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How to teach to fetch?

post #1 of 17
1/16/11 at 8:50am
Thread Starter 
Does anyone have some hints on teaching my cat to fetch? He loves the toy mice (not the remote one tho!) and I'd like to give him a little more exercise as he does not want to go outside.
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post #2 of 17
1/16/11 at 9:11am
Personally, I think it's a good thing he doesn't want to go outside! It's so dangerous for outside kitties.

I have no tips on teaching a kitty to fetch, but you might want to invest in a toy called "DaBird". It's "da bomb" at our house and gets my cats moving, running, and jumping like crazy! It's a sad time when playtime is over and DaBird must be put away. I just found out last night that my little guy (8 mos old) LOVES the laser pointed and runs after that like a crazy man!
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post #3 of 17
1/16/11 at 9:14am
I don't believe you can teach a cat to fetch. It has to be something they already do that you encourage with praise or treats.
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post #4 of 17
1/16/11 at 9:33am
Thread Starter 
I've heard of da bird before, but i got the impression you need some clear space to use it. We have a good sized condo, but not much clear space! ?
I've heard of cats fetching, and just assumed they would be taught. Lucky brings us toy mice, but only on his terms! He's a feral we got from a tnr gal who had only trapped him 2-3 days before. But he trusts us a lot. I don't want him to go out, as I've had indoor outdoor cats & know the pitfalls, but being a feral that we've only had @ 8 mos I'm suprised we don't have to fight him back from the door! He hides his toy mice (we must have a dozen or more somewhere) and I can't even find them with a flashlight & kneepads! I just thought if I could teach him to fetch it would solve a lot of problems, and give him the exercise he needs...
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post #5 of 17
1/16/11 at 10:15am
You don't have to have a lot of open space to use daBird. My kitties also like to chase it on the floor. I also run it under a piece of packing paper and swing it on the couch and such.

I tried to teach Tumbles to fetch. It didn't work.
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post #6 of 17
1/16/11 at 10:22am
I somewhat trained my kitten to fetch. He would sometimes bring me his toy mouse, and I encouraged him by throwing the mouse whenever he would bring it. After playing with it for a while, he would bring it back over. I kept doing that until he'll bring it back quicker and more often. It really is mostly encouragement, not training.
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post #7 of 17
1/16/11 at 10:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by LuckyBabyCat View Post
Lucky brings us toy mice, but only on his terms! He's a feral we got from a tnr gal who had only trapped him 2-3 days before. But he trusts us a lot.
He wasn't a feral, he was a stray. BIG difference - he wouldn't trust people so quickly if he were feral, that would take months of careful work.

Does he like lots of petting? If so, every time he brings you a toy tell him he's a good boy and pet him. I find treats just distract a cat.
Like I said, fetching can't be taught but it can be encouraged in a cat that already does it. That pretty much sums up most "tricks" with cats - they have to want to do it in the first place because they're sure as heck not looking to please us like a dog does.
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post #8 of 17
1/16/11 at 11:56am
The only cat that I ever had who played fetch, taught me, not me him! The first time, he brought a catnip mouse onto my bed when I was in it. I said, "Get this ratty, wet thing off my bed," and threw it down the hall past the open bedroom door. He went and got it and brought it back to me. He'd do this over and over. It was great fun.

He was more like a monkey or a dog than a cat, though. Had lots of unusual behaviors.

I second the Da Bird suggestion. Four of my five cats love it. And you don't need a big space to play with them, and it.

I also second the don't let him outside suggestion. It's much too dangerous out there.

Robin
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post #9 of 17
1/16/11 at 2:54pm
My Squeak loves to play fetch. She likes the small plastic ball (like a whiffle ball) with a rattle inside. She does this in the evening when we are in bed watching TV. She will bring it to me and actually place it in my hand!

She is also my kitty who will roll over on command and also when not on command when she wants treats! That kitty will do anything for treats!!!
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post #10 of 17
1/16/11 at 3:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bastetservant View Post
The only cat that I ever had who played fetch, taught me, not me him! The first time, he brought a catnip mouse onto my bed when I was in it. I said, "Get this ratty, wet thing off my bed," and threw it down the hall past the open bedroom door. He went and got it and brought it back to me. He'd do this over and over. It was great fun.
Likewise! Athena plays fetch. She dropped a toy on my bed one morning while I was still half asleep, so I tossed it off because I was trying to sleep. And she just kept bringing it back. XD

I've tried to get Apollo to play fetch, with no luck. It seems to be something cats just decide to do on their own. But there are still some great ways to give your kitty exercise even if he won't play fetch.

