How-to: Training your cat to use the Cat Exercise Wheel

[@adelaideoldphart]

I bought a One Fast Cat wheel when my Siamese was a large kitten. I did the initial training and then I left him to decide to use it and for a while it looked like I'd done my money but after a fortnight, he began to use it and hasn't looked back. That was 8 years ago. He uses it every day, walking, trotting, full blown gallops. There are even times when you'll see him walking and clearly thinking something over. I'll wake up at night to the sound of it. Best money I ever spent. When I got my new Siamese kitten this time last year, I decided not to train her - it was his 'special place' and I didn't want to take that from him. Eventually she just climbed in the wheel and started running, she'd obviously been watching him and studying the technique. Now they both use it, running, walking, galloping complete with Siamese mrows of pleasure. I haven't had them run together, usually when that's attempted one heads one way and one the other, clearly not a recipe for success. Great product.

[@onefastcat_official]

This is truly amazing 🥹 It's so interesting when we hear about cats learning how to use the wheel mainly from watching another cat use it! 😸

[@Ciesiam]

I smile every time ours is on it. It reminds me of the pitter patter of little feet when my daughter was little.

[@onefastcat_official]

We're so glad the cat wheel has brought back happy memories for you! 🥹

[@unclesmrgol]

My cat wheel arrived but it came without the two cats, the wand, and the treats. When can I expect them?

[@marblesrichard]

Lol

[@JouJouOuiOui]

😂😂 funny

[@onefastcat_official]

"cats, wand, and treats not included"😹😹

[@unclesmrgol]

@@onefastcat_official Darn. Well, I guess I now have to get a cat or two to go with the wheel. And a wand. And some treats...

[@siusaidhchaimbeul5499]

You need to contact the Ministry of Cat Allo-cat-ion.

[@charlysimone8999]

Really nice helpful video! Thank you! Plus gorgeous kitties. My wheel is on the way. Thought of buying it for years.. ❤

[@onefastcat_official]

Amazing! We hope your cat loves the wheel 💚 Feel free to reach out to us for more help or any questions.

[@RetroCanuckJunkie]

Wow❣ Are those hamsters 🐹 ever huge!!!😍

[@sixpackyoung9698]

Where can I get those cat tower, its clean, simple and modern. Please send me a link. Thank you.

[@MetalAsFork]

0:54 "WYM I'm not treat-driven? GIMME"

[@onefastcat_official]

😹

[@DavidErickson-s6f]

So, that's great. But, what about Drogo and the toy driven cats? Any chance there's another half of that video yet to be found?

[@onefastcat_official]

The toy-driven cats will learn best using their favorite toy or a laser pointer! We recommend doing it at least 5-10 minutes a day. It may take some cats a few weeks to use it independently.

[@masaokun1]

​@@onefastcat_official How do you reward a toy driven cat, though? Or is that not necessary for them?

[@eppie83]

I have two one year old Bengal brothers they were on it as so as I got it put together. Now, to train my old girls who want nothing to do with the wheel or exercise in general.

[@onefastcat_official]

While not all cats will take to the wheel, many can get used to it with consistent training. As little as 5-10 minutes a day can help! Feel free to reference this video any time you're training or reach out to us with any questions you may have.

[@laroqsoqs9567]

Hello. There's no tutorial for toy driven cats? Ive been attempting this with treats and we're up to comfort with the wheel, and taking a few steps forward, even had him walking for a good 5-10 seconds one day. but after a few weeks of this we sort of platued. Now he becomes disinterested after getting the first treat. So im guessing he is toy driven. Are there any details that would differentiate the two?

[@wtfschmuck]

My wheel seems to be more... sensitive? Rolly? So when my cat stops moving in one direction it rotates back and forth very fast and he does not like it at all. Even getting on and off it's unstable. Any tips on how we can adjust it to not do that?

[@onefastcat_official]

Of course! You can create some resistance by tightening the rollerblade wheels. Use an allen key tool on each wheel and rotate clockwise.

[@wtfschmuck]

@@onefastcat_official thanks! I'm sure once we make the adjustments he's gonna love it!

[@DragonRocnik]

I have senior mixed breed cats and I have tried both their favorite treats and toys and It's already been a week and they have not yet run on the cat wheel on their own with me putting Inbara Churus on the wheel. Do you kind folks happen to have any tips on helping with getting them to run on the wheel on their own?

