Can you train a cat?

Yes, but the dog training model doesn’t translate. Cats respond well to operant conditioning with positive reinforcement (treats, praise, the click-and-treat method works in many cats), and they’re capable of learning specific behaviors: come when called, sit, target a hand or stick, walk on a harness, accept nail trims, get into the carrier voluntarily. They don’t respond to punishment (it produces fear, not learning) and they don’t work for human approval the way dogs often do. Sessions should be short (2 to 5 minutes), high-reward, and end before the cat loses interest. Cornell’s enrichment guidance includes training as a legitimate cognitive enrichment activity.