How to teach your cat to run ahead to an obstacle

Your cat leaves your side and takes the obstacle you point to, from 1, then 2, then 3 metres away.

Difficulty: Takes time
Session: 3 min
To learn: 10-20 sessions

You'll need

clicker or a word like “yes”
small soft treats
a treat pot or plate
tunnel and one jump

Why it matters

Sending lets you stand still while your cat moves, so you are not racing round the course. It links single obstacles into a flowing run.

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

Reward beyond
Place a treat plate just past the tunnel exit. Show your cat it is there.
Move on when: Plate set up; cat knows the treat is there
Tip: A visible reward ahead pulls the cat forward.
Send from 1 m
Stand with your cat beside you 1 m from the tunnel. Say "Tunnel" and point. Click as it enters, it eats from the plate.
Move on when: Goes through 8 out of 10 tries
Tip: Point with your whole arm and step forward once.
2 m, then 3 m
Step back 50 cm at a time.
Move on when: Goes from 3 m, 4 out of 5 times
Tip: If it comes back to you, go back to the last good distance.
Remove the plate
Toss a treat to the exit instead of leaving a plate.
Move on when: From 3 m with a thrown reward, 4 out of 5 times
Tip: Throw as your cat exits, so the reward lands ahead of it.
Send to a jump
Repeat the steps with a single low jump.
Move on when: Sends to the jump from 2 m, 4 out of 5 times
Tip: Bars are harder to send to than tunnels.
Send to whichever you point
Put the tunnel and jump 2 m apart. Point to one. Reward the right one.
Move on when: Takes the one you point to 4 out of 5 times
Tip: If it picks wrong, say nothing and reset.

The cue

Say: “Go on”
Hand signal: Whole arm pointing at the obstacle, one step forward

If it isn't working

Cat comes back to you: Your hand is the reward station. Put the treat plate ahead and stop treating from your hand.
Cat goes round the obstacle: Shorten the distance and use the easier obstacle, the tunnel.
Cat picks the wrong obstacle: Move the two obstacles further apart and point longer before you send.

Safety

Kittens: keep jumps below elbow height, with soft landings, until about a year.
Use only low jumps for send training.

Mastered when

Takes the obstacle you point to from 3 m away, 4 out of 5 times

Video check: Film you standing 3 m back sending your cat to a tunnel, then to a jump

Variations

Send round a cone and back
Send to a mat (mat distance)

Teach this first

Learn next

Sources

Written from these sources and checked against vet and trainer guidance. General guidance, not veterinary advice.

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You'll need

Why it matters

Before you start

Step by step

Reward beyond

Send from 1 m

2 m, then 3 m

Remove the plate

Send to a jump

Send to whichever you point