[@DragonRocnik]

I do have a overweight cat that has issues with chronic UTIs and I got the wheel to help her to lose weight so she can pee better and get less UTIs do to her losing weight on the wheel. Also I got the wheel to let them be able to get their zoomies out too as I have a smaller apartment and I would like to help them be crazy happy kitties when I wake up in the morning as that's when both of my cats got their first zoomies of the day!

[@onefastcat_official]

@@DragonRocnik Hi! Some cats especially less active ones may need a few weeks to fully grow comfortable with the wheel. We recommend continuing training with treats and using less amount every time until you can transition to a toy, laser pointer, catnip spray, or simply positive reinforcement. Anything as simple as 10 minutes a day will work.

[@Aquarius444K]

I need help figuring out how to phase out treats as motivation because it's the only time my cat will use the wheel. She does not touch it otherwise. Any advice? Should I pair a clicker with it and then fade the treat and just reinforce with the clicker? She needs exercise so it's not ideal if she'll only do it for churrus lol.

[@onefastcat_official]

Hi there! You can try the clicker if it's something you've used before or you can gradually offer less treats or offer a treat only once they've walked more steps every time. Trying other training methods such as laser pointers and toys can also help!

[@Aquarius444K]

@@onefastcat_official thank you for replying! She is not toy motivated at all and even with the churu if I make her go longer sometimes she’ll just sit and give up 🤣 but she does know the clicker as I taught her her name and how to sit with it! I’ve also started giving her treats when she does even a little bit of walking independently without prompting. Thank you!!!

[@Aquarius444K]

Without promoting or treat incentive*

[@shawndayvis6169]

OMG...AND THE OTHER ONE IS TOY DRIVEN ....this is hilarious

[@deemadamx]

Any suggestion if your cats are "completely unmotivated"? Lol They watch the treat or toy but won't follow it on the wheel at all?

[@onefastcat_official]

Is your cat scared of the wheel or simply unmotivated?

[@deemadamx]

@onefastcat_official unmotivated. They'll mainly sit or lay on it after I get them on it. Maybe a step or two, but then sit/lay down.

[@deemadamx]

​@onefastcat_official Nevermind!!! I just needed the *Right* toy for one, and to heat up the chicken pieces for the other!!! 🎉🎉🎉

[@onefastcat_official]

@@deemadamx That's great to hear! Trying different training methods and toys/treats is very important 😸

[@TwistedClover253]

Yeah I don't know why nobody has said anything about this but try a red dot pointer every cat goes crazy over those. That is exactly what I'm going to use when mine comes

[@JouJouOuiOui]

Both cats were interested in the treat 😂

[@onefastcat_official]

Some cats are both treat and toy motivated! 🐾

[@carriec3623]

Great platforms too! Please share where you found this :)

[@onefastcat_official]

Unfortunately, we don't have the platform details, but we'll share your interest with our team for future product considerations!

[@TwistedClover253]

Umm I'm going to get one of those for my cat but I thought you would just use what every cat goes crazy over and will always get a cat to follow is a red dot pointer. Has anyone ever thought of using one of them?

[@onefastcat_official]

Yes, using a laser pointer is a great way to train your cat!

[@JC-td4gg]

Can small dogs use these?

[@onefastcat_official]

Yes! Dogs that don't exceed the maximum weight limit of 22lbs can use the wheel 😸

[@JC-td4gg]

@@onefastcat_official I will stick with a treadmill for safety.

[@laurieriley6193]

So cute I’m going to order a cat Will, but I’m not sure either of my tabby cats will use it. I’m hoping I don’t see your REAL listed here or the cat treats. ??? What cat treats do u use?

[@onefastcat_official]

Hi there! If you're interested in a cat wheel but not sure if your cats will use it, check out our cat furniture quiz here: onefastcat.com/pages/cat-furniture-quiz. This quiz will give you the best recommendation based on your cat's personality and behaviors😸Treats vary depending on each cat's preference, but our office cat Cleo loves Churu!

[@ratboy-nu7mv]

trying to train my kitty to use the wheel i bought her so shes no understimulated. shes more treat driven but she getd scared when it moves! i just have to be patient

[@onefastcat_official]

Patience is very important! Don't forget the positive reinforcement as well 🙌

[@TheHighPriestessStudio]

That’s a nice cat wheel where did you get it from?

