What happens if you hit a cat on the head?


You can't hit a cat!

Cats are not used to obeying, therefore, their owners often have difficulty raising their pets. The biggest mistake in raising wayward animals is the use of physical force. You can't hit cats. This method cannot solve the problem; you will only lose her trust. The animal will begin to associate you with pain.

If you punish a cat for bad behavior, the results will only be visible the first time. Over time, such “education” ceases to work completely.

Aggression for educational purposes on the part of the owner is assessed by the animal in its own way; the cat may lose its pride and you will no longer have a normal relationship with your pets.

How then to raise a cat?

If you can’t beat or scold a cat, how can you get it to obey? So that the cat can develop normally and grow up not intimidated, use the following technique: if you notice that the animal intends to do something dirty, arm yourself with a water spray and release a stream of water at the cat. Over time, before committing mischief, the cat will begin to develop unpleasant associations. Trainers call the essence of the method negative reinforcement.

Spraying from a spray bottle works well, as cats are afraid of water. This method will not harm the animal’s psyche; the cat will not be afraid of you, but of what you have in your hands.

With age, almost all cats understand what not to do, but sometimes even the awareness of subsequent punishment will not stop some pets from committing an offense. Cats just love to show off their character. If such cases happen, you should not be too offended by the cat.

There are probably few people who do not have, never had, and never will have pets. We get pets in order to make the house more comfortable, to please the children, or simply to find a friend who will be by our side regardless of the circumstances. We buy them the best, allow ourselves to be manipulated, and adapt a huge part of our lives to them.

But when we make this important decision and finally have an adorable kitten in our home, we inevitably face one very serious question. And it lies in the fact that a kitten must not only be groomed, cherished and touched by its fluffiness, but also raised. Yes, your baby can be litter box trained and will probably have no problem finding bowls of food and water, but there are still a lot of things that you would like to forbid him, or at least control. What's the best way to do this?

Many will probably think that there is nothing complicated here, and they will consider it unnecessary to invent something. For what? If you don’t like what the kitten is doing, hit him harder, and he will immediately understand that you can’t do that. Alas, such logic is destructive for our smaller brothers, and using it means wishing the worst for your pet.

So why shouldn't you hit cats on the head?

, or other parts of the body? The answer is simple - by doing this you will achieve absolutely nothing except that the pet will begin to be afraid of you and move away from you as much as possible. The cat will develop a fear of pain, which will have a detrimental effect on its psyche, but oddly enough, it will not stop doing what you are punishing it for. On the contrary, he will play even more pranks.

The cat will no longer trust you, and she will begin to associate you with pain and fear, but she will not be able to understand what you are trying to achieve. Or, even worse, he will act out of spite for you. Thus, both you and your pet will only lose from the use of force, which means it is better to abandon such methods altogether.

However, it is clear to everyone that it is still necessary to raise the animal somehow. Otherwise, it will grow completely uncontrollable and uncontrollable, and will bring its owners not joy and peace, but a complete headache.

How to properly raise a kitten?

Let's consider the most effective, and at the same time completely elementary way of education. In order to wean your pet from mischief and leprosy, you only need an ordinary spray bottle of water! It is enough just to direct a stream of water towards the troublemaker, and the bully will understand that this should not be done. And what’s most remarkable is that the pet will not experience pain and see you as a threat; it will associate punishment with the spray gun, and will be afraid only of it. It is known that cats actively do not like water, so this method of education is really useful, and does not injure the animal in any way.

It is also important that if you raise a kitten properly and try to instill in him only the best and most useful manners, then, as he grows up, he practically stops playing pranks. Of course, sometimes such a willful animal is obliged to show its character, but these are nothing more than one-time cases. Otherwise, your pet will be polite, obedient, and you will be proud to call him a role model.

Raising any pet involves punishment. But it is important to remember that educational methods should not be violent or cruel. If there is a small kitten living in the house, then you should treat it more leniently. Over time, he will understand what he can do and what is strictly prohibited. The same applies to adult animals - sometimes they need time to get used to something new and unusual. It is important that the cat understands its owner, and is not simply afraid to perform some actions.

Why can't you punish cats?

