There are not any Bad Cats! (Behavior Problems and the way to unravel Them)
Believe it or not, there are not any bad cats. Cats are just unique. They sleep in a cat world and do what cats do, regardless of what you are trying to mention or do to convince them to regulate to your world. the foremost important thing for you as a cat parent is to know why your cat does what it does. Cats don't attend obedience school. If that they had their way, you as a pet parent would attend obedience school to find out the way to affect your pet.
A cat isn't a dog; a cat doesn't act sort of a dog, think sort of a dog or behave sort of a dog. If you would like a pet that behaves as a dog, get a dog, not a cat. That said, let's get to the purpose of understanding cat behavior. Punishing a cat for wrong behavior is like trying to empty the ocean one cup at a time. Try as you'll, you'll never empty the ocean or get your cat to know why you're punishing him/her.
Punishment will never cure bad behavior; it'll only make your cat frightened and leery of you. Cats are smart enough to understand that when punished for a misdeed they're going to not roll in the hay again, ahead of you. they're going to wait until your back is turned otherwise you are out the door. Though you'll believe your cat understands what you're saying, or rather yelling about, it'll pay you no heed except to run away, ignore you or wait to try to to it again later.
A perfect example is our male cat Smokey, he dislikes our female cat Tiger and each chance he gets he will chase her. However, if he starts bent chase her then sees me he stops, looks at me then will shy away from as if he was just out taking a walk. He knows I will be able to say "No" quite loudly and scold him. Of course, it doesn't do any good to scold him, but it makes me feel better.
There are several good reasons why your cat does what it does to harass you. First of all, cats really do not have an honest grasp of the English language; they're not furry little people. However, they are doing to understand the positive and negative responses to their actions. Cats love praise, pets, and treats and this is often our secret weapon. Screaming, yelling, spanking or throwing (heaven forbid) will only traumatize your cat and make it scared of you.
Stop for a flash and believe the life your cat is leading (okay, you would like you'll lead that life) take into consideration its day. you're at work all day and should get home late and tired. Your furball has been sleeping all day and needs to play.
You want to take a seat, eat and watch TV. You give your cat a couple of pets and while you're doing that he/she gives you a touch nip on your hand. You react by jumping up and possibly yelling and chasing him/her. Hey, this is often fun your cat got your attention and you're "playing." We humans sometimes reward our cats for his or her bad behavior by giving them the eye they need.
In our house, I'm the right example of what to not do. Our Smokey maybe a night eater. Why? Cause he sleeps all day while I'm at work. He started at a young age to return into our bedroom and nudge me together with his head when he wanted to be fed, albeit I might feed him before I visited sleep. Knowing what he wanted I might rise up and feed him. this can happen several times an evening and that I would rise up (truthfully this has been happening for years.)
However, since I started doing research for this book I suddenly came to understand that this is often silly, the cat isn't starving and that I don't need to rise up in the least hours. I gradually began to push him away (nicely) whenever he nudged me and quietly said "No" as a result he moved over to the nightstand where he likes to sleep and laid down. it's been several weeks and he will once during a while nudge me and that I say "no" and he goes away and waits until he sees me stir. Most cats once they do "wrong behavior" are really doing exactly what a cat should be doing.
Cats got to scratch and stretch their claws. it's a natural thing to try to and it feels good. it's up to you because the pet parent to supply scratching material, whether it's the couch or a scratching post, it's immaterial to the cat. Cats learn by experience, if they are doing something and it seems to be an honest experience in their eyes, they're going to roll in the hay again, a nasty experience may eliminate, the behavior or they only might try it again to ascertain if something good happens.
One important thing to recollect, if your cat suddenly starts doing things that he/she never attempted before and therefore the behavior isn't to your liking, observe the present situation in your household. Have there been sudden and weird changes within the household routine, new furniture, new people or a replacement pet? Has there been a change in your cat's bathroom routine; is kitty eating, does one notice any changes in your cat's grooming habits?
It doesn't take much to disturb the serenity of a cat's world as cats like routine and changes can cause reactions, which aren't always to their liking. Also, consider medical problems, your cat might not feel well and this can also cause behavioral problems. Since cats cannot talk they'll misbehave to point out their concern or displeasure to the changes that have occurred.
Here are a couple of thoughts to stay in mind while you're trying to reform kitty.
First of all, stop all reprimands and punishment-- they seldom do any good anyway. Make life together with your cat fun and rewarding. Create an environment for yourself and your cat that satisfies you both. Remember a cat doesn't read minds and has little knowledge of English.
