How to teach your cat to go to its mat from a distance

You'll need

• clicker or a word like “yes”
• small soft treats
• small mat or towel

Why it matters

Sending your cat away from you is hard: cats like to stay near the treat person. This is the base for agility sends and distance tricks.

Before you start

Play with a wand toy for a few minutes first, then train in a quiet room before a meal. Warm up with 2 or 3 known tricks.

Step by step

1. 1

   Mat at your feet

   Put the mat in front of you. Click when your cat steps on and sits. Toss the treat onto the mat.

   Move on when: Sits on the mat 8 out of 10 tries

   Tip: Treat on the mat, not from your hand. That is the secret of distance.

2. 2

   Reset away

   Toss a treat off the mat to the side. As your cat comes back to the mat and sits, click and treat on the mat.

   Move on when: Returns and sits 8 out of 10 tries

   Tip: The off-mat toss sets up the next go.

3. 3

   One step back

   Take one step back from the mat. Say "Mat" and point. Click the sit on the mat. Throw the treat to the mat.

   Move on when: Sits on the mat from 1 m 6 out of 10 tries

   Tip: Practise your throwing aim; land treats on the mat.

4. 4

   Further

   Add half a metre at a time up to 3 m.

   Move on when: Sits on the mat from 3 m 4 out of 5 times

   Tip: If it fails, step closer for the next 3 tries.

5. 5

   You stay put

   Start beside your cat, away from the mat, and send it while you stand still.

   Move on when: Sits from 3 m as you stand still, 4 of 5 times

   Tip: Point with your whole arm, then freeze.

The cue

Say

“Mat”

Hand signal

Full arm point at the mat

If it isn't working

Comes to you instead

Go back closer. Deliver every treat on the mat, never from your hand.

Stands on the mat but does not sit

At short distance, wait for the sit. Use the sit cue once, then fade it.

Walks off the mat when you throw

Throw gently and land it between the paws. Use a lick mat with paste as a fixed reward station.

Mastered when

Goes to the mat and sits from 3 m on cue while you stand still, in 2 rooms, 4 out of 5 times

Video check: Film one send to the mat from 3 m and the sit

Variations

• Down on the mat from distance
• Mat on a chair
• Mat as the pause table in agility

Teach this first

• How to teach your cat to go to its mat →
• How to teach your cat to sit →

Learn next

• How to teach your cat to run ahead to an obstacle →
• Distance, duration and distraction: proofing your cat's tricks →