Cats are still pranksters. Knock a pot of flowers on the floor, steal something tasty from the table, dump it on the carpet or the master's bed? Easily! In order for the tailed mischief maker to be discouraged from playing dirty tricks in the future, he must be punished. You need to know how to punish pets. In order for the animal to understand that its behavior is unacceptable, it is necessary to properly wean it from pampering. Why can't you hit errant cats? How can you make sure that your pet, who has taken a crap in the wrong place or done something else, immediately understands that this is not the right thing to do?
Reasons for disobedience in mustaches
Despite the fact that many scientific and behavioral studies have been conducted, people still cannot fully understand the psychological relationship between a pet and a person. Meanwhile, for a comfortable coexistence, it is important to understand the language of your pet and know the reason for his actions. This is easy for some owners, more difficult for others.
Often there are completely reasonable explanations for bad actions. For example, if a furry dog urinates on the carpet, then he is most likely expressing dissatisfaction with the new filler, the arrival of a new family member, or the rearrangement of furniture in the room.
Stealing tasty morsels from the owner's table usually does not contain negativity on the part of the fluffy. This is just a purely physiological desire to eat. Torn furniture upholstery or scratched wallpaper can be a consequence of inattention on the part of a person or family members.
In general, the cause of disobedience can be determined through short-term or long-term observations. No one knows a cat better than the owner - and it is he who sooner or later guesses the reason behind all her actions.
Should you always scold your cat for bad actions?
It is quite difficult for a person to read the emotions of a mustachioed friend, because the fluffy one is not capable of showing strong feelings. Before punishing a cat for bad behavior, you need to find out the motive for its behavior - what if it is not punishment that is needed, but help?
What habits need correction?
Usually, any prank of a mustachioed friend can be explained. Some habits of a pet can be corrected and may disappear from the mischief-maker’s arsenal over time. So, if a cat persistently climbs onto the table in search of treats, then underfeeding becomes a likely motive.
Sometimes the animal ignores the litter box due to excessive soiling or problems with urination. In this case, it is enough to simply change the filler or consult a veterinarian for advice.
Misdemeanors caused by lack of attention or loneliness (damage to furniture, wallpaper, piles in the wrong place) can be corrected. You need to devote more time to the animal, play with it and caress it - or get a pet partner so that both of them do not get bored when people are away.
What cannot be punished for
You cannot scold an animal that has just appeared in the house. A new family member needs some time to get used to the smells and surroundings of another home. The stress of changing housing, living conditions and new people causes serious emotional stress in the furry. If during this period he is subjected to harsh educational manipulations, the baby is unlikely to understand what they want from him and will withdraw into himself.
Sometimes a four-legged friend marks everything around due to problems with the genitourinary system. Pain while going to the toilet forces you to do wrong things - this should not be confused with harmfulness.
Other ailments can also lead to behavioral deviations. You can’t scold an animal for them - it already feels bad, and it most likely understands that it’s breaking the rules. There's just nothing he can do about it. An attentive owner should monitor the health of his mustachioed friend and consult a doctor in a timely manner.
Folk wisdom
There is a popular saying: pregnant women should not hit cats. And not only to beat, but in general to offend in some way. Of course, popular rumor says that this can affect the child's health, as he will have birthmarks or be nervous. In fact, this sign has a very realistic justification.
The fact is that during pregnancy, the cat’s owner abruptly switches her attention to the unborn baby. The expecting child receives all the tenderness and care that the cat previously received.
This causes jealousy and resentment in cats, because they only seem to be self-sufficient and independent, but in fact they really need our affection and are attached to us. Therefore, during this difficult period for a cat, any action that may offend her will have a very strong impact on her. Some cats may never forgive their owners after this - they will stop being affectionate and act as if they have been replaced.
Is it possible to beat a cat for an offense?
It is unacceptable to use harsh measures or engage in physical assault. Such actions are used only by too lazy or too emotional people who do not try to understand their pet and understand the reasons for his actions. It is useless to hit a cat, because he is unlikely to understand the connection between a prank and an educational measure - but he will most likely begin to be afraid of his owner and take revenge on him.
It is acceptable to use a rolled-up piece of paper or a rag, which can be used to lightly slap the mustachioed offender on the back at the time of the offense. This will come as a surprise to the miscreant and will distract him from committing a bad deed, but will not cause pain and will not cause fear.
How to punish a cat - so that they understand?
