Discipline is a common topic when it comes to training our feline companions. A lot of cat owners are curious about the best ways to discipline misbehavior. It’s critical to realize that our behavior affects how we interact with our pets.
First and foremost, hitting someone or imposing physical punishment is not the solution. The way that humans understand punishment is not the same for cats. It may instill mistrust and terror in them rather than instructing them on what to do. Rather, let us investigate constructive techniques that help our animal friends behave better.
It’s important to know why a cat acts out. Do they just want to explore their surroundings or are they anxious or bored? Examining these causes will enable you to react correctly. Redirecting undesirable behavior and rewarding good behavior should be the main goals of training in order to help your cat learn and feel secure in their home.
- You need to punish for mischief and bad behavior immediately
- It is useless and dangerous to beat and humiliate a cat
- Show that the person is more important
- A stern talk with a troublemaker pinned to the floor
- Consistency and inexorableness
- Arsenal of "punitive measures": sounds, smells, water
- Video on the topic
- Is it possible to beat cats? #recommendations 🐈⬛ Do not offend fluffy animals!
- WHY YOU CAN"T PUNISH A CAT?
You need to punish for mischief and bad behavior immediately
Even well-mannered cats can act inappropriately and get into mischief. A pet can make this kind of demand on its owner. When the blackmailer gets his way, the issue will be resolved. An animal may be exacting revenge if it pisses anywhere. When a kitten or adult cat engages in mischievous or inappropriate behavior, you should discipline them right away; don’t wait around for a long time to punish them.
What makes this so crucial? Despite their intelligence, members of this family are unable to read people’s minds. For instance, if a cat urinates on the carpet, it won’t comprehend why its owner is punishing it hours or even days later. First of all, cats tend to forget small things easily, so meeting their basic needs outside of a tray is just what they do. Secondly, they are incapable of considering the actions they take from a human perspective.
When an animal is punished right away after misbehaving, it can learn to associate its own behavior with the owner’s disapproval. It will be very challenging, if not impossible, to wean the pet off of improper behavior once it develops an indecent behavior habit.
It is useless and dangerous to beat and humiliate a cat
Beating and humiliating a cat for educational purposes is the worst thing that the owner of an offending animal can come up with. Humiliation and physical violence will not achieve obedience from the pet. It will not be able to grasp the cause-and-effect relationship between its behavior and moral and physical pressure, it will not be able to somehow connect these events.
See also: How to acclimate an elderly cat or kitten to a new house or other living environment?
For another reason, it is forbidden to beat and degrade an adult or kitten cat. The mental state of cats is incredibly fragile. Anything can upset their emotional equilibrium. Moving to a new room can also have a negative psychological impact on cats, as can car rides, sudden changes in scenery, the arrival of a child or another four-legged family member.
Screaming and physical abuse can cause serious mental illnesses that need costly, time-consuming treatment. It is not, however, guaranteed to be a success.
A tailed hooligan should not do the following:
- Poke its nose into urine and feces. Poking into its own excrement will result in severe stress for the animal. It will begin to fear the owner, and its behavior will become even more unpredictable, if not inadequate.
- Beat. In the mind of the pet, physical punishment will be fixed not in connection with the committed action, but with the offender or the object with which it was punished, for example, with a slipper. As a result, he will avoid shoes and the person who offended him, but will not stop doing what he was beaten for.
- Weaning off doing something with the command “no”. These animals do not understand the meaning of this word, and perceive prohibitions as a violation of their personal boundaries.
Handcuffs and humiliation won’t make the issue go away. This won’t make things right—all it will do is drive the pet away. The only thing you can do to prevent psychological damage to the cat is to give it a quick pat on the back with your palm right after it commits the "crime."
Show that the person is more important
Raising a pet requires you to begin at a young age. The animal should be made to feel like the head of the house as soon as it arrives. If you need to punish the tailed prankster for another offense, this is a useful strategy. It is best to give the family member who is afraid of the four-legged joker a serious talk if there is someone in the group who does.
See also: Why do cats bite and scratch their owners’ hands and feet? How to wean a kitten or adult cat from biting and scratching?
A stern talk with a troublemaker pinned to the floor
A tailed mischievous dog should be pinned to the ground by pressing his hand against the withers to deter him from mischievous behavior. It’s important to chastise your pet for its repulsive actions in a calm manner without yelling. When an owner speaks sternly to an animal who is used to hearing him speak to him affectionately, the animal will feel uncomfortable and a cause-and-effect relationship of "action – psychological discomfort" will be ingrained in his mind.
