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Cats
Inside
You cannot discipline cats as you would dogs. Dogs form social hierarchies
that you can take advantage of by placing yourself at the top. Cats
form social groups only by necessity and the arrangement is based
on respecting territory, not by respecting the "top dog".
Many mistakes made with cats are due to thinking that they will
react like dogs.
Do not ever hit a cat or use any sort of physical punishment. You
will only teach your cat to fear you.
You can train your cat not to perform inappropriate behavior by
training your cat to perform other behavior alternative to or incompatible
with the inappropriate behavior.
Since cats hate to be surprised, you can make clapping, hissing,
and other sudden noises (such as snapping, "No!") to stop
unwanted behavior. We do not recommend using water as this will
associate grooming with bad behavior and cause unnecessary stress
in your kitty. However, be aware that these tactics will not always
work when you are not present. In addition, immediacy is key: even
seconds late may render it ineffective. You must do it as soon as
the cat starts the behavior.
The face-push has been described by various readers. This consists
of pushing the palm of your hand into the cat's face. This is best
used when discouraging something like biting. Don't hit the cat,
simply push its face back gently. You might want to accompany it
with a "no!"
Making certain behaviors impossible is another tactic. Think "childproofing":
keep food in containers; keep breakable and/or dangerous objects
out of reach; make sure heavy objects, e.g. bookshelves, are stable.
Look for childproofing gadgets and hints and think how you can apply
them to preventing cat problems. Even when the analogy isn't perfect,
physically preventing problems is still a good guide. E.g., defrosting
meat? Put it in the refrigerator to thawnot out on the
counter.
It is always best to train your cat away from undesirable behavior
as soon as possible, as young as possible. You will have the most
success training your cat when it is young on what is acceptable
to scratch and what is not. Never tolerate it when it is "cute"
since it will not always remain so.
Plants
Cats are frequently fascinated with houseplants. However, you may
not appreciate the attention, which can range from chewing on the
plant leaves to digging or peeing in the plant soil.
For chewing, try spraying Grannicks Bitter
Apple (there are formulations specifically for use on
plants) on the leaves. Dusting cayenne pepper on them may also help,
but is not as long-lasting. You may wish to grow some grass
or catnip for them as an alternative; plants do provide them with
needed nutrients (the absence of which may be causing their grazing).
For digging or urinating, cover the dirt with aluminum foil or gravel.
You can also use Sticky
Paws for Plants. If the plant needs it, add some vinegar
to the soil to counteract the ammonia in the urine.
A New Baby
Cats can become jealous upon the arrival of a new baby. Reassure
the cat that you still love it by paying it plenty of attention.
In the exhaustion and turmoil of a new baby, the cat is often neglected,
and this will add to its resentment.
There is a myth that cats will kill babies. The superstition is
that they'll "steal" the baby's breath; the latter day
explanation is that they will lie on babies and suffocate them.
While cats may like the baby's warmth and may curl up next to it,
it will not often lie on the baby and in any case will move when
the baby begins to flail its arms and legs.
Most cats are trustworthy around babies after getting over any jealousy,
especially if it is trained not to use people as toys; however babies
should never be left unsupervised around any animal.
Spraying
Some cats start spraying in the house. You will want to first rule
out any medical causes, such as FUS or cystitis. Sometimes it is
useful to distinguish between spraying (which winds up on walls)
and urinating (which is generally on the floor). Spraying is more
often a behavior problem and urination is more often a medical problem.
It is best to check with a vet first. If the problem is medical,
then you will need to simply clean up the odor after the problem
is treated, otherwise you will need to try some of the behavior
modification outlined below (and you'll still need to clean up the
odor).
You must remove the odor from items that the cat sprayed on to prevent
the cat from using the same spot again later. The ammonia smell
tells the cat that this is an elimination spot, so never use ammonia
to try and "remove" the odor! You can use Expel
to remove odors and Get
Serious to remove stain and odor.
Cats sometimes spray to mark their territory so sometimes an area
for your cat that other animals cannot go to will help. Keeping
the litterbox immaculate will help in other cases.
Sometimes cats pick small throw rugs with non-skid backing to urinate
on. This is caused by an odor from the backing that somehow tells
the cat to urinate there (probably an ammonia-like smell). Cat-repellent
sprays or washing the rug may help; you might just have to get rid
of that rug.
Scratching
For unwanted scratching, provide an approved scratching post or
other item. Issue a firm "no! on unapproved items. You
may wish to spray Bitter
Apple or a Eucalyptus
spray on items that they are particularly stubborn about.
Praise them and give a cat treat when they use the approved scratching
material. Demonstrate how to use the post by (yes) going up to it
and scratching it like your cat would. They will come over to investigate
your scent and then leave their own.
Pepper (black, white, or cayenne) can be applied to furniture and
plants to discourage scratching. This does not deter all cats. You
can also cover areas with Sticky
Paws to discourage unwanted scratching. Always be sure
to provide an alternative scratching item.
