9 Tricks Your Siamese Cat Can Do

Siamese cats are among the most intelligent feline breeds. Some owners describe them as having a dog-like intelligence, which is why many try to train them to do tricks. 

Here are some of the common tricks you can train your Siamese cat to do:

1. Paw trick.
2. Giving a high five.
3. Standing upright.
4. Opening a door.
5. Sitting on command.
6. Playing fetch.
7. GIving a fish bump.
8. Doing a cat spin.
9. Walking on a leash.

Let’s take a look at the different tricks Siamese cats can learn to do and how to train them better. If you’ve never trained a cat before, keep reading and you’ll be shocked by how easy it can be!

1. Paw Trick

Probably one of the simplest tricks that Siamese cats can learn is the paw trick, which looks like the cat is shaking hands with you.

It doesn’t take long to train them to reach out with one paw if you use a reward-consequence system in training.

After calling your cat by its name in a neutral tone, offer your upturned palm and say your chosen command. Most cat owners choose “paw” for this command, but it could be anything that is easy to remember and fits the purpose. For example, you might say: “Shake my hand.”

Start by encouraging your cat whenever its paw moves off the ground.

This exercise teaches the car that your command requires a movement from their paw. Then, start putting their paw in your palm to help the cat figure out what you’re trying to train them to do. 

Every time your cat puts their paw on your hand, give them a treat and use words of encouragement. It should take around five days for most Siamese cats to learn this trick.

https://youtu.be/SXZvEVOp2l4

2. Giving a High Five

The natural progression of your training is to try teaching your cat how to give you a high five.

Don’t worry too much about the difference between a paw trick and a high five because the Siamese cat is smart enough to realize (over time) that you are still directing them to your hand.

Before you begin this trick, spend some time drilling the paw trick with your cat. You must ensure that your cat will do that trick well before progressing to avoid confusing it.

Remember that this trick is a little harder and may take longer for your cat to learn. Nonetheless, be consistent in your methods and always use the same command after addressing your cat by calling their name out loud.

Some cat owners found that using the same hand (right or left) consistently for this trick also helps the cat make the association between the commands (saying “High Five!”) and the action required.

3. Standing Upright

Your feline friend might have four legs, but they certainly have the ability to stand on their two hind legs. It’s a delightful trick to teach your Siamese cat, so I highly recommend trying it.

To train your Siamese cat to stand upright, try using more manageable snacks they are highly interested in.

I suggest using longer snacks so that the snack is visible from your hands as you offer it from above the cat’s eye level. I found the Raw Paws Chicken Sticks from Amazon to be perfect for this training exercise.

If you feel that your cat is being particularly stubborn with this trick, try gradually moving higher with your paw or high five tricks. Once you’ve successfully trained your cat to half-stand, start moving on to a more upright position. 

4. Opening a Door

You’ve probably seen more than a few videos of cats jumping up to a door handle and opening a door.

That’s a trick that some Siamese cats are able to figure out on their own because they can generally jump around 8 feet (2.44 m)–which is an impressive feat.

In any case, you can nudge your cat towards learning this trick by making use of a target stick.

Before you try to train them to open a door, begin by gradually training them to aim for the target stick. Generally, the process involves waving a target stick in front of the cat to grab your cat’s attention and gradually (once per training session) moving the stick further away.

Once your cat has been trained to aim for a target stick, you can begin training them to open a door.

Keep in mind that this trick only works with doors that have handles. Cats do not have the dexterity to handle a door knob nor the strength to push a door open.

Begin with the goal of getting your cat to touch the door handle.

Touching the target tick on the handle and placing a treat on it helps in this regard.

After establishing that the cat will touch the door handle, start working on training your cat to pull it down. 

Use a command like “open” to associate with pulling the handle of a door. Soon, you will feel the need to lock doors to avoid the cat randomly invading your privacy.

5. Sitting on Command

Now we’re starting to look at Siamese cats as a sort of dog-hybrid. It may feel unnatural at first, but Siamese cats can and do learn how to sit back on their hind legs on command.

This trick is one of the easier ones to train your cat to do, and it’s very functional as well.

The best way to train your cat is to first offer them a treat out of your open palm. After you notice you’ve got their attention, clasp your hand over the treat and move your closed fist towards their tail.

