(no subject)

[madbaker]

We've tried the traditional methods of disciplining Galen:
 1) say "Ga-len!" in an annoyed tone.
Results: cat ignores us.

 2) Blow in his face.
Results: cat gets pissed off and does whatever again, more-so.

 3) squirt with water.
Results: cat ignores us. Washes perplexedly.

Back to #1, I guess.

What I'm reading: Jim Butcher, Blood Rites

Comments

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

I wish I remembered how Harri learned to not do bad things...I might have cuffed him gently (this is how mother cats discipline kittens) and said, NO! in a stern voice...

Now, I can tell him no, or get back in the house, or get down, or lie down...and he does it almost every time. He backtalks me as only a Siamese can...but he does it.

[wyterayven.livejournal.com]

Water has always worked best for me.....except for one cat that I have now that simply looks at you, squints and then flinches.

The other that I have would probably scratch you if you blew in her face.

I think whatever method you choose, consistencey would be the key. Having lots of squirt bottles around so that you dont have to hunt one down helps too, since the discipline has to be immediate, or they have no clue what they are being squirted for.

[madbaker.livejournal.com]

It's weird... a couple of days ago when Galen misbehaved, the wife squirted him immediately. Galen didn't notice - it was sort of a "look down, notice I'm wet". So he started grooming. Repeat twice.

He doesn't seem to mind water as much as the typical cat.

[scendan.livejournal.com]

My kitty responds to nothing, as regards discipline...except if I growl like another cat. If I produce a low threatening yowl, the way cats do when they're squared off on the front lawn at night, Pippa's eyes get big, she tilts her ears in worry, and vanishes behind the sofa, and remains worried for a good ten minutes.

So, I only use it when she's REALLY bad, for fear that familiarity will breed contempt. Probably not, though. It seems to go straight to her hindbrain.

[blkeagl.livejournal.com]

Hissing or yowling seem to work for me.. talk them at their level.

BUT.. it does nothing to stop them from acting out when you're not around.

[strmonkey.livejournal.com]

Yes but make sure you don't hiss at them when they are in the lap of your partner...hence you get a very angry person next to you because they have just been "clawed" in the lap area...sorry sweetie!

[goldenstag.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Ours react pretty well to a good solid hiss. It grabs their attention, and then sometimes I actually have to stand and start their way before they stop, but between the two, that does it.

[madbaker.livejournal.com]

That reminds me - we've occasionally hissed at him, which does seem to penetrate the hindbrain as you say. We also save that one for severe misdeeds, such as clawing at the face.

[falzalot.livejournal.com]

heh. Good luck. Nothing really works for mine.

Oh hey - I was meaning to ask you. Can I use one of these (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00006JSUF/qid=1095352960/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/103-6900295-4010209?v=glance&s=sporting-goods&n=507846) on a coleman stove?

Dutch ovens

[madbaker.livejournal.com]

It'll probably work okay, although in my experience Colemans don't heat up enough to make the Dutch oven work well. Firepits are much better.

Re: Dutch ovens

[falzalot.livejournal.com]

Well, there's always a chance I might have access to a firepit. There is, however, no chance I'll have access to a ground fire with coals to put on top, which is what the footed ones seem to require.

thanks!

[mastersantiago.livejournal.com]

When straight water doesn't work you can always try adding just a few drops of ammonia to the water you put in a spay bottle.

You want it really really dilute so that it doesn't damage anything, but enough so that they can smell it. The idea is that the smell is unpleasant so they learn to stay away from whatever it was that caused the smell.

I would only go this route as a last resort though.

[cvirtue.livejournal.com]

I've heard that a bit of vinegar in the water will help, too.

[goldenstag.livejournal.com]

Hiss. Seriously. It still works for Rebo and Zootie. They stop and look for mom hissing at them, then realize they need to (get off the table, stop whatever ...). They're pretty good most of the time, but once in awhile a reminder ...

[cvirtue.livejournal.com]

This hindbrain hiss thing must be why my "psht" noise works on my cats. That's the noise that means "get off immediately." I thought it was repeating the noise that my water-squirter used (started training with both, moved just to the noise later), but maybe it's just hiss harmonics.

We also have a command, two tongue clicks, which means "I'm going to get up if you don't want to be dumped out of my lap get down now." That one is also very effective. And a hand signal which means "if you come over here now, I will pet you."

That concludes the cat commands.

[goldenstag.livejournal.com]

Ah. We haven't gotten ours trained to much. Sometimes Zootie comes when his name is called, in the hopes of there being a rose to munch on. But then, he's usually waiting for herself if she's out gardening anyway. Mr. Hopeful.

They don't do laps (yet, although frankly with Zootie's weight, that's probably a good thing for my legs ...). They do have their own little "things", but nothing really special.

[cvirtue.livejournal.com]

He eats roses? What is he, part butter-bug?

If you want them to do commands, it can work even later in life. Just keep doing it, they'll probably catch on. Especially if there's food involved. Or roses, in Zootie's case.

I taught mine to meercat-up on her hind legs by using a spoonful of fancy catfood. It's pretty funny when she pops up to try and see something better, even now when I've stopped reinforcing it.

[goldenstag.livejournal.com]

I dunno. He just likes roses. What can I say?

They handle having claws trimmed (being indoor cats) well, because after the trimming they get kittie "yums" (whatever the current back of 'em is). Once I got them on that, they wait for the kitty treats, and if one of them is getting his claws trimmed, the other is nearby waiting for his turn. Weird.

They're brothers ... sometimes Rebo does the meercat thing all on his own. We're just happy that they're social, loving critters, and haven't really thought about teaching 'em tricks.