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.

[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