pounce.Get Pounce

A little cat wisdom.
A lot to discover.

Thoughtful guides for a closer bond with your cat. Small steps, clear answers, and plenty of room to go at their pace.

A grey-brown tabby turns a circle on a rug, following a treat held by a kneeling woman.

Tricks & life skills · 10 min read

How to teach your cat tricks: 10 easy tricks

Ten cat tricks ordered easiest first, with the four-step method behind all of them, honest timelines, two-minute sessions, and what to do when your cat walks off.

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A grey-brown tabby with a white chest stands on a rug and turns to look at a woman kneeling a short distance away.

Everyday skills · 8 min read

How to teach your cat its name

Teach your cat their name in 3 to 4 weeks: five steps from name-means-treat to coming from another room, plus what to do when they ignore you.

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A grey-brown tabby sits on a rug and rests one white paw in a person’s open, upturned palm.

Tricks & life skills · 8 min read

How to teach your cat to shake hands

Teach your cat to shake hands in 2 to 4 weeks: five steps from paw lift to cue, two-minute sessions, what to do if they won’t, and why you never take the paw.

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A tabby rests in an open cardboard hideaway beside a small radio while a person draws a curtain across a window with a distant firework outside.

A happier home · 7 min read

How to calm a cat during fireworks

Keep your cat calm during fireworks: what to do before dark, what to do while the bangs last, how to spot fear, how long cats hide, and when to call a vet.

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A tabby stands freely on a blue fleece and looks toward a small toothbrush on a terracotta saucer, with a relaxed human hand resting nearby.

Calmer care · 4 min read

Cat won’t let you brush their teeth? Start before the brush

Separate toothbrush familiarity from mouth handling, keep a useful progress note, and make a dental-care plan with your vet while your cat learns.

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A woman holds a wooden measuring stick along the inside of an empty terracotta litter tray while a tabby watches from outside it.

A happier home · 4 min read

Cat uses the litter box but poops over the edge?

Check litter-tray space, entrance height and what actually happens when a cat misses the edge. A practical fit checklist, research limits and signs that need a vet.

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A tabby and a black-and-white cat eat from their own bowls in two comfortable rooms separated by a wall and closed door.

Everyday behavior · 4 min read

Cats eating each other’s food? Plan separate meals

Stop bowl swapping with a practical separate-meal setup. Protect a slow eater’s food, compare access options and handle different diets without relying on obedience.

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A tabby stands on a blue blanket across a seated woman’s lap while her hands rest on the sofa, leaving an open cushion beside them.

Life together · 4 min read

Cat won’t sit on your lap? Make room for their choice

Help your cat feel comfortable near your lap without forcing a cuddle. Try a simple sofa setup and separate approaching, eating, settling and being touched.

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A tabby sits beside a food bowl on a blue mat while a woman writes in a notebook at the kitchen table.

Everyday behavior · 5 min read

Cat begging for food: a plan the whole household can follow

Handle persistent cat begging with a shared feeding record, suitable meal timing and a plan before people eat. Avoid food deprivation and recognize when veterinary help is needed.

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A tabby sniffs a folded blue blanket beside a packed sage tote, a flashlight and an open terracotta cat carrier.

Calmer care · 5 min read

Emergency planning for cats: carriers, contacts and a go bag

Prepare a household emergency plan for your cat: accessible carriers, a go bag, backup care and a simple planning card. Understand the limits of fire-drill training.

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A tabby with white paws rests on a blue blanket beside an open terracotta carrier and closed moving boxes.

Calmer care · 5 min read

Moving house with a cat: a plan for moving day

Plan a cat’s house move from the old room to the carrier to the new room, with a practical handover checklist and advice for cats used to going outdoors.

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A tabby wearing a sage harness rests inside an open terracotta carrier in an enclosed catio, with a loose leash held by a seated person.

Little adventures · 5 min read

Cat scared outside on a harness? Make the outing easier

A cat comfortable in a harness indoors may still be frightened outside. Learn when to end an outing, what to change and when indoor enrichment is the better choice.

