Raising naughty kids: how to punish a cat, regardless of age, correctly
A pet brings joy and peace, comfort and a special atmosphere to the house. However, the behavior of the tailed family member is not always a solid “A”. A cat can tear off new wallpaper, ignore its toilet, and bite the legs of household members and guests. Having discovered such dirty tricks, the owner thinks about how to punish the cat in order to correct its behavior.
A disciplined and obedient cat is the dream of many households. It is useful for the owner to know which punishment techniques are acceptable for cats and which are not.
Read in this article
The influence of early education
The relationship between kittens and humans is shaped by the cat. By her behavior she shows who a person is - an enemy, a source of food, a friend. Therefore, it will not be possible to wean a kitten from biting and scratching as soon as it gets into a new home - it takes time to forget its mother’s science. You can see from the cat how the kittens will grow up:
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does not allow him to approach the litter, hisses, rushes - semi-feral kittens get used to people over the years, strangers make them wary;
- Only suitable for food. The offspring are not allowed to leave the den. Growing up, such a cat scratches and bites when it feels coerced or pressured;
- trusts people, but is wary when babies are touched. Kittens grow up to be domestic. They are patient, but release their claws due to unpleasant manipulation, fright, or violation of personal space;
- dozens of generations were born at home, their ancestors completely trusted them, even to the point of being able to bathe, give an injection, or brush their teeth without coercion. Kittens are not able to survive without humans, they are affectionate and tame.
A semi-wild cat can give birth to fully domestic offspring, but this is rare. If a cat bites and scratches because the mother has not raised trust in the person, taming the obstinate one will take a lot of time.
When to punish
The pet does not become manageable and docile on its own. The owner must make it clear what the pet can and cannot do in the house. A cat does not understand the value of things, for example, an expensive soft corner for her is just an object on which it is so convenient to sharpen her claws.
Most often, household members are faced with such negative manifestations of behavior as “stealing” food from the table, damaging household property with claws, ignoring the tray, climbing on shelves and curtains, and aggressive behavior (scratching, biting, attacking) . A mischievous animal should be taught a lesson first of all to correct its future behavior.
Owners often ask experienced breeders whether it is possible to punish a cat in principle or whether it is better to abandon the idea. The widespread belief that brute force should never be used against these wayward representatives of the feline family has good reason. As a rule, any physical methods in the form of blows or slaps lead to the opposite effect.
An animal, having received stress from violence, continues to mischief and damage property with a vengeance. In addition, punishing a defenseless animal with physical force is unacceptable in a civilized society.
As a rule, any unseemly act can be explained. For example, if a cat chooses a favorite chest of drawers or chair to grind off its claws, then the reason for this action is that the pet is not accustomed to using a scratching post. In this case, the owner should purchase this useful accessory, accustom the animal to it, and the problem will cease to exist.
If a cat persistently tries to steal something tasty from the table, then the reason for such unacceptable behavior is often underfeeding. A factor that forces a pet to ignore its litter tray may be its contamination or diseases of the genitourinary system.
Often the cause of cat sabotage is lack of attention from the owner. Left to its own devices, the pet tries to entertain itself on its own, not understanding why, upon returning, the owner shows dissatisfaction, and instead of the usual affection, negative notes are heard in the voice. In such situations, you should not punish the animal; it is necessary to eliminate the reasons that provoke inappropriate behavior.
Before punishing a cat, you should make sure that the animal is absolutely healthy and that its bad behavior is not associated with illness. Often the reason that a pet ignores the usual litter box is urolithiasis.
The cat experiences pain during the act of urination, associates it with visiting the cat litter box and begins to shit anywhere.
Under no circumstances should harsh educational manipulations be carried out if the animal has just appeared in the house. The pet must be given time to get used to the new place. Experiencing stress from moving, new smells, and living conditions at this time, the animal will not understand why it is being punished and will experience even greater psycho-emotional stress.
