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Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/jumping of tables and counters taking food and licking off plates blows ect.
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Question
hello! I have 2 new kittens a female and a male(neutered).The problem for me is that they both jump on the table and we spray them with water and tell the DOWN or NO but they still keep doing it! the last thing is my kitten cali the female is the worst! she some how jumps on the counter and will like and dirty dishes out of the sink or the ones on the stove!! we spray her and she still jumps up their!! She is also always in the way when we cook waiting for us to drop a piece of food. she is so bad we have to put her up in our room till were done cooking eating and cleaning up the mess!?
HOW THEM AND THEIR BAD HABITS!!?? please help me!!!I'M DESPRAT!!
KC,
First keep a bowl of dry food always available. That way they can nibble when they are hungry and won't be bothering you so much for food when you are cooking. Don't give them ANYTHING when you are cooking. It's a bad habit to start because they will expect it and keep bothering you.
Use a rolled up newspaper and slap it down hard on the table or the counter when they jump up there. The noise scares them and they will associate the loud noise they don't like with jumping on the table or counter.
Tabbi
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Answers by Expert:
Dear Tabbi
Expertise
My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.
Experience
Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).
Education/Credentials
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* One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
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