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A tabby rests in a cream bed on a sunny window bench, with houseplants separated behind a closed glass door.

A happier home · 4 min read

How to keep your cat out of houseplants

A practical plan for cats chewing leaves, digging in soil or sleeping in plant pots: check plant safety, change access and offer a better place to spend time.

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A seated woman supports a relaxed tabby’s chest and hindquarters with both arms in a brief hold close to her lap.

Calmer care · 5 min read

Cat dislikes being picked up? Start before the lift

Prepare your cat for necessary handling by separating touch, lifting, holding and movement. Build a comfortable starting point and know when to ask your vet.

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A tabby with white paws rests on blue bedding inside an open cardboard hideaway beside a sage sofa.

A happier home · 5 min read

New cat hiding? Help them settle in without pressure

Help a newly adopted cat settle in with a quiet retreat, easy access to daily essentials and a simple record of eating, litter use and voluntary contact.

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A relaxed tabby rests on a blue window-bench cushion beside a closed window, a scratching post and a cream hideaway.

Better habits · 5 min read

Bringing an outdoor cat indoors: a household plan

Help an outdoor pet cat move to indoor living with a shared household plan, accessible litter trays, useful activities and a record of how they are coping.

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A tabby in a sage recovery suit rests on a low blue cushion beside an open terracotta carrier, with a closed room door behind them.

Calmer care · 4 min read

Cats hissing after a vet visit? Plan the homecoming

Cats suddenly hissing after one returns from the vet? Prepare a separate recovery space, keep prescribed protection in place and rebuild contact at their pace.

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A tabby walks across a rug carrying a blue fabric mouse toward a seated person whose hands rest on their lap.

Little wins · 5 min read

Teach your cat to fetch: start with the return

Cat chases a toy but leaves it behind? Break fetch into picking up, carrying and returning. Practice nearby, reward a small step and keep the game voluntary.

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A tabby rests awake on a blue cushioned seat across a clear floor from a stationary green canister vacuum.

A happier home · 4 min read

Cat scared of the vacuum? Start with a cleaning plan

Give your cat a quiet retreat while you vacuum, then separate the machine’s sight, sound and movement in later practice. Learn when to stop and seek help.

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A grey tabby stands opposite a seated ginger cat on a cream rug, with open space between them and a blue sofa behind.

A happier home · 4 min read

Are your cats playing or fighting? Look beyond the wrestle

Watch both cats, their pauses and what happens afterward. Learn which observations suggest mutual play, when to separate safely and when to seek help.

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A tabby crouches beside a cardboard box, watching a blue toy mouse attached to a wand held by a sage-sleeved hand.

A happier home · 4 min read

Cat ignores toys? Change the play invitation

If your cat ignores toys, try a quieter setup and a smaller movement before buying more. Learn what to observe and when lost interest needs veterinary advice.

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A tabby walks past a clean, open blue litter tray with a low entrance in a quiet room.

A happier home · 4 min read

Cat peeing outside the litter box? Plan the next step

When litter-box accidents keep happening, organize the history, check access and agree a follow-up plan with your vet. Know which urinary signs need urgent help.

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A hand closes a wooden drawer containing a disconnected charging cable while a tabby rests on a blue cushion below.

A happier home · 4 min read

Cat chewing cords? Start by changing access

Make a room-by-room plan for a cat chewing cables: put unused cords away, block access to equipment, and know when chewing or possible injury needs veterinary help.

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A tabby eats from a terracotta bowl on a blue mat, with an unused automatic feeder farther across the floor.

A happier home · 4 min read

Cat scared of an automatic feeder? Start with the bowl

Help a cat who avoids a new automatic feeder. Protect normal meals, check the device’s training settings, and separate equipment problems from discomfort.

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A tabby rests in an open hiding place while a visitor sits at a distance with their hands on their lap.

A happier home · 5 min read

Help your cat feel safe when visitors arrive

Prepare a quiet retreat, give guests a simple greeting plan, and recognize when a cat’s fear of visitors needs individual veterinary or behavior support.

