How to teach your cat to give a handshake

By Civita Dyer

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

*Patience
<br />*Treats or food
<br />*A week or more of devotion

Step 1:
Instill familiarity with positive reinforcement. Training a cat takes patience but is much easier than you may think. Having a familiarity with positive reinforcement is a good place to start because it is what your cat will respond to the fastest. Positive reinforcement is rewarding your cat for a desired behavior. This is the only skill you will need to teach your cat to shake hands.
Step 2:
Find that perfect treat. When training your cat you will first want to find their favorite food. It will most likely be something they do not receive often. In most cases this would be tuna, sardines or store bought soft treats. Keep these treats handy for the entire training process. Your cat's desire will make your positive reinforcement that much easier.
Step 3:
Act upon their instincts. Cats are naturally attracted to food. All you need to do to begin is take their favorite treat and place it in the palm of your hand. Make a fist around the food and then hold your arm out from your body. Once you have the cat's attention take your hand and lower it to the cat but just out of reach. The cat will smell the treat right away and will react. Eighty percent of the time your cat will take a paw up to try and free the food from your hand. It is natural for them to try and free the food from you; therefore they are shaking hands.
Step 4:
Practice voice command and giving the treat. Lowering your hand should make your cat paw at your hand and when they do give them a firm voice command, "Shake!" This will help them to associate your voice with the action. If they decide to stand up or use their mouth, stand straight and start all over again. When they get this process right by using the paw, give the treat. Continue doing so each time you offer your hand. This is positive reinforcement. Giving a paw means getting a treat.
Step 5:
Understand repetition is key. Training a cat is hard but just as with any other animal it can be done especially with repetition. Be sure to keep up with training and positive reinforcement for at least a month, and after that amount of time your cat should be conditioned to the trick.

Tips & Warnings

*Spread out training times so your cat does not become sick from too many treats.
<br />*Spread out training times so you don't become frustrated with kitty.
*Never scold your cat during the process. This will take away from the positive reinforcement.
<br />*Never scold your cat during the process. Cats can be vindictive and you don't want a kitty surprise in your shoe.

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