How to teach your cat to follow a lure over agility obstacles

You'll need

• clicker or a word like “yes”
• small soft treats
• target stick
• wand toy with feather or fabric end

Why it matters

In CFA and ICAT shows the handler steers the cat with a toy and may not touch it. A cat that follows at speed can be guided over anything.

Before you start

Warm up with wand play, then train before a meal. Start with a hand target and one easy obstacle. Quiet room, doors closed, non-slip mats under every obstacle.

Step by step

1. 1

   Follow at a walk

   Hold the target stick just ahead of your cat's nose and walk 3 or 4 steps. Click as it follows, treat from your hand at the tip.

   Move on when: Follows 4 steps, 8 out of 10 tries

   Tip: Keep the tip low, about nose height.

2. 2

   Turns both ways

   Walk a wide curve to the left, then to the right. Click mid-turn.

   Move on when: Follows a curve each way 8 out of 10 tries

   Tip: Turn slowly so your cat does not lose the target.

3. 3

   Longer runs

   Build to 2 or 3 metres before the click. Vary distance so it is not always long.

   Move on when: Follows 3 m, 4 out of 5 tries

   Tip: Treat at the tip so your cat keeps its eyes forward.

4. 4

   Swap to the toy

   Drag the wand toy along the floor just ahead. Click as your cat chases, then let it catch the toy as the reward, or treat.

   Move on when: Chases the toy 2 m, 4 out of 5 times

   Tip: Catching the toy is a reward too. Let it win often.

5. 5

   Pick up the pace

   Move the toy a little faster so your cat trots. Stop before it gets wild.

   Move on when: Trots after the toy for 3 m and then settles

   Tip: End on a catch while your cat still wants more.

6. 6

   Steer round a chair

   Lead with the toy around a chair and back. This is your first 'course'.

   Move on when: Follows round a chair both ways

   Tip: Walk on the outside of the turn.

The cue

Say

“Let's go”

Hand signal

Toy or target held low and just ahead of the nose

If it isn't working

Grabs the toy and stops

Let it win, then restart. Use a longer wand so the lure stays further from your hand.

Loses interest

Shorter runs, smaller rewards more often. Try a different toy end; many cats prefer feathers or bug-like lures.

Follows the hand, not the lure

Hold the wand by the far end and keep your hand still at your hip.

Mastered when

Follows a toy lure at a trot around two chairs in a figure of eight

Video check: Film one figure-of-eight run following the toy, start to finish

Variations

• Follow at heel height for a heelwork style
• Follow with a laser-free light toy on a stick

Teach this first

• How to teach your cat to follow a target →

Learn next

• How to teach your cat to run through a tunnel →
• How to teach your cat to take jumps in a line →
• How to teach your cat to climb agility steps →