Help your cat understand what you would like to try to by making the "yes" experiences rewarding and finding ways to eliminate most of the "no" experiences. We are getting to list below some typical behavioral problems and possible solutions. it's important to do you have to have any questions on your cat's behavior that you simply consult your vet to debate it.
Aggressive behavior: are often caused by fear, being disturbed when napping, injury or sickness, or being during a bad mood.
Solution: Should the catnip or scratch you while petting, say NO and stop petting. don't play rough together with your cat because it doesn't know nice from not nice. Were you petting or scratching in
a sensitive area of the cat's body? If your cat hisses or its ears are flattened back, leave the cat alone. Check for injury.
Begging: are often caused by the cat being hungry or simply wanting attention.
Solution: Feed the cat just before your sit right down to eat or if the begging is for attention take a moment or two to pet and ask your cat a touch quality attention will go an extended way.
Constant meowing: Females that aren't spayed will meow constantly while trying to find a "fellow." Or your cat may have some quality time with you, remember just a couple of minute of undivided attention will do wonders. Another thought is your cat could also be ill or hurt.
Solution: Spay or neuter your cat (really should anyway), give your cat some quality time, cats got to know that they're loved, or your cat may be sick or hurt, especially if the crying occurs when kitty is trying to travel to the toilet. If so, take a fast trip to the vet or involve advice.
Jumping on the counters and/or furniture: Cats love high places and cats are generally nosey, exploring is a component of a cat's nature.
Solution: When it involves the counters, stove and therefore the board in our house, a uniform NO and placing the cat on the ground worked fine. It took several tries at this, but it worked. Another solution is to put double sticky tape on the counter for each day or two, the cat will walk thereon and obtain stuck, not an honest experience and can stop because it is not any fun. Also, keep food and other attractive smells off the counter or table. Things that resound and should fall off the counter also work, because it will scare the cat. Cats don't wish to be scared.
If your cat is aged the furniture and you are doing not want that, provide a cushty topographic point high if possible. There are window seats that you simply can fasten to a window sill. we have a little bed on top of a neighborhood of our wall unit where our female can escape.
If you've got a specific piece of furniture you are doing not want the cat on, put foil, plastic or some inexpensive netting that you simply can purchase at a cloth store over it once you aren't reception. Cats don't just like the feel of that and can keep off it and shortly will ignore it. There also are things called "scat mats" which may be purchased on the web or at major pet stores.
Fighting with other cats: Cats are inclined to guard their habitat, they could be looking to mate, and a few cats just want to point out who is boss.
Solution: First of all spay or neuter your cat as they create far better pets and are less inclined to fight. Never hack a catfight together with your hands. Use a hose to spray them, throw a towel on them or make a bang to scare them. If your resident cats are having a dispute, separate them by putting them in separate rooms for a short time. Usually, they're going to calm and become tolerant of every other again.
In our household, a pointy "No" works for a short time with our male and feminine. be sure to offer all many affection, out of sight of every other. Some cats are like people and that they just do not like one another regardless of what you are trying to try to to.
In our household, our female is sensible enough to remain out of Smokey's reach. Smokey doesn't want to fight together with her, he just wants to chase her.
Spraying: A cat operates on smell and spraying may be a natural thanks to marking its territory. Also, a cat will spray if it feels threatened, stressed or anxious.
Solution: Spay or neuter your pet to decrease the necessity to be overly territorial. Give your pet tons of pets and a spotlight, because it may feel stressed and/or unloved.
Provide a secure haven preferably high (off the ground) if your pet feels threatened by another household pet.
If your cat is spraying near or on a window your pet could also be marking its territory due to an outdoor cat. Keep curtains or drapes closed.
Do not punish your cat for spraying because it may increase his/her anxiety. employing a citrus-based cleaner will remove the scent and keep kitty hopefully from doing it again. we've found that the male cats usually do spraying, we've not seen our females roll in the hay, though they could. Interestingly, when our one male cat sprayed there was no odor after we had him neutered. However, the spraying left an oily substance that had to be cleaned up. there's a sprig you'll buy that features a calming effect on cats and has helped in stopping the spraying it's called "Feliway" and it is often purchased at major pet stores and on the web.
Scratching and tearing furniture: Scratching may be a natural instinct of a cat. Boredom or scarcity of a scratching post can cause the matter.
