We prize cats for their independent nature, but even though we love our sassy kitties, it's essential to discipline your cat properly to maintain a good relationship (and help protect your furniture!).
Cat discipline and training are part of your role as a pet parent. Despite their reputation as stubborn pets, cats benefit from knowing and understanding the rules of your home. Many people don't realize you can train a cat to respond to commands and even play fetch or perform tricks, just like a dog.1 Fortunately, there are lots of ways to deal with a demanding cat. Follow these simple yet effective strategies for disciplining your feline companion and maintaining harmony in your home.
Understanding your cat's behavior
Before you can effectively learn how to discipline a cat, you first need to understand their behavior and natural instincts. Cats are very intelligent and curious. Sometimes bad behavior may result from boredom, so playing with your cat is important. Give them lots of opportunities to exercise patterns of behavior that mimic their desire to stalk and hunt prey.2
Common cat behaviors
Before diving into the cat discipline basics, let's look at the most common bad behaviors in cats.
House soiling
Once you've mastered the tips to survive kitten-hood, you might think your days of cleaning up toilet accidents are over. But even though cats are very clean, accidents can still happen—especially if their litter box is dirty, overflowing or located in a place where they feel anxious about going to the bathroom (like a noisy room).
It can be difficult to know who to call with pet behavior troubles: From trainers and behaviorists to vets, there are an array of experts to consult. But as there are certain medical conditions that may affect your cat's usual bathroom habits, it's always recommended to speak with your veterinarian first. At Pets Best, policyholders can speak to a veterinarian anytime and get expert advice and guidance through a 24/7 Pet Helpline.
READ MORE: Caring for Your New Kitten
Aggressive behavior
Petting-induced aggression is when a cat suddenly bites when you're petting them. Although it may seem unprovoked, this reaction stems from overstimulation.3 Prevent the problem by watching for signals that your cat has reached their limit. They may twitch their tail or pull back their ears, which is a sign for you to stop. Notice also if your cat prefers to be petted on a particular part of their body and dislikes another.
Time-outs for cats can be an effective way to discipline an aggressive cat and can help keep everyone safe, especially if you have children. If your cat is behaving aggressively, simply remove them to a quieter place to let them calm down for a short period.
Scratching
Although it's infuriating to find your cat destroying a table leg or the side of the couch, scratching is instinctive for felines. Cats need to scratch to maintain their claws, express emotions and relieve stress.4 Instead of trying to discipline them after they scratch, provide them with approved places to scratch, and put these surfaces in places where your cat is normally tempted to scratch. Approved scratching surfaces might include:
- A tall, sturdy scratching post made with sisal
- A thick, corrugated cardboard tube
- A piece of wood
READ MORE: The Complete New Cat Owner's Guide
Try positive reinforcement techniques
One of the most effective ways to reduce bad behaviors with your cat is through positive reinforcement. This method involves rewarding good behavior with treats, praise or playtime. For example, if your cat uses their scratching post instead of your furniture, reward them with a treat or toy.
Make sure you reward the behavior right away to make a connection between the action and the reward. This method is much more effective than punishment, which can cause your cat to become fearful or more aggressive.
Use deterrents
You can prevent many problems with a well-placed deterrent. For example, laying a piece of aluminum foil on your kitchen countertops can give your cat an unexpected surprise and prevent them from jumping up next time. You could also try putting double-sided sticky tape alongside the legs of the furniture to prevent scratching.
Other deterrents include citrus sprays, motion-activated devices and noise making tools, however, it's these are not recommended. Always consider why your cat is behaving in a particular way to solve the root problem instead of just reacting to their behavior. If your cat is intent on climbing up on your counters, consider if they are searching for more water sources and would benefit from a water fountain. They may also crave the safety of high spaces, which you could provide with a tall cat tower or cat-safe shelf.
Discipline tactics to avoid
It's not advised to use a spray bottle or noise to discipline your cat.1 This is because the deterrent only works if you're there to activate it, which could confuse your cat when you go out.
You may find that simply saying no in a low, authoritative voice is enough to make your cat stop a particular behavior. Never physically discipline your cat, and avoid yelling, as this can make them anxious.5
Practice patience, consistency and love
Playing with your cat regularly is an essential part of pet ownership. Cats love to play, and it helps them release stress and exercise their natural instincts. In fact, common aggressive behaviors such as grabbing your leg when you walk past are often a sign that your cat wants and needs to play more.6
Keep in mind that while there are many common kitty behaviors to monitor and address, your cat is unique and has their own personality, likes and dislikes.
Remember to be patient and loving, and never resort to punishment or aggression. Disciplining a cat requires patience, consistency and understanding. By using positive reinforcement and understanding your cat's nature, you can help correct unwanted behavior and strengthen the bond between you and your feline companion.
From Pets Best
Pets Best insurance can help you be the best pet parent to your cat by helping you afford the veterinary care they need. Pets Best policyholders can also speak to a veterinary expert anytime through a 24/7 Pet Helpline if you have questions about your cat's behavior.
Sources/Citations
1. Kruzer, Adrienne. How to Discipline Your Cat. The Spruce Pets. Updated November 1, 2022. Accessed March 12, 2023. https://www.thesprucepets.com/how-to-discourage-bad-behavior-551821
2. Correcting Unwanted Behavior. San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Accessed March 12, 2023. https://www.sfspca.org/resource/correcting-unwanted-behavior
3. Cat Love Bites: What Do They Mean? PetMD. Published May 1, 2018. Accessed March 12, 2023. https://www.petmd.com/cat/behavior/cat-love-bites-what-do-they-mean
4. Wildman, Matt. How to stop destructive cat scratching. The Humane Society of the United States. Accessed March 12, 2023. https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/how-stop-cats-destructive-scratching
5. Ollila, Erin. Do's and Don'ts for Disciplining a Cat. Hill's Pet. Published May 4, 2018. Accessed March 12, 2023. https://www.hillspet.com/cat-care/routine-care/how-to-discipline-a-cat
6. How to Discipline a Cat: Behavior Modification, Not Punishment. Purina. Accessed March 12, 2023. https://www.purina.com/articles/cat/training/how-to-discipline-a-cat