How to teach your cat to close a drawer
Your cat pushes a slightly open drawer or cupboard door shut with a paw or nose.
- Difficulty
- Some practice
- Session
- 3 min
- To learn
- 8-15 sessions
You'll need
- clicker or a word like “yes”
- small soft treats
- sticky notes
- a low drawer or cupboard that moves easily
Why it matters
A useful household trick that shows how a paw target can be moved onto real objects.
Before you start
Play with a wand toy first. Train in a quiet room before a meal, after 2 or 3 known tricks. Use a low, easy-gliding drawer with nothing dangerous inside.
Step by step
Note on your hand
Put a sticky note on your palm and ask for a paw touch. Click and treat.
Move on when: Paws the note 8 out of 10 tries
Tip: This reuses the paw target from starter tricks.
Note on the drawer
Stick the note on the drawer front, closed. Click paw touches.
Move on when: Paws the note on the drawer 8 out of 10 tries
Tip: Put it at your cat's paw height.
Open a crack
Open the drawer 2 cm. Click only touches that push it.
Move on when: Pushes the drawer 6 out of 10 tries
Tip: A drawer that sticks will put your cat off; test it first.
Shut it
Open further each session. Click when the drawer clicks shut.
Move on when: Shuts a drawer opened 10 cm, 6 out of 10 tries
Tip: The bump of the drawer closing becomes part of the reward.
Fade the note and cue
Shrink the note, then remove it. Say "Close" and point.
Move on when: Closes on cue with no note 4 out of 5 times
Tip: Add new drawers one at a time.
The cue
- Say
- “Close”
- Hand signal
- Point at the open drawer
If it isn't working
- Cat climbs into the drawer instead
- Open it only a crack so there is no room. Use a shallower drawer.
- Touches but does not push
- Mark only for touches that move it. Make the drawer easier to slide.
- Touches the note wherever it is
- Fade the note in small sizes so your cat learns 'push the drawer', not 'touch the paper'.
Safety
Safety- Keep paws and tail clear of the drawer gap. Use soft-close drawers if you can.
- Never use drawers holding cleaning products, medicines or sharp things.
Mastered when
Closes a drawer opened 10 cm on cue in 2 rooms, 4 out of 5 times
Video check: Film 3 cued drawer closes
Variations
- Close a cupboard door
- Close a lid on a toy box
- Push a door to
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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