Socialization and upbringing must be done immediately after the baby arrives in the house. The kitten must understand who is in charge in the new family and respond adequately to human demands.
Educational discipline
It is necessary to use measures to raise a mischievous pet, observing the basic rules and principles of the process. Taking steps to eliminate motives can lead to positive results. The main points of education are as follows:
- Timeliness
. This means that you need to scold at the moment of committing a prank. Otherwise, the pet will not understand the connection between the offense and punishment.
- Adequacy
. It is impossible to apply the same educational measures for different degrees of severity of the consequences of a crime. This will confuse the mustache and will not give a positive result.
- Humanity
. Sharp shouts, blows with a slipper or hand can lead to the opposite effect. The mustache will become embittered and act contrary to the owner.
Selecting acceptable and effective methods for raising a pet is important to achieve not only immediate, but also sustainable effects. The main task of the owner becomes the correct response to actions and making adequate decisions.
Sometimes a voice is enough
Pets perfectly recognize the timbre and intonation of their owners' voices, without knowing the meaning of the words. Therefore, screams and sharp sounds made by a person can lead to a negative effect. The pet usually gets very scared and goes into a stupor. You can punish or reward a naughty girl by changing the timbre of your voice. To prevent an offense, it is enough to give your voice a threatening intonation without shouting.
The man is the boss of the house
From the first days of his arrival in a new family, a fluffy puppy must understand who is boss in the house. The main person in your pet’s life will be an unquestionable authority for him. This will help in raising and socializing the cat. The pet does not understand human speech, but will respond to the timbre and intonation of the owner.
To demonstrate superiority over a four-legged animal, it is enough to use the same type of commands during the training process. The owner must demonstrate persistence and patience in achieving results.
If you give in and don’t get what you want from your pet, your smart friend is unlikely to comply with the norms of behavior in the future.
For particularly wayward animals, a staring game will work: a person looks into the pet’s eyes for a long time until it looks away. After several “sessions,” the cat will realize that the person is at the head of the house and will begin to respect him.
Water, noise effects and strong aromas will help
Almost all representatives of the cat family do not like water. Therefore, influencing a miscreant with splashes can be effective. For this you need to use a compact sprayer, but you cannot turn the educational measure into a real shower: a single use is enough at the moment when the animal decides to commit an offense. The natural instinct of fear of water works very quickly.
Loud sounds also have a positive effect, but these should not be the owner’s screams. You can use certain commands like “Fu”, “No”, said with the appropriate intonation. Other sounds are also suitable as prohibitive measures: clapping your hands, clinking keys, hitting the floor with your foot.
Cats have difficulty withstanding strong odors. Therefore, they can be used to prevent misbehavior. For example, next to the shoes or wires that the naughty boy loves, you can lay out citrus peels or use sprays with their aroma. This will scare the baby away, but will not affect the psyche or health in any way.
"Crimes" and punishments
One can only adapt to the habits of semi-domesticated “dwarf lions”. The main principle of education is not to suppress, but to satisfy the needs of a willful animal. Otherwise, the cute kitten will turn into a secretive and vengeful beast. Let's consider the typical offenses of meowing pets and competent methods of “re-education”.
Having decided to get a kitten, you should know that from the first days of its stay it is necessary to educate it.
The cat must understand what it can and cannot do. Only in this case will it be possible to achieve harmony in the relationship.
How to punish a kitten so that he understands?
Unlike an adult, a kitten cannot fully understand the consequences of its mischief. You need to understand how to properly punish a kitten so that it works and does not leave negative consequences in its psyche.
You cannot hit or shout at the baby, because he is unlikely to be able to understand the owner’s demands. The mother cat hissed at the cub for educational purposes and took him by the scruff of the neck. A person can do the same - you can lift the baby and shake him lightly, showing dissatisfaction with a hissing voice. Do not swing too much as this can lead to injury.
In relation to kittens, it is more effective not to punish for an act that has already been committed, but to prevent it. If you see that your baby is about to sit down in the wrong place or is trying to climb onto the kitchen table, prevent this action. Take him to the litter box or distract him with a toy. This way the kitten will not have time to realize the taste of the prank and will not want to repeat it again.
Tender beast
Kittens are fluffy little balls of love that cause nothing but affection... until you bring them into your home. Yes, they are funny and playful, but all cats are animals with character. So be prepared for their mischief and curiosity, which makes you climb the curtains to the ceiling or study the window sills with flowers. A cat feels like a full-fledged mistress in its territory, and if you want to set boundaries for it and dictate your own rules, you will have to do it not with force, but with cunning. Under no circumstances should you hit her.
