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A white-haired grandmother in a green quilted vest gently holds the raised paw of a Siamese cat on a living room rug. 31 / 36

Everyone Told Grandma Edie You Can't Teach a Cat Tricks. Miso Disagreed.

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One chocolate-brown paw is resting in Grandma Edie's palm, and the look on her face says this is a very big deal. Miso sits on the patterned living room rug, one front leg lifted high, gazing up at Edie with bright blue eyes. Edie leans down in her pale green quilted vest and cream sweater, glasses perched low, smiling with quiet pride. The room behind them is comfortably messy, with a gray couch piled with throws, a coffee table holding a tissue box and a small leather case, a potted plant, slippers on the floor, and a basket of odds and ends.

Many people are surprised to learn that cats can be trained to do tricks, but they can, especially food-motivated or highly social cats like many Siamese. Clicker training and small treats work well. For a paw shake, you can hold a treat just above the cat's head so it lifts a paw naturally, then mark and reward the moment the paw comes up. Keep sessions very short, just a few minutes, and stop while the cat is still interested. Training can provide mental stimulation and strengthen the bond between cat and owner, and it is fun for people of any age.

Miso may decide tomorrow that she has never heard of a handshake in her life, because cats are like that. But today, on this rug, she offered her paw, and Edie will be telling people about it for weeks.

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A white-haired grandmother hand-sews a blue patchwork quilt while a Siamese cat sleeps curled on a pile of fabric.Grandma Edie's Quilt Was Almost Finished. The Fabric Pile Had Been Claimed.A white-haired grandmother waters petunias with a metal watering can while a fluffy Siamese cat sits on the path beside her.Grandma Edie Waters Her Petunias Every Evening. She Never Does It Alone.
A white-haired grandmother in a lawn chair watches the sunset while a Siamese cat lounges in the green chair beside her.Grandma Edie Set Out Two Lawn Chairs for the Sunset. The Other One Didn't Stay Empty.A smiling white-haired grandmother holds a Siamese cat up to a window, its paw pressed to the glass as snow falls outside.The First Snow Started Falling, and Grandma Edie Knew Miso Had to See ItA smiling white-haired grandmother on a garden bench holds a sandwich as two Siamese cats lean in to sniff it.Grandma Edie Packed One Sandwich for the Garden Bench. She Should Have Packed Three.A white-haired grandmother in a navy quilted vest sits wrapped in a quilt by a fireplace with a Siamese cat on her lap.Grandma Edie Grabbed Her Quilt for the Fire. Miso Found the Warmest Spot First.