[@onefastcat_official]

It's a One Fast Cat Exercise Wheel! You can find it on our site here: onefastcat.com/products/cat-wheel

[@mac1462]

Where did you get your wheel it looks big and solid

[@onefastcat_official]

Shop on our site! - onefastcat.com/products/cat-wheel

[@cynthiapowers3469]

Hi thanks for the tips. I got a cat wheel for Xmas for my cat Sampson and he's very treat ,dangly toys and lasor driven ..I put it together 2 days ago and he watched me with curiosity. I did get him to sit on it at first and then we play with the toys on it getting them to chase his little feather toy ,but when he sees the laser light He's just running back and forth through the apartment jumping up the door How many sees it on the wheel He's like looking everywhere else like I'm ready to run let's go and he gets off the wheel so I'm going to try to treat thing today I did get him to do a couple of spins on it and tried spinning it slowly while he's on it., So he definitely knows that it moves I'm going to hopefully get him going within a couple of weeks spending 15 to 20 minutes a day or whenever I walk through the living room to get them to be on it.

[@onefastcat_official]

Yes, we recommend trying different training methods and training at least once a day to help get them used to it. Eventually, they will learn to use it on their own! 🐾

[@Kelly-dm4oq]

I have a 6mo old tabby who is very play motivated. I got one of these a week ago, put some catnip on it and left it alone for a day which she instantly showed curiosity to and got used to getting on and off it, then the next day I used a laser pointer to and kept making her chase it to the wheel and on it, after a few days she got used to it moving as she walked. Now just a week later she is using it on her own! I wish I got one of these when my older cat was a kitten, maybe he wouldn't be so fat now, lol.

[@onefastcat_official]

Thank you for sharing your cat's success story with the wheel!😸

[@shebawilliams]

I USED A LAZER!

[@SAVINGFURBABIES]

So, where is the demonstration using play/toy motivated cats, not treat motivated??

[@onefastcat_official]

We're sorry about that. Toy-driven cats will typically like chasing toys. You can let them catch it once they've taken a few steps. With time you may increase the duration from when you allow them to catch the toy. This will help them take to the wheel a lot easier!

[@trickbroadway]

My cats are not pleased one bit. None of this works for me. It's a huge paper weight. I call it "One Fat Cat"

[@onefastcat_official]

We're sorry to hear this! Are your cats scared of the wheel or simply uninterested?

[@kathyjohnson1911]

😂

[@octogirl2046]

I’ll take it:)

[@holographictopiary]

How long were you trying to train your cat? Sounds like you gave up fast. No wonder your cat is in poor health.

[@elliwildbird]

It took a year for my cautious cat to catch on,they needed 24/7 access, bc they run most at night. The 2nd learned from the first. The first was pretty quick to figure it out. He was a stray 6 months, but my other was indoor only. I think the one who lived outside wanted to run fast bc he had as a kid. I rewarded with much praise, I used treats with the 2nd. When she was wary I left it alone and she decided when she felt interested and brave I also think she was jealous of the attention he got for doing it. He became territorial when she started using it. I had to be pack leader and guide appropriate behavior to him.

[@andrewtinawy2762]

It didn’t show how to use the toy to train them

[@onefastcat_official]

Toy training is very similar to treat training. Guide them forward using the toy and every few steps you can allow them to catch it. Repeat this process and continue to increase their step count before they can catch the toy.

[@charliebarcellona6636]

So let me see if I've got this right... I get a cat treadmill so he can lose weight, but I have to give him food to make him use it? Sounds self defeating!

[@onefastcat_official]

It's only to get them trained but once they learn how to use it (or some cats may not even need any training) they'll walk/run without treats. Plus, you shouldn't give them too much food during training and keep the sessions to a max of 5-10 min. You may also try using toys, catnip, or laser pointers to train them.

[@shawndayvis6169]

HE IS TOTALLY A TREAT CAT.....LMAO

[@ItsaCatsLife]

OMG, that's whistling music is so damned irritating. Why do you think we need to hear that when you want viewers to pay attention your training advice?

[@onefastcat_official]

We're very sorry about this. We appreciate your feedback. We will keep this in mind when we put together our updated training video. 💚

[@stardust7176]

This only works because these are bengals. I have European shorthairs and they are affraid of it. Treats don't work

[@onefastcat_official]

While Bengals are one of the most common breeds to use the wheel we see many different breeds use them as well! If your cat is afraid of the wheel we recommend placing it on its side on the floor for a few days. This will help them get familiarized without the added motion. Once they aren't scared you can begin training using their favorite treat or toy!

[@melindaburch4318]

Annoying music.

[@onefastcat_official]

We're sorry to hear that. We'll be sure to make a note of that for future videos!

[@dquinn8344]

50 years ago she'd be teaching her baby how to walk and talk...