Hitting a cat is not only a pointless activity, but also harmful. And not only because you can’t offend your pet. Living with her under the same roof will also become very difficult. A cat's sadness and resentment very easily turns into anger and rage. So, if a pet is beaten, such a parenting strategy will most likely lead to the animal growing up to be mischievous, aggressive and bullying.
How not to punish a cat: unacceptable actions
When choosing a method of influencing a naughty dog, it is important for the owner to be guided by the principles of humanity. It is strictly forbidden to use violence, leaving without food, medicines and other means of punishment that negatively affect the psyche and health of a mustachioed friend.
Physical violence
Veterinarians and animal psychologists are unanimous in their opinion that beating an animal is prohibited. Cats are considered very vindictive, so after physical violence is applied to them, the four-legged animals begin to indulge even more actively.
In addition, beating someone who is weaker is very mean and inhumane. And this can literally injure the mustache - for example, there is a cluster of nerve endings on the back and in the tail area. This is similar to the solar plexus in humans. Touching, let alone hitting a cat on the back is simply dangerous, because any touch to a sensitive area will cause discomfort or pain.
The use of physical violence against a cat leads to a complete loss of trust in people. A naughty person will identify a person's hands with pain and danger. These are strong emotions, and subsequently it will be difficult for a person to regain the favor of his mustachioed friend.
Left without food and water
You cannot deprive your pet of food and water for committing offenses. This is not only harmful to your physical condition, but also absolutely useless. It is difficult for an animal to associate the lack of food in a bowl with a bad deed. A mischievous pet will most likely experience severe stress, and the opposite effect will occur - resentment towards the owner and a desire to steal food from the table will appear.
Removing body parts
Some inexperienced owners decide to undergo the declawing procedure. For an animal, the operation is equivalent to amputation - this is a cruel act that greatly complicates the daily life of the poor creature. He not only loses coordination, but also begins to experience mental problems. In many European countries, this procedure is strictly prohibited due to its inhumanity.
Strong medications
Any medications can only be prescribed to a pet by a veterinarian. Self-medication is not allowed.
It is even more dangerous to use strong drugs that affect the furry’s psyche - the doctor can prescribe calming drops or tablets only during periods of stress or during long trips. In any other cases, the use of medications that affect the emotional state of the cat is strictly prohibited.
If an animal behaves inappropriately due to sexual instinct, it is much more humane to perform a castration or sterilization operation. This will have an extremely positive effect on the pet’s health, and its behavior will quickly return to normal.
Collars and other electric shock devices
Electric current is dangerous for all living beings. It is unacceptable to use it to pacify a mischievous pet, although many devices and collars that deliver electric current are sold on the Internet. Their use is illegal and unacceptable to obtain the desired result. Such devices cause irreparable harm to the mental and physical state of the four-legged animal - they simply cripple it.
Correcting bad behavior
Since cats have developed logic, their behavioral reflexes can be adjusted not only with a stick, but also with a carrot:
- Encouragement. A gentle voice, soft stroking, and the use of words with a large number of hissing consonants have a calming effect on the pet.
- Treat. Effective method. It cannot be used on an ongoing basis, as it quickly becomes established as a food reflex.
Affection and attention are the best helpers in the fight against inappropriate pet behavior
Your pet's behavior can be changed by understanding the animal's motivation. If you see the reasons that provoke a cat to actions that are absurd from a human point of view, there is a high probability of eliminating the irritating factor.
Video - How to train a cat
People get a cat to gently scratch behind the ear, to pamper it, and certainly not to educate it. The average owner rarely thinks about how to properly raise a kitten, punish it, and teach the foolish little creature the rules of behavior without manhandling without stress.
How to deal with cat disobedience?
Only humane and effective means are applicable as methods of combating cat leprosy. By combining these characteristics, the owner can easily cope with the pet’s disobedience.
After applying punishment, you can ignore your pet for a while - the cat does not like to go without communication for a long time. It will be useful not to respond to calls to play with her, not to respond to inviting sounds and the desire to lie on your lap. Then the mischievous woman will realize the wrongness of the act and will try not to do it again.
Cats are independent, inquisitive, capricious and vindictive, so punishment for wrongdoing must be used delicately. Incorrectly selected measures lead to the opposite effect. The best thing is to correct the behavior of the mischief maker by understanding the motives of negative behavior and eliminating them.