You should use educational measures and think about how to punish a cat for bad behavior if all steps have been taken to eliminate the causes of misbehavior.
The owner's unseemly attitude will be perceived by the cat as an insult, a manifestation of dislike. Such emotions will negatively affect the pet’s psyche. In order for the educational moment to have the necessary effect, you need to take action at the moment the cat commits sabotage.
Not having another portion of food in the bowl will most likely cause dissatisfaction and even stress.
- Firstly, physical violence can injure a cat, and the back is especially vulnerable.
- Secondly, striking the animal will provoke aggression or instill fear in it, against the background of which the cat will no longer adequately understand what exactly is required of it.
- Thirdly, such behavior usually leads to emotional alienation of the owner from the pet, disruption of harmony in relationships, and loss of trust.
Having decided that a furry couch potato needs behavior correction, the owner should have an idea of how to properly punish the cat. The choice of acceptable and effective methods in the process of raising an animal is important for achieving not only an immediate positive result, but also for developing a stable reflex.
Tips for handling aggressive animals
As mentioned above, sometimes aggressiveness is a character trait that you have to come to terms with. It is necessary to educate a pet, but punishment is permissible only in those cases when it rushes first, without provocation from the owner. Stroking when the animal clearly does not want it is also a provocation, and this must be remembered.
When an aggressive cat is completely healthy, including psychologically, its attack is always caused by some factor, even if the owners do not understand what provokes the pet. It is necessary to notice what causes aggression - a sudden movement, sound or special smell, and try to remove it from the animal’s life, otherwise the attacks may become constant. Even if your pet has just allowed you to scratch its belly, you should immediately stop stroking when the animal tenses up, meows, flattens its ears, and begins to nervously move its tail. Cats can be capricious too, and they even have the right to do so.
It is worth paying attention to which areas of the animal’s body are touched or whether they cause irritation. Maybe your pet gets irritated by touching his ears, even if he responds favorably to back rubs
Cats need personal space
Its absence often causes aggression, so you should not force your attention on your pet. You should not be angry with the character of the animal, it feels love, even if it does not show it, and sooner or later it will answer the owner in kind
It can sometimes be difficult to stop a cat from biting, but you just have to be patient and love your four-legged friend, and everything will work out.
Methods of punishment
To raise a disciplined family member from a disobedient furry robber, it is important to choose an effective, efficient and non-cruel method.
Spraying
Almost all domestic cats do not like water. Therefore, experienced breeders recommend spraying the animal for punishment. How to properly punish a cat for an unseemly act using water?
For these purposes, it is convenient to use a compact sprayer. This should be done at the moment when the animal does something unwanted. Always keep the spray bottle nearby so you can use it quickly. The natural instinct of fear of water works for most furry pranksters as an effective taboo.
Loud sounds
An effective way to answer the question of how to punish a cat so that he understands the undesirability of his action is loud sounds. Cats perfectly recognize the different intonations of their owner’s voice, without understanding the meaning of the words. Sharp and loud screams are especially unpleasant for your pet. In this regard, you should not raise your voice at the guilty furry creature, no matter how sorry you may be for a broken vase, damaged furniture or shoes.
Loud screams often have the opposite effect. The animal gets scared and falls into a stupor. You should punish your cat with your voice using threatening intonations.
In addition to the owner's voice, you can also use other sounds, for example, sharply clapping your hands when the cat does something prohibited. At the moment of committing an offense, you can drop a bunch of keys, loudly slam a newspaper on the table, or use a baby rattle. Sharp sounds are unpleasant for the cat, and she will associate this moment with an unwanted action.
In raising a disciplined and obedient pet, you can use a natural technique when a cat teaches intelligence to its baby. If the kitten does something wrong, the mother cat makes a sharp sound. The owner can produce a similar clicking sound by pressing the tongue against the roof of the mouth. This method is especially effective on small kittens.
other methods
Is it possible to punish a cat in any other way? In addition to water treatments and influencing your pet with voice intonation or a sharp sound, methods of slight physical influence can be used for education purposes. A towel is suitable for these purposes. There is no need to twist it; a light slap on the troublemaker’s body will be enough. But a newspaper folded several times should not be used, except perhaps for slapping the table, but not for hitting the pet.
