How to teach your cat to walk by your side

You'll need

• clicker or a word like “yes”
• small soft treats
• target stick
• harness and light leash (optional, for later)

Why it matters

Walking at your side is the base for leash walking in a safe garden and for linking agility obstacles.

Before you start

Play with a wand toy first. Train in a quiet hallway before a meal, when your cat is a little hungry. Warm up with 2 or 3 known tricks.

Step by step

1. 1

   Choose a side

   Stand with your cat on your left. Hold the target stick low by your left leg. Click a nose touch.

   Move on when: Touches at your leg 8 out of 10 tries

   Tip: Pick one side and stick with it.

2. 2

   One step

   Take one step forward. Click when your cat steps with you and touches.

   Move on when: Moves with you 1 step, 8 out of 10 tries

   Tip: Treat at your leg, low, so your cat stays there.

3. 3

   More steps

   Build to 3, 5, then 10 steps before clicking.

   Move on when: Walks 10 steps at your side 6 out of 10 tries

   Tip: Mix in easy short ones.

4. 4

   Turns

   Add a gentle turn away from your cat, then toward it.

   Move on when: Walks with you through a turn 4 out of 5 times

   Tip: Slow right down on turns.

5. 5

   Fade the target

   Shorten the stick, then use two fingers held low by your leg.

   Move on when: Walks 10 steps following your hand 4 out of 5 times

   Tip: Bring the stick back if your cat drifts.

6. 6

   Add the cue

   Say "With me" as you start walking.

   Move on when: Walks with you round a room on cue 4 out of 5

   Tip: Later, add a harness and leash in a safe space.

The cue

Say

“With me”

Hand signal

Two fingers held low by your leg

If it isn't working

Cat drifts off to sniff

Make the walk shorter and pay more often. Go to a less interesting room.

Cat walks in front of your feet

Hold the target slightly behind your leg and walk slowly.

Cat stops and sits

You may be going too far. Mark every 2 steps for a while.

Mastered when

Walks at your side for a lap of a room with 2 turns on cue, 4 out of 5 times

Video check: Film one lap of a room with your cat walking at your leg

Variations

• With me on harness in a safe garden
• Walk on the other side
• With me between agility obstacles

Teach this first

• How to teach your cat to follow a target →

Learn next

• How to teach your cat to link two agility obstacles →