In general, cats will either use a post a lot or never use it.
The deciding factor can be the material that the post is made out
of. It has to be fairly smooth (cats usually don't like plush carpet)
and shouldn't be a material that their nails get stuck in. Once
that happens, they may not use the post anymore. Natural fiber rope
called sisal appeals to many cats. Some cats
prefer cardboard scratchers. Other
cats prefer the kind of "scratching posts" that are horizontal rather than vertical.
Furniture
You may wish to keep your cat off of the furniture or off of a particular
piece of furniture. Or to keep them off the counters and or tables.
Because of a cat's ability to climb and jump, this isn't always
a practical thing to do – but you can sometimes train them
to stay off very specific pieces of furniture or locations by covering
it with aluminum foil. However this method is not always effective. Consider more definent alternatives such as the SSSCAT Spray Cat Deterrent .
Escaping
The best way to discourage running to the door is never to let the
cat succeed! After a history of unsuccessful attempts, the cat will
stop trying. After even one success, the cat will try hard and for
a long time.
We would like to remind our customers that the most important thing you can provide your kitty with is a durable, safety collar and ID tag. Even if your kitty is kept strictly indoor, there is always that chance they might slip by you one day. It's always best to be prepared, so be sure to outfit your babies with their own collar and tag as soon as you can.
To view our collection of collars and tags please click here. All the collars carried at the Cat Connection are safety collars, meaning they are either break-away or stretch.
Tip: Don't arrive at the door with three bags of groceries in hand
and expect you'll be able to keep the cat in. Instead, put down
all but one bag and use that bag to block the floor level when you
come in. After you're in, bring in the rest. In general, spend the
time to be in control whenever the outside door is opened. Kids
will need to learn how to keep the cat in too. Cat deterrents, such
as Boundary
can also help. Some cats are remarkably persistent, and never seem
to give up.
Drape/Curtain Climbing
If possible, use tension rods instead of drilled into the wall rods.
The tension rods will simply fall down on top of the cat if it tries
to climb them. Otherwise, take the drapes off the hooks and thread
them back up with thread just barely strong enough to hold them
up. When the cat climbs up, the drapes will fall down on it (be
sure that the hooks aren't around to potentially injure the cat).
After the drapes have remained up for some time, re-hook them. These
methods have the advantage of working whether you're home or not.
Vertical blinds can work very well; cats cannot climb up them,
cannot shred them, and cannot be bent the way horizontal
blinds. It is furthermore easy for cats to push them aside to look
outside. Vertical blinds are usually vertical strips of plastic,
but they can also come covered with different fabrics to match your
decor. These kinds are still relatively indestructible.
Cord (and Other) Chewing
Put something distasteful on the cord to discourage chewing. Substances
to try: Tabasco sauce, cayenne pepper, Bitter Apple or a Eucalyptus spray. If you cannot find a substance that
will repel your cat, you may wish to use gaffer's tape to secure
exposed cords. Gaffer's tape comes in a variety of colors and you
will probably be able to find something relatively inconspicuous.
(Duct tape can also be used, but it's pretty messy and hard to clean
up if you're moving out of an apartment. Consider permanent wiring
if you own your place: installment behind walls, etc.
This will work on other chewed items, as well, although you will
need to check the compatibility of the chewed item with the substance
you put on it.
Biting
Give a sharp, plantative yowl, like the sound a hurt cat would make.
Pull your hand back (or if that would score furrows down your hand,
let it go completely limp), turn your back to the cat, and ignore them
for a few minutes. People are divided on the issue of whether to
allow hand attacks at all or to allow limited hand attacks. You
can train the cat to do either with the same method. For the former,
always wail when attacked and then offer a toy to play with instead;
for the latter, wail whenever the claws come out, but allow attack
of the hand up to that point. Be aware that a cat trained not to
use a person as a toy at all will be more trustworthy around a new
baby.
Garbage
The best way to prevent this problem is to get a garbage container
with a firm lid. Do NOT start with container that's trivial to get
into, then gradually move to harder and harder containers: this
just trains the cat to get into the harder container. A hospital
type of container that opens the lid with a foot pedal is effective
and convenient. Another is the kind with metal handles that swing
up to close the lid. The important thing is the lid is tight and
secure.
Another way to prevent this is to store the garbage can out of
reach, such as in the cabinet under the sink or in a pantry where
the door is kept closed. If the cat can open the cabinet door, get
a childproof latch for it.
If the problem is one of tipping the container over, several bricks
in the bottom of the container may help stabilize it. Once the cat
is convinced it can't be knocked over, you can remove the weight.
Counters
It's not a good idea to let your cat on your kitchen counters or
tabletops. There are several ways to prevent this. Leave a collection
of poorly balanced kitchen utensils, so the cat will
knock them off if it jumps up. Cats hate surprises and loud noises.