Owners react differently to the “tricks” of their pets. Some come to terms with the fact that the cat’s behavior cannot be corrected, others begin to study books on training and turn the apartment into a cat parade ground, others break down in impotent anger and punish the animals for every offense. The staff of the Murkosha shelter will tell you why none of these strategies bring the desired results.

Let us immediately note that there is great news for all of the above-mentioned groups: cat behavior problems can be solved, and success largely depends on the owner. You can view a list of solutions for the most common situations in the following article.

Now let's look at the basic methods of correcting behavior, widely used by many owners.

Mistake #1. Negative incentive as such.

Negative reinforcement does not work at all for cats, so forget about the carrot and stick method. The cat strongly associates negative influences with its source (that is, with you), and not with its “bad” behavior. As a result, we have distrust, fear, vindictiveness, aggression and, as a result, even less pleasant behavior.

Praise your cat for good things with affection and treats.

Mistake #2. Nip “bad” habits in the bud.

Remember that for animals, as for people, the rule works: you cannot get rid of a bad habit, you can only replace it with a useful one. Only in the case of a cat, its habits are often based on instincts that cannot be removed from the equation.

It is important to respect your cat's needs and allow her to do what she needs. The owner’s task is to change the direction of the habit in a direction where it will no longer have a negative impact. For example, if your cat sharpens her claws on furniture, give her a scratching post and teach her to use it. In fact, the action will be the same, but not a single sofa will be harmed.

Mistake #3. Use physical force.

Hitting animals, especially cats, is strictly forbidden!

  • The cat does not associate punishment with its “misdeeds” - this will in no way help correct its behavior for the better.
  • Cats take aggression and the use of physical force from humans very seriously. Rest assured, the cat will never forget or forgive its offender.
  • You could injure or seriously injure your cat.
  • Do not throw shoes at the cat, do not chase it with a broom, etc. All this relates to the topic of physical punishment.
  • Don't swing at the cat. Even in the absence of a blow, the animal will associate your hands with danger and see you as the aggressor.

There are no alternatives here, because physical punishment is inherently wrong and brings nothing but harm. The Murkosha shelter periodically ends up with cats that are so downtrodden in every sense that it takes a lot of time and effort to adapt them. We encourage all owners to use peaceful methods to resolve behavioral problems in their pets and avoid violence.

Mistake #4. Loud sounds and screaming.

Cats' hearing is more sensitive not only than that of humans, but also that of dogs. Accordingly, the sound wave you produce will have too strong an effect on your pet. Over thousands of years of living side by side with humans, cats have perfectly learned to read human emotions by smell, facial expressions, posture, and intonation. Screaming is more likely to scare the cat, but will not have a pedagogical effect. But the animal’s name, sternly pronounced in a slightly raised voice, will convey your dissatisfaction to the pet.

If the furry prankster is too carried away and does not respond to simple methods of influence, try hissing at him. In cat language, this means a warning that will let the animal know that you are serious. This technique is effective, but it should be used rarely so that the cat does not begin to see you as an enemy.

Mistake #5. Be too zealous with spray bottles and water pistols.

A wet cat is a dissatisfied cat. And at the same time, the pet is smart enough to understand why it got wet and where the hated water came from. It is believed that if you catch a cat doing something indecent in time, you can use water as punishment to discourage your pet from the bad habit. And in some cases this is true. But it is necessary to take into account a number of points.

We have already discussed why punishment, the threat from the owner and the lack of an alternative are bad. Therefore, if other methods have not worked, and you still decide to grab a spray bottle, it is advisable to spray the cat from the back so that it does not see you. And you shouldn’t use water too actively, otherwise you can only make the problem worse. For example, a cat may misinterpret your actions. Let's say a cat is chewing on your headphones, and you throw water on it. He may decide that the headphones cannot be chewed in your presence / when they are lying on the table (and not on the floor, shelf, sticking out of the bag) / instead of the headphones he will begin to chew on other wires that may be live.

A good solution could be a non-contact “fight”: double-sided tape pasted on surfaces prohibited for cats, rustling foil placed there, citrus oil and special sprays sprayed in the right places, automatic repellers with a motion sensor (when cats approach, they release a stream of water or air). In this case, you or other family members should not be nearby - the unpleasant association for the cat should concern only the place or action.

