Charge the clicker, click every step your cat takes toward you, then add the word. Short sessions, tiny treats, a slightly hungry cat.
In this guide
Click, treat, repeat: teach come in three steps
Your cat knows its name. It just doesn't think you're worth the walk. A clicker fixes that: one clean click tells your cat exactly which step earned the treat. Charge it, click each step toward you, then add the word. Short sessions, tiny treats, a slightly hungry cat.
The one thing not to do: use "come" to end the fun or to start something your cat hates. The word has to keep meaning good news.
What you need
A clicker. The Pet Training Clicker is our pick.
Tiny soft treats your cat loves, smaller than a pea.
A quiet room and a few minutes before mealtime.
Optional: A target stick for step 2 (below).
Step 1: Charge the clicker
Click, treat, ten times in a quiet room, with no cue and no asking for anything. The Pet Training Clicker is built for this moment: the wrist strap keeps it on you with both hands full of treats, the easy-press button lets the click land on time, and the one distinct click is the only sound your cat has to learn. After ten rounds, the click means a treat is coming.
Click, treat, ten times in a quiet room, with no cue and no asking for anything.
The catch: timing is the skill. Click the instant your cat does the thing, then treat. Noise-sensitive cat? Muffle the click in a pocket at first.
Step 2: Reward every step toward you
Sit a few feet away and wait for your cat to look at you. Click, then treat.
Wait for a step toward you. Click, treat.
Click only for steps that bring your cat closer, until it walks all the way over.
Want to guide the walk instead of waiting for it? The Target Stick + Clicker Training Kit has a telescoping wand to lead your cat and a built-in clicker to mark the moment, so one tool does both. More gear lives in our cat training and behavior aid picks.
Step 3: Add the word and the distance
Say "come" once, as your cat is already walking to you. Click and treat when it arrives.
Add one step of distance each session, then move to the next room.
Call from across the room only when the short version works every time.
Keep sessions to a few minutes and end while your cat still wants more.
Treat or toy: pick the reward
Treats work for fast reps. For a jackpot after a great recall, finish with a round of wand play. Our cat interactive toy picks have the wands. Offer the toy once your cat has come all the way, and keep the treats for the reps.
