Best Training Clickers for Cats and Dogs: How to Choose and Our Top Picks

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A training clicker is one of the simplest tools you can buy for a pet, but the choice still matters. A cat that flinches at loud noises needs a different clicker than a Labrador working across a park. If you are looking for the best clicker for cat training, or one clicker that works for both your cat and your dog, this guide is for you.

Below you will find a quick answer, a comparison table, what to check before you buy, a closer look at each pick, and simple training steps. Product facts come from each maker’s listing.

Quick answer

For most cat owners starting out, the CAT SCHOOL Clicker Training Kit is the easiest place to begin, since it pairs a clicker the maker calls quieter with a target stick and an illustrated booklet. If you want to teach tricks and guide your pet around the room, the Terry Ryan Clik Stik puts a clicker and a telescoping target stick in one tool. Dog owners who train on walks should look at the Juome Clicker Training Kit, which adds a small treat pouch, while a budget-friendly multi-pack like the OYEFLY 4 Pack lets you keep a clicker in every room.

Quick picks

How to choose a training clicker

Every clicker makes one short sound that tells your pet “yes, that’s it.” The differences are in how that sound suits your pet and how the clicker suits you.

Sound level

This matters most for cats. Many cats, small dogs and timid pets startle at a sharp snap, so a clicker described as quieter is a safer first choice. Loud clickers and metal crickets carry well outdoors, which helps with dogs at a distance. You can soften any clicker by holding it in a pocket at first.

Button style

Push-button clickers take a light press and work in either hand. Cricket clickers usually need a firmer press, which can throw off your timing at first. A large button helps if you wear gloves or have stiff fingers.

Target stick or plain clicker

A target stick has a tip your pet learns to touch with its nose. You can then lead your pet onto a mat, through a hoop or into a carrier. It is especially handy for cats, since you can guide them without picking them up. For simple manners like sit, a plain clicker is enough.

How you carry it

Good timing depends on having the clicker in hand. A wrist strap, finger ring or clip means no hunting through pockets, and leaves your other hand free for treats or a leash.

Pack size

One clicker is fine for one pet and one trainer. Two to five make sense if several family members train or you want one in each room. Large packs suit classes and shelters.

Extras

Some kits add a booklet, a guide or a treat pouch. Written steps help first-timers avoid common mistakes, and a pouch gets the treat to your pet faster after the click.

The picks

CAT SCHOOL Clicker Training Kit with Target Stick and Guide

This kit is built around cats, unlike most clickers, which are sold mainly for dogs. It bundles a clicker, an extending target stick with its own built-in clicker, and an illustrated booklet. The maker says an animal behaviorist created the kit and describes the clicker as quieter than standard clickers, a useful point for noise-shy cats. Teach your cat to touch the yellow ball, then use it to guide your cat onto a mat or a chair.

Good to know:

• Target stick extends up to 18 inches, with a yellow ball on the tip and a clicker built in.
• The handheld clicker has a ring, so you can wear it on a finger or hang it on a keychain.
• Includes an illustrated booklet with step-by-step instructions.
• Everything stores in a drawstring bag.
• The maker offers a one-year return policy for defective items.

Best for: cat owners trying clicker training for the first time, especially with a sound-sensitive cat.

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Terry Ryan Clik Stik: Clicker and Telescoping Target Stick

Sold under the Karen Pryor Clicker Training brand and carrying trainer Terry Ryan’s name, the Clik Stik combines a clicker and a retractable target stick in one tool. Closed, it works as a plain clicker. Opened, it can guide a dog through a trick, lead a cat across the room or move a parrot between perches without reaching into its space.

Good to know:

• Telescopes from 6 inches closed to 23 inches fully extended.
• Can be used as a clicker when the rod is closed.
• Aluminum shaft, in purple.
• Includes Terry Ryan’s training guide.

Best for: trick training, agility groundwork and target work with dogs, cats or birds.

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Juome Dog Clicker Training Kit with Silicone Treat Pouch

The treat should follow the click within a moment or two. Juome’s kit helps by pairing a push-button clicker with a small zippered silicone treat pouch and a carabiner for your belt or bag. The pouch is small, so it suits short sessions with bite-size treats rather than long outings.

Good to know:

• Kit includes 1 silicone treat pouch, 1 training clicker and 1 carabiner.
• Pouch measures about 3.6 x 3.6 x 1 inches and has a zipper and a wrist strap.
• Silicone is listed as food grade, BPA free and dishwasher safe.
• The maker says the pouch can hold dry or wet food.
• The clicker is described as a simple push button with a loud click.

Best for: puppy and dog owners who train in short bursts on walks or in the yard.

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OYEFLY Pet Training Clicker with Wrist Strap (4 Pack)

OYEFLY’s set is a simple pack of four push-button clickers in four colors, each on an elastic band for your wrist or leash. Four clickers let you keep one wherever you train, or give one to each person in the house. The plastic body keeps them light.