Summarize. From the cat’s point of view, if the owner punished her, then he is angry and inadequate, and it is not her fault. The only thing you can achieve by punishing a cat is to ruin your relationship with it, provoking fear, mistrust and worsening behavior. Yes, cats' conclusions rarely coincide with our desires, but by better understanding the reasons for their actions, we can correct the situation.

Why does a cat do something punishable?

An animal that has committed some bad act does not always understand what it has done. Most often, cats play or look for a comfortable place. For example, if a pet climbs onto new furniture, then it seems comfortable to him. In such cases, the cat cannot be punished. It is advisable to buy her a special soft bed or lay a blanket on the sofa so that it remains in its original form longer.

The same can be said about broken dishes, souvenirs, vases - for a pet this is a game. He sees how the fragments fly in different directions, and this arouses interest. Breaking and breaking household items is common for small kittens.

The animal tears wallpaper, furniture and carpets with its claws - a sign that it urgently needs a scratching post. If it is not there, then there is no point in scolding the cat - the owner is to blame. And if there is, then it either does not suit the pet, or he does not understand its purpose. In such cases, it is necessary to show the kitten the place where the claw sharpener is located.

Be sure to encourage the animal if it does everything correctly - pet it, scratch it behind the ear, treat it with delicious food.

When and how to properly punish a pet?

The most effective punishment for a cat is to raise your voice. But you shouldn’t start shouting, just say your pet’s name with a threatening intonation, and he will definitely react to it, realizing his wrongdoing. You can also gesticulate, frown, wag your finger at the cat, knock on the table with a newspaper - the animal will perceive such a sign correctly and will not be scared.

In the most common situations, you should act as follows:

  • If an animal sharpens its claws on wallpaper or upholstered furniture, you should scold it and take it to the scratching post, pointing your finger at it.
  • If a cat drops or hits household objects, the animal must first be scolded, and then the things must be put away out of reach of the pet.
  • If a cat jumps on the kitchen table or appliances, then it needs to be picked up and placed on the floor, gesturing with the index finger and pronouncing the name in a threatening intonation.
  • If your pet defecates in shoes, on the floor or on the sofa, then you should show him the tray so that he gets used to fulfilling his physiological needs in one place.

There is a popular method for training a kitten to use a litter box. It consists in the fact that for the purpose of education, the owner, seeing a puddle of urine or excrement, pokes the kitten with its muzzle into this mass. You can't do that. It is necessary to show the animal where the place is where it should go to the toilet. This should be a tray or a special diaper. It is advisable to use litter or add newspaper so that the cat can distinguish the litter box from other plastic containers. In pet stores you can purchase special sprays and other products that can help your pet get accustomed to the litter box faster.

How to make punishment more effective

Below are specific methods. You can use the most optimal one or even combine them.

You can punish a cat with intonation

Cats perfectly understand the intonation of speech, especially if you give it severity, make your voice rude, and generally show your dissatisfaction in every possible way. In this case, there is no need to scream or yell at all - this will simply scare the pet and make it rebel.

You can also grab the cat by the scruff of the neck. This works when you catch the animal in the act. Grab it exactly in an area of ​​the neck where it won't hurt and lower it gently. At the same time, speak quietly and softly.

Ignoring

When planning your punishment, remember that cats cannot live without the attention of their owners.

Cats love attention, and sometimes they get into mischief just to get it. If you don't play with your pet enough or don't buy him toys, he will seek at least negative attention. If everything is in order with this, but the cat still “rebels,” you should not give in to his attempts to win your favor, since then all attempts to raise the cat will be unsuccessful.

Cats hate being alone, even when there is a box in the room.

Very similar to punishing naughty children. Remember that cats do not like to be alone, and therefore free space will be a good punishment for them.

The idea is that you remove the cat from the crime scene, so to speak.

Double-sided tape will tame the ardor of your furry bully

If you translate the phrase “pathetic coward” into English, you get “scared cat.” But let's get back to the topic, and remember that safe traps in order to wean your pet from doing what you don't like are quite acceptable.

For example, place double-sided tape on countertops, foil, or empty bottles.

