How to Call a Cat

Contrary to popular belief, training a cat is not an impossible task! One effective way to train your cat is to teach it to approach you when it hears your call. Luckily, cats can quickly master this skill, so they will respond to your call in no time. With some patience and rewards, you'll be able to call your cat from anywhere in the house, and it will come running (or walking) to you.

Understand the benefits of calling your cat. Asking your cat to come when called has numerous benefits. For instance, you can call your pet when it’s time to play or eat. Additionally, if you're unable to find your cat at home, calling it can help you locate them. Furthermore, having your cat come to you when called ensures that they are safe, especially if you need to leave the house.

• If your cat is indoors/outdoors, you can call it inside.
• Calling your cat is also helpful when it's time for a vet visit. Cats may not enjoy trips to the vet, so you can give them time to come to you before it’s time to go.
• Cats are smart animals, so training them to come when called also helps in stimulating their brains.

Choose a Reward. Positive reinforcement (praise, affection) is crucial for successful training, but in order to teach your cat to respond to your call, you need an enticing reward. The most interesting reward for cats is tasty food, such as tuna, shredded chicken, or mackerel. You can also purchase treats for cats at pet stores.

• Prepare a variety of treats. Each time you reward your cat, offer different types of food so they don’t expect the same reward every time.
• Catnip is not an appealing reward. Cats will lose interest in catnip if given more than once a week, so it’s better to stick with food to entice them.
• Regardless of the reward chosen, only use it when calling your cat. They need to associate the reward with responding to your call, without any verbal commands or hints.
• A fun playtime can also serve as an appealing reward.

Set a Command for Calling Your Cat. You can use any command you like. A common command people use is “Come here, meow meow.” You can also use phrases like “come here” or “reward.” Avoid using old commands, like your cat's name.

• You can use different tones of voice. Cats tend to respond to higher-pitched tones, as their prey in the wild often makes high-pitched sounds.
• If there are multiple people in the household calling the cat, everyone should use the same command and tone to call them.
• If your cat is deaf or hard of hearing, you will need to use alternative methods, such as visual commands like turning the lights on and off or using a laser pointer (available at pet stores). Cats with hearing impairments may also respond to vibrations on the floor, so you can stomp your feet to get their attention.

Choose the Right Time to Call Your Cat. The ideal time to call your cat is during meal time. When your cat is hungry, the training process becomes easier and faster. Also, your cat is already familiar with going to the kitchen (or to where the food bowl is), so avoid calling them to unfamiliar places when starting training.

• The benefit of calling your cat during mealtime is that they know when food is being prepared. This makes the initial training easier, as it doesn’t feel out of the ordinary for them.
• If you choose playtime as a reward, start calling your cat near their usual playtime.
• If the kitchen or the play area is noisy, you should call your cat in a quiet place that won’t distract them.

Call Your Cat. When you are in the place where you want your cat to come, use your command in a high-pitched tone. If you’re calling your cat during mealtime, make sure to say the command before opening the food can or tearing the food bag. Ensure that your cat comes to you because they hear the command, not because of the noise from food preparation.

• Reward your cat immediately when they come to you with fresh food or extra playtime. Positive reinforcement through petting and praise is also very useful.
• Even when calling your cat during mealtime, it's better to offer treats instead of just their regular food.
• When calling your cat during playtime, use the command without shaking toys to avoid noise.
• The training process may take a week or longer for your cat to consistently come to you when they hear your call.

Increase the Challenge in the Cat Training Process. Once your cat responds by moving toward the play or eating area when called, you can make the training more challenging. For instance, if you live with others, you and your housemates can take turns calling the cat. Each person must reward the cat when they respond correctly to the call.

• If your cat is inside/outside, you can call it inside when you’re outside. This method is easier when the cat is close enough to hear your call.
• Practice calling your cat from different spots in the house. Eventually, the cat will learn to come to you no matter where they are inside.

• As with other training, kittens tend to be easier to train than adult cats. If your cat is an adult, it may take longer for them to respond to the call.
• Call your cat several times a day. Calling your cat during meal times will allow for multiple practice sessions throughout the day.
• Reward your cat even if they take a while to respond. Your cat might intentionally wait a bit before approaching (which can be frustrating), but it’s important to reward them once they choose to come to you.
• If your cat isn’t responding because they can't hear the call, you should take them to the vet for a hearing check.
• Your cat might avoid coming when called because they feel shy or scared. Consult with a veterinarian or animal behaviorist to help your cat overcome fear or hesitation.