Many pranksters do not like it when their owner lightly flicks them on the nose or taps their forehead with a finger. If you use a threatening intonation, the effect will be achieved faster.
Experienced breeders also recommend using the method of psychological intimidation of a pet. To do this, you should take the prankster who has just misbehaved by the fold on the withers, lift him up like a kitten, and, looking into his eyes, imitate the hissing of an adult cat. In the same position, you can lightly flick the bully on the nose.
What to do if you can’t retrain an aggressive cat
If no measures help, you should create the most comfortable environment for your pet. Perhaps the animal is disturbed by some stress factors that cannot be calculated. For example, excessively intrusive attention on the part of the child or lack of a sense of security. A cat house or play area will help you cope with this. No one should touch a cat in a shelter: this is its personal territory.
The play complex will replace not only the house, but also sports equipment, toys and a scratching post
If your pet continues to behave aggressively, you can make a noise trap from a tin can and, for example, nuts. It should be used every time the animal tries to attack. Do not throw a trap at a cat or use it on older cats, small kittens, or pets with heart disease.
Fisher disks are a ready-made alternative to a noise trap
A loud sound in itself will cause a negative association and will wean you off attacks, although it will not get rid of the causes of aggression. In some cases, the projectile can aggravate the situation, so it should be used with caution.
Correcting the causes of bad behavior
Pet owners often ask experienced breeders questions regarding a specific unwanted behavior of their cat. For example, they are interested in how to punish a cat for shitting in the wrong place. First of all, it is necessary to establish the true cause of such disgrace. Under no circumstances should you poke a miscreant into excrement; next time he will simply choose a more secluded corner. In addition, the punishment should be immediately after the incident.
Those who like to climb tables can be weaned off with a spray bottle. Every time the cat tries to jump on the table, it should be stopped with water. If you don’t have a spray bottle at hand, you should blow hard on the cat’s face or clap your hands loudly.
Owners are also interested in the problem of how to punish a cat if it bites. When this happens during the game, you need to stop the fun and say something like “No!” in a stern voice. The baby may be teething; in this case, a toy will help. If an adult cat bites, you should press down the mouth with your hand and click on the nose.
When solving the difficult task of raising an obedient and disciplined pet, the main thing for the owner is not to cause harm to the health and psyche of the animal. Methods used for punishment must be humane and effective.
To learn how to raise an obedient pet, watch this video:
The reason that during this period a cat may shit in the bed is the animal’s desire to mark the territory with its smell.
Important tips on how to stop a cat from biting and showing aggression. Most owners associate furry couch potatoes with.
It is he who pushes even a well-fed domestic cat to an ancient activity - hunting. Being representatives of a large cat family.
Why and why it can scratch
Among the main reasons why a cat scratches are:
- the owner himself accustomed her to this, without expressing dissatisfaction when the animal behaved incorrectly;
- attracting attention to oneself;
- lack of education from a cat since childhood;
- result of aggression;
- health problems;
- past negative experiences;
- suffered stress.
Of course, it is difficult to live under the same roof with a cat that often bites its owner’s legs. Even accidental bites, if repeated regularly, do not bode well. The reasons for this behavior may vary. Fortunately, in most cases, the pet can be re-socialized and interactions quickly return to normal.
If an owner wants to avoid unwanted cat behavior, he must follow three basic rules: pay attention to the cat's body language, do not treat his hands like toys, and do not use physical punishment on the cat. The most common mistake when a cat lunges at its legs is to try to move them away. The animal will bite them harder - this is a natural reaction because it feels that the victim will break free.
Should you decide to punish your cat?
