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HomeArticlesCommunityMy Profile WH.translationData = {'de': {'msg':"Lies auch unseren deutschen Artikel: Wie man eine Katze trainiert, fast alles zu unterlassen."},'es': {'msg':"\u00bfTe gustar\u00eda saber Como entrenar a un gato para que haga casi cualquier cosa? \u00a1Lee acerca de eso en espa\u00f1ol!"},'it': {'msg':"Ti piacerebbe sapere Come Insegnare al tuo Gatto di Smettere di fare qualsiasi Cosa? Leggi come farlo, in italiano!"},'pt': {'msg':"Gostaria de aprender Como Treinar seu Gato para Parar de Fazer quase Qualquer Coisa? Leia sobre o assunto em portugu\u00eas!"}};WH.mergeLang({'navlist_collapse': '- collapse','navlist_expand': '+ expand'});EditHome » Categories » Pets and Animals » Cats » Managing Cat BehaviorHow to Train a Cat to Stop Doing Almost AnythingEdited by Ben Rubenstein, Sondra C, Flickety, Misty2007 and 27 othersPin ItArticle EditDiscussYou may love your cat more than anything in the world -- but you don't exactly love it when your beloved pet tears up your furniture, scratches you, or refuses to use his litter box. If you want to know how to stop your cat from doing anything from trying to eat your food to shredding your favorite couch, all you need is a little patience and understanding. If you feel like you've tried everything but can't get your cat to break any of his naughty habits, then follow these steps. Edit StepsGeneral Strategies for Deterring Your Cat From Bad Behavior1Find the root of the problem. Many times, your cat isn't acting out just for the sake of it, but has a reason for his unbearable behavior. Your cat could just be having trouble adjusting to a new environment or may need more love and attention. If your kitty has previously had no trouble and is suddenly acting out, try thinking of some reasons that could be causing him to act badly. Here are a few of them:
Trouble dealing with change. If you've moved to a new home, your kitty may still be getting used to his surroundings, so be patient as he takes time to adjust. If you've given him a new litter box or new litter and he's suddenly eliminating outside the box, then switch back to the litter and box that he liked.Overstimulation. Your kitty may be troubled by loud noises from outdoors, a neighbor's dog, the television, or even from the noises of the guests in your home who try to give him too much attention. Know when your kitty needs some privacy and quiet.[1]Not enough play. Your kitty may be acting aggressive or wild because you're not giving him enough attention or toys. Take at least 15 minutes twice a day to play with your kitty using dangly toys, rolling balls across the floor, or giving him toys to chew.A health problem. See Step 5 for a list of situations where it may be best to take your cat to a vet to investigate the cause of his bad behavior.2Change its environment. Your cat may be exhibiting frustrated or upset behavior because of a bad past experience - for instance, if it was once startled while using its litter box, it could be reluctant to do so again in the same area. Try moving the litter box to a quieter place. Alternatively, if you notice your cat eliminating in the same location over and over, try placing its food bowls there - it will avoid eliminating where it eats.
3Reinforce good behavior with rewards. If you're trying to get your cat to use the litter box again, give it a small treat and a pet when you see that it succeeds. Offer a reward for every time at first; then taper down but continue to reward your kitty for good behavior. This will teach your cat that good behavior has positive repercussions, and make it more likely to continue doing it on its own even when it is not rewarded every time. Here are some ways to reward your kitty:[2]
Play time. Reward your kitty with a few minutes of play.Attention. Just cuddle, pet, or snuggle with your kitty when he does something good.The occasional treat. You shouldn't over do this, but you can give your kitty a treat if he's done something great, like use his scratching post or let you trim his claws.4Deter bad behavior. Cats dislike water and high-pitched noises. Next time you catch your cat committing the offense, squirt it with water and make a sharp "psssst" sound or shake a can of pennies at the same time. Try to position yourself so that the cat doesn't see you squirting it - you want it to associate the water with the bad behavior, not with your presence. Just remember that you should spend more time rewarding your kitty for good behavior than punishing it for bad behavior.[3]
Squirting may not work with all types of cats. Some long-haired cats may not feel the water due to the nature of their fur. Find a squirt-bottle with a stronger blast, or try a high-pitched whistle. Do not use canned air.If your cat likes pulling your toilet paper off its roll or knocking things off your furniture, place an empty water bottle on top of the roll or counter. He'll accidentally knock over the bottle and will be startled by the loud noise.Don't physically hurt your cat. If he bites or scratches you, just walk away or squirt him, but don't reinforce the behavior by fighting back, no matter how much it hurt.5Know when to take your cat to a veterinarian. Your cat's behavioral issues could be a sign of a urinary problem, anxiety, a digestive disorder, a number of other health problems. If you've tried everything to stop bad behavior and nothing works, or if your cat has displayed new and alarming problems, then go see a vet immediately. Your vet will let you know if the cat is having behavioral problems that may be best dealt with by a behavioral specialist or trainer, or if there's a deeper problem at hand.[4]
