The Lazy Cat Owner's Guide to Cat Training: Maximum Results, Minimum Effort

This article was written in collaboration with Rover, and approved by Lemonade’s favorite Vet Dr. Stephanie Liff. 

Let’s be honest: most cat owners don’t have hours to dedicate to elaborate training sessions. Here’s the good news: you don’t need to transform into a cat behaviorist to see real results. Smart cat training is about working with your cat’s natural instincts and setting up your environment so good behavior becomes second nature.

Ready to train smarter, not harder? Let’s dive in.

What can you actually train a cat to do?

Forget the myth that cats can’t be trained. While they won’t fetch your slippers like dogs, cats learn plenty of useful behaviors that make life easier for everyone.

High-success training goals for beginners:

• Using the scratching post instead of your couch
• Coming when called (yes, really)
• Basic commands like “sit” and “high five”
• Proper litter box habits
• Staying off counters during mealtime
• Tolerating nail trims and handling

Not for beginners:

Walking through hoops on command, complex tricks requiring sustained attention, or anything that goes against their core cat behavior. Adult cats especially stick to what feels natural to them, and elaborate tricks are going to take more time and effort to teach, and they will be less useful to helping you co-exist peacefully with your cat.

The secret? Work with your cat’s natural behaviors, not against them. If your cat likes attention, use that. If they’re food-motivated, perfect. If they just want to be left alone… well, we’ll work with that too.

Dr. Mikel Delgado, a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and Certified Cat Behavior Consultant on Rover’s Pet People Panel emphasizes the importance of understanding your individual cat:

“Every cat is motivated by different things, so it’s good to know your cat’s favorite treats or activities (such as a favorite toy or brush) before you start training. Success starts with knowing who your cat is and what they like best.”

– Dr. Mikel Delgado

Set up your space to do the training for you

This is where lazy cat training really shines. Instead of constant training sessions, set up your home so good behavior is the easiest choice your cat can make.

Environmental solutions that work:

Problem	Lazy Solution	Why It Works
Scratching furniture	Place scratching posts right next to targeted furniture. Sprinkle catnip on the post. Provide posts that are sturdy and a material your cat likes to scratch.	Cats want to scratch in prominent spots anyway, to give them a better option in the same location.
Litter box issues	One box per cat plus one extra, in quiet spots. Use a sandy, unscented litter, and keep boxes clean.	Most litter box behavior problems disappear when cats have convenient, clean options.
Counter surfing	Remove all food and interesting items. Create designated feeding stations and acceptable elevated spots (cat trees or shelves) for your cat to hang out on instead.	Remove the temptation rather than fighting it. Cats naturally love to be up high and will appreciate it if you provide them with “legal” climbing options.

Tools that do the work for you:

Smart cat owners invest in a few key tools that make training almost automatic. These aren’t expensive gadgets, just simple items that encourage good behavior without constant supervision.

• Puzzle feeders: Turn mealtime into mental stimulation while slowing down fast eaters. Food-motivated cats stay engaged longer when they have to “hunt” for their meals.
• Automatic feeders: Scheduled feeding removes the association between you and food, reducing demanding meowing and food-related unwanted behavior.
• Cat trees in strategic locations: Position them near windows or problem areas to give your cat acceptable ways to climb, scratch, and survey their territory.
• High-value cat treats: Keep small treats in multiple locations so you can reward good behavior the moment it happens.

The goal is creating an environment where good choices are easy and automatic, so you’re not constantly managing your cat’s behavior.

“Cats have natural instincts that we can take advantage of when setting up their environment. All cats have a need to climb, scratch, and eliminate in a clean, safe area. There’s really no work or training needed to establish and maintain these good behaviors when you provide them with good outlets for these instincts.”

– Dr. Mikel Delgado

Quick training that fits your life

When you do need hands-on training, keep it ridiculously short and work with your cat’s existing schedule.

The 5-minute training sessions:

• Clicker training basics: A clicker marks the exact moment your cat does something right. Click, then immediately give a cat treat. The click sound helps cats learn faster because the timing is so precise.
• Teaching “sit”: Hold a treat above your cat’s head. As their head tilts up, their bottom naturally goes down. The second they sit, click and treat. Most cats pick this up in 2-3 sessions of five minutes each.
• Teaching “high five”: When your cat reaches for a treat, gently touch their paw and say “high five.” Click and treat. Eventually, they’ll lift their paw when you hold out your hand.
• Target stick training: Use a chopstick or target stick to guide your cat to specific spots. Touch the stick to their nose, click when they sniff it, then treat. This becomes the foundation for teaching them to go places or come when called.

