Unlocking the Mystery: Do Maine Coons Love Training?

First, let me ask you a question: Besides basking in the sun by the window and playing around, what else does a Maine Coon want to do?

Like other domesticated animals, cats receive food, shelter, and care without having to exert much effort. In contrast, wild animals spend their time either sleeping, seeking food and shelter, caring for offspring, or protecting their territory.

The instincts of domestic cats, akin to those of tigers and lions, remain intact and vibrant, ready to be utilized. Which cat is happier, the one that gets everything without effort, or the one that strives for it all? Which cat has a healthier spirit?

The answer is… a cat that works for its survival is happier and healthier.

From this perspective, Maine Coon cats are not so different from us. We all seek to make the most of our time, build a career, secure a stable job, and find joy in physical activities. These are the things we are always prepared for and look forward to.

Curious Mind of Your Adventurous Feline Explorer

Cats, like Maine Coons, are always on the move. They haven’t evolved into a cultured society; they still rely on instincts and predatory behavior that have been passed down for millions of years. Watching TV is beyond their scope of interest, and playing soccer or football doesn’t capture their attention either. They simply want to hunt down small mice or birds. They mark their territory, seek potential mates, and groom their fur and claws for future hunting. Maine Coons are restless creatures.

As mentioned earlier, comparing cats that get everything without effort to those who strive for everything, it’s clear that the cat with tasks at hand is happier. It engages its brain, body, and instincts more actively, displaying unexpected intelligence and learning abilities. Cats, in our perception, seem so independent, never taking human guidance to heart.

A Maine Coon cat with tasks is both happy and healthy. Through training, a cat will prove its inherent cleverness and exceptional abilities, continually surprising you with what it can accomplish. There’s nothing a cat can’t do that you haven’t thought of.

So, what do indoor cats do all day? They don’t just sleep; they find activities to pass the time. This includes scavenging in the trash, startling hamsters, chasing dogs, and digging into plants. These are all natural behaviors based on instincts: hunting instinct – scavenging and startling hamsters, territorial control instinct – chasing dogs, and marking territory instinct – digging into plants.

When the owner returns home, the cat, having exhausted itself with these “chores,” conveniently lounges by the window, soaking up the sun and taking a nap. You might think: Oh, what a lazy fellow.

Keeping Your Maine Coon Engaged

Some Maine Coons may not control their instincts because they haven’t fully adapted to the domestic environment. They may scratch furniture or exhibit aggressive behavior. Many of these cats have been abandoned in various ways, leading to overcrowded animal shelters where millions are euthanized each year.

Such situations can be avoided. Even feral cats can learn to adapt to new environments, albeit requiring patience and time. Training your cat is essential to prevent it from becoming a meaningless statistic. Every cat has the right to develop its intellect, look forward to each day, have the opportunity to learn, develop intelligence, and communicate with human companions – making them happy and adaptable.

A trained Maine Coon cat, loving social interactions, becomes a beloved companion. It greets you with affection and enthusiasm as you enter the house, following you from room to room. It refrains from causing damage at home because it understands that such behavior is undesirable. Such a cat becomes an excellent partner, bringing joy and happiness.

When is the Best Time to Train?

Just like the principles of training apply to all animals, cats, too, are more adept at long-term learning when trained at an early age. However, this doesn’t mean that older cats can’t learn.

I’ve successfully trained Maine Coon cats ranging from 2 to 9 years old to acquire various behaviors. To prevent behavioral issues, adapt to diverse pet households, or prepare for future roles as a “cat therapist” or animal actor, it’s best to commence training during kittenhood. Compared to cats accustomed to certain behavior patterns, kittens are less prone to disruptions from environmental changes.

Maine Coon kittens don’t fear new environments or faces as much as adult cats. Training becomes a part of their lives, something they eagerly anticipate, and they’ll miss it if a day goes by without it. Cats, like humans, strongly desire to have something to do. Your job is to provide food and shelter for your family and pets, so offering your pet a way to express gratitude will make them happier and healthier.

The optimal time to start training is when kittens have just weaned and separated from their mother, avoiding interference from other animals in the vicinity. A quiet, small room is most suitable.

Stay focused and conduct training during the cat’s feeding time, encouraging them to strive for food and igniting their performance drive. Maine Coon kittens are seldom picky; as long as they get toys and food, they’ll be delighted.

