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⍰ ASK Can you train a cat like a dog?

The short answer is: yes, you can train a cat like a dog—but it depends heavily on your expectations, your cat’s personality, and your own patience level. While cats and dogs learn differently, the core principles of training—positive reinforcement, consistency, and clear communication—apply to both. That said, as someone who has shared space with both species, I can tell you training a cat is less about obedience and more about cooperation.

For thousands of years, dogs have been carefully bred to get along with people. They frequently try to please and thrive on praise. However, cats are renowned for being self-sufficient and driven more by their own interests. My cat knew she would get a bite of her favorite freeze-dried chicken if I trained her to come when called (using treats, of course), not because she wanted to please me. Training became much more effective and, to be honest, enjoyable once I came to terms with that difference.

Cats can learn tricks, use a toilet, walk on a leash, even fetch—if they feel like it. It requires short, consistent sessions and rewards they truly value. Unlike dogs, cats won’t respond well to punishment or loud commands. You have to approach it more like a negotiation than a directive. In many ways, it’s a more subtle, thoughtful form of communication. But with that in mind, do you think cats resist training, or do we just need to rethink what successful training looks like for them?
 
I don't think cats are resistant to training; I think we simply don't understand what it means to them. As soon as I began working with my cat, I saw that she simply needed a reason to interact with me; she wasn't ignoring me out of defiance. Cats are not as driven by praise as dogs are. I had to be patient and offer her delicious incentives to get her attention. Training shifted from being a directive to a dialogue. We both enjoyed the process more after I stopped expecting dog-like responses and began to respect her independence. Therefore, it is absolutely possible to train cats—we simply need to change the way we think about what success looks like.
 

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