Has anyone else ever had a cat they could train?

Hi there...absolutely! Both my housecats not only understand obedience commands (come, sit, down, etc) but are also toilet trained, can flush the toilet, go to wherever I point, follow a target anywhere, jump through hoops, roll over, fetch, take apart a 3-D layered puzzle, wave, give a high-five, raise a paw to ask for a donation while standing on their tippy-toes, open doors, fetch, do agility (like dog agility), walk on a leash in public and so much more. They understand both visual and verbal cues/signals as well and learn most new behaviours quite quickly within a matter of days and for the more complex behaviours such as balancing and walking on a basketball in a month. Here's a video of someone who has taught her house cat a couple handful of tricks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pcoYqlAjRk

My house cats are my more than willing test subjects as I have to train exotic cats advance behaviours for medical procedures.

Cats CAN be trained, you just have to be more patient with them - but they are by NO MEANS stupid!

I have a cat that also fetches. He likes to fetch plastic easter egg halves.

I have another one that will "ask" for his treats! The same cat is also trained to walk outside with a halter and a leash. He LOVES to go out walking!

My 4 cats are my second set of "kids!" lol

They "think" that they are people! =)

Training a cat can be a lot easier than we think. In fact, most cats ARE trained, though mostly only to use the litter box. Still, that is a form of training...

The key is repetitive reinforcement. One of our cats, when we got her, loved to sit in your lap as soon as you sat down. This was fine, except for when you wanted to get up. I started training her by simply taping her on the lower back 3 times right before I stood up, unceremoniously dumping her to the ground. Pretty soon, she realized that that tapping meant she needed to get up and move. And that training has carried over to other areas, as well. Any time you need her to move, to get off a bed, or out of a chair, or whatever, 3 taps on her back will get her moving immediately.

Praise also works well with some cats... because I offer lots of praise and affection when they obey, both of our cats (almost always) come when I call them by name. If you tap on a surface, such as the couch next to you or the floor beside you, they'll come to that spot because they know that they'll be petted there.

Of course, training can be accidental as well. One of ours has trained herself really well to come running to the sound of a can being opened (the other just doesn't like wet food for some reason), and that too is a form of training. And both of our cats are trained to know that, after they sit through a claw trimming, they'll receive a treat.

Yea I taught my cat Sadie how to fetch she started to do it when she was about 8 wks old, and hasnt stopped..she is 3 now..she will bring me her toy then I throw it, it goes on for hours!!..She even taught my dog how to fetch..

I have a cat who fetches and begs. Cat's are not stupid, they're just independent. If they don't want to do something, or they think it makes them look silly, then they won't do it.

My white siamese mix learned to fetch and bring it back. I threw a small stuffed toy and she retrieved it and brought it back to me. I didnt spend any time training her. Cats are smart!

I have trained my cats as well. I can walk them on a leash and they understand a few commands as well.

I trained mine to do that too. Some cats just do that. Isn't it fun? I enjoy it alot. Mine will cry when it is 12 at night and past my bedtime. Also she will lead me to the garage if she is out of dry food. :] I love cats. They are genious.

My cat fetchs and she is eight months old.

lol, my cat does the same thing. Whoever said a cat couldn't be trained was lying.