Use devices

What happens when you go to work and your cat is left alone? While you cannot control the cat yourself, your electronic assistants can do it. A striking example is the water sprinklers in the place that the pet has chosen instead of the tray. You can also choose motion sensors that will scare away the cat in case of unwanted behavior.

The above methods have been proven to be safe and effective. But there are a few more life hacks in store for the most stubborn cats. They are designed to make our methods even more effective.

Consistency is important in punishment

You cannot ignore him today for constant attacks, and tomorrow suddenly postpone educational work. This will just confuse the cat.

Overall, this can be the most difficult part of the entire process.

Punishment should take effect immediately after the fact of unacceptable behavior by the cat. If you wait 20-30 minutes or more, then you will simply be abusing the animal. So it simply won’t understand what exactly is happening.

If the cat takes the right path, do not hesitate to reward him

If the cat begins to understand what you want - for example, he stops sharpening his claws or ruining the rug after receiving a kind of reprimand - let him know that he is on the right track. The simplest thing is to give him some tasty treat.

If he stumbles again, stop rewarding accordingly.

Sometimes tough love is necessary to keep your pet well-behaved and healthy, but make sure you honor all your obligations to your pet.

If your cat suddenly changes his behavior, don't ignore it. It is likely that he is not behaving badly on his own initiative. This may be caused by factors such as reaching a certain age or illness. If you are in doubt about the exact cause or what steps to take, consult a professional.

Trainer Yu. Kuklachev created a “School of Education” for cats, but excluded mentoring and violence from it. Yuri Dmitrievich encourages his colleagues to love and study furry students. Over the course of 40 years of work, the chief cat expert in Russia has accumulated 4 boxes of diaries of observations of them.

But age-old folk wisdom encourages “stick” methods for educational purposes. “Just show the beaten cat the vine,” says the Russian proverb. So is it possible to punish a cat? Is corporal punishment acceptable in relation to the most sensitive and sophisticated mammal? Let us turn to the opinion of animal psychologists.

The domestication of the furry predator began 9.5 thousand years ago. But even today he behaves as if he is patronizing a person. Cats tend to become attached to the house and owners and establish emotional contact with them. However, they easily return to a wild lifestyle.

Unlike a dog, a cat has not lost the habits of its distant ancestors and has retained the independence of a lone predator. Scientists say: genetically she has not changed. This cannot be ignored when solving the problem of how to punish a cat.

Mothballs placed in a flower pot are effective to prevent the cat from using it as a toilet. And throwing a light jar filled with pebbles or small coins towards the offending cat will produce the necessary scaring noise. Instead of a can, you can throw a bunch of keys.

And in the place where the cat sharpens its claws, you can tie an inflated balloon - if it bursts, then an unexpectedly sharp bang will scare it away. Unpleasant tastes and odors can be used to stop your cat from chewing wires, furniture, and leaves of indoor plants. It is enough to spray these items with a vinegar solution. There are also special industrial deterrents: “Antigadin”, “Stop”, “Anti-gryzin”.

Another key to training cats is that you can prevent them from developing bad habits or unwanted behavior in advance by providing them with an alternative solution. Therefore, to prevent your cat from damaging the furniture, purchase a scratching post and appropriate toys for it.

We suggest you read: How to give Tavegil to a cat? — Zhivomag

Punishment system

Raising a cat requires love and patience. Habits acquired by a kitten are difficult to change in the future. To develop certain norms of behavior in your pet, you need to exercise them often. At the same time, you need to treat the cat in a friendly and understanding manner.

What can't you do?

In order for the pet to understand and assimilate the rules that its owners force it to follow, it is necessary to correctly approach the punishment for cat misconduct:

  • Under no circumstances should you play or pet a kitten immediately after being scolded. The animal will not understand what the owner wants to say with this gesture. If you behave this way, your pet will become afraid and avoid people.
  • There is no point in punishing an animal if the offense was committed a long time ago. That is, a person who noticed a plate broken by a kitten only a week after the incident should not scold his pet. The animal has long forgotten about this incident, so the punishment will be perceived as something undeserved, and the owner will become an enemy.
  • You can't hit cats too hard. Any physical impact will cause physical or psychological harm to the pet. Also, do not spank the kitten on the head, neck and back - there are nerve endings in this area, and a blow will cause severe pain. If your pet does not understand facial expressions, gestures and intonation, then you can lightly pat its face with your finger - this way the cat will understand that it has done something forbidden, and the owner will not cause it pain or injury.
  • There is no need to scold your cat if he tore up the furniture in the place where the claw sharpener used to be. He performs the action intuitively. In this case, you need to return the scratching post to its original place or try to show the animal a new place. Punishment in this case is senseless and cruel.