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A tabby cat in a closed, latched carrier beside a parked car while a woman sits nearby.

Calmer care · 5 min read

Help your cat get used to car journeys

Prepare for cat car travel in separate stages: a parked vehicle, engine sound and a short journey. Keep the carrier secure and know when to seek veterinary help.

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A tabby rests on a blue cushioned cat-tree platform while a standing person offers a small reward beside an empty kitchen worktop.

A happier home · 5 min read

Cat counter surfing: plan for a safer kitchen

Reduce cat counter surfing with safer kitchen access, fewer food rewards on worktops and a comfortable alternative perch. Practice before you start cooking.

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A tabby rests beside a seated person who has paused petting with both hands on their own lap.

A happier home · 4 min read

Cat bites during petting? Know when to pause

Make petting easier to leave, notice changes before a bite, and distinguish touch preferences from behavior that needs veterinary assessment.

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A tabby receives a reward on a blue mat beside a closed glazed inner door, with a closed terracotta front door beyond it.

A happier home · 5 min read

Cat door dashing: a safer way to come and go

Help prevent your cat from running out the door. Plan a second barrier, a waiting spot, small practice steps, and a household routine for arrivals and deliveries.

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A tabby reaches into a shallow blue food-puzzle tray while a regular food bowl sits nearby.

Everyday behavior · 5 min read

How to introduce a food puzzle to your cat

Cat ignoring a puzzle feeder? Start with visible, easy-to-reach food, keep ordinary meals accessible, and adjust one part of the puzzle at a time.

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A tabby stands freely on a blue-cushioned bench while a sage-sleeved hand holds a soft wooden brush against its shoulder.

Calmer care · 5 min read

Help your cat get comfortable with brushing

Introduce a grooming brush without restraint: start with the tool nearby, build toward one gentle stroke, and know when mats or discomfort need veterinary help.

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A brown tabby rests on a rug while a grey-and-white cat sits farther away in a separate room behind a closed mesh screen door.

A happier home · 6 min read

Introducing cats: when to slow down

Introducing a new cat? Learn when to pause, how to return to an easier stage, and what to record for each cat before trying more time together.

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A relaxed tabby rests beside an automatic feeder and sage cat bed in a softly lit living room, with a woman putting a wand toy away in the background.

A happier home · 5 min read

Cat waking you at 4 a.m.? Plan the evening first

Build a practical routine for early cat wake-ups: plan play and meals, check the overnight setup, and know when meowing needs veterinary attention.

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A relaxed brown tabby rests both front paws on a cream cushion as one finger gently touches its foreleg above the paw; unused nail clippers sit on a tray nearby.

Calmer care · 5 min read

Cat won’t let you touch their paws? Start before the nail trim

Prepare a comfortable cat for nail care with brief touches, clear pauses and a separate introduction to clippers. Learn when to stop and ask your vet.

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A brown tabby rests on a blue mat beside a desk while a person uses a laptop, with a few treats by the cat’s paws.

Everyday skills · 5 min read

Cat on your keyboard? Teach a nearby mat

Teach your cat to choose a mat beside your desk: choose a comfortable spot, reward voluntary steps, and build up to short stretches of typing.

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A mature tabby rests with its paws on a sage rug and sniffs a rounded green target held near its nose.

Everyday skills · 4 min read

Training older cats: small skills, comfortable movement

Older cats can learn. Adapt a small training activity around comfortable movement, familiar rewards and clear observations, with guidance on changes that need a vet.

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A tabby investigates an open carrier base beside its detached top.

Calmer care · 5 min read

Choosing a cat carrier for training and vet visits

Compare carrier openings, removable tops, fit and fastenings. A practical buying checklist to use before starting voluntary carrier training.

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A seated tabby watches a low hand signal while keeping its front paws on the rug.

Everyday skills · 5 min read

How to teach your cat to sit, then add a cue

Teach a voluntary sit with a small lure, turn the movement into an empty-hand signal, and add a spoken cue. Includes a practical troubleshooting table.