A stern conversation alone won’t be enough to get past a mustachioed-striped troublemaker. A cat that is pinned to the ground feels ashamed. The mischievous person is not likely to ever want to feel like this again.
There is an additional efficient method. Once you have grasped the pet that was discovered at the crime scene by the scruff of its neck, you must lift it up and give it a gentle flick on the nose while maintaining eye contact and mimicking the sound of an adult animal hissing. It is advised to apply this strategy when dealing with minor hooligans.
Consistency and inexorableness
After deciding to discipline the animal, you can pretend that cats need the owners’ attention in order to survive for an extended period of time. They occasionally need it so badly that they will do the most unbelievable things to get it. After having a heated conversation with the mischievous animals, it is advised to begin ignoring it in every way possible, including by refusing to accept his invitation to play, ignoring his attempts to soak on his knees, and ignoring his meow.
It is preferable to keep the shkodnik confined to the room so he can reconsider his actions. For cats, being alone is even worse than being ignored. For a very long time, the owner’s pet who missed him won’t bother him. The cat probably won’t realize why he’s going through all of this pain right away, but when he finds himself in a similar circumstance again, he’ll realize that misbehaving is linked to being cut off from a loved one.
See also: Why does a cat, whether a kitten or an adult, lick sand and eat dirt from a flower pot at home or on the street?
When employing this teaching strategy, remember these two things:
- Observe consistency. If you start ignoring the cat, and after 5 minutes gently scratch it behind the ear, this will only confuse it, and all efforts will go down the drain.
- Start implementing punishment immediately after discovering the offense committed by the pet.
Arsenal of "punitive measures": sounds, smells, water
In order to discipline a pet for an unsightly behavior, it is advised to:
- Spray it with water.
- Clap your hands sharply.
- Apply a product with an unpleasant smell to the object damaged by the cat or the place where the miscreant has desecrated. Cats cannot stand the aromas of citrus fruits (lemon, orange, tangerine), garlic and onions, eucalyptus, lavender, vinegar.
These techniques only work when the owner catches the mischievous dog with a tail in the act of committing a crime. If not, the animal won’t be able to connect the unsightly behavior with consequences.
| Method | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Ignore Bad Behavior | Sometimes, giving no attention can show your cat that the behavior isn"t worth it. |
| Redirect Attention | Offer a toy or engage in play to distract from unwanted actions. |
| Use Positive Reinforcement | Reward good behavior with treats or affection to encourage more of it. |
| Provide Scratching Posts | Instead of punishing for scratching, provide alternatives to satisfy their instincts. |
| Gentle Corrections | Use a firm voice or a light spray of water to discourage misbehavior, but avoid anything harmful. |
| Time-Out | If your cat misbehaves, a short time in a quiet room can help them calm down. |
| Never Hit | Physical punishment can lead to fear and aggression, damaging the bond between you and your cat. |
It’s important to know the best techniques for behavior correction when it comes to cats. Positive reinforcement is the preferred method of learning for cats, regardless of age, as opposed to pain or fear. Not only is physical punishment ineffective, but it can also sour your relationship with your pet.
Try rerouting their behavior instead of hitting or yelling at them. Give your cat a scratching post, for example, if they are scritching on furniture. Give them praise or goodies when they use it. This enables them to comprehend acceptable behavior without worrying about consequences.
Never forget that being consistent is essential. Make sure that everyone in the home abides by the same rules if you want your feline to learn them. Your pet will be better able to understand what actions are appropriate and inappropriate thanks to this clarity.
In the end, building a trustworthy bond with your cat will eventually result in improved behavior. Having a happy, well-adjusted pet is greatly enhanced by having patience and understanding. Therefore, you’ll notice the greatest changes in your cat’s behavior if you put more emphasis on love and positive reinforcement rather than punishment.
It’s crucial to realize that punishing your cat—especially with physical punishment—does not work to correct bad behavior and can actually strain your bond with them. Redirecting unwanted behaviors and emphasizing positive reinforcement will help your cat learn what is acceptable without fear or confusion. Discover the best methods for encouraging good behavior that don’t involve punishment, which can cause tension and anxiety, but rather kindness and understanding.