No matter how pitiful the cat makes, stand your ground
The dictionaries say that punishment is the imposition of retribution, as retribution for an insult or a wrongdoing. This is a negative incentive that leads to unwanted behavior in the direction of the offender in order to eliminate or reduce the occurrence of such behavior.
The main purpose of punishment is to ensure proper behavior . This is a form of discipline that can bring out the best in your cat. Oddly enough, the motivation for punishing your beloved furbaby is love in order to provide him with a better, happier life.
When it is necessary
Before deciding to punish, consider whether you are honest with your pet
If you are still ripe for punishment, you need to clearly define when it will be carried out. The decision depends on the circumstances and whether you are doing what is right for your pet. It is forbidden to “raise” a cat if you do not fulfill the following conditions well:
- Providing sufficient food;
- Providing warmth and comfort;
- Caring for cleanliness and health, timely visits to the veterinarian;
- Confidence that the cat is safe;
- Showing love and providing toys so that the cat can play and sharpen its claws enough.
If at least one point is not fully finalized, the cat simply asks for help. But if you do everything correctly, then move on to choosing the so-called punishment. First of all, remember that a cat is not a person, and he needs special ways to prove that he is doing wrong .
Danger from cat bites
Sometimes a cat bite can lead to disappointing consequences
To underestimate cat bites means putting your health at serious risk. The teeth of cats and cats are quite sharp at any age. Moreover, the older the animal, the more bacteria it has in its mouth due to caries and possible mucosal infections.
However, in both young and adult animals, the oral cavity initially contains special bacteria. Nature has designed it in such a way that, theoretically, a small predator with the help of a personal “bacterial weapon” is able to protect itself from attacks by other, larger predators.
In other words, when biting through them, infections penetrate into the “enemy’s” skin. How they will move on, whether they will develop or your immunity will not allow it - time will tell. Is it worth tempting fate?
Even if your pet is just playing, these games can lead to serious consequences. Here are just a few of them:
- sepsis (general blood poisoning);
- inflammation of the lymph nodes;
- meningitis;
- local suppuration of the wound at the bite site;
- diseases of tendons, joints and bones (tenosynovitis, arthritis and osteomyelitis, respectively);
- damage to the mucous membrane of the eyes;
- fever.
The exception is situations when we are talking about a small kitten. He does not yet have enough strength to bite through human skin. But who knows at what point a kitten turns into a strong young cat?
As soon as you notice redness or swelling, consult a doctor immediately. There the wound will be treated as it should be, and a tetanus injection won’t hurt. By the way, is your pet vaccinated against rabies? The question is not an idle one. Only qualified medical assistance is appropriate. No initiative or negligence!
Types of punishment
Sometimes even such a cute face deserves punishment
They are divided into good, bad and disgusting. But it is easiest to classify punishments according to the type “right” and “wrong”.
Correct
These are actions aimed at achieving a certain result.
Reward system
For many cats, depriving them of treats will be sufficient punishment.
It may seem that reward has nothing to do with punishment. But toys, treats and expressions of our love in general should signal to the cat that he is doing the right thing.
On the other hand, the lack of such approval makes them sad. Therefore, the lack of rewards can also be considered punishment.
Dialogue punishment
First of all, this is interaction with the pet itself. We are talking about mild punishments - light touches on the head, unpleasant sounds, clapping your hands, and the like will wean the cat from biting and attacking you.
Incorrect
We warn you that for practicing such methods in civilized countries, a person risks being punished by special animal protection authorities.
Physical punishment
Don't even think about using violence against your cat.
Using any type of physical violence against a pet, even if it behaved badly, is wrong. This is a language that animals will never understand anyway.
This behavior on your part will cause the following reactions in the cat:
- Fear : If the cat sees you as an aggressor, he will start whining just because you are approaching;
- Aggression : The animal will give in to its natural instinct to attack the offender. It can hit, scratch and bite;
- Avoidance : Has something in common with fear, however in this case the cat will play favorably with other people, completely ignoring you;
- Anxiety : He will meow all the time, pee all over the house, and generally act very anxious;
- Disappearance : After being punished incorrectly, the cat may simply decide that it is time for him to leave.
