How to Train Your Cat to Come When Called To

A Well-Trained Cat

What always impressed me about Rosy was that she would live outside all day long, and would come home, every night without fail, at dinnertime for 16 years. Even the last day Rosy was here with us, she came home six hours before she passed away. Which, according to my friend's vet, was something very special, as some cats just go away to pass away and then you are left worrying "What happened to my cat?"

Over the last 16 years, I have taken care of Rosy many times when my friend had gone away. Sweet Rosy would either be sitting in her cat bed on the bench on the front porch waiting for me and if she wasn't, all I would have to do was call her name a few times and she would come running. I always thought it was cool for a cat to come running home for dinner and to come in for the night.

In the 16 years Liza had Rosy, they had moved four times and Liza had gotten divorced, remarried and had a little girl who Rosy just loved. I also forgot to tell you Rosy has a full sister that is also 16 years old and still healthy. Her name is Lucy, and they were sisters from the same litter that Liza got when they were eight weeks old.

Neither of these sisters ever missed coming home at dinnertime and I often would ask my friend how she trained the cats to come home every night. I miss Rosy and I know how much pain my good friend is in, so I pray for Liza and her family. This is my way of sharing with you the story of Rosy and a few tips on how to teach you cat to come when you give a call.

Getting Your Cat to Come to You

Unlike dogs and children, cats are unlikely to come to you just because you want them to obey. However, a cat who knows he will be warmly petted, brushed, will receive a treat, or an extended period of lap napping, is more likely to get up, stretch, look casually around, and then wander over to you (displaying, for all intents and purposes, the attitude that it was his idea in the first place). No animal will come to you willingly if you are raising your voice or if they think they are going to be punished.

It is actually easier than you might think to train a cat to come when it is called. I am not personally a big advocate of letting a cat live outside, as there are many dangers outside that your cat can encounter, though some people who live out in the country don't have this option. However, you can also train an indoor cat to come when called. Don't think of it as a "trick," think of it as a tool you can use in an emergency, when you are traveling, when you have to give the cat medication, or even when you have to give them a bath. It could even save your cat's life.

The Basics

The best thing to do is start when they are kittens. While you can train a cat of any age to come when you call, teaching them when young is the easiest way. Any pet should be trained to wear a collar, and cats are no exception. There are several collars available that are "break-away" collars. These will either have a piece of elastic sewn right into the collar, or you can get one that the buckle will actually come apart under more than normal stress, like the kind you would see if the cat gets stuck on something. Having a name tag with your cat's name, address and phone number on it is also good to have in case they get out by accident. Make sure it is lightweight enough for your cat to tolerate. If you are using a nylon collar, you can even have it embroidered with your cat's name and phone number on it. Some people also choose to tattoo or micro-chip their cats.

Calling Your Cat

If you give your cat a name that is short, say with two syllables, it will be easier for your cat to remember. Use a higher pitched, lighter voice when calling them, because they seem to respond better to it. This makes sense, as when you are mad, your tone of voice tends to get lower and harsher. If you work on training every day, they will get better and better at it until you won't have to practice. Using cheese or something smelly when training cats may work well, but use small bits of treat, because you want to train with your cat several times every day, and you don't want them to get filled up on treats.

Training early in the day seems to work the best for cats, as they tend to be more alert then. You could even take their food up and train before you feed them breakfast, as they will be a bit hungry and should pay more attention. Let the kitten see what you are using as a treat. You can even let them smell it to help get their attention.

Training Indoors

I suggest you start training your kitten indoors, because if you are training outside, there are too many other distractions for the kitten, and you are apt to end up chasing the kitten around the yard. Before you get started, show him the treat, so he knows what he is working for. Have a friend help you by holding the kitten in another room of the house, like the living room. Go into a different room, and call the kitten. Have your friend let the kitten go when you start to call them. When the kitten gets to you, praise them, pet them and tell them what a good kitten they are and give them their treat. Then repeat the process. After several days of training you can go into a room where you are out of sight and call the kitten. This way they get used to not seeing you, but hearing you call them to come.

Training Outside

You can train outside if you have somewhere safe to train with your kitten, or you can attach a long line to their collar (light clothesline works well), and use it as you might when training a dog to come. A fenced yard with gates closed is the best place to do this, though remember if you have a wooden fence, cats can climb them just like they climb a tree. They can be out of the yard in a flash if you aren't paying attention.

I would not suggest training outside if you live on a busy city street, as it can be dangerous to both your cat and any human in a car, if your cat happens to be crossing a street. While you can train a cat to come, I don't know of anyone yet who has been able to train their cat to cross at a crosswalk or corner. Again, have a friend help you and go somewhere out of sight of your cat. Call them and praise, pet and treat them when they come. You'll have them coming in no time. My assistant, Ruthie, told me it takes her about two weeks for her kittens to get the basics down, but she does a little bit every day until they can do it flawlessly.

She does warn, however, that not every cat is going to come every time when you want them to. Sometimes they might be out of earshot and can't get home before she closes the door again. Or, if the weather outside is bad enough, they may have gone somewhere to find shelter from the storm.

Creating a Strong Bond

Remember, your cat is doing this because of the bond you have. Cats can be very independent, not to mention stubborn, and don't need people the way dogs do. If you can train your cat to come, you can feel blessed, because they care enough about you to come when they are called. The most important thing to remember when you are training a cat is to have a good supply of treats, be consistent, kind, and never raise your voice. The old adage "You get more flies with honey than vinegar" comes to mind. If you keep this in mind when training your cat, it should be an enjoyable experience for both of you.

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