It is important to remember that a kitten is capable of doing something accidentally or unconsciously. There is no need to try to harm or hurt the animal. The cat must be punished in such a way that it understands both its action and the person’s attitude towards this offense. Otherwise, the pet will be afraid and distrustful of the owner for a very long time.

How to raise a cat? An age-old question that we face every day. We will reveal some secrets of raising our pets. So, let's begin.

A cat is an independent, freedom-loving animal that does not tolerate encroachment. They do not have a developed sense of guilt, and this is an indisputable fact. But the question arises, is it possible to hit a cat?

Any punishment on your part is perceived by the cat as a personal insult. Brute force in this matter is not the solution to the problem. Because you will be the main offender in the eyes of the cat.

Here are six principles for raising a cat.

1. Violence is not the solution.

Never use brute force against a cat. This also applies to the famous “stick your face in a puddle.” Do not do this under any circumstances! Your pet will become confused out of fear and again leave a puddle in the wrong place. When physically punished, the cat will fear you and flee. Of course, you should not look at your cat silently when it behaves in an unacceptable way. Cats perceive sound signals well. And when the cat jumped onto the table, then shout decisively: “You can’t!”, or even better, just hiss at her, this is enough for the cat to understand the prohibition.

2. At the scene of the “crime”

If an offense has already been committed, do not punish the cat retroactively. She simply will not understand why her owner is so dissatisfied. As a result, the cat does not understand why she did not please you, becoming unsure of herself, which negatively affects her psyche.

3. Praise your cat as often as possible

Try to praise your cat when the cat deserves praise, immediately after doing a good deed. And in general, praise never hurts. With this simple action, like praise, you can achieve good success in raising a cat. But, unfortunately, many owners forget about this. And often they cannot praise their treasure, for example, when a cat sharpened its claws, not on your furniture, but on a special board, or used the toilet in the right place. Always remember, go only in the direction of your pet's rewards. If, of course, you want to instill the necessary skills in your cat.

4. Be consistent

For people, exceptions to the rules are normal; cats are perplexed by this. When a cat is in doubt, it acts on its own, and not at all as its owner would like.

5. Keep your distance

If the cat cannot be weaned from misdeeds by loud shouting, use the method of intimidation. For example, at the moment of committing any offense, the animal should experience a feeling of fear. But you must not allow the cat to consider you a source of fear. This is where you can and should be creative. Make sure that in response to your bad behavior, the cat receives a punishment that is not related to you. If your cat jumps on the table, place several empty beer cans on the table surface. Having jumped onto the table, the cat will definitely knock over a couple of cans on the floor and as a result, it will be afraid of this place, but will not be afraid of you.

A very good effect is observed if the place where the cat is playing dirty tricks is treated with a citrus scent or laid with an adhesive surface, as a result of which the cat will become confused when its paws stick.

As mentioned earlier, cats are afraid of noise - you can scare the cat with a sharp sound, for example, popping a balloon or clapping your hands, but remember that the cat should not see you. Also use hissing like cats do.

6. Patience, time, nerves

If you want to re-educate your pet, then you will have to be patient. Praise her whenever she does a good deed, and ignore her failures. Be patient and time!

In addition to the above rules, I will add rules from my life experience in raising my pet.

And finally, it is better to solve the problem before it manifests itself. Buy your pet a board where the cat can sharpen its claws, and trim the cat’s claws regularly. Often, cat behavior disorder is due to the fact that the cat is simply bored.

Pay more attention to your cat and she will reciprocate.

Most cat owners note that these animals are completely devoid of guilt. They do not know how to adapt to their owners and rather live not with them, but next to them. In this article we will tell you how to properly raise these willful animals and why you should not hit cats.

"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”.