Solution: Scratching is a component of a cat's life it provides exercise, a chance to stretch, relieves stress and allows them to shed their claws. If your cat may be a domestic cat and doesn't have the chance to seek out a tree or post to scratch, it's up to you the pet parent to supply one. Cats aren't overly particular about what they scratch as long because it fulfills its criteria.
Couches and stereo speakers fit the bill nicely. Providing an honest scratching post (actually several are better) may be a great alternative to your couch. you'll make your own with a touch effort or buy one at your favorite pet store. an honest scratching post should be a minimum of 2 1/2 to three feet tall, be sturdy enough so it won't go over and scare the cat and be covered with either hemp rope or the reverse side of some leftover carpet.
Do not use the right side of the carpet for a post; use the backside because it provides the proper grabbing material. Actually, you'll make a post that lies on the ground, as long because it is long enough for the cat to stretch out on. There are some inexpensive ones made from cardboard that have a catnip scent that cats enjoy.
When teaching your cat to use the post it's an honest idea to rub some catnip thereon to draw in the kitty. Whenever you see your cat using its post, praise the cat and provides it a little treat, this conditions the cat into thinking this is often an excellent thing to try to to. If your cat is scratching the furniture punishing won't help the matter. Remember that a cat knows better than to try to something it's been reprimanded for ahead of you.
If kitty remains going back to his/her old tricks the answer is to form the article of choice unacceptable. Cover it with a bit of plastic, foil, double-sided sticky tape or netting you'll patronize a cloth store once you aren't home. still, show kitty the scratching post, give praise and treats for using it, persistence pays on your part and shortly kitty will leave your stuff alone.
Some people resort to having their pets declawed. we have a chapter on Declawing during this book. We don't recommend doing that, as there are other alternatives like clipping your cat's nails or using the nail covers that are sold in pet stores and glue on the claws.
There also are spray repellents sold in pet stores to use on furniture that make the furniture unattractive to your cat. Scat mats also are available at major pet stores and on the web, they provide a "static" type shock to the pet that climbs thereon (it isn't harmful, just annoying.) we've covered what we feel are the foremost common bad habits of cats during this chapter.
Cats really don't have any bad habits; the items they are doing are the items that, together of nature's critters are natural to them. Climbing, hunting, spraying, biting, fighting, and clawing are all things the natural cat does. we've brought this magnificent creature in from the wild, domesticated it and demanded that it live by our rules. "We'll see," says the kitty because it settles down for a nap.
A cat isn't a dog; a cat doesn't act sort of a dog, think sort of a dog or behave sort of a dog. If you would like a pet that behaves as a dog, get a dog, not a cat. That said, let's get to the purpose of understanding cat behavior. Punishing a cat for wrong behavior is like trying to empty the ocean one cup at a time. Try as you'll, you'll never empty the ocean or get your cat to know why you're punishing him/her.
Punishment will never cure bad behavior; it'll only make your cat frightened and leery of you. Cats are smart enough to understand that when punished for a misdeed they're going to not roll in the hay again, ahead of you. they're going to wait until your back is turned otherwise you are out the door. Though you'll believe your cat understands what you're saying, or rather yelling about, it'll pay you no heed except to run away, ignore you or wait to try to to it again later.
A perfect example is our male cat Smokey, he dislikes our female cat Tiger and each chance he gets he will chase her. However, if he starts bent chase her then sees me he stops, looks at me then will shy away from as if he was just out taking a walk. He knows I will be able to say "No" quite loudly and scold him. Of course, it doesn't do any good to scold him, but it makes me feel better.
There are several good reasons why your cat does what it does to harass you. First of all, cats really do not have an honest grasp of the English language; they're not furry little people. However, they are doing to understand the positive and negative responses to their actions. Cats love praise, pets, and treats and this is often our secret weapon. Screaming, yelling, spanking or throwing (heaven forbid) will only traumatize your cat and make it scared of you.
Stop for a flash and believe the life your cat is leading (okay, you would like you'll lead that life) take into consideration its day. you're at work all day and should get home late and tired. Your furball has been sleeping all day and needs to play.
You want to take a seat, eat and watch TV. You give your cat a couple of pets and while you're doing that he/she gives you a touch nip on your hand. You react by jumping up and possibly yelling and chasing him/her. Hey, this is often fun your cat got your attention and you're "playing." We humans sometimes reward our cats for his or her bad behavior by giving them the eye they need.