One thing I do a lot with Apollo is tie his toy mice on a string and then pull it around the living room or dangle it around him. He goes nuts for that! Gets plenty of exercise running and jumping around. Just make sure that you take the string off when you're done, since it's not a good idea to leave cats unsupervised with string.
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post #11 of 17
1/16/11 at 5:19pm
Thread Starter 
[quote=strange_wings;3006769]He wasn't a feral, he was a stray. BIG difference - he wouldn't trust people so quickly if he were feral, that would take months of careful work. /QUOTE]

He actually is a feral; trapped at a dumpster colony 2-3 days before we got him by a tnr gal. I've had strays, so I know what you mean. he does seem to trust us now, but spent the first few weeks in a bathroom totally afraid with a bed, food/water/litterbox. (It's been a slow process) He was 6 mos old at the time according to vet. He's has progressed in the last 8 months to trusting us pretty much as long as there aren't any loud noises or boxes or plastic bags rattling around or we don't make any sudden moves. No laps yet but lots of rubbing & petting. I think that is trust.
Anywayyy I'm glad to know about the space regarding da bird. That would be a good answer for him. I said he brings us toy mice on his terms, which are bringing them when we are not around, ie to my side of the bed, or my husbands, or by my chair, but only when I don't see him so it is hard to praise him for it!
I will shop for da bird. I thot it was something you had to fly around in the air with a lot of space involved. Pictured lamps & knicknacks flying also at our place. lol
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post #12 of 17
1/16/11 at 5:32pm
We taught my cat Rocky to fetch with a fishing rod string toy and by giving him treats.

Some pet stores sell cat toys that have a reel on them like a fishing rod and a toy as a lure at the end. We would toss the toy across the room and if he chased it and followed it back to us he got one of his treats. Eventualy he started picking it up and carrying it off. When he got to this point we would shake the treat bag when he picked up the lure toy. And if he kept the toy in his mouth when he came to us we gave him a treat. If he didnt bring it back we started again by tossing the lure.

After he gets better at this routine we used a regular cat nip mouse. ( he REALLY likes the ones that squeaked when they hit the ground) And reward him when he does it with the non fishng rod toy. Sometimes it takes a while to get the habbit formed and once he starts getting it play often so that he doesnt forget. THis really was Rockys favorite game, I hope your kitty likes it too! Best of luck!!!
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post #13 of 17
1/16/11 at 5:45pm
Actually your cat not wanting to go out could be a really good thing. Bad things can happen to a cat outside.

As for playing fetch. I use mr. ball's. Their aluminum foil rolled tightly into a ball. I throw it at the walls, and the cats run after it, usually bring it back on their own. I was shocked the first time Lynxx brought it back. I didn't even know a cat could fetch. Luna and Midnight brought it right back when they first played to.
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post #14 of 17
1/16/11 at 5:49pm
Thread Starter 
That fishing rod is a great idea! I'll be looking for that also. Sounds like a plan with the treat rewards. He loves soft salmon treats & fresh catnip, the remains of which I have in the garage. I'm being really stingy with it; ususally only once a day & only one leaf. But I've gotten him to jump on the fam rm couch with my husband & myself & sometimes stay for pets & brushes before jumping down. This fishing rod/toy/treat idea may work! When I figure out how to post pics I will give pics of my beautiful Lucky, and hopefully one of him someday returning to me with a toy mouse in his mouth!
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post #15 of 17
1/16/11 at 5:55pm
Thread Starter 
The tinfoil sounds good too. And good for the budget! Will try that tonight. (Or in the morning, as Lucky seems to have disappeared, probably sleeping somewhere. He likes the guest room. Hmmm is he telling us something???)
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post #16 of 17
1/16/11 at 7:41pm
Thread Starter 
Woohoo I think I did it! Here's a pic of beautiful Lucky. If I didn't I guess I'll be the first to know.....
LL
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post #17 of 17
1/17/11 at 7:43pm
Your cat is beautiful
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