How to Teach a Cat to "High Five"

By eHow Pets Editor

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

Cat treats

Step 1:
Buy cat treats. You will need lots of cat treats to teach your cat to high five. Make sure you buy ones that she likes or it may be a waste of money.
Step 2:
Use your cat's basic instincts. Most cats like to bat things--including you. Use this to your advantage. When your cat reaches out their paw, hit it with your hand. Then give your cat a treat.
Step 3:
Say the words. As you hit the cat's paw with your hand, say the words, "Give me a high five." When your cat reacts, give her a treat.
Step 4:
Continue the process. Either pick up your cat's paw and hit it with your hand, or wait until she reaches her paw out to you and hit it with your hand. Tell her "Give me a high five" or "High five", and reward her with treats as she does.
Step 5:
Try to get her to reach out her paw to you on the command, "High five". This will get her to react instinctively. Always reward her when she does what you want even if you don't get to give her the high five. The extension of her paw is the first step and she may be resistant to you hitting her paw.
Step 6:
Change paws. Don't worry if your cat decides she wants to extend the other paw from the one she originally was using. It is good for her to know that a high five can be done with either paw.
Step 7:
Be sure you constantly reward and praise your cat when she completes any part of the tasks to high five. She will respond quicker when she knows she will get a treat for her work.

Tips & Warnings

Cats are stubborn and don't like their routine changed--you have to out stubborn them.
It will take time but if you are patient, you will succeed in teaching your cat to high five.
Be careful if your cat isn't declawed--you may need to wear gloves.

Resources

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