If your cat sprays even once, take it to a vet. It may be time to neuter your kitty, or to deter this behavior as soon as possible.[5]If your previously friendly cat starts acting antisocial or hides a lot, it may be a sign of an oncoming illness.If your cat has started eliminating outside the litter box, see a vet to make sure it's purely a behavioral problem.If your cat suddenly starts spending a lot of time in a bathtub or starts urinating in the tub, he may have a urinary problem instead of a behavioral problem, so go see a vet.If your cat previously had a great appetite and has suddenly become a finicky eater, go see your vet.If your cat has violent attacks of biting and scratching that don't appear to have a cause, go see your vet.Stop Your Cat's Litter Box Problems1If you have a new cat, get it acquainted with the litter box immediately. If you've just brought home your new cat, make sure that you isolate the cat in a single room with a litter box, so that it knows where it should do its business. Your new cat will be very overwhelmed by his new surroundings, so place the litter box in an easily-accessible and clutter-free location.Reward your kitty every time he uses the box correctly.2Have an appealing litter box. If your cat isn't using your litter box, he may not like something about the box or the litter. Here are the three biggest problems that may be causing your kitty not to use his box:[6][7]The litter box is not in an appealing place. It could be cluttered by other items, it could be in a bright room that gives the cat little privacy, or it could be placed near a noisy street or along the wall that is shared by a loud neighbor. The box should be in a place that makes the cat feel private and calmed.The litter is unappealing. Go for the plain, simple, unscented litter. Don't splurge on fancy litter that may turn your cat off with its smell or granulation. If the kitty doesn't like the litter, he won't want to use his box. Try switching the litter if you suspect this is the problem.The box isn't clean enough. You should aim to clean your cat's litter box at least once a day. However, if this just isn't enough for your kitty, try cleaning it twice a day, or even setting up a second box so your cat can use a completely clean box.3Use a pet odor neutralizer on the cat's droppings outside the box. If your cat has urinated or eliminated outside the box, then his droppings will leave a scent that will make him associate that area with the bathroom. Use a pet odor neutralizer on his droppings outside the box not only for your own benefit, but to discourage your cat from using this chosen location again.4Block his favorite bathroom locations. If your cat loves going to the bathroom in the tub, your potted plants, or even at the foot of your bed, keep him away from these locations by locking doors or draping blankets or placing furniture over his favorite areas. This will make it easier for him to return to the box.5If nothing works, try the dog kennel method. This is a more extreme method that will be more complicated for you and more painful for your kitty, but it will deliver results. To do this, place your kitty in a large dog kennel with his water, food, box, and some toys. Keep him in there until he uses the box. Once he does, reward him by letting him outside the box and playing with him. Then, place him back in the box after an hour or two and continue to train him to use it.You may see serious results after just 2-3 weeks. After that, you can remove the kitty from the kennel (hopefully) permanently.Stop Your Cat From Biting or Scratching1Stop your cat from biting or scratching you. There are a few tricks from stopping your cat from biting or scratching you. Though cats naturally love to scratch and bite things, they should not love to scratch and bite their owners. Here are a few things you can do to stop your cat from scratching you:[8]Don't let your cat ever bite or scratch you -- even if he's a cute little kitten. The cute scratches and nibbles of a two-month old cat won't be so cute once the cat has grown up and loves to bite and scratch you with adult teeth and nails.Don't ever use your hands or feet as toys. Even if you're wearing gloves, long sleeves, or shoes, don't ever let your cat think that a part of your body is a toy -- toys are for scratching and biting.Make a loud noise and walk away when your cat scratches you. Don't hurt him back -- just ignore him completely.Train your cat to stop biting you while you're playing with him. Spend some time playing with your kitty, and stop playing, make a loud noise, or chastise him when he bites you. Then, resume play and stop play when he bites you again. This will teach you that he shouldn't bite or scratch if he wants your attention.2Train your cat to stop scratching your furniture. Though having your cat scratch your furniture isn't as painful as having him shred your arm, it can do serious damage to your wallet and the appearance of your home. You can read about the importance of having a scratch post in the next step, but here are some other strategies for keeping your cat from scratching your furniture:[9]Hide the damage your kitty has done. If he sees a damaged area on a couch, he'll be encouraged to damage it more.Cover nice areas of your home with a netting or a loose fabric -- your kitty won't want to scratch that because it'll snag his claws.If nothing works, try placing your really nice furniture in one room and making it off-limits for your kitty.3Give your kitty lots of scratching posts. Kitties love to scratch -- it's in their nature, and makes them feel like they're marking their territory. Therefore, you should have lots of scratching posts for the kitty. Place them at the cat's height, cover them in cat nip, and make sure they're easily visible from all parts of a room. The posts should be textured so the kitty can really dig into them.4Encourage your kitty to use his scratching posts. If your cat starts scratching you or your furniture, move him in the direction of his scratching post. You shouldn't try to use his claws for him or he will get angry, but you should place him near the post so he can direct his energy to a new place. Here are some ways to make the post seem more appealing to your kitty:Try dangling a toy in front of the post. This will encourage your kitty to use the post more.Gently scratch the post with your own fingers. This will remind your kitty how much fun it is to use the post.Reward your kitty for scratching his post with some play or attention.5Make time for play with lots of toys. Let your cat be a cat by taking the time to play with him at least twice a day for 15 minutes each time. Use a dangly toy, a catnip mouse, a round ball, or even a laser pointer to get your cat running around, getting exercise, and getting out his aggression. If you spend enough time playing with your kitty, he'll exert his scratching and biting energy on his toys, not your body or your furniture.