Good to know:

• Four clickers, each a different color.
• Made of ABS plastic, according to the spec table.
• Push-button design with a distinct click.
• Elastic wrist band on each, which can also clip to a leash.
• The maker names dogs, cats, birds, chickens and sheep as suitable pets.

Best for: households with several pets or trainers who want spares on hand.

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Quacc Dog Training Clickers with Strap and Clasp (2 Pack)

Quacc’s water-drop clickers sit between your finger and thumb. The listing suggests wrapping the cord around your wrist and holding treats in the same palm, leaving your other hand free for signals. The compact size suits smaller hands.

Good to know:

• Two clickers: one black and one green.
• About 6 x 4 cm (2.4 x 1.6 inches) each.
• ABS body with a stainless steel ring piece.
• Large button, a wrist cord and a clip on each.
• No battery needed.

Best for: owners with smaller hands, and anyone who wants a light clicker for walks.

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Mythrojan Brass and Steel Cricket Clicker

This is an old-style metal cricket rather than a plastic button clicker. The maker says it is built to original U.S. Army specifications. A loud metal snap carries across a field, which helps with a dog working at a distance, but makes it a poor choice for nervous cats or sound-sensitive dogs.

Good to know:

• Solid brass and spring steel construction.
• The maker describes the click as loud.
• Lifetime guarantee, with warranty issues handled directly by Mythrojan.
• The listing does not mention a wrist strap.

Best for: confident dogs trained outdoors, and owners who keep cracking plastic clickers.

Check price on Amazon · Full details

Also worth a look

• Frienda Dog Training Clickers (18 Pack): 18 clickers in 14 colors, each with an elastic bracelet and keychain ring, a good fit for classes, shelters or big families.
• Translucent Dog Training Clickers (5 Pack): five see-through clickers with a stainless steel insert, made in the USA; the listing does not mention straps.
• Training Clicker with Wrist Strap (2 Pack): a lake blue and a white button clicker, each on a wrist strap, with a big button for easy pressing.
• How to Clicker Train Your Cat (book): a step-by-step guide built around lessons of about 15 minutes a day; no clicker is included, so pair it with one of the picks above.

How to start clicker training, step by step

The method is the same for cats and dogs, though cats often need even shorter sessions.

1. Pick a quiet spot and good treats. Use a calm room and tiny, soft treats your pet loves. Just before a meal often works well.
2. Charge the clicker. Click, then treat right away, 10 to 15 times in a row. Your pet does not need to do anything yet. When it perks up at the sound, it has made the link.
3. Choose one easy behavior. Start with something your pet already does, like sitting or touching a target held near its nose.
4. Click at the exact moment, then treat. Click once, the instant the behavior happens. Always follow a click with a treat, even a mistaken one.
5. Keep sessions short. A few minutes is plenty. Stop after a success, while your pet still wants more.
6. Add a cue. Once your pet offers the behavior reliably, say a word or give a hand signal just before it.
7. Build in small steps. For harder skills, click small pieces first, such as a lowered head on the way to a full “down.”
8. Fade the clicker. Once a skill is solid, reward it with praise and occasional treats and save the clicker for the next new skill.

A clicker is not a fix for aggression, fear, litter box problems or sudden behavior changes. For those, talk to your vet first, then a qualified trainer.

Safety tips

• Introduce the sound gently, muffled in a pocket at first, and watch your pet’s reaction.
• Never click right next to your pet’s ears.
• Use the clicker only to mark good behavior. Never use it to scold, interrupt or call your pet.
• Keep treats tiny and count them in your pet’s daily food.
• Put clickers and target sticks away after sessions so pets cannot chew them.
• Stop if your pet hides, flattens its ears or walks away. Try an easier step later.

FAQ

Can you really clicker train a cat?

Yes. Cats learn through rewards just like dogs. Use treats your cat truly wants, very short sessions and a clicker that is not too loud. Many cats learn to touch a target, sit or walk into a carrier.

What is the best clicker for cat training?

Look for a quieter clicker and, ideally, a target stick. The CAT SCHOOL kit covers both and adds written steps. For a longer reach, consider the Clik Stik.

How long does clicker training take?

It varies. Many pets link the click with a treat within a few short sessions. A simple behavior may take days of practice, and complex tricks can take weeks. Short, regular sessions work better than long ones.

Is a clicker too loud for my cat?

Some are. If your cat startles, muffle the clicker in a pocket, move farther away or switch to a quieter model.

Can I use the same clicker for my cat and my dog?

Yes. Train them in separate sessions or rooms so each pet knows which click is meant for it.

The right clicker is the one your pet is comfortable hearing and you find easy to hold at the right moment. For cats, start quiet and add a target stick. For dogs, choose by where you train and how many people help. If you are also teaching your dog to ask to go outside, the same reward-based steps work in our guide on how to teach your dog to use potty bells.

Emily Carter

I’m Emily Carter, a lifelong animal lover and proud pet parent. I started this blog to share my passion for pets through helpful tips and heartwarming stories. Join me as we explore the joys of pet ownership, including the magic of pet bells!