Maine Coon Cat Training | Train Your Coon Like a Dog

Maine Coon cat training can be a fun and rewarding experience for both cat owners and furry friends. Maine Coons are highly intelligent, which makes them super easy to coach to do funny and enjoyable things. They can be trained and coached like a dog.

Like any other cat, Maine Coons, the largest domesticated cat breed, can be trained to follow commands and learn tricks. They’re extremely fast learners and like to showcase their abilities. In order to learn more about Maine Coon Cat Training, you must read this article to the end.

Items you need for Maine Coon Training

You can get well-trained Maine Coon via adoption from a Maine Coon rescue centre or purchasing from a breeder that puts Maine Coon kittens for sale. They would still need a little bit of training.

Although Maine Coons are highly intelligent and social cats are known for being relatively easy to train cat tricks, it’s important to have the right tools and resources to ensure a successful training experience. Here is a list of items you’ll need for Maine Coon training:

Clicker

A clicker is a small device that makes a clicking sound when pressed. It serves as a clear, consistent signal for positive reinforcement, helping your Maine Coon understand when they’ve performed the desired behavior correctly.

Treats

A high-quality, tasty treat is essential for rewarding your Maine Coon during training. Overfeeding can put them in the race to become the biggest cat in the world instead of making them fit and playful. Choose healthy Maine Coon food options that your cat loves, and keep them in small quantities to avoid overfeeding.

Select anything your kitten believes is tuna or tasty, such as small chunks of poultry or cheese. Therefore it could be consumed rapidly. It should be anything gentle. You’ll require a 1/2 tsp of pea-sized snacks for that typical workout.

While fulfilling your kitten using the handle, put it on the saucer or little dish to maintain flooring and furniture clear. Pryor implies replacing snacks for 10 to 20% of one’s cat’s normal foods if you’re concerned about fat gain. Make sure to do regular workout sessions before meals. Therefore, it could be more thinking about the food benefits whenever your Maine Coon kitten is starving.

Toys

Interactive Maine Coon toys such as feather wands, laser pointers, or puzzle toys are great for engaging your Maine Coon’s natural hunting instincts during training sessions.

Harness and leash

A comfortable, well-fitted harness and leash will allow you to safely walk your Maine Coon outdoors and expose them to new experiences, aiding in its training.

Scratch post or pad

To teach your Maine Coon appropriate scratching behavior, provide a sturdy scratch post or pad. This will help prevent damage to furniture or carpets.

Litter box and litter

Training your Maine Coon to use a litter box is crucial for their hygiene and your household cleanliness. Select a large, appropriately-sized litter box and high-quality, unscented litter.

Training mat or designated area

Create a specific area or use a training mat to conduct your training sessions. This helps your cat associate the space with learning and focus.

Target stick

A target stick with a ball or other visual cue at the end can be useful for teaching your Maine Coon to follow instructions, such as touching the ball with their nose.

Training manual or book

A guide on training Maine Coons or cats, in general, can provide valuable tips and techniques to make your sessions more effective.

Maine Coon training methods

Behavioral scientist Karen Pryor has created the push-training approach known as clicker training. This Maine Coon Cat Training method has become famous worldwide for training sharks and wildlife in zoos, in addition to domestic pets, for example, birds, dogs, horses, cats, and fish.

How Clicker Training Approach Works?

Maine Coon Cat Training with a Clicker is just a simple method. A clicker is a small device that provides instructions to communicate with your cat. This portable clicker creates a sound to get the attention of the cat. Cats can repeat their actions, so every time you use a clicker to get attention, you’ve to reward them for repeating their steps.

Getting Started: Taking and Creating Behaviors

Maine Coon training Begin by touching a goal (stay) using its nose. Many cats may push on their nose once they smell them. Seize the conduct by pressing while the cat’s nose reaches the goal and instantly provides a handle. Remember, each, and every period you press, you have to handle.

Pryor recommends training your physical abilities before a reflection before you actually expose a goal and your kitten. To do this, contain the clicker within the hand and also the goal. Place the goal stick-up towards the mirror, and press once the mirror touches.

Immediately transfer a little bit of tuna from one meal to a different one. Once you’ve mastered your time and found a tempo, try the method in your Maine Coon out.

A total of five snacks and ticks is just a large workout to get a kitten that’s a newcomer to the concept. Therefore, keep workout sessions brief. Your kitten may discover quicker in this way. Remember, while your kitten continues to be involved, stop. It’ll change back to you and clean its experience whenever your kitten has already established enough of this thinking.

Expanding Your Cat’s Collection

Once your Maine Coon reacts to a target, you’re prepared to educate it to follow along with it and broaden the regime. By possessing a goal about 6 inches away from your cat, start. Allow kitten strategy and affect it.

Replicate the concept towards the right and remain until you’re in a position to direct the cat back and forth and gradually boost the length. When the kitten starts following a goal, you can utilize the target to show your kitten run under your knee to jump off your panel, leap via an embroidery ring, and leap from the seat to some desk or in one seat to a different. The options are endless.

Attempt creating the goal in case your kitten is underneath the mattress and won’t emerge. A pet that is trained may react. Handle and remember to press! Be sure that your kitten may cheerfully execute everywhere to maintain workout sessions in various areas of one’s house.

Teaching Cue Is the Next Step

The next phase would be to train it to complete the methods on order by answering a sign once your kitten has discovered many actions.

“Cats connect easier to hand signs and actions than they are doing to mental hints,” Pryor claims. “However, whether you’re making use of perhaps a particular reputation or your speech on hand motion or a hard-surface, just utilize it and make use of the same signal constantly. The pet should learn how to reply immediately.”

