Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/not really a question

Advertisement

Expert: Dear Tabbi - 8/16/2008


Question
First let me say that you have been very helpful to me when i have had questions, and i read your posted questions because i do learn things from others questions.
I am just concerned that you advise people to swat at a cat to stop play biting and scratching.  I read somewhere, and it has worked for all my cats (4 past and present), that it is better to just stop moving your hand.  The cat is just hunting your hand, and a quick and easy kill will lead to boredom.  As for jumping on counters, a not very stable pyramid of soda cans (lots of noise) or sheets of aluminum foil (they dont like the feel on their pads) have worked very well.  Cats seem to get smarter with every generation...they know when your not around.  Anyway, I must thank you for volunteering your time and effort to help us fellow cat lovers.

Answer
Christine,

Thank you.

Swatting with a rolled up newspaper is mainly for the ankle biters and scratchers. The noise scares them more than anything. Some cats are more stubborn than others and the more conventional methods don't work with them. Sometimes you need to be more forceful (but never hurting them) to get the point across that you won't accept their behavior.

Your suggestions for the counters are good also. It's whatever method you find that works best to deter your cats.

Tabbi

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

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
***********

Awards and Honors
* One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.