How To Train Maine Coon To Play Fetch

These clever, doglike cats love learning new tricks, and fetch is one of the most popular skills for Maine Coon owners to teach their cats!

Teaching your cat to play fetch is a great way to strengthen your bond, whilst also exercising your cat’s body and mind.

Training A Maine Coon To Play Fetch

Begin training your Maine Coon to play fetch by throwing one of its favorite toys and saying “Fetch!” Your cat will not understand the command at first, but as you reward your cat for bringing the toy closer and closer to you, it will begin to understand the game. Use lots of positive reinforcement such as treats and praise.

These cats have always been popular for their enormous size, but they are even more treasured for their loving personalities and incredible intelligence.

Known as the dog of the cat world the Maine Coon is famous for their ability to learn all sorts of tricks, e.g. fetch.

Benefits Of Teaching Your Cat Tricks

Below are the key benefits of teaching a Maine Coon cat simple tricks:

Deepen Your Bond

Cat training is good for both the cat and its owner. Your cat will learn to trust you more as you provide treats and positive reinforcement.

In addition, you will learn more about your cat’s unique behavior and personality as you overcome the many challenges that come with training.

Provide Exercise

Maine Coons are very active, and if they do not get enough playtime or exercise, they might begin zooming around the house at dusk and dawn to let off some of their pent-up energy.

Fetch is a great game that requires lots of running and chasing, and it is sure to tire out even the most active of Maine Coons!

Mental Stimulation

Maine Coons are one of the most clever and active cat breeds out there.

They are incredible hunters and climbers, and they like to engage in activities that make them think.

If your Maine Coon does not have enough stimulating and puzzling toys, it may feel bored, restless, and even destructive.

Teaching your cat different tricks is the perfect boredom buster for Maine Coons.

Step By Step Guide

If you think that your Maine Coon could benefit from training, then here is an in-depth guide to teaching your Maine Coon to fetch:

Step 1: Clicker Training (Optional)

Clicker training is not necessary for teaching a cat to play fetch but is useful if you plan on teaching your Maine Coon lots of tricks. Clickers are cheap, typically less than $5, and you’ll find them online or in just about any pet store.

Before teaching your Maine Coon to fetch, teach them to associate the clicker with positive stimuli. Click the button, then give your cat praise, and provide a treat. Continue doing this until your cat turns expectantly at the sound of the clicker.

Over time, gradually replace treats with pets or praise, until your cat learns to respond to commands without expecting a treat every time.

If you do choose to clicker train your Maine Coon, make sure your cat associates the clicker with treats and praise before moving on to the next step.

Step 2: Find The Right Time And Location

Training is a two-way street – just because you are in the mood to play fetch does not mean your Maine Coon will be!

If you want to teach your cat to fetch, wait until your cat seems active and playful. Your Maine Coon certainly will not appreciate being woken up from a nap for a training session!

Alternatively, if you are teaching your cat commands such as sit or stay, it might be best to wait until they are calm, such as after a nap. A restless, playful cat will not want to learn how to sit!

Cats love routine, so if you can find a set time to practice every day, your cat will eventually anticipate training time, which can lead to more productive sessions.

Practice in a clean space without any distractions like toys, noise, or lots of people moving around.

If you can practice in the same spot each time, it will also help create structure and routine for your Maine Coon.

Step 3: Begin To Play

While most cats do not know to fetch right away, they do love to chase toys that have been thrown. So grab some treats, throw your cat’s favorite toy, and say “fetch!”

Since Maine Coons have strong hunting instincts, they tend to pick up their “prey” and carry it to a second location. If your cat brings the toy near you, press the clicker (if you are using one) and provide a treat and praise.

You should start with a wider radius at first, praising your cat if it brings the toy within a few feet of you, and gradually reduce the size as your cat gets the hang of it.

It may take a lot of tries before your cat brings the toy anywhere near you, but do not get frustrated! Your cat doesn’t know what you want but will learn through patience and repetitive patterns.

Always reward your cat for accomplishing the desired behavior, but never punish them or become angry if they do something wrong. Cats respond well to positive reinforcement, but become distrustful and confused by negative reinforcement.

Step 4: Keep It Short

While it may be tempting to stretch out your first training session until you feel you have made good progress, this can hurt progress in the long run. Cats do not have long attention spans and get bored and restless if a training session runs too long.

Five minutes at a time is a good place to start. It’s okay to cut a training session short if you or your cat are having an off day.

Step 5: Repeat!

The key to teaching your cat tricks is to practice consistently. You don’t have to practice every day if that doesn’t work for you, but at least aim for a few times a week. This will keep your cat sharp and interested.

Sporadic, infrequent training sessions will not lead to much progress, and it will only end up frustrating you and your cat.

Even practicing for a few minutes each day or every other day will make a huge difference.

Here are some top tips to help you become better at training your cat:

Reward Good Behavior, Don’t Punish Bad Behavior

Some cat owners use spray bottles or loud noises to punish bad behavior, but this only makes your cat distrustful and confused.

If you are training your cat to stop doing a certain behavior, such as jumping on the counters or knocking things off the table, responding with negative reinforcement will only make them more likely to continue that behavior!

Even negative attention is still attention, after all. Instead, ignore bad behavior and give your cat a lot of praise and treats for good behavior.

End On A Positive Note

If you are trying to teach your cat a new trick, but your cat isn’t getting it, you might be tempted to end the training session right there.

However, ending when your cat is frustrated and has not received any positive reinforcement will cause it to associate training with negative emotions.

Instead, go back to an old trick your cat has previously mastered, or lower your expectations, so you can finish off the training session with a treat and some pets.

Start Simple

Starting to train your cat is incredibly exciting, there are all sorts of cool things you can teach them! Still, keep in mind that cats can become overwhelmed if you expect too much from them.

Start by teaching one simple trick, such as fetch or sit, and only add tricks after your cat has mastered the first one!