Due to their pleasant temperament and fun character, Maine Coons frequently create their particular tricks. You can seize anything wonderful and adorable therefore maintain your clicker plus some snacks useful all the time.

Something can press,” Pryor claims. “Wait for boxes the atmosphere and measures, for example, once the kitten comes over and a basketball using its feet, leaps or play and directs all around the location moving. Keep managing and pressing, taking as soon as you might on film.”

Anything cups push,” Pryor statements. “Wait for steps, for instance, and containers the environment play or a baseball having its toes along with when the cat comes over, advances and blows all over the area shifting. Merely maintain demanding and managing, getting the moment just like you may on film.”

Listed here are two methods that are assured to create your kitten the middle of interest at any celebration if you like to really get your family and friends to wonder at your wonderful Maine Coon!

Kitty High Five

First, practice your kitten to sit down to get this done. Delay till your Maine Coon rests on its very own agreement, then seize the conduct by managing and pressing. Ensure that your kitten may sit in any space in the home.

Subsequently, therefore, it discovers to complete it to begin a signal. You should use perhaps a hand motion or the term “sit” like a signal. To instruct the high-five, shake your fingers and proceed your submit front of the cat’s paw on the ground. The moment your hands are patted by the kitten having its paw, press and treat.

If your kitten is unwilling to pat your hand, Pryor says that you can begin by putting the cat’s foot along with your finger — cats may ultimately pat you back, and then it is possible to consider it from there to the air so you possess the typical high five motion.

Gradually increase your hand off the ground up within the atmosphere in the cat’s shoulder height whenever your kitten regularly taps your going fingertips. Once the kitten grows its foot, place it within the route of the motion and press the minute the paw touches your hand.

Therefore the kitten needs to strive for your palm using its foot to obtain visited move your palm somewhat. Lastly, include the signal “gimme five” whenever you hold your hand out.

Playing “Three Blind Mice” on the Piano

Day One: Place a clear dish on the keyboard bench with snacks inside. This will attract your Maine Coon to the table. If the cat remains on the table, provide positive reinforcement. You can also teach your Maine Coon to stand on its hind legs and give a ‘high-five’ when prompted.

Position the food dish in close proximity to the keyboard and ensure it is within easy reach. Each time your cat moves towards the keyboard, gently press the keys to encourage it to move away from the keys and back to the food dish.

Next, observe as your kitten independently approaches the keys or actions. If your kitten merely glances at the keys, reward any attempt—even minimal ones.

Gradually progress to rewarding only strong paw interactions when your cat confidently walks or paws at the keys. Reinforce deliberate key presses and provide additional food-based incentives.

Day Two: Repeat the initial steps by rewarding and reinforcing even the slightest paw contact to establish a pattern of consistent sounds when your kitten can produce distinct notes regularly.

To ensure success, train your kitten to play at least 2 or 3 distinct notes to identify the correct sounds. Once achieved, focus on rewarding only these specific notes. This process of selectively reinforcing particular behaviors is known as establishing a variable-ratio schedule of reinforcement.

Place removable stickers or tape to mark the E, G, and middle C keys on the keyboard to facilitate this training. Reward your kitten only when they interact with these specific keys.

Pryor indicates continuing to press for recurring plinks specifically and within the next few days for any remaining motion. Whenever your kitten strikes on the records N ELIZABETH and D for a reason that purchase, it’s enjoying “Three Blind Mice!”

The Sky’s the Limit

Whatever methods you’ve for the Maine Coon in your mind, Maine Coon Cat Training is about having a good time. It’s also an effective way to invest quality time with your Maine Coon Cat and improve your relationship.

Important Tips Maine Coon Cat Training

Training a Maine Coon cat can be a rewarding and fun experience. To make the training process easier and more effective, here are some tips and steps to train your Maine Coon cat:

Start early

The best time to begin training your Maine Coon is when they are kitten. However, adult cats can also be trained, although it might require more patience and consistency.

Use positive reinforcement

Reward your cat with treats, praise, or affection when they perform the desired behavior. This will encourage them to repeat the action in the future. Never punish your cat, as this can lead to fear and aggression.

Clicker training

Clicker training is a popular method for training cats. It involves using a small device that makes a clicking sound to mark the exact moment your cat performs the desired behavior. This helps your cat understand which action is being rewarded.

Teach basic commands

Start with simple commands, such as “sit,” “stay,” or “come.” Use a treat or a toy to lure your cat into the desired position, then click and reward them when they perform the action. Repeat this process until your cat consistently responds to the command.

Leash training

Maine Coon cats can be trained to walk on a leash, which can be useful for outdoor adventures. Start by getting your cat used to wearing a harness indoors. Gradually introduce the leash and practice walking around the house. Once your cat is comfortable, you can venture outside for short walks.

Teach tricks

Maine Coon cats can learn various tricks, such as shaking paws, high-fiving, or jumping through hoops. Use clicker training and positive reinforcement to teach your cat these fun tricks.

Socialization

Socialize your Maine Coon cat by introducing them to different people, animals, other pets, and environments. This will help them become more confident and well-adjusted. Socialization is also an important aspect of Maine Coon grooming.

Be patient and consistent

Training your Maine Coon cat will require patience and consistency. Practice regularly, but keep training sessions short (around 5-10 minutes) to prevent your cat from becoming bored or frustrated.

Remember that every cat is unique, and the training process may take more or less time, depending on your cat’s personality, temperament, and previous experiences.