Top 20 Goofiest Tricks to Teach Your Cat

This trick is one of the most useful on our list. Cats are notorious for spending most of their lives lounging around, not doing much. Despite this, when we want them to lie down, they will do anything but that. Teaching them this trick solves that completely. It can be used to get them to finally sleep in their bed, rather than spending all night in a cardboard box. You can also use it to stop them from zooming through open doors. Teach this to them when they’re young, and it’ll help cut down on many difficult behaviors. It also helps with learning other tricks, like playing dead and rolling over.

This trick isn’t at all useful, but it sure is funny. Cats frequently do this for things like catching birds, and for playing with their prey. To do it, hold a treat just above their head, and lift it higher and higher until they’re standing upright. You can associate it with a phrase like “stand up,” turning your feline into a tiny circus performer. With enough training, you could teach them how to walk around on their hind legs. It’s a great trick to show off when you’ve got guests, and also illustrates your feline’s discipline.

If you’ve ever bumbled about your abode, and your cat has run between your legs, nearly tripping you up, they’re already halfway to becoming a slalom master. All you need to do is make them do it on purpose, an alien concept to a cat. You can teach them to do it between your legs, or you can go a step further, and set up an obstacle course. With practice, they can zigzag like a kitty Olympian. If that’s not wild enough, try getting some kitten skis, and see if they can do it on snow.

We’ve all seen pet birds like parrots perched on shoulders, but what about cats? Their lazy and loving nature makes it surprisingly possible. Some cats might even do this without training. To pull it off, lure them onto your lap with a treat, then gradually move up to the shoulder. Reinforce it with a saying like “shoulder,” and with sufficient practice, you’ll have a parrot cat in no time! A well-trained shoulder cat makes you look beyond cool, until they jam your claws into your back or randomly decide to hurl themselves at a passing fly. Just be warned, they might start doing this all the time, especially when you’re least expecting it.

Teaching a cat to roll over is the ultimate test of discipline. Start by getting your cat to lie down, an already difficult task. Then hold up a treat, and move it circularly over their shoulder, then towards the floor. Make sure to say “roll over,” and reward them like they just won a Grammy. Some cats will love this, rolling about like a furry gymnast. Others will flop on the floor, and then decide that their energy pools are depleted. If you’re really unfortunate, your cat will just sit blindly staring at you, as if you’re spouting complete nonsense.

You might want to think twice before you start working on this trick. Teaching your cat to ring a bell is cute, but things go south when they realize it can be used to boss you around. Start by sitting them next to a bell, and reward any interest they show in it. Gradually begin encouraging them to tap it with their paw, rewarding them when successful, and enforcing it by saying “ring the bell.” Some cats will instantly love this trick, and then they’ll never stop ringing. Others won’t care at all. If you want a personal feline tyrant, constantly demanding food and attention, this is the number one trick to teach them.

Teaching your cat to play dead is as impressive as it is amusing. First, get your cat to lie down, then hold a treat above their nose. Move it to the side, in a way that’s encouraging them to flop onto their back. Once achieved, give them the treat, and say something like “play dead.” If you want to make it even more comical, point a finger gun at them and shout, “Bang!” Some cats will love it, others will think you’re mad. If yours is the latter, wait till they flop down for a nap and use that to your advantage.

This trick is basically the formal version of a cat chasing their tail. It’s priceless, and not too difficult to master. To achieve it, hold a treat near their nose as usual, then slowly move it around them in a circle. If they follow it, then the job’s almost done! Make sure to say “spin,” and after a few successful tries, they’ll have this one nailed. Don’t be surprised if they start spinning on their own – they either want food, or to become a tornado. Either way, it’s an adorable trick to add to their feline repertoire.

If you struggle to get your cat to do what you want, such as getting in their carrier, then they would benefit from some target training. This trick allows you to guide your cat with just your finger. It’s probably the most useful trick they can learn. You can also do it with a special stick instead of your finger, so they don’t get confused by pointing and such. Start by holding out your finger or stick, then gently moving it in a direction. When your cat bonks it with their nose, reward them with a treat, and try saying “target” as well. Now, you can finally get them off your keyboard without picking them up.

Teaching a dog their name is essential, but it’s not as common for cats to get the same treatment. It is surprisingly possible, with a little work. To do it, try saying your cat's name to them, and if they look back, reward them with a treat. If they look away, try it again, and keep going until they understand. Try getting gradually further away when you try it, until eventually they can respond from anywhere in the house. Now, you can impress guests by showing them your cat whenever you like. This is opposed to an untrained cat, who can randomly be anywhere in the house at any given time.

