How to Discipline a Cat
How to train my cat
Cat Discipline
Cats and dogs are different
The first thing you must know when you start to train a cat is that cats are not dogs so you can’t use the same methods of discipline.
Cats and dogs are very different animals, and don’t learn in the same way. Just as you use different methods to discipline babies and teenagers, you can’t use the dog training methods to train a cat.
Cat discipline should never involve physical punishment.
Gentle cat discipline
Cat discipline should never involve physical punishment. You should never hurt your kitty. Don’t ever hold her down, hit her or shake her.
It can make the situation worse as your cat will not associate the pain with the bad behaviour and they may retaliate. Worst of all, it will break the bond between you and your kitty which is something you definitely don’t want to do.
Don't allow bad behavior
Consistency is the key to a well trained, happy cat. While you mustn’t hurt your cat when you are training him, you should never allow bad behavior at anytime.
Some behaviors may seem OK, even cute, in a kitten but are definitely not something you want your fully-grown cat to be doing. Biting, for example!
You will only confuse your kitty if something that has been OK is suddenly not OK, so it’s good to start young.
Consistency is the key
Consistency is what your kitty needs and understands. If your cute kitten is biting your fingers or swatting you when you are playing with him let him know that its not OK. Stop playing immediately, even if it doesn’t hurt. Let your kitten know that it isn’t allowed and if it happens the fun stops right away.
Ways to discipline a cat
Just like humans, cats don’t like to do unpleasant things So, to discipline a cat effectively, you have to get your kitty to associate something unpleasant with the behaviour that you wish to stop. Some of the ways are:
Use Your Voice
This is very effective on my own cat! All I have to do is say very loudly and sternly ‘No, pussycat!’ and he stops whatever he is doing. He hates being spoken to loudly and slinks off, to come back shortly afterwards looking to be friends!
When your cat is doing something that you don’t want simply raising your voice and saying firmly ‘Stop That!’ may be enough.
Cats don’t like loud noises, and don’t want to displease you. The trick is consistency. Every time you observe the bad behaviour respond in exactly the same way.
Clap your hands
Just like raising your voice, clapping your hands gives a sudden, loud noise that cats don’t like.
It will startle them, and cause them to stop, at least momentarily. This is where consistency come in.
Every time they repeat the behaviour clap loudly, and they will start to associate the bad behaviour with the unsettling sound that they don’t like and eventually stop the bad behaviour.
Use smells they don't like
This is very effective on my own cat! All I have to do is say very loudly and sternly ‘No, pussycat!’ and he stops whatever he is doing. He hates being spoken to loudly and slinks off, to come back shortly afterwards looking to be friends!
When your cat is doing something that you don’t want simply raising your voice and saying firmly ‘Stop That!’ may be enough.
Cats don’t like loud noises, and don’t want to displease you. The trick is consistency. Every time you observe the bad behaviour respond in exactly the same way.
Don't have a bored cat
Does your cat like to run around the house and even swipe your ankles as you go past?
Chances are your kitty is bored and needs more play time with you, so play with your cat more. Use lengths of wool, balls, toy mice, even a laser pointer.
While you are not there make sure that your kitty has some toys and some cat furniture for scratching.
Use a water pistol
Humans don’t like to be sprayed with water, and neither do cats!
Whenever your cat is doing something bad squirt him with water, but do NOT let him know where the water is coming from.
You want them to associate the water with their behaviour, not with you, so that they will stop.
Its actually rather fun to do, you will probably end up enjoying it while having a better-behaved cat.
Ultimate cat punishment
Jail Time!
Just like children, removing your kitty from the scene of the bad behaviour can be a circuit-breaker.
Put them in ‘cat jail’ for 20minutes Have a place in your home that you always put them when they are especially bad and don’t respond to your voice.
A shower with a door, or a toilet is good – somewhere tiled for obvious reasons!
The best way to train a cat
Positive reinforcement. In other words, reward them for doing the right thing. Praising them, stroking them, giving them a treat – they all work. And the more good behaviors your cat has, the less time for the bad ones.
