How to Teach a Cat to Sit: Easy Steps With Treats and a Clicker

By Tailwisp Editorial TeamUpdated October 20, 20264 min read

Sit is an easy first trick, and a useful one: a sitting cat is calm, and ready for the next cue. The steps below use positive reinforcement, so the cat does the work and gets paid. See positive reinforcement for cats.

What you need

• Tiny, soft, smelly treats, such as freeze-dried chicken pieces or small bits of cooked chicken.
• A clicker, or a short word like "yes".
• A quiet room, with no distractions.
• A hungry cat, before mealtime.

Step 1: Prepare the marker

If you use a clicker, click and give a treat several times, so the cat connects the sound with a reward. Do this for a few short sessions. See clicker training a cat.

Step 2: Lure the sit

Hold a treat between your fingers, near the cat's nose. Slowly raise it slightly above and behind the cat's head. As the cat looks up, its rear should naturally lower. The moment it sits, click and give the treat. If the cat stands on its back legs, the lure is too high. If it backs up, move more slowly.

Step 3: Repeat

Repeat five to ten times in a session, then stop. Two sessions a day work well. Reward each success at first.

Step 4: Add the cue

When the cat sits easily with the lure, say "sit" just before you lure. After several repetitions, the cat links the word with the action. Then try the cue without the lure, using an empty hand in the same motion.

Step 5: Fade the lure and treats

Gradually use a smaller hand motion, and then just the word. Reward some sits with treats, and others with praise or play, to keep the behavior strong. See how to train a cat to come when called.

Capturing instead

If your cat sits by itself, such as while waiting for food, click and treat at that moment. Over time, add the cue word as it happens.

Troubleshooting

• The cat walks away: shorten the session, or use a more exciting treat.
• The cat jumps up: lower the lure.
• The cat does not take the treat: it may be full, or stressed.
• The cat sits, but not on cue: go back a step.
• The cat gets bored: train in the day at different times.

Safety and welfare

Never push the cat into position. Avoid overfeeding by counting treats as part of daily food. See portion control for cats. If your cat has hip or back pain, sitting may be uncomfortable. See arthritis in cats.

Next tricks

• High five. See how to teach a cat to high five.
• Fetch. See how to teach a cat to fetch.
• Name recognition. See how to teach a cat its name.

Kittens

Kittens can learn sit early. See kitten training basics.

Why sit is useful

A sit gives you a calm moment in a busy situation. You can ask the cat to sit before meals, before a door is opened or while you clip a harness. It also gives the cat a way to earn attention without jumping on counters or yowling. Cats that know a few cues are often less pushy and more relaxed, because they understand what earns rewards.

Setting up for success

Choose a flat, non-slippery surface, such as a rug, so that the cat's rear can settle comfortably. Avoid training on a cold hard floor if the cat is older. Keep other pets away. Have a handful of treats ready, cut into pea-sized pieces or smaller. Hold the treat low in your fingertips, not in your palm, so that the cat can easily smell it.

Timing and hand signals

Your hand movement becomes the visual cue. Keep it the same each time, such as raising your index finger and moving it back over the cat's head. After a number of repetitions, the cat will sit when it sees the hand signal alone. Many cats learn the hand signal before the word, and that is fine. Pair them, and use whichever works.

Making it a habit

Add sit to your daily routine, for example before the cat's dinner. Ask for a sit, mark it and then put down the bowl. Over a couple of weeks, this makes the behavior reliable. Practice in different rooms and with different people. Reward generously when the behavior happens somewhere new.

When to see a vet

See a vet if your cat shows pain when sitting. Use the US vet directory to find a clinic.