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An overhead view of a curious tabby beside a phone with abstract cards, an open blank notebook, and a sage clicker.

Choosing your tools · 5 min read

Cat training apps for beginners: four options compared

Compare Pounce, Click Crusade, MyPurrin and Cat Training Clicker by lesson format, useful features and access model. Choose an iPhone app for your training goal.

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A woman picks up a sage clicker beside a tabby, a wooden target stick, and a phone showing a simple paw button.

Choosing your tools · 4 min read

Choosing the best clicker for your cat

Compare a handheld clicker, a clicker and target kit, a phone app and a verbal marker. Choose for comfortable sound, clear timing and easy reward delivery.

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Illustration of a cat eating comfortably beside and inside an open carrier

Calmer care · 5 min read

Make the carrier a place your cat chooses

A gentle cat carrier training plan: start with an open base, reward voluntary entry, and introduce the roof, door, and movement at your cat’s pace.

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A tabby walks down a familiar hallway toward a crouched woman offering a small reward.

Everyday skills · 5 min read

How to teach your cat to come when called indoors

Build indoor recall from a small head turn to a short walk toward you. A clear cue, a worthwhile reward, and a plan for missed attempts.

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Pounce illustration of a cat practicing with a harness and loose leash indoors

Little adventures · 5 min read

Cat harness training starts in the living room

Introduce a harness in small, comfortable stages before considering a walk. Learn when to progress, pause, or choose indoor enrichment instead.

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A tabby reaches toward a fabric wand lure on the floor while a woman controls the rod from the sofa.

A happier home · 5 min read

When play turns into biting: change the game

Give playful teeth a better outlet with toys, predictable play, and calmer endings. Learn how to observe the pattern and when biting needs individual help.

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A tabby stretches and scratches a tall sisal post beside a sofa while a woman reads nearby.

A happier home · 5 min read

Help your cat choose the scratching post

Make a scratching post a better option with the right location, surface, stability, and reward timing. A practical plan for the sofa-side scratcher.

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A tabby gently touches the rounded end of a wooden target stick with its nose on a sunlit rug.

Training foundations · 5 min read

Cat target training: teach a gentle nose touch

Turn a voluntary nose touch into a useful training skill. Learn what to mark, how to add one step, and what to change when your cat paws at the target.

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A tabby looks at a phone propped beside a notebook and clicker while a woman prepares a short training session.

Finding your approach · 5 min read

Cat training app, videos, or a trainer: which do you need?

Choose between a guided cat training app, free learning resources, and individual help. A candid decision guide from the team behind Pounce.

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Seen over a woman’s shoulder, a seated tabby waits while she makes a small note in a notebook.

The evidence · 7 min read

Can cats be trained? What the research actually shows

What feline learning studies show, and what they cannot prove: trained actions, name recognition, kitten classes and the limits of clicker comparisons.

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A tabby cat sniffs a small treat offered beside three ceramic dishes of different food rewards.

Training foundations · 5 min read

Choosing the best treats and rewards for cat training

Compare regular food, small cat treats, lickable rewards and play. Choose something your cat wants, prepare easy delivery and keep dietary needs in mind.

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Pounce illustration of a cat learning that a click predicts a treat

Start here · 5 min read

Cat clicker training: your first five minutes

Learn how to introduce a clicker to your cat, choose a reward, time the click, and recognize when to stop. A practical first session from Pounce.

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Illustration of a tabby cat voluntarily touching their person’s raised palm

Tricks & life skills · 5 min read

How to teach your cat to high five

Teach a cat to high five by rewarding a voluntary paw lift, building a gentle palm touch, and adding a cue. Includes common mistakes and when to pause.

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A woman rewards a tabby on one mat while a ginger-and-white cat rests on a separate mat farther across the room.

Training foundations · 5 min read

Can you clicker train two cats? Start with separate turns

Make rewards, markers, and practice space clearer in a two-cat home. A simple separate-session setup before considering shared training.

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Written by the Pounce editorial team, with training sequences drawn from our curriculum and references linked in each guide. Read our editorial approach.