The Ultimate Guide: Practical Tips for Training Your British Shorthair Cat

Short answer: train a British Shorthair with short, calm, reward-based sessions. Purina describes the breed as easygoing and affectionate, and Your Cat calls it calm and intelligent, which suits gentle training. Use small food rewards, a clicker or a marker word, and keep sessions to a few minutes. Never punish: it damages trust and does not teach a cat what to do instead.

What to expect from the breed

Purina says the British Shorthair is not typically a lap cat, dislikes being carried and tends to follow its people around the house. Your Cat adds that the breed is intelligent and quiet. In practice this means a cat that is usually happy to work for food and attention, but may not enjoy being forced or handled against its will. Let your cat choose to take part, and end a session while it is still interested. For more on temperament, see our British Shorthair guide.

The tools you need

• Small, soft treats, or a few pieces of your cat's daily kibble. Count them in the daily portion, because this breed gains weight easily; see our diet guide.
• A marker, either a clicker or a short word such as "yes", said at the exact moment your cat does the right thing, followed by a treat.
• A target stick, or the end of a spoon or pen, for guiding your cat.
• A quiet room with no other pets, before dinner when your cat is a little hungry.

Step by step: your first lesson

1. Charge the marker. Click or say "yes", then give a treat. Repeat about ten times, so your cat learns that the sound means a reward is coming.
2. Introduce the target. Hold the target stick near your cat's nose. When your cat sniffs or touches it, mark and reward.
3. Move it. Place the target a little farther away so your cat takes a step to touch it. Mark and reward each success.
4. Add a cue. Once your cat touches the target reliably, add a word such as "touch" just before presenting it.
5. End on a win. Stop after two to five minutes, while your cat still wants more.

The Toronto Humane Society's trick-training guide for cats describes this kind of clicker and target training in detail.

Useful things to teach

• Come when called. Pair your cat's name or a special sound with a treat, first at close range, then from other rooms.
• Go into the carrier. Use the target to guide your cat in and reward calmly. This makes vet visits easier; see our check-up guide.
• Accept nail trims and brushing. Touch a paw or the brush, reward, and build up slowly; see our guide to trimming claws at home.
• Use the scratching post. Reward your cat each time it scratches the right item; see why cats scratch furniture.

Managing unwanted behaviour

Instead of punishing, remove the cause and offer an alternative. If your cat jumps on counters, reward it for staying on a perch. If it bites in play, stop the game and offer a toy; our guide to play biting explains how. A sudden change in behaviour, including house soiling, can signal a medical problem, so see your vet first; our litter box guide covers this.

Common mistakes

• Long sessions that bore or tire your cat.
• Marking late, so the reward is linked to the wrong action.
• Using shouting, spraying or punishment.
• Training a cat that is stressed, ill or has just eaten.
• Giving too many treats and ignoring the daily calories.

Quick checklist

• Short, calm sessions with food rewards.
• A marker plus a target.
• Let the cat choose; end while it is still keen.
• Count treats in daily food.
• This is general information, not veterinary or behaviourist advice.

Keep reading

• 7 creative ways to keep your British Shorthair entertained
• The best diet for British Shorthairs
• British Shorthair cat guide
• Indoor cat enrichment
• How to introduce a new cat to your home
• Why is my cat meowing at night?

Sources

• Purina: British Shorthair cat breed profile
• Your Cat: British Shorthair cat breed information
• Toronto Humane Society: Trick training your cat