red ball at the tip of the rod with their noses. For example, by standing on their hind legs. Only then do they get a reward.
This is a bit trickier. I really must only click when they touch the ball with their noses. My timing has to be correspondingly precise. If they try to fish the rod down with their paws, there is no reward. Otherwise, I would be reinforcing the wrong behavior. It takes several weeks until the exercise works reliably. But then again, Harry Potter didn't become a gifted magician overnight.
3. Moving to specific locations
But a bit of magic is already unfolding: I'm starting to enjoy it. I'm motivated for the third step. Now I try to move my cats to specific locations using the extended target stick. To do this, I place the target stick just in front of their noses and guide them in a certain direction. Once I've reached the goal, I let them touch the target stick and reward them.
Very practical: After about a month (with interruptions, because I'm not consistent enough), I can now get my cats into their transport boxes this way. And without them struggling and lashing out as usual. However, the clicker isn't a magic potion: it makes situations easier, but it doesn't make fears disappear completely. Jasper and Joy still wail pitifully when we leave the apartment with the boxes.
What my long-term test shows
After almost half a year of clicker experience, I can say: it's worth it. Joy has become so fond of the training that she comes running when I extend the target stick. Jasper's interest has waned. Is it the snacks? I'll try meat paste. Not every cat requires the same amount of persuasion.
The clicker, on the other hand, is a disappointment. It is so cheaply made that all the parts rattle when I shake it. The clicker button gets stuck again and again. It has happened to me several times that I clicked too late or the button suddenly popped out when the cats hadn't actually done anything yet. I don't want to be a click-cheater!
Unfortunately, there is currently only one model with a target stick on Galaxus. And my search in pet stores has shown: most clickers probably come from the same manufacturer in China. I only found a high-quality model at another online giant. Our buyers are currently checking whether we can add that model to our range. Until then, I'll make do with the cheap version.
As for me: I'll keep clicking. Sticking with it is the most important thing, because after a long break, tricks can get rusty and the cats fall back a few learning steps. I'm currently working on fetching. But Joy still prefers to nibble on the fabric mouse instead of bringing it back. It will probably take a loooong time before it finally "clicks".
Have you ever tried clicker training with your pets? Tell us about it in a comment.
In a nutshell
Good idea, poor execution
A clicker with an integrated target stick would be a good idea. Would be. But the release button regularly jams, and the individual parts rattle in the housing when moved. The inferior quality of the device is not only noticeable but also audible.
Pro
- integrated target stick
- handy
- Cats react to the clicking sound
Contra
- poor workmanship
Darina Schweizer
Senior Editor
Darina.Schweizer@digitecgalaxus.chI love everything with four legs or roots – especially my rescue cats Jasper and Joy and my collection of succulents. I’m happiest following the scent of stories about police dogs and cat groomers – or cultivating thoughtful tales in garden flea markets and Japanese gardens.
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