Woman Teaches Orange Cat How To Open Door to His 'Playground'

Dogs learning tricks isn't anything new, but there's something special about a cat mastering them.

Footage, shared on TikTok by owner Vallencia (@vallenciadw), shows an orange cat named Haru sitting in front of a door while she demonstrates how the handle works. She then taps the handle and says, "Pull this down." In the next scene, Haru stands on his hind legs and attempts to complete the task but initially fails.

On his second attempt, however, he successfully opens the door, which leads to his "playground" in the attic. The clip has racked up over 20 million views.

Newsweek reached out to @vallenciadw for comment via TikTok.

According to the comments, Haru isn't the only feline capable of learning.

"People underestimate how smart cats are," said one comment, which received over 158,000 likes.

Another user shared: "I taught my cat in high school how to do this with doors and light switches. He would turn the light on at 3 a.m."

"My cat learned how to do this on his own, and now he comes barging into my room at 4 a.m., acting crazy," said a third commenter. A fourth joked: "I showed this to my cat. She said it's AI."

A stock image of an orange cat stretching up a door. A similar cat recently did the same but he was stretching to reach the door handle. Roman Paramonov/iStock/Getty Images Plus

How To Train Your Cat

During the video that has over 4 million likes, Haru didn't require much training. He was able to open the door after a few demonstrations. Zoetis Petcare, a company that provides products and services for pets, states that training may require more effort and has provided the following advice:

• Use your voice or a clicker combined with treats to reinforce good behavior.
• Click or say "yes" immediately when your cat performs the desired behavior.
• The sound serves as a "marker," identifying the exact moment the correct behavior occurs.
• The marker gives your cat a clear understanding of what you expect them to do.
• Choose a marker word that isn't used in other contexts, such as when offering praise.
• Follow the marker immediately with a treat to reinforce the behavior.
• To ensure effective marker training: Always pair the click or marker word with a treat and maintain consistency to build motivation and provide clear communication.

Benefits of Training Your Cat

The Zoetis Petcare website states training a cat through positive reinforcement methods offers many benefits, including:

• Strengthening Your Bond: Training enhances the connection between you and your cat.
• Mental Enrichment: This is especially helpful for high-energy cats, providing an outlet for their curiosity and drive.
• Reducing Boredom: Keeping your cat mentally engaged prevents unwanted behaviors like scratching furniture or rummaging through cabinets.
• Simplifying Care Routines: Training can make tasks like nail trimming or giving medications easier and less stressful for both of you.
• Managing Anxiety: Training can help reduce your cat's anxiety, especially in challenging or unfamiliar situations.
• Boosting Confidence: Learning new skills helps your cat feel more confident.
• Adapting Activities for Senior Cats: For older or less mobile cats, mental stimulation can serve as a substitute for physical activity

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.

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