How to teach your cat to say hello on cue
Capture your cat's natural meow or chirp, give it a cue, and get an answer when you ask.
- Difficulty
- Takes time
- Session
- 3 min
- To learn
- 15-30 sessions
You'll need
- soft verbal marker or clicker
- small soft treats
Why it matters
Cats meow mainly to talk to people. Capturing a soft meow gives you a fun talking trick and helps you notice how your cat communicates.
Before you start
Notice when your cat already meows, often before meals or when you come home. Train at those times.
Step by step
Catch the meow
At a time your cat usually meows, wait quietly. When it meows, mark and treat.
Move on when: Mark 5 natural meows
Tip: Stay still and quiet. Talking can drown out the meow you want.
Name it
Say "Hello?" just before you expect a meow, for example as you reach for the food. Mark the meow.
Move on when: Meows after the cue 5 out of 10 tries
Tip: Use a questioning, friendly tone.
Other times
Ask at other times of day, with a treat ready. Mark a meow.
Move on when: Meows on cue away from mealtimes 4 out of 10 tries
Tip: This is the hardest part. Be patient.
Stimulus control
Only reward meows that come after the cue. Ignore meows that come without the cue during sessions.
Move on when: Meows on cue 4 out of 5 times, not between cues
Tip: This stops the trick turning into nonstop meowing.
The cue
- Say
- “Hello?”
- Hand signal
- Raise your eyebrows and tilt your head
If it isn't working
- Meows all the time now
- Only mark cued meows, and end sessions with a clear 'all done' and a toy.
- Will not meow during training
- Go back to the times it already meows. A chirp or soft trill counts too.
- Yowls loudly
- Mark only softer sounds. Loud, repeated yowling can be a health sign in older cats; ask your vet.
Safety
Safety- A sudden voice change or night yowling can mean illness or pain: call your vet.
- Stop on a flicking tail, flattened ears, dilated pupils, lip licking or walking away.
- If your cat signals stress, stop and end on an easy win next time.
Mastered when
Meows on cue at 3 different times of day, 4 out of 5 times
Video check: Film a cued 'hello' and the meow
Variations
- Say hello to a guest
- Answer a question with a meow
- Chirp for 'yes'
Teach this first
Learn next
Sources
- Tips for clicker training your cat (Cats Protection)
- Click and laugh: fun cat tricks (Karen Pryor, clickertraining.com)
Written from these sources and checked against vet and trainer guidance. General guidance, not veterinary advice.
Lesson · 3 min
How to teach your cat to roll over
From a down, your cat follows a treat lure onto its side, over its back and onto the other side.
Lesson · 3 min
How to teach your cat to play dead
Your cat flops onto its side and stays until you release it, using roll over and stay.
Lesson · 3 min
How to teach your cat to jump through a hoop
Your cat goes through a hoop on the floor, then raised a little until it hops through.
