If you’ve ever tried to teach your cat something and walked away frustrated, you’re definitely not alone. Cats have earned a stubborn reputation over the years, one that’s been passed down through generations of well-meaning but misinformed pet owners. The result? A pile of myths so deeply embedded in popular culture that most people accept them without a second thought.
Here’s the thing: a lot of what you think you know about training your cat might be flat-out wrong. And believing these myths isn’t just harmless. It can actually hold you and your feline friend back from a truly rewarding relationship. Let’s dive in.
Myth #1: Cats Simply Cannot Be Trained
This is probably the biggest, most damaging myth in the entire cat world, and honestly, it drives me a little crazy. It is a misconception that training is not possible or relevant for cat welfare. Cats are trainable, and the current world record for the number of tricks performed by a cat in one minute is 26. Twenty-six. In sixty seconds. Let that sink in for a moment.
As a society, we don’t think too often about training cats, and many people probably think of them as untrainable. But this is far from the truth. Cats learn all the time from their interactions with us whether we’d like them to or not. Think about it like this: if your cat has figured out exactly which cabinet hides the treats, or precisely when you’re about to leave for work, they are absolutely capable of learning.
Clicker training can be incorporated into tasks such as nail trims and vet exams to help a cat feel safer and more confident. It can also be part of teaching a cat to walk on a harness. Teaching a cat new skills is a great way to build your relationship and prevent boredom. Cats can also learn cues like sit, lie down, roll over, high five, or whatever you can dream up together. The only real limit is your patience and your willingness to try.
Greater recognition that cats are trainable and have the capacity to learn and problem solve within their environments can lead to increased opportunities for positive human-cat interactions and enrichment, provide opportunities for choice, and can facilitate greater access to space through leash training or ability to visit environments outside the home. So no, your cat isn’t a lost cause. You just need the right approach.
Myth #2: You Have to Start Training When They’re Kittens
A lot of people assume that if they missed the kitten window, it’s all over. Their adult or senior cat is simply stuck in its ways forever. This belief stops countless owners from even trying, which is a real shame. Yes, you can train an old cat. While it’s commonly believed that young kittens soak up new behaviors more rapidly due to their developmental phase, the fact remains that feline learning doesn’t have an expiration date. Whether your cat is a spry juvenile or has gracefully ventured into their senior years, training is entirely possible and beneficial.
The idea that cats become untrainable after kittenhood is one of the most persistent and unhelpful myths in pet ownership. It leads to so many missed opportunities for bonding and solving problems. Cats, at their core, are learners. They are creatures of habit and cause-and-effect. Whether they’re two or twelve, that fundamental wiring doesn’t just switch off. What changes is the how, not the if. In other words, you just adapt your technique, not your expectations.
Cats of any age can start training. You just have to match the behavior with their mobility and energy level. A senior cat may be unable to sit on their back legs for an “up” cue, but maybe they can raise a paw for a fist bump or touch a target with their nose. So don’t let your cat’s age or lack of previous training stop you. It’s never too late. That’s not just comforting. It’s genuinely scientifically supported.
Naturally, the younger they are when you train them the less likely they are to develop bad habits, but that doesn’t mean senior cats aren’t capable of learning new behaviours. Training is more about personality and ability than age, and particularly with senior cats, it can offset any cognitive decline because it enables them to stay mentally active. So training your older cat isn’t just possible. It can actually be good for their brain health.
Myth #3: Using a Spray Bottle Is a Perfectly Fine Training Tool
Oh, the spray bottle. That little plastic object sitting on countless kitchen countertops around the world, silently doing more damage than most owners realize. It seems harmless enough, even a little funny. You squirt your cat, they leap off the counter, problem solved, right? Wrong. It’s actually ineffective and counter-productive. When punishment is used, it means the cat’s behavior has been labeled as bad. Cats don’t misbehave. Behaviors are displayed because they serve a function. Punishing the cat instead of addressing the underlying need or recognizing the natural behavior doesn’t solve the problem.
When you spray a cat with water, they often see you as the source of the unpleasant event, not the action they were doing. This can create fear of you, instead of discouraging the unwanted behavior. Stress and anxiety may increase, especially in sensitive cats. Some cats become aggressive, swatting or biting when sprayed. So while the method may stop the behavior in the moment, it doesn’t teach your cat what they should do instead. Think of it this way: you’re not teaching your cat to behave. You’re just teaching them to be afraid of you.
Water spraying can severely damage the trust between cats and their owners. Cats may begin to view their owners as unpredictable sources of punishment rather than safe caregivers, leading to a breakdown in the human-animal bond and making future training more difficult. Once that trust erodes, it can take a very long time to rebuild, and some cats never fully recover it.
