Yes, training cats IS possible!  However, training cats is different than the type of training that we associate with dogs.  Dogs want to please us.  Cats want to please ... themselves!  In other words, cats are trainable to behaviors for which they are rewarded.

Positive Reinforcement

We all like to be praised rather than punished. The same is true for your cat, and that's the theory behind positive reinforcement.  Positive reinforcement means giving your cat something pleasant or rewarding immediately after she does something you want her to do. Because your praise or reward makes her more likely to repeat that behavior in the future, it is one of your most powerful tools for shaping or changing your cat's behavior. It's more effective to teach your cat what she should do than try to teach her what she shouldn't.

Clicker Training

Clicker training is one method that provides a reward for a given behavior.  The clicker sound is unique and constant, and helps the cat associate its behavior with a reward that

follows.  Remember that the clicker is used only to reinforce good behavior and never when the cat is doing something wrong.

Step 1

• Find a food reward that your cat will work for.
• Find a clicker that he is not afraid of. There are commercial clickers found at your local pet store, but you can use anything that makes a clicking sound.
  

Step 2

Associate the click with the treat. For this step it does not matter what the cat is doing.

• Click and hand the cat a bite-sized treat.
• Give the reward within a second of the click or the association won't readily be made.
• Do this 3 to 5 times a day for several days so the cat looks for his treat when he hears the click.
• Here, Dr. Noga gives Buddy a treat while clicking.

Step 3

Associate a behavior with the treat. Find a way to get the cat to do an approximate form of the behavior. 

• Wait for the behavior to happen; when it does, click and give a treat.
• Help the cat using a "lure." For example, use a treat to lure the cat into a sit, or lure him to a scratching post by putting catnip on the post. In each case, click and give a treat when the cat does some version of the desired behavior. 
• Dr. Noga trains Buddy to sit by holding the treat high and moving it back until he sits.

Step 4

Associate a hand movement or work with the desired behavior.

• Example: When teaching sit, say "Sit" when the cat is about to sit. Gradually say your cue earlier before the cat starts to sit.
• Once a cue is associated with a behavior, the clicker is no longer needed, but you should occasionally reward with a treat to keep your cat interested.
• Here, Dr. Noga trains Buddy to "touch" by holding the treat high.

For more information:

http://www.clickertraining.com/cattraining