Leave some ordinary dishwashing liquid on the counters, or some
masking tape (or two-sided carpet tape) arranged gummy side up.
A much less messy solution is the SSSCAT Spray Cat Deterrent.
This wonderful device has two main elements: a motion detector and an aerosol can. The motion detector will detect the cat's motion and it will release a sound, then a spray of air. Once this is repeated a few times, the sound will be enough to keep the cat away from unwanted areas. This is very effective to stop your cat from going into plants, scratching the furniture and jumping on counters.
Don't leave things on the counter that will attract the cat (like
raw meat).
Early AM Wakeups
Cats are notorious for waking their owners up at oh-dark-thirty.
If you wish to stop this, there are several steps to take.
The cat may simply be hungry and demanding its food. By feeding
it when it wakes you up at an ungodly hour, you are simply reinforcing
its behavior. If this is why it's waking you up, you can handle
this either by filling the bowl just before you go to sleep so it
will not be empty in the morning, or by ignoring the cat's wakeups
and feeding it at the exact same time convenient to you every morning.
The cat will adjust fairly quickly to the second.
If it is trying to play, there are again several tactics you can
try. If you make a practice of tiring it out with play just before
bedtime, you can reduce its calls for play at dawn. What works in
some cases is to hiss gently at the cat. You can also try shutting
it out of the bedroom. Be sure to provide kitty with plenty of toys that they can play with on their own.
Toilet Paper
Five ways to prevent cats from playing with toilet paper:
1.
Hang the roll so that the paper hangs down between the roll and
the wall rather than over the top of the roll.
2.
If the cat knows how to roll it either way, then you can get a cover
that rests on top of the toilet paper and this will work.
3. You can
make your own cover by taking the cardboard core from an empty roll and
slitting it lengthwise and fitting it over the roll.
4. You can balance a small paper cup full of water on top of the roll. 5. Instead of a cup of water, try an aluminum can with pennies.
If you are unwilling or unable to use any of these methods, then close the
door to the bathroom.
Splashing Water
Some cats like to tip the water dish and empty it all over the kitchen
floor. You can try placing it on a small rug. Cats should
always have a source of fresh water (except for pre-op surgery or
prior to a car ride), so removing it while you are not at home is
an unsatisfactory solution.
Ripping Carpet
Some cats may develop the annoying and expensive habit of ripping
up carpet. There are several possible reasons behind this, listed
below. In all circumstances, be sure that there is plenty of items
that the cat can scratch.
Other "approved" scratching posts may be made of carpet,
confusing your cat. Switch to scratching materials that do NOT use
carpet. Common alternatives include sisal rope, corrugated cardboard,
or carpet turned wrong-way out. Retrain your cat onto these items.
Some cats rip at doorways that are closed, trying to get through.
You can put down plastic carpet covering, securing it with nails
if necessary, through the doorway so that it sticks out on both
sides.
A particular spot may be favored, for no apparent reason. There
may be some odor at that spot. Try cleaning it thoroughly with an
enzyme-based cleaner like Expel
or Get
Serious and then spraying a touch of Bitter
Apple or the equivalent on the spot.
Closet Antics
Cats love closets, since they're dark hidey holes full of fun stuff.
But you may not want your cat to swing on your good silk clothing
or rearrange your shoes. Conversely, you might want your cat to
be able to get into the closet and keep larger pets out.
If you have a swing-and-shut door, you might try a cat door to
allow the cat access. A child-barrier that lets the cat jump over
but not the dog is another possibility. Or a chain (like the chain
some front doors have) might work.
A solution with closets that have double sliding doors is to drill
a hole through the area of overlap, with the doors positioned closed
or partially opened as you wish. Then you can use a nail or a peg
in the hole to keep the doors in position.
Cats Outside
Cats do not need to be outdoors and Cat Connection recommends all cats to be kept inside. Your cat may "yowl" to get outside, however do not encourage kitty to go outside the safe haven of its home. Being outdoors, kitties are susceptible to the many dangers such as disease, predators, cars and harsh weather.
Noise
Mating cats can make an unbelievable amount of noise under your
window. If these cats are feral, check with your local animal clinic
about trapping and neutering these cats. Many will do them at little
or no cost, depending on how many cats you're willing to bring in
for the procedure. Eliminating the breeding stock in feral cats
as much as possible will also help reduce the stray population in
your area over time, and reduce similar problems like cat fights
and spraying.
If the cats involved are owned by your neighbors, you might try
a non-confrontational approach – let them know what their cat
has been doing and suggest that perhaps neutering their cat might
help solve some of these problems and to also keep their cat indoors
in a safe environment. A politely worded note can be left on their
door if you wish to avoid direct confrontation. You might eventually
call Animal Control in your area for help, but first let them know
you are having problems with their cat.
References/Additional Articles
*Cats That Hunt
November 29, 2000
Written by: Tracy Vogel, Staff Writer @ VetCentric
For more information on this article, please click here.
http://www.vetcentric.com
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