Most people don’t realize that cats can be trained. They think it just can’t happen. But cats are very curious and intelligent critters -- they’re always interested in knowing what’s going on, and it’s surprising how quickly they pick up on things.

Now, if the cat has a more energetic personality, she might lift her two front paws up and do what is called a “sit up” or a “beg up” because she has more energy. Owners first need to figure out what type of personality their cat has. Some cats have a more relaxed personality, while other cats are very energetic and have a high-energy personality. Once you figure that out, you can begin the process of training.

A cat can be trained to do almost all the behaviors a dog can do: sit, lay down and come when her name is called.

Sitting is an easy behavior to start with. If you have a cat that has a relaxed personality, you can pick one of her favorite treats and hold it right above her nose. Being curious, your cat will lift her head up to see what you have. When your cat smells the treat and lifts her head, bringing the treat back a little bit further will throw the cat’s body off into the sit position.