How to teach your cat to touch things with its paw

You'll need

• clicker or a word like “yes”
• small soft treats
• a plastic jar lid or sticky note

Why it matters

Cats already use paws to explore. A paw target gives you a tool you can move anywhere: onto your hand, a bell or a door.

Before you start

Play with a wand toy first, then train in a quiet room before a meal, when your cat is a little hungry. Have 10 to 15 pea-sized soft treats ready.

Step by step

1. 1

   Put the lid down

   Place the lid on the floor right in front of your cat's front feet. Click and treat any look at it or sniff.

   Move on when: Cat looks at or sniffs the lid 5 times in a row

   Tip: Toss the treat away from the lid so your cat walks back to it.

2. 2

   Mark the paw

   Wait for any paw movement towards the lid. Click the moment a paw lands on or near it, then treat.

   Move on when: Paw lands within a hand's width 8 out of 10 tries

   Tip: If your cat sniffs instead, place the lid just under one front foot.

3. 3

   Paw only

   Now click only when a paw lands on the lid. Stop clicking near misses.

   Move on when: Paw on the lid 8 out of 10 tries

   Tip: Count your rewards: 10 rewards then a play break.

4. 4

   Move it around

   Slide the lid a little left, right and further away. Click each paw touch.

   Move on when: Cat walks up to 1 m to paw the lid

   Tip: Change one thing at a time: distance or angle.

5. 5

   Add the cue

   Say "Paw" just before your cat reaches out. After 10 tries, say it first and click the paw touch that follows.

   Move on when: Paws the lid within 3 seconds of cue, 4 of 5 times

   Tip: Only cued touches earn a marker; pay uncued paw touches with a quiet nothing.

The cue

Say

“Paw”

Hand signal

Point at the target with one finger

If it isn't working

Bites or noses the lid instead

Lower the lid flush with the paw and mark the smallest paw shift. Keep your treat hand behind your back.

Swipes hard or knocks it away

Tape the lid down. Mark a gentle paw rest and give the treat low near the lid.

Stares at you and does nothing

Make it easier: mark a weight shift or a lifted paw. A few quick wins restart the game.

Mastered when

Puts a paw on the target on cue in 2 rooms, 4 out of 5 times, with the target 1 m away

Video check: Film 3 cued paw touches on the lid in a new spot

Variations

• Paw a sticky note on your palm (leads to high five)
• Paw a sticky note on a cupboard door
• Both paws on a book

Teach this first

• Clicker training for cats: how to charge the clicker →

Learn next

• How to teach your cat to high five →
• How to teach your cat to ring a bell →
• How to teach your cat to close a drawer →