Einstein

[tea_and_ink]

Cat training. I know a lot of youses have cats and I'd like to know what are the appropriate ways of telling them "No" and have them heed that no. And rewards, which are the ones that send the message.

Google told me that you have to be careful with the punishments because they can take it to mean that it's a game. And no, it isn't. He's litter trained already, which I think stole the experience from me, but saved my wood floor, so it evens out, I just wanna make sure I teach him not to hang himself from the curtains, or scratch the furniture while he's still young and impressionable and fresh.

Um. Need to get him some toys, he loves the crumpled pieces of paper I've improvised, but I'm guessing that will only go so far before he thinks that every crumpled piece of paper is a toy, bad assumption to make when you're living with me.

Ideas? I'm all ears. Or eyes.

Comments

[xphoenixrising.livejournal.com]

Watergun *nods* If he jumps up on the table/curtains/places he shouldn't be, a little spray and a firm "No" will start to eventually take effect. Wrong behavior = Water sprayed on him.

When he gets off and goes somewhere where he's supposed to be (like sleeping on a pillow/box you have for him for example) say "Yes", stroke him behind the ears, and give him a little treat like a piece of tuna or something.

Cats are pretty easy to amuse. Crumpled paper is awesome for example. Make a little pillow/soft baggie with some catnip in that you can replace occasionally. You might want to invest in a scratching post to encourage him that it's okay to scratch that. We didn't really have a problem with Lucky and Prissy because we had their front paws de-clawed pretty early one.

[penandnotebook]

Got the watergun. So, I'm not supposed to spray him with it, should I do it on the object I don't want him around? Or just where he can see it?

Yeah, he eats dry food. But isn't this supposed to work only when he's hungry? I think I read that somewhere. Will try it though, could work on my kid.

Got him these little balls with spikes on them that roll funny (because of the spikes, you see) and he's after 'em for hours. Totally my way of tiring him before bed, bless him. Um, de-clawing, will also give some thought to this, I mean, it's not like I'm gonna take him out to the ring and he'll need to defend himself, right?

[wildmachinery.livejournal.com]

aaah, sorry for butting in, but please don't declaw, it's incredibly painful for them and can lead to health problems later on (cutting off the toes can screw up how they walk and cause arthritis and assorted muscle/joint issues). plus, if he does manage to sneak outside, which many of my indoor cats have managed to do over the years, he'll be totally defenseless if something tries to eat him. :(

totally with you on the spray gun, though. usually works like a charm if you give him a little spritz just as he jumps up.

[penandnotebook]

Yeah, it sort of threw me when I read anesthecia was required for the procedure, I'd imagine it was just like a clipping, but then he'd just be getting his nails clipped, which, yeah, it's totally not declawing. Kind of on the fence about that now.

Thanks so much for your concern, baby ::smooches::

I've been working on that with him, he seems to have gotten the message with the window, the curtains remain sort of our of reach for him, but hopefully after a little while he'll stop trying entirely! heh

[xphoenixrising.livejournal.com]

No, spray him.

No, just give him a little treat like those cat treats or a piece of tuna or something. Something he doesn't normally get.

As long as he isn't going outdoors, he'll be fine de-clawed. Also neuter or he'll pee all over to mark his territory

[penandnotebook]

Ooooh gotcha, clearly I misunderstood the phrasing, which speaks of the time at which I replied, more than anything.

I'll have to get some ground meat for him, but I'll be administering medication there, as long as he doesn't associate med time with meat time that should work, right?

Yeah, I'll definitely neuter, but I'm told to wait a little longer as he's still a little baby.

[xphoenixrising.livejournal.com]

Six months is the time for neuter and declawing.

Lucky has, on occasion, eaten ground meat but he doesn't like it very much. You could buy cat treats, which they should have at your local pet store, or, like I said, a little bit of tuna or cheese, or even cat nip *giggles* drugged up kitties are so cute.

[silver-spotted.livejournal.com]

I can't give you advice on training the cat, because my parents did that when I was too young to observe, or away at uni, but as to the crumpled paper...

my parents' most recent cat *loves* crumpled paper. My mom has a lot of drafting paper, and if she leaves large pieces on the floor, the cat will come and play in it. (wrapping paper and tissue paper are also a hit)

the cats have also enjoyed: large pompoms (Not small ones because they will eat them), shoelaces, sticks with a ribbon on the end, ribbon with a pompom on the end (both of these require active participation of the human, who must entice the cat, but can get them to do flips in the air)

... now I miss the cats

[penandnotebook]

He is so cute when playing with it. It's like he's absolute bestest friend in the whole wide world. Bought him these little balls yesterday and he loves them too (they roll funny, and bounce a little, which the paper does not) but he can't really sink his teeth into them and so, he always goes back to the paper ball.

I will try and improvise something like that, I like being able to play with him.

Awww!