Though fun, however, a disobedient cat can be one of your worst nightmares. (Did we hit home?)
When it comes to your cat’s bad habits, you might just want to give up and accept that it’s just the way they are.
But don’t worry, that doesn’t always have to be the case! Cats are notoriously bad at following directions. They also have a knack for getting into all sorts of trouble, which is why they’re so much fun to be around.
Your cat doesn’t need to live with his or her bad habits forever, and there are plenty of ways to get rid of them!
So without further ado, let’s jump right into this article and see the methods you can utilize to rid your cat of its inner demons and turn it into a huggable, obedient fluff-ball!
#1 Skip the Punishment
Punishing bad behavior rarely brings any progress when it comes to training the cat or correcting the bad behavior.
In fact, you can only worsen the situation and make your little ball of fur stressed, which is counterproductive to the task at hand.
Instead of punishing the cat for doing something you don’t want, for example, sharpening the claws on the furniture, you’ll have to come up with uniform methods that will distract the cat.
#2 Stop the Aggressive Behaviour
If you are worried that your cat is becoming too aggressive, it bites and scratches you during the play – stop the game immediately.
Stopping the game whenever the cat starts to bite will signal your pet that you don’t want to play that way.
Over time, the cat may understand that aggressive behavior won’t lead to an exciting time with the hooman!
Aggressiveness can also be a sign that your cat has too much energy!
Therefore, play with the cat more often and bring toys the cat can chase.
As the cat matures, the playfulness may decrease, and the aggressiveness will naturally fade away.
#3 Keep The Cat Away From Certain Areas
Cats don’t like texture, especially aluminum foil. If your cat is curious and constantly examines the surrounding space, you may find it on the top of the fridge, in the nursery, or in the basket with clean laundry.
A trick you can use is to place a piece of aluminum foil or double-sided tape on these areas.
Pet stores also sell specialized products to keep the cats away from particular places.
If you want to try a more natural alternative, try citrus-scented candles and air fresheners in rooms where you don’t want the cat to step in.
Moreover, find out what else your cat doesn’t like, and use it as a personalized deterrent.
#4 Make Noise
Cats don’Make Noiset like sudden and loud noises. So that means you can fill the empty can with pennies and shake it whenever you notice your cat is misbehaving.
It will instantly attract the cat’s attention and stop the current mischief.
Note however that the key here is to be consistent. Always make the same or similar noise to prevent confusing the cat.
Instead of using a can, you can loudly say “No” every time a cat jumps on the table or starts scratching the furniture.
Eventually, the cat will stop misbehaving to prevent loud and disturbing noises!
#5 Make That Kitty Wet
Most cats don’t like water! Keep a water spray near you and spritz the cat when you notice your pet is doing something you would like to root out.
Soon, your cat will stop doing these activities as soon as you reach the spray!
#6 Use A Time-Out
A time-out is a very effective parenting technique, which works with pets.
For example, if you are playing with your cat and it starts to bite, bring the cat to another room where it can sit alone for 20 minutes.
The cat cannot think about its behavior, but you’ll completely change the energy, and the cat will start behaving differently.
#7 Listen to The Cat’s Needs
In most cases, the cat isn’t misbehaving on purpose (well, unless it manifests its innate dislike about humans).
But yeah, most of the time, it is looking for a way to fulfill its needs.
For example, when a cat scratches the furniture, it needs to do so!
To prevent it, provide the cat a structure to scratch! Simple as that.
And Remember – Patience is KEY!
With cats, you want to fix one bad behavior at a time. Never push your pet into learning everything at once!
Also, don’t underestimate the power of positive reinforcement!
Award the cat for the behavior you want to promote, and don’t be shy when showing affection to your furry friend!