How to teach your cat to jump hoops on a stand
Your cat jumps a standing hoop on cue, so you can run alongside instead of holding it.
- Difficulty
- Some practice
- Session
- 3 min
- To learn
- 6-12 sessions
You'll need
- clicker or a word like “yes”
- small soft treats
- target stick or wand toy
- hoop about 48 cm (19 in) across
- 2 cones, chair legs or a pvc frame
Why it matters
On a course the hoop stands on its own. ICAT uses 48 cm hoops fixed between two cones. Many cats find hoops harder than bars, so move slowly.
Before you start
Play with a wand toy, then train before a meal. Warm up with a hand target and one easy obstacle. Quiet room, doors closed, non-slip mats under obstacles.
Step by step
Fix the hoop low
Tie the hoop between two cones or chair legs with the bottom edge on the floor. Check it is steady.
Move on when: Hoop stands upright without you
Tip: Use loose ties so it can tip if clipped.
Walk through
Lead with the target through the standing hoop. Click as your cat passes through.
Move on when: Walks through 8 out of 10 tries
Tip: Work both directions.
Cue from the side
Stand beside the hoop, say "Over" or "Hoop" and point through. Treat on the far side.
Move on when: Goes through on cue 4 out of 5 times
Tip: "Over" works here too if you use it for bars.
Raise in small steps
Raise the hoop 5 cm at a time, up to elbow height for fit adults.
Move on when: Jumps through at each height 4 out of 5 times
Tip: Check the frame is still steady after every change.
Approach at speed
Start 2 m back and lead with the toy at a trot.
Move on when: Jumps through from a trot 4 out of 5 times
Tip: Keep the approach straight.
Hoop after a jump
Set one bar 2 m before the hoop. Lead over both.
Move on when: Bar then hoop, 4 out of 5 times
Tip: Mark after the hoop, not the bar.
The cue
- Say
- “Hoop”
- Hand signal
- Point through the centre of the hoop
If it isn't working
- Goes round the frame
- Lower the hoop to the floor, add side boards, and lead with the target held right through the hoop.
- Stops in front of the hoop
- It may not trust the frame: lower it, check it does not wobble, reward just looking through.
- Clips the hoop
- Lower it, use a bigger hoop, and keep the take-off area not slippery.
Safety
Safety- Kittens: jumps at elbow height until about a year. Seniors: floor level, vet first.
- Non-slip surfaces; no wobbly furniture; hoops on breakaway ties.
- Never push, pull or carry your cat over; make it easier instead.
Mastered when
Jumps a standing hoop at elbow height from a trot, on cue, both directions, 4 out of 5 times
Video check: Film a bar-then-hoop run, then the same back the other way
Variations
- Two hoops in a row
- Bubble jump: two hoops crossed
- Hoop at an angle on a curve
Teach this first
Learn next
Sources
- Agility obstacles (International Cat Agility Tournaments)
- Agility training for your cat (Cat Fanciers' Association)
- Agility for cats: a cat behavior consultant answers what, why and how (Pet Professional Guild)
Written from these sources and checked against vet and trainer guidance. General guidance, not veterinary advice.
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