How to teach your cat to jump onto your shoulder

(Wear headphones so your cat does not get confused by the clicks in the videos!)

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\u2757Warning: Risk of scratches! Wear dense clothing! We're talking about getting a cat to climb up your body. Sturdy old jeans and a hoody with thick fabric will do. Put the hood up to protect your neck.

❗Warning: Risk of scratches! Wear dense clothing! We're talking about getting a cat to climb up your body. Sturdy old jeans and a hoody with thick fabric will do. Put the hood up to protect your neck.

Your cat might initially get trigger happy with this trick, so tell the people you're living with about this. You don't want your cat to try climbing on someone who isn't expecting it... trust me.. 😱

The clicker is used to mark behavior. The click is like saying "good boy! Whatever you just did earned you a treat!" Only it's shorter and clearer, much less ambiguous for an animal to interpret.

The clicker is used to mark behavior. The click is like saying "good boy! Whatever you just did earned you a treat!" Only it's shorter and clearer, much less ambiguous for an animal to interpret.

Clickers are easy to find online & in pet stores, or you can simulate the noise with your mouth. If you do this consistently (don't use the noise for anything else!) you won't need to buy a clicker.

Click ALWAYS means a treat is coming. Even if you clicked by accident. There is no exception to this rule, ever. Also no negativity, scolding, etc.

During clicker sessions, keep petting/speaking to a minimum. Let your cat make his own choices, let the gears in his head turn without distraction. Do not stop him from leaving, either.

Break this guide up into several sessions. It's better to wrap up for the day on a high rather than in frustration. End with a jackpot of treats and maybe a fav toy play session for the last click

But don't give him treats for free when you notice him getting tired. If you do that, he'll be forever testing you. No treats without a click, and no click without a little work!

Start with a happy, eager cat, and delicious treats. For instance tiny (think pea-sized) bits of plain cooked chicken or chunks of premium cat food, or any cat-appropriate treats your cat loves.

Start with a happy, eager cat, and delicious treats. For instance tiny (think pea-sized) bits of plain cooked chicken or chunks of premium cat food, or any cat-appropriate treats your cat loves.

First we need to lay groundwork: teach and practice finger targeting a lot. Climbing a human is asking a lot, so we need finger targeting to be a solidly established behavior.

Surprise him by sometimes clicking early; just for jumping on the chair or leaning on your knee. That way he doesn't lose motivation & knows he's still on the right track.

You can help by making a ledge for him to stand on with your arm...

You can help by making a ledge for him to stand on with your arm...

Keep using the finger-over-shoulder cue and don't reward him for jumping without a cue. We don't want him to start jumping up on people in hopes of getting food. Let's not create a monster 😇

Clicker training is voluntary, and some cats may simply not like this particular task. There are plenty of other tricks you can both have fun with (see my other guides)

Q: Do I always have to click now? A: No. Click tells the cat what it's getting rewarded for. Once a trick is well learned, you don't necessarily need it... But it is helpful to reinforce the click :)

Q: Do I always have to give treats? A: it depends how reliable you want the trick to be. Reduce the probability of getting a treat by too much and your cat might decide it's not worth it.

Above all, enjoy being able to communicate with your cat! Don't be surprised if he finds ways to speak back sometimes.

Above all, enjoy being able to communicate with your cat! Don't be surprised if he finds ways to speak back sometimes.

  • Tiny delicious treats
  • Cat who wants those treats
  • Distraction-free space
  • 10 minutes a day