Cup shell game for cats: how to play

A treat under one of three paper cups. Your cat sniffs and tips over the right one. Works nose and brain.

You'll need

Sit on the floor with your cat. Use treats with a good smell. A clicker or a soft 'yes' helps mark the right choice.

One cup only: put a treat on the floor and cover it while your cat watches. Let it knock the cup over. Praise.
Repeat until your cat knocks the cup over quickly every time.
Add a second cup, empty. Let your cat watch which cup gets the treat.
Add a third cup. Hide the treat while your cat watches, then slowly slide the cups once.
When it picks wrong, just lift the right cup and show it. Try again with an easier setup.
Expert level: hide the treat when your cat cannot see, so it must use its nose.

Sniffing each cup, confident paw tap on the right cup, staying for more rounds.

Repeated wrong guesses with your cat looking away or walking off. Finish with a one-cup win.

Written from these sources and checked against vet and trainer guidance. General guidance, not veterinary advice.

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