In our house, I'm the right example of what to not do. Our Smokey maybe a night eater. Why? Cause he sleeps all day while I'm at work. He started at a young age to return into our bedroom and nudge me together with his head when he wanted to be fed, albeit I might feed him before I visited sleep. Knowing what he wanted I might rise up and feed him. this can happen several times an evening and that I would rise up (truthfully this has been happening for years.)
However, since I started doing research for this book I suddenly came to understand that this is often silly, the cat isn't starving and that I don't need to rise up in the least hours. I gradually began to push him away (nicely) whenever he nudged me and quietly said "No" as a result he moved over to the nightstand where he likes to sleep and laid down. it's been several weeks and he will once during a while nudge me and that I say "no" and he goes away and waits until he sees me stir. Most cats once they do "wrong behavior" are really doing exactly what a cat should be doing.
Cats got to scratch and stretch their claws. it's a natural thing to try to and it feels good. it's up to you because the pet parent to supply scratching material, whether it's the couch or a scratching post, it's immaterial to the cat. Cats learn by experience, if they are doing something and it seems to be an honest experience in their eyes, they're going to roll in the hay again, a nasty experience may eliminate, the behavior or they only might try it again to ascertain if something good happens.
One important thing to recollect, if your cat suddenly starts doing things that he/she never attempted before and therefore the behavior isn't to your liking, observe the present situation in your household. Have there been sudden and weird changes within the household routine, new furniture, new people or a replacement pet? Has there been a change in your cat's bathroom routine; is kitty eating, does one notice any changes in your cat's grooming habits?
It doesn't take much to disturb the serenity of a cat's world as cats like routine and changes can cause reactions, which aren't always to their liking. Also, consider medical problems, your cat might not feel well and this can also cause behavioral problems. Since cats cannot talk they'll misbehave to point out their concern or displeasure to the changes that have occurred.
Here are a couple of thoughts to stay in mind while you're trying to reform kitty.
First of all, stop all reprimands and punishment-- they seldom do any good anyway. Make life together with your cat fun and rewarding. Create an environment for yourself and your cat that satisfies you both. Remember a cat doesn't read minds and has little knowledge of English.
Help your cat understand what you would like to try to by making the "yes" experiences rewarding and finding ways to eliminate most of the "no" experiences. We are getting to list below some typical behavioral problems and possible solutions. it's important to do you have to have any questions on your cat's behavior that you simply consult your vet to debate it.
Aggressive behavior: are often caused by fear, being disturbed when napping, injury or sickness, or being during a bad mood.
Solution: Should the catnip or scratch you while petting, say NO and stop petting. don't play rough together with your cat because it doesn't know nice from not nice. Were you petting or scratching in
a sensitive area of the cat's body? If your cat hisses or its ears are flattened back, leave the cat alone. Check for injury.
Begging: are often caused by the cat being hungry or simply wanting attention.
Solution: Feed the cat just before your sit right down to eat or if the begging is for attention take a moment or two to pet and ask your cat a touch quality attention will go an extended way.
Constant meowing: Females that aren't spayed will meow constantly while trying to find a "fellow." Or your cat may have some quality time with you, remember just a couple of minute of undivided attention will do wonders. Another thought is your cat could also be ill or hurt.
Solution: Spay or neuter your cat (really should anyway), give your cat some quality time, cats got to know that they're loved, or your cat may be sick or hurt, especially if the crying occurs when kitty is trying to travel to the toilet. If so, take a fast trip to the vet or involve advice.
Jumping on the counters and/or furniture: Cats love high places and cats are generally nosey, exploring is a component of a cat's nature.
Solution: When it involves the counters, stove and therefore the board in our house, a uniform NO and placing the cat on the ground worked fine. It took several tries at this, but it worked. Another solution is to put double sticky tape on the counter for each day or two, the cat will walk thereon and obtain stuck, not an honest experience and can stop because it is not any fun. Also, keep food and other attractive smells off the counter or table. Things that resound and should fall off the counter also work, because it will scare the cat. Cats don't wish to be scared.
If your cat is aged the furniture and you are doing not want that, provide a cushty topographic point high if possible. There are window seats that you simply can fasten to a window sill. we have a little bed on top of a neighborhood of our wall unit where our female can escape.
If you've got a specific piece of furniture you are doing not want the cat on, put foil, plastic or some inexpensive netting that you simply can purchase at a cloth store over it once you aren't reception. Cats don't just like the feel of that and can keep off it and shortly will ignore it. There also are things called "scat mats" which may be purchased on the web or at major pet stores.