Instead of relying on punishment and squirt bottles, a more effective training approach involves understanding the purpose of the behavior and providing better alternatives. For example, if the cat jumps on the kitchen counter, identify the motivation behind the behavior. It could be the smell of food, a desire for a better view out the window, a need for elevated safety, or a bid for the cat parent’s attention. Once the underlying reason is determined, a suitable alternative can be provided. That’s a much more meaningful solution than a face full of tap water.
Myth #4: Cats Are Too Independent to Want to Learn Anything
Let’s be real: cats do have a reputation for independence, and it’s not entirely unearned. They aren’t dogs. They won’t hang on your every word or come running with a wagging tail every time you call. But confusing independence with a total unwillingness to engage is a huge mistake. Despite their popularity as companions, misunderstandings about cat behavior are common. People’s expectations of cats and their ability to interpret their behavior are influenced by pervasive myths that often paint cats as ‘low maintenance, self-sufficient’ animals, in stark contrast to other popular pets.
While it’s true that cats respond differently than dogs and are not driven by the desire to “please the master,” they are highly intelligent creatures capable of learning tricks, performing complex behaviors, and, most importantly, learning to tolerate necessary care like vet visits and nail trims. Cat training is less about dominance and more about harnessing natural curiosity through positive reinforcement. That’s a crucial distinction most people miss entirely.
The answer to why cats seem untrainable typically comes down to training methods. Like other animals, including humans, cats learn to do things that earn them desirable consequences and avoid behavior that leads to undesirable consequences. They will also seek situations that make them feel good and avoid those that make them feel uncomfortable, nervous, or fearful. All of this is defined by how the cat feels about the consequence, not our human opinions. Essentially, you need to make training worth their while.
Some cats just aren’t into treats, which leaves owners wondering what else they can use. Playtime, petting, or access to favorite spots can also work as rewards, depending on your cat’s preferences. Your cat isn’t refusing to cooperate because they’re stubborn. They’re just waiting for you to find out what actually motivates them. It’s honestly a bit of a puzzle, and solving it is half the fun.
Myth #5: A Purring Cat Is Always a Happy, Responsive Learner
This one catches a lot of well-intentioned cat owners completely off guard. You sit down for a training session, your cat starts purring, and you think you’re golden. They must be happy and ready to learn, right? Not so fast. We all imagine that purring means a happy cat, which makes sense because it’s the most common reason for purring. It’s not the only one, though. In some cases cats purr when they’re stressed. It can be a way of self-soothing. Cats also purr when they’re in pain for the same reason.
Cats have also been known to purr as a way to ask for food, or as a way to help themselves fall asleep. Basically, you can’t assume that a purring cat is a happy cat. You’ll have to pay attention to the other ways cats communicate, like body language, to understand what’s going on. Misreading your cat’s emotional state during a training session can mean pushing them past their comfort zone without even realizing it.
Shorter training sessions seem to work well, as does finding what motivates your individual cat. Teaching your cat to go inside of its carrier is one recommended training behavior. This trick can decrease the stress associated with visiting the vet and could prove lifesaving in an emergency situation. Reading the room, or in this case reading the cat, is absolutely essential to successful training. A twitching tail, flattened ears, or wide pupils are signals you should always watch for.
Positive, consistent, and predictable human-cat social interactions are essential for cat well-being. So before you interpret a purr as a green light, take a moment to look at the whole picture. A calm, relaxed body posture alongside purring is a good sign. Purring alone? Not always the signal you think it is.
Conclusion: What You Believe About Your Cat Changes Everything
Here’s the bottom line: the myths you hold about cat training don’t just shape how you train your cat. They shape the entire relationship you have with them. Replacing these misconceptions with scientifically generated information could have a significant impact on the behavioral management of cats, positively influencing their physical health, mental stimulation, and well-being, and reducing stress for both cats and the people caring for them. That’s a pretty powerful reason to start questioning what you thought you knew.
Your cat is not a stubborn, untrainable, mysterious creature that operates on its own unknowable terms. They are intelligent, emotionally complex, and genuinely capable of learning, bonding, and growing with you at any age. The potential to train your cat is limitless. With positive reinforcement, they can learn everything from using the litter box to fun tricks and obedience skills. Training can also address behavioral problems like scratching furniture. Plus, training your cat is a bonding activity and provides them with much-needed mental stimulation.
Drop the spray bottle, throw out the old assumptions, and start fresh. Your cat has been waiting for you to figure this out. What myth surprised you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments!
