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A smiling silver-haired woman holds the raised paw of a tortoiseshell cat on a patterned rug. 15 / 27

Grandma Taught Maple to Shake Paws and the Cat Played Along

AI imagetortoiseshell catshake pawscat training

Lamplight warms the living room as Grandma kneels on a patterned rug, her round glasses sliding down her nose and a delighted smile on her lips. She has Maple's front paw gently in her fingers, and the tortoiseshell cat sits upright with her whiskers forward and her green-gold eyes fixed on her friend. A sofa, a side table, and a potted plant fill the cozy room behind them. It looks like a very important handshake. The whole exchange is conducted in complete, serious silence.

Cats can learn tricks just like dogs, though they tend to do it on their own terms. Short sessions, tiny treats, and a calm voice work best, and it helps to wait for a moment when she is already alert and interested. Never force a paw or push a cat to do something she dislikes. Clicker training is a popular way to teach cats, and a patient owner can often get surprising results. Training also gives an indoor cat welcome mental exercise.

Maple appears to have decided that this is worth her time. Whether or not a treat is involved, the handshake is firm and the eye contact is solid. Grandma beams. Cats do not take instruction lightly, so this is a real achievement and a true triumph.

A friendship like this is built from small moments.

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