Q: You’ve talked about how to get a dog to come to you, but is there a way to get a cat to come on command? My cat just sits there and stares at me when I call him. I let him come outside with me, but I don’t like to leave him alone out there, so I need him to come when I call so I can take him back inside. Is it even possible to train an independent cat?

A: Cats are very possible to train, contrary to what most people believe. My husband always teases me about looking like the Pied Piper when I go outside as my dogs and cats follow me around in the backyard. I also do not allow my cats to roam freely outside; it’s just too dangerous, so they have had to learn to come in when called. Of course, a fence keeps them from roaming too far, but they had to be trained not to climb over it. There is also an acre fenced in, so they still can wander quite a distance from me, so coming when called was very necessary. It would be harder to train a cat to come without a fence, especially since many of us have woods nearby that are fun to explore. You can only make yourself so interesting before the environment wins over you.

If you are letting your cat outside, you may want to build some kind of barrier if you haven’t already. This allows your cat to learn a visual boundary, with your guidance, of course. Don’t think your cat will automatically know, “Oh look a fence. I shouldn’t cross that boundary.” They need to learn that you will not allow them outside if they attempt to climb it. Watch closely and redirect your cat every time he attempts to escape the fenced area. If he keeps trying, then he goes safely back indoors. A harness and leash can help teach a cat what the boundaries are and also help the cat learn to come to you instead of running. Learning to be on a leash may take some time and training, so be patient. One of my fenced areas actually has cat proofing on the top so the cats can’t climb out. The big yard, however, does not, so the cats had to be taught not to climb.

Just as you train a dog to come, you need incentive to make a cat want to come to you. If a cat feels that all fun is about to stop by coming inside, there isn’t a lot of incentive to do it. If your cat is food motivated, have a little treat for your cat whenever he comes over to you. Toys are motivation for other cats. One of my cats is a catnip addict, so he knows when he comes inside, I will break out the coveted catnip toys that are kept in the cabinet (with a child lock as he learned to open the cabinet and get to the toys).

Pair a verbal cue to whatever motivation you are using to get the cat to come. “Here kitty, kitty,” works for many people. I just use a clicking sound with my tongue that all the cats have learned to respond to because it always means something good is about to happen. The difference with training cats and dogs is that you never can fade the reward for a cat. If you stop the reward, the cat will stop listening. Cats are not as domesticated as dogs and are far more independent. If you don’t show what’s in it for them, they will ignore you.

Training a cat takes a little more time and patience. With consistency and creative rewards, you will be able to get your cat to do almost anything you want on cue. Of course, there are some cats who are scared and don’t train as easily (just as there are dogs that are the same way). The personality of an animal will determine how quickly the training moves along. One of my cats, appropriately named Dodger, dodges away from anything that startles him. Training with him requires a lot more patience and time than with the other cats, so know your cat’s personality and work with him or her to gain trust. With dogs you want to use as little words as possible, but with cats you can pour on the praise and tell them how wonderful they are all the time. They seem to respond well to flattery!