You can't help but think that your cat won't stop scratching furniture, peeing wildly, or engaging in other bad behaviors. You may be willing to do anything to stop the bad behavior, but it's important to realize that there are right and wrong ways to discipline a cat. You must discipline your cat by not only stopping the bad behavior, but keeping your relationship with the cat strong.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Learning Why Cats Behave So Bad
Step 1. Learn the medical reasons why cats exhibit bad behavior
Even if you think your cat is behaving badly for no reason, there may be a medical or behavioral reason behind it. For example, your cat may be urinating indiscriminately because a problem with her urinary tract (urinary tract infection, kidney problem) is preventing her from urinating in the litter box in a timely manner. The vet can determine if a medical problem is the main cause of the bad behavior.
- Pica is a health problem that causes cats to eat or chew inedible objects, such as plastic or cardboard. If the cat chews or eats unusual objects, it could be a sign of dental or digestive tract disease.
- Dementia can make cats cry at night.
- Health issues should be considered before considering behavioral issues.
Step 2. Learn about behavioral issues that can cause bad behavior in cats
Once your vet has examined medical causes of misbehavior, it's time to start paying more attention to your cat's behavior. One of the causes of bad behavior is stress. Cats don't adapt well to change (a new house, a new pet, a new baby); changes around him can stress him out easily, so he will scratch furniture, pee indiscriminately, and so on.
- Your cat may act out of boredom. If your cat doesn't have enough toys to play with or isn't getting the attention she wants from you, she'll look for something else to play with out of boredom, like tearing up toilet paper. Remember that he doesn't realize his behavior is wrong; he was just doing something to keep himself busy.
- Your cat behaves badly if it has not been properly trained. While usually very smart, cats still need to be trained to do the right thing. If he has not been trained, he will not know what is right and wrong and will act as he pleases.
Step 3. Understand that cats may not behave badly
Keep in mind that behavior that you may find bad, such as a cat clawing at furniture only to sharpen its claws, is normal behavior for this animal. Instead of punishing your cat, it's a good idea to think of a more appropriate means for your cat to channel its behavior, for example by providing a few scratching posts.
Make sure you provide an attractive environment for the cat. Puzzle feeders, scratching poles, toys, climbing poles, and active daily play are some ways to divert a cat's behavior
Step 4. Recognize how cats learn
The way cats learn is a simple concept: cats repeat good experiences and avoid bad experiences. It is very important to remember that Cats don't learn from punishment. Instead of teaching him that what he did was wrong, punishment would only make the cat confused and frightened. He may avoid you, thereby weakening the bond with him.
Step 5. Learn what disciplinary measures didn't work
As already mentioned, punishment will not stop the cat from misbehaving. Yelling and hitting a cat is a form of punishment that should not be used to discipline it. In addition, using a water spray bottle is not recommended for disciplining cats even though many cat owners do.
- Even if you think that spraying your cat with water will keep him away from bad behavior, he will only do so when you're not around. Using a spray bottle can also frighten and wary you.
- Rubbing a cat's nose in its urine when it's urinating is also an ineffective method of discipline. This will actually make the cat remember it as a good place to pee.
- Lifting a cat off the skin of its neck also cannot be used as punishment. This can be a method of preventing bad behavior, but it is not an effective method of punishing your cat.
Part 2 of 2: Learning How to Discipline Cats Properly
Step 1. Bond with cats in a fun and rewarding way
While bonding with a cat may not seem to stop bad behavior in cats, extra attention and playtime can divert a cat's energy from misbehaving. One of the goals of increasing your playing time is to reduce the negative reprimands and penalties you give. The more he feels company and trusts you, the less likely he will engage in bad behavior caused by stress or boredom.
In addition to playing with him more often, you can also try massaging him
Step 2. Make bad behavior unattractive or impossible
Since cats learn by avoiding negative experiences, you must make negative associations with their bad behavior. For example, if he claws at the sofa, you should discipline him by making the sofa difficult to scratch. Sticking double tips or aluminum foil on the sofa can also be a good repellent.
- Making the environment unpleasant when you're not around is called "environmental punishment."
- If your cat likes to jump on the kitchen or dining table, try balancing the cookie tray at the end of the surface. When he jumps, the cookie tray will fall to the floor and make a loud noise. Cats don't like loud noises and landing on uneven surfaces will cause them to lose their balance. Over time, he will learn not to jump where he shouldn't.
- If the cat continues to eat the plant or pee on the ground, make the plant unattractive by spraying bitter apple or orange on the plant's leaves. You can also cover the soil with foil or gravel.
- Commercial repellents can also make bad behavior look unattractive. Examples are the upside-down mousetrap that jumps into the air when touched and the motion sensor-activated vapor atomizer. These kits are available at your local pet store and are useful for preventing cats from entering areas where they are not allowed.
Step 3. Make good behavior feel very rewarding
The more positive support you give your cat for doing the right thing, the more likely it is to repeat the good behavior. For example, when you see your cat using a scratching post instead of clawing at furniture, reward her with extra playtime, verbal praise, or an edible treat. Be sure to reward him for good behavior, not the other way around. Otherwise, he would not understand why he was given a gift.
Tips
- Cats won't stop bad behavior overnight. It will take time for him to link bad behavior with negative experiences and good behavior with positive experiences.
- It's ideal to train your cat to stay away from bad behavior as soon as possible when she's a child. Kittens are usually easier to discipline because they are still learning their environment. On the other hand, adult cats are used to their environment and have their own way.
- Keep in mind that environmental punishment won't be effective if the cat doesn't wait until you leave to show bad behavior.
- If your cat continues to misbehave after a health check and you fail to make the bad behavior unattractive, consider contacting a veterinary behaviorist. The expert will be able to provide suggestions for correcting the cat's bad behavior.
Warning
- Don't use a repellent that will hurt the cat like a real mouse trap. While your cat won't repeat the behavior again, it could also be afraid of you and distrust you.
- Do not use a noisy repellent if your cat is already agitated or nervous. The shocking effect of the repellent can exacerbate his nervousness, so that he will behave badly due to stress. He can also be so frightened that he refuses to venture into every room in your house.