Harnessing Interest as the Ultimate Motivator for Training

The difficulty in training adult Maine Coons lies in identifying the “motivators.” You may need to try various treats, such as freeze-dried liver or soft cat food – anything that piques their interest is worth a shot.

If your Maine Coon shows no interest in commercial cat treats, consider offering cooked chicken or tuna as an alternative. Some cats are indifferent to food, so you might need to use toys as rewards. Many cats enjoy plush mouse toys or catnip balls.

Only experimentation will reveal what captures your Maine Coon’s interest. While a few cats may be unimpressed by anything, finding suitable food rewards is not entirely impossible – it just requires more determination than your cat.

For such cats, stronger incentives, like fasting for a day or two, may be necessary. Don’t worry; in the wild, cats don’t eat every day but rather have meals every few days. Our daily feeding routine is imposed on our “caged” cats. A hungry Maine Coon cat will be more motivated to perform and, consequently, more motivated to learn.

Delightful Rewards: Using Treats in Training

After a day or two of fasting, start training your Maine Coon with regular dry cat food. Feed it with your hand or a training spoon, and after it eats, use an uplifting tone to reward it with phrases like “good kitty.” You can also use treats to bridge the connection between the reward and the behavior (such as treats or praise), reinforcing the correct response.

Give a command, prompting the cat to act accordingly. After it follows through, provide reinforcement, and then reward it with cat food. In this scenario, the cat learns to associate your interaction with food, quickly learning to seek you out for treats, linking your reinforcing behavior with its mealtime.

Before long, both of you will start to enjoy the fun of mealtime training sessions. Seeing your smile and hearing your praise, the cat may even purr in anticipation. Starting the day in such a delightful way is truly wonderful!

Maine Coons can learn two to three actions in just a couple of days. Additionally, as the cat gradually masters all the actions, its attention span will also extend. If the training sessions become too lengthy, owners should revert to using regular food or low-calorie treats to prevent the cat from gaining weight.

If time is limited, strive to conduct training sessions every day, but it’s possible to repeat them several times a day. If you feed the cat twice a day, train before each meal. If you only feed the cat once a day, train for 5 minutes in the morning and repeat the process when you return in the evening.

5 Essential Tools for Training Your Maine Coon

Training a Maine Coon cat requires specific tools and skills. Being well-prepared in advance can make the training process easier and more enjoyable. let’s talk about the stuff you’ll need:

• Training Bag: Nope, it’s not for your Maine Coon, it’s for treats. You can use a little bag tied around your waist, but the best bet is a fanny pack. They even come with hooks so you can clip ’em to your belt or pocket. Easy peasy for grabbing those cat snacks!
• Clickers: These are like little noise-makers. You can find ’em at pet stores. They make a clicky sound that grabs your cat’s attention and helps ’em focus on what you’re trying to teach.
• Teaser Wand: This thing is like magic. Use it to gently point your cat’s attention where you want it. You can stick a fluffy ball or a feather on it, and your Maine Coon will be all eyes on it, guaranteed!
• Training Spoon: Some Maine Coons get a bit grabby with treats. If your Maine Coon cat’s not great at taking ’em gently and you’re worried about getting nipped or scratched, the training spoon is the answer. You can scoop up soft cat food or bits of tuna and use it as a reward. With this spoon, you can hold the treat in one hand and make gestures with the other. Super handy!
• Verbal Commands: Don’t forget, cats understand our voices and gestures. If you stick to your training plan, your Maine Coons will remember the hand signals that go along with your words. They catch on quick, so it won’t take too long.

Handy Tips for Successful Maine Coon Training

Prepare the training area before starting the training. The training space should be smaller than 10 feet by 12 feet (approximately 3.05 meters by 3.66 meters), maintaining a quiet and tidy environment. Have rewards ready for easy access.

Conduct all training sessions when the cat is either hungry or well-rested. During these times, cats are more motivated, leading to longer attention spans and improved learning capabilities.

Maine Coons are creatures of habit, so try to stick to a consistent training schedule. This helps the cat remember when training occurs, preventing it from eagerly demanding training at inconvenient times. If the cat associates the training schedule, it will relax, allowing you to attend to your own tasks. Remember, training a Maine Coon cat is meant to enhance the cat owner’s life, not to make the cat the master of the house. ^_^