[10]Praise your cat for playing with his toys. His food can even be a reward for healthy play.6Maintain your cat's nails. Take the time to trim your cat's nails every month or so or whenever they get too long. To get your cat to comply, you can try brushing him or engaging him in another activity he loves while you're trimming his nails. After you're done trimming them, reward your kitty. Having shorter, well-maintained nails will make your cat less anxious, and less likely to do serious damage through his scratches.If you don't want to trim your cat's nails, make a point of checking out his front nails at least once or twice a month, when he's sleeping. Check that they aren't damaged or broken -- this could be causing a lot of pain for your kitty, and making him scratch a lot more to deal with the pain.Stop Your Cat's Bad Eating Habits1Stop your cat from being a finicky eater. If your cat is a finicky eater, it may be your fault. Most cats will be happy eating the same food twice a day for the rest of their lives if you treat them correctly. Pick a healthy and appealing cat food and stick to it -- don't switch up the brand or type of food from time to time, or this will only confuse or spoil your kitty. You should only switch the food if the cat is growing from a kitten to a cat, or if you suspect that there's something really wrong with the food.[11]For a cat that is picky about eating his food and even refuses to eat more than a few bites, just use the 20-minute food method. Put out the cat's food for twenty minutes, have him eat what he wants, and then take it away and don't put it out again until the cat's next feeding time. This will make him understand that he shouldn't be so picky.2Stop your cat from eating non-foods. If your cat likes to eat plastic bags, paper clips, rubber bands, or other small items, the best thing you can do is keep them out of his reach at an early age. Don't ever use these things as a play toy, despite how much your cat may like them. If your cat insists on gnawing on some non-food, try placing him in front of his food as a deterrent.[12]If your cat has eaten a potentially-dangeous non-food like a paperclip, take him to your vet immediately.3Stop your cat from being loud before meal times. Does your cat meow uncontrollably, scratch the furniture, and make a general nuisance of himself before meal times? If so, show no mercy. Don't give in to him and feed him earlier just so he'll stop annoying you. If you ignore him, he may get the message. You can also just play with your cat, and let him expend his extra energy on play instead of obsessing over his food.If you give in, he'll know that he can use these tactics any time he wants food.4Stop your cat from trying to "join you" at your meal time. You have a problem if your cat likes to sit down on your table as if he's the guest of honor when you're trying to enjoy a nice meal by yourself or with your family. You have a bigger problem if your cat likes to sit a few inches away from your plate and swipe food off your plate as you eat. Here are some things you can do to make your kitty leave you alone when you're trying to eat:Schedule your kitty's meal times to be in sync with yours. Your steak and potatoes will look much less appealing to your kitty if you've put out his bowl of food right before your meal. Give him his food a few minutes before you start eating so he's not even distracted by your meal.Place foil on the table. Cats hate the sensation of walking on foil, so you should try placing it over your dinner table and watch as he no longer wants to join you. This trick works great over other surfaces that you don't want him to climb, such as nice couches.Edit TipsMaking scratching posts available to your cat and praising them when they use them greatly reduces the likelihood that they will scratch your furniture. It is important for cats to be able to scratch on things, and if nothing is available, your furniture seems like a great alternative. If scratching posts do not seem to be getting their attention, try treating them with catnip spray or flakes. If you can't afford a scratching post, try to find a long and tapered piece of wood, then glue some old, soft carpet to it. This works great for all ages and sizes of cats.If you have a new kitten, teach it acceptable behaviors from day one. For instance, do not feed it on or near the table, so that it will not look for food on there.Edit WarningsNever attack a cat. It doesn't work and could traumatize them, especially if they're still young. If you need to reinforce your "No," try clapping loudly.Edit Related wikiHowsHow to Communicate With Your CatHow to Pet a High Strung CatHow to Bathe a CatHow to Bring a Second Cat Into the Family and Not Make Your Old Cat UpsetHow to Teach Your Cat to Give a HandshakeHow to Make Your Cat Stop Attacking YouHow to Train a Cat to Jump over YouHow to Train a KittenHow to Clicker Train a CatCategories: Featured Articles | Managing Cat Behavior
Recent edits by: WanderWoman, Steve, June
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