Claw trimming
Declawing a cat is equivalent to amputating part of a bone.
Trimming the claws so that the cat does not scratch the surfaces in the apartment is the same as amputating part of the bone . Thus, the cat’s daily life will be significantly complicated.
Destruction of claws is simply an inhumane act, which is even officially prohibited in some countries. Besides, there are alternatives. If you need to prevent your cat from scratching furniture, simply organize walks for him.
Sterilization
Some believe that this is an obvious way to “domesticate” an animal. Aggression does not always mean that the cat wants to create a dominant position. Around the world, sterilization is not considered something bad, since the number of unfortunate homeless animals is truly impressive. But before you decide to take such a step, be sure to seek advice from your veterinarian.
At night
“As a child, it seemed to me that at night, if you dangled an arm or leg from the bed, it would immediately be grabbed by a monster lurking there... I grew up and got a cat. The nightmare has materialized."
If you do not want to become the “prey” of a mustachioed miscreant, stock up on a spray bottle of water or a rolled-up newspaper. As soon as the attack occurs, spray the “hunter” with water or slap him with a newspaper. The most important thing is not to scream in fear if the kitten grabs you by a protruding part of your body.
In general, to prevent night attacks, send the kitten to sleep in another room. This will not only give you the opportunity to rest normally and move around the apartment without the risk of being bitten, but will also create conditions for your pet to sleep soundly. Place an old chair covered with a blanket or a warm bed, a tray and a bowl of water in the cat's bedroom.
Correct and effective ways
Below are specific methods. You can use the most optimal one or even combine them.
Say no and stand your ground
You can punish a cat with intonation
Cats perfectly understand the intonation of speech, especially if you give it severity, make your voice rude, and generally show your dissatisfaction in every possible way . In this case, there is no need to scream or yell at all - this will simply scare the pet and make it rebel.
You can also grab the cat by the scruff of the neck. This works when you catch the animal in the act. Grab it exactly in an area of the neck where it won't hurt and lower it gently. At the same time, speak quietly and softly.
Ignoring
When planning your punishment, remember that cats cannot live without the attention of their owners.
Cats love attention, and sometimes they get into mischief just to get it. If you don't play with your pet enough or don't buy him toys, he will seek at least negative attention. If everything is in order with this, but the cat still “rebels,” you should not give in to his attempts to win your favor, since then all attempts to raise the cat will be unsuccessful.
Take the animal to another room
Cats hate being alone, even when there is a box in the room.
Very similar to punishing naughty children. Remember that cats do not like to be alone, and therefore free space will be a good punishment for them.
The idea is that you remove the cat from the crime scene, so to speak.
Set traps
Double-sided tape will tame the ardor of your furry bully
If you translate the phrase “pathetic coward” into English, you get “scared cat.” But let's get back to the topic, and remember that safe traps in order to wean your pet from doing what you don't like are quite acceptable.
Useful tips and tricks
The owner of a cat must remember that these animals are not aggressive by nature and always use their teeth and claws only for an objective reason. The pet is trying to attract attention or cope with some external situation.
Some advice from experts:
- you cannot provoke a cat: attack, continue playing if it clearly shows its dissatisfaction;
- you cannot punish a pet if the attack was caused by the behavior of a person (owner or guest);
- In no case should you show retaliatory aggression - hit, spank, shout, this will only undermine the animal’s trust;
- if an animal grabs your hand, you should not try to pull it out, as you can get more serious injuries;
- You can distract the cat with a loud sound;
- a click on the nose will quickly return the pet to a pre-aggressive state;
- you can try to stick your finger deeper into his mouth, an unpleasant feeling of nausea will prevent attempts to attack.