Take advantage of how your cat naturally plays and turn it into a cool trick! Any old cat can learn to give a paw, but only the coolest cats give high fives. To do this, your cat needs to remain seated while you hold a treat in your hand. When you say “high five,” your cat must touch only one paw to your hand to get the treat. If your cat touches you with its head or begins to walk, you have to sit them down and start again. Even when your cat learns the trick, don’t be surprised if you’re occasionally left hanging … cats will be cats after all.

It might be one of the most basic tricks to teach your cat, but it’s also among the most important. This trick is the foundation for all future tricks, and teaches your little ball of fluff that tricks ... mean treats! This is also a good time to introduce a clicker or some other auditory indicator letting your cat know that they’ve done well. At first, introduce the command and give a treat even if your feline doesn’t actually sit. Eventually, press lightly on their back until they are sitting, and keep those treats handy. Once your cat gets the hang of sitting, gradually cut down on the treats, and try reinforcing your command by using a clicker.

This trick is a blessing and a curse, since your cat can close the cabinet doors you left open, but it also will mean you lose all privacy. Cats tend to be very curious, so getting them to use a handle and open a door might be easy enough. However, closing the door is going to take longer. To get started, pick an easy door to open and close. Tap along the door like you’re playing with your cat and get their focus on the door. When they make contact with it, make sure they know they’re doing a good thing! Once your cat catches on, reward the furry genius. Soon, no door will be safe!

This is a more complicated trick. Your cat should already have basic tricks mastered and have experience following commands before attempting it. The first step is just getting your cat comfortable around the skateboard. Every time your cat does get on the skateboard, reward them so they associate it with good things. This will be a long process, but is totally worth it for the reactions. It may just earn you some YouTube fame too! One of the best examples of a skateboarding kitty is Didga. She rides her board around Australia, performing jumps and other tricks on four wheels.

Some cats take to this better than others. There is something about a harness that seems to make cats flop over like a pancake. The first step is finding a harness that properly fits your cat. Next, let your cat wear it a little longer every day until they act normally with it on. Then, introduce them to a leash. It’s important to make sure your cat is comfortable with everything before taking them outside. You don’t want your kitty to flip out once you get outside since it can be dangerous. The final step ... is to simply enjoy the great outdoors with your furry friend.

Every well-mannered cat should be able to formally introduce themselves. Alright, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but this trick is adorable nonetheless. Shaking isn’t a natural thing for your cat, so you have to ease them into it. Start by having them sit in a quiet area. Repeat the command “shake,” and take their paw into your hand when you do so. At first your cat is going to think you’ve gone crazy and will try to pull away. However, with positive reinforcement, a little patience, and plenty of rewards, your kitty Einstein will eventually get the idea. Before long, they’ll be shaking paws with the best of them.

This is a simple trick for a cat to learn ... but it makes a big impression with guests. Your furry buddy will look like they belong in the circus – how could visitors not be impressed? It’s all about getting your cat used to doing this motion. First, the cat just needs to go through the hoop – don’t worry, jumping will come later! You can lure your cat through with a treat to make things easier. You can then get smaller hoops, increase the height, and then your feline will be a professional leaper! Not only will you have a neat trick to show your friends, but you’ll have your cat feeling like a secret agent.

Take advantage of your cat’s natural hunting instincts and turn it into a party trick! Start by placing treats under a shell; the smell will encourage your cat to select the correct one. You can also opt for using bells so they can still hear the “prize.” Eventually the thrill of the hunt will be enough for your cat, and any old item will do. Admittedly, it’s probably better suited for calmer cats, as energetic felines won’t have the patience and might just attack your hand. And yes, technically you are encouraging gambling, but it’s worth it when you see the furry little paw hit that shell with conviction.

The biggest factor in getting your cat to play fetch is finding them the perfect toy. Every cat’s different, so it takes some experimenting. You can try balls, fluffy mice, or even plastic springs. Once you find your cat’s favorite toy, simply throw it a short distance. When your cat picks it up, call them back to you, and say, “fetch.” When they finally bring the toy back to you, reward them and repeat! Not only is this a good method for bonding with your kitty, but also a great way to help them get some exercise.

This trick is perfect if you’re sick of scooping kitty litter every day. Teaching your cat to use the toilet, like potty training a toddler, is not something learned overnight and does require some equipment. The first thing you need is a special litter bowl, like the Litter Kwitter, that fits over your toilet. It’s also important to get non-clumping kitty litter to avoid expensive plumbing bills. As your cat gets more comfortable, gradually move to smaller litter bowls until your cat doesn’t need one at all. If you want to take this trick one step further, you can even train your cat to flush, eliminating all the mess in one foul swirl!


Which trick do you think is the most impressive? Let us know down in the comments!