How to Teach Your Cat to Hug You

Hugs are a form of affection.

I mean, who doesn’t like getting hugs?

Hugs make us feel loved.

They make us feel valued.

They make us feel wanted.

But what if I told you that you could teach your cat how to hug you?

Would you think that’s crazy?

Would you look at me as if I were insane?

I’m willing to bet that you would.

Why?

Because I thought the exact same things before I taught my cat Wallaby how to hug me.

I thought it was crazy.

I thought it was insane.

But as soon as I felt my first furry hug from Wallaby, all those thoughts went out the window entirely.

In case you were wondering, I’m a cat enthusiast as well as a cat owner.

With that being said, hugs are awesome and humans aren’t the only ones who can give out hugs.

Cats can too!

And that’s what I want to get into today.

So without further ado, let’s me show you how to teach your cat to hug you.

What You Will Need to Train Your Cat to Give Hugs

All you will need is a clicker, some treats, and a lot of love and patience.

This is true with anything you’re training your cat to do, such as training your cat to walk on a leash, teaching your cat to sit, and training your cat to give you its paw.

Tip: “Cat Crack” catnip is my secret to getting my cat to spend time with me. It’s 100% natural, healthy, and my cat loves it. It has over 3,000 positive reviews on Amazon – check it out here.

6 Simple Steps to Train Your Cat to Hug You

1. Place your palm against the wall and lure your cat up onto your arm. Click your clicker and give it a treat. Doing this will tell your cat that it will get a treat by going up on your arm.
2. Bend your elbow into the wall and lure your cat up onto your upper arm. Click your clicker and give it a treat. This is a step further from placing your palm against the wall. Doing this will warm your cat up to the idea of hugging you.
3. Press your arm up against the wall and lure your cat up onto your shoulder. Click your clicker and give it a treat. At this point, your cat should be inching closer and closer to hugging you. Doing this slowly will yield the best results.
4. Fade out the lure and use a finger target. Click your clicker and give it a treat. Use your finger to lure your cat onto your shoulder.
5. Practice closing your arms. Click your clicker and give it a treat. You need to get used to the embracing motion so getting into the habit of closing your arms around your cat is key.
6. Add the new cue (arm extended) and fade the old cue (finger target). Click your clicker and give it a treat. Extend your arms out to lure your cat onto your shoulder. This will teach your cat to come up to you when you have your arms extended.

Video: How to Teach Your Cat to Hug

If you’re still completely lost on how to teach your cat to hug you, don’t worry! I have you covered. Just watch the video below and you should be good to go!

Key Things to Remember When Teaching Your Cat to Hug You

1. Be patient. It will take time for your cat to learn this trick so don’t get frustrated if your cat doesn’t get it right the first time. Exercise patience and it will pay off in the long run.
2. Have fun! Teaching your cat to hug you shouldn’t be a serious, no-nonsense affair. Just like when you’re hugging another human being, chances are you aren’t all serious while doing so. Chances are you’re doing it with a smile on your face and some joy in your heart. Do the same thing with your cat.
3. Follow all the steps provided. These steps are meant to make teaching your cat to hug as smooth and painless as possible. Just follow the steps provided and eventually you probably won’t get your cat to stop hugging you!

Final Thoughts on Teaching Your Cat to Hug

Have fun with your cat when you’re teaching it how to hug.

Use treats to your advantage.

Think of this as another opportunity to bond with your cat rather than a chore around the house that you’d rather not do.

Enjoy yourself and don’t take it too seriously.

Cats need to be nurtured and loved and hugging them and vice versa is a great way to show them how nurtured and loved they are.

Hugs are a great way to show affection and if you can get your cat to do that, the payoff will be tenfold.

Another fun way to get your cat to show affection is to teach your cat to give you a kiss.