How do you get cats to use it?Updated 3 months ago
Training is key! Unlike mice, cats don’t have an instinctive urge to run on a wheel and aren’t likely to just hop on and go. Using treats or toys, you’ll want to slowly encourage your cat to approach the wheel, then get on it, and then start walking. You can check out our training video here.
It's important to note that training is almost always required for cats to use the wheel, sometimes even if they've used a wheel in the past. While high-energy or highly-curious cats may take to the wheel same day, in most cases you should expect to spend two weeks of daily training at minimum before your cat will use the wheel. Oftentimes it will take longer; older or more sedentary cats may need a month or even more of training.
Training sessions should be short (5-10 mins a time) and involve giving your cat lots of positive attention. Using a toy or treats and lots of praise, focus on these steps:
- Entice your cat to approach the wheel. If they're nervous, don't worry about getting them on the wheel. Just work on having them approach it until they can do it comfortably and with confidence.
- Have your cat step onto the wheel. If they shy away from it because it moves, hold the wheel in place with your hand and just have them sniff and explore the wheel while it is stationary.
- When they can comfortably stand or sit inside the wheel, encourage them to start moving on it. For more nervous cats, keep hold of the wheel and move it very slowly with your hand so that your cat has plenty of time to adjust their footing.
- At this point, high energy cats might start running on their own. For those cats that don't, continue working each day with toys or treats to have them go for short strolls or sprints multiple times throughout the day. If you can time these workouts around the time you feed your cat, this can help establish a pattern that they may continue to follow unconsciously.
Never force your cat on the wheel if they seem scared of it, or if they just don't want to go on it. That will create negative associations with the wheel that you might never be able to overcome.