How to teach your cat to weave through your legs
Your cat weaves in and out of your legs as you stand, then as you walk slowly.
- Difficulty
- Takes time
- Session
- 3 min
- To learn
- 15-25 sessions
You'll need
- clicker or a word like “yes”
- small soft treats
- target stick
Why it matters
Cats already wind round legs. A cued weave is a flowing trick and good practice for agility weave poles.
Before you start
Play with a wand toy, then train in a quiet room before a meal. Warm up with known tricks. Wear soft shoes and move slowly to protect paws.
Step by step
Stand wide
Stand with feet wide apart. Use a treat or target to lead your cat from the outside of your right leg through the gap between your legs. Click as it comes through.
Move on when: Comes through the gap 8 out of 10 tries
Tip: Bend your knees so the gap is tall and inviting.
Round one leg
Keep leading round the back of your left leg and out to the front. Click.
Move on when: Goes round one leg 8 out of 10 tries
Tip: Switch the treat to your left hand behind your left leg.
Full figure of eight
Lead through again and round the right leg, making an eight. Click at the end.
Move on when: Full eight 6 out of 10 tries
Tip: Pass the lure from hand to hand behind your legs.
Fade the lure
Use empty hands making the same passes. Treat from a pouch after the click.
Move on when: Full eight with empty hands 4 out of 5 times
Tip: Your hands become the hand signal.
Add the cue
Say "Weave" before the first pass.
Move on when: Weaves on cue 4 out of 5 times
Tip: Cue once and help with hands; do not repeat the word.
Walk and weave
Take one slow step forward as your cat comes through the gap. Click. Build to 3 steps.
Move on when: Weaves through 3 slow walking steps 4 out of 5 times
Tip: Take tiny steps; this is the hardest part.
The cue
- Say
- “Weave”
- Hand signal
- Hand reaching down between your legs from behind on the side the cat should pass
If it isn't working
- Sits in the gap
- Keep the lure moving and mark earlier, just after it passes through.
- Goes round the outside
- Stand by a wall so the outside is blocked, and bend your knees more.
- Gets stepped on or startled
- Stop walking. Go back to standing weaves for a few sessions and step more slowly.
Safety
Safety- Move slowly; cats dart under feet. Do not practise in shoes with hard heels.
- Count training treats in the daily food so your cat stays at a healthy weight.
Mastered when
Weaves a figure of eight round your legs on cue, and through 3 slow steps, 4 out of 5 times
Video check: Film one cued figure of eight and one walking weave
Variations
- Weave through the legs of two people
- Weave then spin
- Agility weave poles
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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