How to make punishment more effective
The above methods have been proven to be safe and effective. But there are a few more life hacks in store for the most stubborn cats. They are designed to make our methods even more effective.
Be consistent
Consistency is important in punishment
You cannot ignore him today for constant attacks, and tomorrow suddenly postpone educational work. This will just confuse the cat.
Overall, this can be the most difficult part of the entire process.
Timely discipline
Punishment should take effect immediately after the fact of unacceptable behavior by the cat. If you wait 20-30 minutes or more, then you will simply be abusing the animal. So it simply won’t understand what exactly is happening.
Reward him for his achievements
If the cat takes the right path, do not hesitate to reward him
If the cat begins to understand what you want - for example, he stops sharpening his claws or ruining the rug after receiving a kind of reprimand - let him know that he is on the right track. The simplest thing is to give him some tasty treat.
If he stumbles again, stop rewarding accordingly.
Sometimes tough love is necessary to keep your pet well-behaved and healthy, but make sure you honor all your obligations to your pet.
If your cat suddenly changes his behavior, don't ignore it. It is likely that he is not behaving badly on his own initiative. This may be caused by factors such as reaching a certain age or illness. If you are in doubt about the exact cause or what steps to take, consult a professional.
What to do
If your pet is showing unreasonable aggression, take him to an experienced veterinarian. A detailed examination will help determine whether everything is in order with the baby’s health. He may need urgent treatment.
If the kitten is healthy, then the reason is improper upbringing. The best cure for the remnants of a difficult childhood is love and care. Talk to the kitten in a calm, friendly tone, and do not try to pet him unless he asks. Use as toys something that will bring joy to the baby, but will keep him at a distance: a piece of paper on a string, a fur “mouse”, a pair of woolen socks rolled into a ball.
If the kitten accidentally scratches you, do not punish him under any circumstances! Immediately remove your hand, sternly scold the prankster and leave the room. To be more convincing, you can take him by the scruff of the neck and lift him off the floor for a couple of seconds. This is quite enough for the most stubborn biter to soon come running to make peace.
Causes of bad behavior in cats
Before trying to punish a cat, you need to find out what is the reason for the bad behavior. After all, the animal does dirty tricks not to spite its owner.
- Damage to furniture and torn wallpaper
is an attempt to sharpen its claws on what the cat considers a comfortable corner. Perhaps the animal is simply not accustomed to a scratching post or it is not in the house. - Food theft
may be due to underfeeding or the food you feed your cat simply does not like. Try changing the food and don't leave your food on the table. - Running around, attacking feet, stealing socks and small items
is most often an attempt to attract the owner’s attention. Contrary to popular belief, cats are not so self-sufficient, they need communication. - Ignoring the toilet
may be associated with diseases of the genitourinary system.
So, with urolithiasis, it simply hurts for a cat to go to the toilet; he associates the pain with the litter box and tries to find a more convenient place for the toilet. If your cat has always used the toilet without complaints, and then suddenly starts shitting everywhere, be sure to show him to the veterinarian.
Having found out the reasons for bad behavior, educational measures can begin.
Remember
, that under no circumstances should you hit a cat or poke its face into the crime scene. Such behavior will only cause a negative response from the pet; he may stop trusting you.
Options for weaning a kitten
When a cat attacks its owner’s legs during play, it is necessary to immediately switch its attention to another object. You can stop this behavior by shouting loudly or by spraying her with flower spray. This will make the cat feel uncomfortable and will help wean it off such pranks.
In order to wean a kitten from biting its legs, you should find the reasons for this behavior and eliminate them:
- a kitten needs personal space, for example, a special house, a box - the absence of this is the reason for aggression towards people;
- ignoring attacks;
- at the first sign of aggression, you should offer your favorite toy, thereby diverting attention;
- sometimes a loud shout like: “Ugh!”, “You can’t” helps.
In particularly advanced cases, the use of special odor-repellent sprays helps.
It is necessary to wean a cat from biting from childhood