Fighting with other cats: Cats are inclined to guard their habitat, they could be looking to mate, and a few cats just want to point out who is boss.
Solution: First of all spay or neuter your cat as they create far better pets and are less inclined to fight. Never hack a catfight together with your hands. Use a hose to spray them, throw a towel on them or make a bang to scare them. If your resident cats are having a dispute, separate them by putting them in separate rooms for a short time. Usually, they're going to calm and become tolerant of every other again.
In our household, a pointy "No" works for a short time with our male and feminine. be sure to offer all many affection, out of sight of every other. Some cats are like people and that they just do not like one another regardless of what you are trying to try to to.
In our household, our female is sensible enough to remain out of Smokey's reach. Smokey doesn't want to fight together with her, he just wants to chase her.
Spraying: A cat operates on smell and spraying may be a natural thanks to marking its territory. Also, a cat will spray if it feels threatened, stressed or anxious.
Solution: Spay or neuter your pet to decrease the necessity to be overly territorial. Give your pet tons of pets and a spotlight, because it may feel stressed and/or unloved.
Provide a secure haven preferably high (off the ground) if your pet feels threatened by another household pet.
If your cat is spraying near or on a window your pet could also be marking its territory due to an outdoor cat. Keep curtains or drapes closed.
Do not punish your cat for spraying because it may increase his/her anxiety. employing a citrus-based cleaner will remove the scent and keep kitty hopefully from doing it again. we've found that the male cats usually do spraying, we've not seen our females roll in the hay, though they could. Interestingly, when our one male cat sprayed there was no odor after we had him neutered. However, the spraying left an oily substance that had to be cleaned up. there's a sprig you'll buy that features a calming effect on cats and has helped in stopping the spraying it's called "Feliway" and it is often purchased at major pet stores and on the web.
Scratching and tearing furniture: Scratching may be a natural instinct of a cat. Boredom or scarcity of a scratching post can cause the matter.
Solution: Scratching is a component of a cat's life it provides exercise, a chance to stretch, relieves stress and allows them to shed their claws. If your cat may be a domestic cat and doesn't have the chance to seek out a tree or post to scratch, it's up to you the pet parent to supply one. Cats aren't overly particular about what they scratch as long because it fulfills its criteria.
Couches and stereo speakers fit the bill nicely. Providing an honest scratching post (actually several are better) may be a great alternative to your couch. you'll make your own with a touch effort or buy one at your favorite pet store. an honest scratching post should be a minimum of 2 1/2 to three feet tall, be sturdy enough so it won't go over and scare the cat and be covered with either hemp rope or the reverse side of some leftover carpet.
Do not use the right side of the carpet for a post; use the backside because it provides the proper grabbing material. Actually, you'll make a post that lies on the ground, as long because it is long enough for the cat to stretch out on. There are some inexpensive ones made from cardboard that have a catnip scent that cats enjoy.
When teaching your cat to use the post it's an honest idea to rub some catnip thereon to draw in the kitty. Whenever you see your cat using its post, praise the cat and provides it a little treat, this conditions the cat into thinking this is often an excellent thing to try to to. If your cat is scratching the furniture punishing won't help the matter. Remember that a cat knows better than to try to something it's been reprimanded for ahead of you.
If kitty remains going back to his/her old tricks the answer is to form the article of choice unacceptable. Cover it with a bit of plastic, foil, double-sided sticky tape or netting you'll patronize a cloth store once you aren't home. still, show kitty the scratching post, give praise and treats for using it, persistence pays on your part and shortly kitty will leave your stuff alone.
Some people resort to having their pets declawed. we have a chapter on Declawing during this book. We don't recommend doing that, as there are other alternatives like clipping your cat's nails or using the nail covers that are sold in pet stores and glue on the claws.
There also are spray repellents sold in pet stores to use on furniture that make the furniture unattractive to your cat. Scat mats also are available at major pet stores and on the web, they provide a "static" type shock to the pet that climbs thereon (it isn't harmful, just annoying.) we've covered what we feel are the foremost common bad habits of cats during this chapter.
Cats really don't have any bad habits; the items they are doing are the items that, together of nature's critters are natural to them. Climbing, hunting, spraying, biting, fighting, and clawing are all things the natural cat does. we've brought this magnificent creature in from the wild, domesticated it and demanded that it live by our rules. "We'll see," says the kitty because it settles down for a nap.
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