Is your cat misbehaving around the house lately? This can actually never be avoided and is a lot stressful. Once these mischiefs started taking place in your home like cats not eating, scratching or clawing furniture, biting, pooping anywhere, chewing, and running away, these all brought those unwanted headaches to us, cat owners.
Mischief among cats is actually an understatement. The underlying reason for those unpleasant misbehaving around is somewhat natural and associated with their current body conditions. It can be some sort of an illness or has something to do with their prior experience or only natural cat behavior that we humans just really can’t comprehend and don’t like.
But when you start noticing your cat displaying unacceptable behaviors towards you and around the house, these cat disciplinary tips can actually help you out:
1. Check your cat’s body condition & experience
Before anything else, one of the major causes why cats misbehave is that they might not be feeling well or under stress. Cats do such odd behaviors to cope with it and you should check them up before anything got worse. Observe any signs of cold or teething. Even a cat’s prior experience has to be taken into account as well.
2. Get a tree/ scratching post
A scratching post is a good way to distract your cat from doing displeasing things in the house like clawing your furnitures. This is to redirect their high energy (which can be annoying at times) into a more sociable act that is pleasant to both you and your cat.
3. Use Water spray/ Squirt Bottle
Water spray is the best cat repellant. Most cats hate water and so when your cat’s starting doing crazy stuff around the house or getting in trouble fighting with other cats, try spraying her with a water bottle to fend her off gently. Do NOT spray water directly into your cat’s face or drench her.
4. Get a nice toy for distraction
Cats love to play – a lot. When your cat tries to sneak away when you go for the door (which you don’t really want to happen) try throwing a toy on the floor and that will easily invite and divert your cat’s attention.
5. Clap or make noise
Noise can fend off cats. When your cat starts making her way to the counters, you may clap your hands and say “No!” with a displeased look to let her absorb that you don’t like what she’s doing.
6. Sprinkle or spray cayenne pepper
Cats totally hate cayenne peppers with their strong chemical that repels them away. This pepper is off-putting to cats which can deter them from doing things you don’t approve of.
7. Get a cat teaser
A cat teaser can help your kitty stay intact in the house, without ruining anything inside. It is a usual cats’ favorite that helps wear them out, and divert their attention, so they don’t come meowing at the door so early in the morning. Cat teasers can also save your furniture from being horribly scratched.
8. Have a bigger & more spacious litter box
When your cat starts pooping anywhere in the house, it could be that her litter box is too small and she totally hates it. Cat behavioral problems are also associated with their litter box set-up and size. To aid this, place a bigger litter box to give your cat a lot of comfort space when nature calls. Take note: Cats always prefer large, clean, & uncovered litter boxes.
9. Plant a catnip
Catnips are ultimately cats’ drugs, but it 100% safe for them. Catnips are a type of plant that release nepetalactone chemicals that our cats really love. Your cat can spend long hours with catnip on her side while chewing leaves, sniffing, rubbing its entire body, and rolling in a wonderful kitty bliss. It can also help train her in developing a more sociable mode.
10. Give great food motivators
Train your cat to behave properly well with positive reinforcement like giving her a food reward whenever she does act polite and nice towards you in the house. This way can help pass the message of telling her the right thing to do. Motivation is always the best key to successful training. And the food is such an effective motivator!
11. Neuter or spay cats
Cats running out of the house can really ruin our sanity, knowing they’re highly prone to any kind of danger while outdoors. One exact solution for this is to neuter or spay them while they haven’t yet reached their maturity age. This is to prevent them from doing such a threatening escape from the house and of course, to solve the national problem of a pet homelessness crisis. Neutering or spaying can also be beneficial to a cat’s body growth.
12. Be gentle
Your attitude towards your cat is an important factor. When you’re gentle, then she’ll pay you back with the same amount of gentleness or more. Whenever you experience your cat biting or acting aggressive, it might have something to do with her prior encounters. It’s important to study your cat and absorb all her actions in the house. And do immediate remedies to reduce the tension.
13. Cat proof your home
Giving proper cat care and implementing the right discipline includes cat-proofing your home. This is one very important thing to avoid mishaps in the house as much as possible. And you don’t wanna put your kitty at possible risks, do you?
Following all these tips can actually help you establish proper behavior among your cats. Just be patient and consistently pay attention. Avoid punishments. Be a keen observer of their behavior from the kitten stage to adulthood. And if you have rescued felines, consider their previous encounters so you can think of the best remedies to mitigate stress. Your kitties will understand then by your actions that their behavior is unacceptable and that they should refrain from doing them. Cats are incredibly smart and beautiful creatures. It just takes proper care and counseling to get them to do things more pleasing and sociable.