Build training into daily routines:

• Mealtime training: Use wet food time to practice basic commands. Before setting down the food bowl, ask for a “sit” or wait for eye contact. Your cat learns that good manners = dinner faster.
• Playtime boundaries: During your cat’s natural hunting hours (dawn and dusk), redirect their energy toward appropriate toys instead of your ankles. Keep toys in strategic spots for quick engagement.
• Bedtime routines: If your cat likes to join you in bed, establish a simple hand signal that means “up” so they wait for permission.
• Door manners: Use “sit and wait” when opening doors. Your cat wants outside (or inside), so they’re motivated to learn what gets the door to open.

The key is working with your cat’s natural attention spans. Most cats max out at 3-5 minutes of focused training, so embrace the brevity. Working with existing routines means your cat learns during activities they already enjoy. Dr. Delgado notes that this time constraint is actually an advantage:

“Luckily, most cats prefer training sessions that are short! They have small stomachs and after a few treats, they may have less motivation. Keep your training focused, fun, and frequent, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how quickly your cat learns what you would like them to do!”

-Dr. Mikel Delgado 

Solving real problems for every cat

Let’s tackle the most annoying cat behaviors with minimal-effort solutions, plus special considerations for different types of cats.

Common issues (fixed the easy way):

• Excessive meowing: Stop responding to attention-seeking meowing. Turn away, don’t make eye contact, and only give attention when your cat is quiet.
• Scratching furniture: Place scratching posts directly in front of targeted furniture. Use double-sided tape temporarily while your cat discovers the better option.
• Counter surfing: Remove all food sources and provide an acceptable high perch (like a cat tree) where they can survey their territory.
• Struggling during nail trims: Start by just touching paws during calm moments. Feed treats while handling feet. Do just one or two nails per session instead of fighting through all of them.

Special considerations:

Older cats: Don’t believe the myth that adult cats can’t learn new behaviors. They’re just more set in routines. Make changes gradually, as an older cat who’s always scratched the couch might need the scratching post in the exact same spot for weeks before you can move it.

New cats: Whether kitten or adult rescue, the first few weeks are golden for establishing habits. New cats are already adapting to everything, so simple routines feel natural. Focus on litter box placement, scratching post positioning, and basic handling during this adjustment period.

The pattern here? Address the underlying need (attention, territory, comfort) rather than fighting the behavior directly, and Dr. Delgado emphasizes this compassionate approach:

“There are no bad cats. But even good cats can show behaviors that humans find annoying or undesirable. However, most of these behaviors serve a function for the cat, such as getting them attention, or reducing boredom. If you instead meet your cats needs and provide them with a healthy and stimulating environment, those unwanted behaviors are much less likely to happen.”

-Dr. Mikel Delgado

Training can only get you so far…

Even cats who’ve mastered every basic command and follow all your house rules can still find themselves in dangerous situations. And when they do, vet bills can be stressful and put an unexpected drain on your wallet. Luckily for responsible cat owners, Lemonade pet insurance can help take a bite out of vet bills for those unexpected emergencies.

Lemonade’s pet insurance provides coverage for diagnostics, treatments, and medications for any eligible injuries your furry friend might sustain, whether they ignored your careful training or got hurt despite being perfectly well-behaved. You can even customize your policy to get coverage for things like visit fees and behavioral therapy sessions.

If your cat gets injured despite your best cat training efforts, just head to any state-licensed vet for the diagnostics, treatments, and meds they need to recover. Filing a claim with Lemonade couldn’t be easier. Just open the Lemonade app, upload the vet invoice or receipt, and include your pet’s medical records or notes from the visit. If your claim’s approved, the reimbursement goes straight to your bank account. Even better? About 50% of Lemonade pet claims are processed instantly, and 80% are resolved within just five days.

So whether your well-trained tabby gets into a fight with another cat despite perfect socialization, or your obedient indoor cat escapes and gets injured exploring the great outdoors, we’ve got you covered.

The bottom line on lazy cat training

The smartest cat owners aren’t the ones spending hours on elaborate training techniques, they’re the ones who set up their homes so good behavior happens naturally. A well-trained cat isn’t one who knows tons of tricks. It’s one who lives peacefully in your home, uses their scratching post, and doesn’t stress you out daily. That’s completely achievable without becoming a cat training expert.

And while you’re setting up your cat for success, consider protecting them from unexpected vet bills. After all, the best cat training in the world works even better when you know you’re prepared for whatever comes next.

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A few quick words, because we <3 our lawyers: This post is general in nature, and any statement in it doesn’t alter the terms, conditions, exclusions, or limitations of policies issued by Lemonade, which differ according to your state of residence. You’re encouraged to discuss your specific circumstances with your own professional advisors. The purpose of this post is merely to provide you with info and insights you can use to make such discussions more productive! Naturally, all comments by, or references to, third parties represent their own views, and Lemonade assumes no responsibility for them. Coverage and discounts may not be available in all states.