Out of curiosity, most cats will sit down to see the treat in your hand. Once your cat sits, you should say your chosen command (such as “sit”) and give them the treat.

Repeat this trick very often when you’re alone with your cat, and it shouldn’t take long for them to learn it. 

6. Playing Fetch

Here is another trick many Siamese cats are trained by their pet owners. Yes, Siamese cats can play fetch just as well as any retriever. Training your cat to play fetch can be separated into two parts: teaching them to pick up the object and teaching them to bring it to you.

First, choose a specific toy or object to use solely for playing fetch. I highly suggest using catnip for this trick, but you could use any toy you prefer.

The important thing is that your cat is interested in the toy and actively engages with you when you are offering to play with the toy.

Next, with a treat ready in one hand, hold the toy a few inches above your cat’s face to grab their attention.

Every time they reach out to get the toy, praise them and give them a treat. Do this exercise together for a few days before moving on to the next training phase.

After a few training days, start paying attention to their facial gestures. Stop giving them the treat when they reach out towards the toy unless they do so with an open mouth (even slightly).

Your cat will immediately get confused if you don’t follow the normal pattern of giving them the treat and will try to deduce what changed. 

Keep training with your cat until they begin to put the toy into their mouth. Gradually change the reward. In the end, you should only be giving your cat the reward when it holds the toy in its mouth for more than a few seconds. 

Now that your Siamese cat has learned to hold a toy, place it on the floor behind them and ask them to “fetch” the toy. Offer the treat as a reward when they grab the toy (using their mouth) from where you’ve placed it. 

Gradually add distance, and then move on to throwing the toy. Remember that this trick is especially difficult, so it may take weeks before your cat can learn to fetch.

7. Giving a Fist Bump

The fist bump is another trick that evolves from the paw trick and the high five trick. Naturally, that makes it a much easier trick for your cat to learn.

Begin by using your preferred command when touching their paw with a closed fist.

Reward them every time you fist bump, but slowly move your closed fist further away from the cat’s paw. Give them a treat whenever they move their paw towards your fist to ensure that they continue giving you fist bumps.

One thing that works well with this trick is talking to the cat in a calm and soothing manner. Training your cat is really a way for them to socialize with you, and even though you might be frustrated, staying calm is your best solution. 

8. Doing a Cat Spin

The cat spin is a fun dance that you can teach your Siamese cat to do with a little persuasion and a lot of treats.

A clicker might also help if your cat is being particularly stubborn with this trick. 

Choose one of their favorite treats and offer it from behind your cat. Only give the treat if your cat turns back to take it, but do not forget to mark the action using a clicker and use a command for the cat to associate the action with.

Repeat this process a few times a week until you are confident that your cat will do a half turn for their treat. 

Next, begin completing the spin by moving the treat slowly more and more. Always use the same command for this action, and only offer treats when your cat does the beginning of a spin when you say that specific command.

Don’t forget to mark the action using a clicker to keep your cat interested.

Over time, you will be able to complete a full circle using the treat, and so will your cat. Be patient, and you should see results within ten days. 

https://youtu.be/2h9VqeC6n50

9. Walking on a Leash

Siamese cats are often trained to walk on a leash because it is safer to be with them in public spaces with other pets. Additionally, because cats are independent animals, they could potentially run off and harm themselves. 

Use a leash that is specifically designed for cats, and avoid using a dog leash.

This is probably the most difficult trick to train your cat to do but is arguably one of the most important. Make sure the harness is breathable and offer treats every time they walk with the harness on. 

Repeat this reward-consequence system for several days (or weeks, depending on your cat).

Do not go out in public with your cat in a harness unless you are confident they will not fight against it and are comfortable walking with the leash on. Walk your Siamese cat regularly to burn off their excess energy and keep them calm.

Enjoy reading about Siamese cats?

You may enjoy our other posts about this amazing cat breed.

Sources

• VCA Animal Hospitals: Using Reinforcement and Rewards to Train Your Pet
• FAQCats: Do Siamese Cats Jump – Everything You Should Know!
• TICA: The Siamese Breed
• PetPlan: How To Clicker Train Your Cat