How to punish a cat if she shits

An animal must be toilet trained from the first day it arrives in the house. It’s better to buy two trays: cats prefer to go to different places when they need to be small and big. Every time after eating, it is recommended to take the kitten to the toilet and reward it for correct behavior.

A serious mistake is using newspaper as a filler. It is not able to absorb moisture, and the cat’s wet paws will carry specific odors throughout the house. This will inevitably lead to hygienic disorientation of the animal and conflicts with the owners.

How to properly punish a cat in this case? The usual method - “poking with the snout” - will only add to the problems. The pet will understand it in its own way: “That’s right, continue to act this way.” If you add “spanking” to “poking,” fear and resentment will settle in the cat’s soul. Productive ways to solve the “toilet” problem are obvious: changing the filler and/or moving the tray to a place that is comfortable for the cat.

In relation to an adult mischief maker, it is recommended to use different tactics. You should start from understanding the reason for what is happening. When fauna children mark territory, they are claiming leadership. Therefore, the cat must be made to understand: the dominant role in the house belongs to the person.

It is important to catch the miscreant at the “scene of the crime”, lift him by the scruff of the neck and look intently into his eyes (according to the cat’s rules: whoever doesn’t look away wins). It is advisable to reinforce the psychic attack with a threatening hiss and imitation of a cat's finger strikes on the muzzle of the mustache.

Then the owner of the animal must “interrupt” the cat’s marks with human ones: wash the puddle and wipe the floor with his own sweaty T-shirt or splash his favorite toilet water.

How to punish a cat for aggression

The unfriendly attitude of the meowing companion will be “told” by the ears pressed to the head, the fluffy or nervously tossing tail.

We list common reasons for cat aggression and ways to eliminate them:

  1. Malaise. The cat may be bothered by tooth or joint pain, stomach upset, or nausea. Medical attention is definitely required here.
  2. Emotional deviations. Premature weaning from its mother and siblings results in the kitten’s inability to self-control. You should not separate your baby from the family until he reaches the age of 2-2.5 months.
  3. Fear of human hands. The phobia is inherent in street “foundlings” and kittens not accustomed to affection. Adaptation of the “savage” will require time, patience and tact.
  4. Defending the right to personal space. Cats quickly get tired of games and cannot stand intrusiveness and noise. They should have “their own corner” - a secluded and safe area (under a chair, on a windowsill, in a playhouse) where they can hide, retire, and relax.
  5. Manifestation of the hunter's instinct. The natural state of a predator is to overtake and attack fleeing prey. To avoid thinking about how to punish a cat for scratching, you should not use your own hands and feet as teaser toys. The animal must clearly understand: the human body is not a scratching post. If the cat is used to grabbing legs or arms, you should not fuel his excitement with screams and lamentations. Punishing a predator for its hunting instinct is nonsense. You should switch the animal's attention to inanimate objects: balls, laces, ribbons with a tied bow. At first, to avoid scratches, you will have to trim your nails regularly.
  6. Longing for the “bride/groom”. It is not punishment that will help extinguish a cat’s sexual behavior, but a civilized solution - castration or sterilization.
  7. Jealousy of the cubs. You shouldn’t hold a “watch” or pick up newborns if the mother cat is against it. Over time, she will warm up and share her squeaking “treasure” with her owner.

Cat scratches are by no means harmless. Cats carry bacteria that cause a dangerous disease called felinosis. At risk are the elderly, children, diabetics, and people with weakened immune systems.

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.

Upbringing

You need to raise a cat correctly. First of all, keep in mind that she has no understanding of cause and effect relationships. If you punish her, hit her or shout, she understands only one thing - you are trying to offend her or harm her.

She will in no way connect your punishment with that piece of meat stolen from the table or a pile in a flower pot. All that you will achieve if you beat your pet for pranks is that the cat will not do such things in front of you.

Secondly, never forget how you appear to a cat: a huge and strong person with a loud voice and heavy palms. Imagine yourself in her place: a small, lightweight creature dependent on you. Imagine how she feels when you punish her. This will help you avoid hitting your pet even when you are very angry with him.

To punish a cat, you don't have to hit it; instead, use

:

  • Flower spray bottle
    . As soon as you notice that the cat is climbing the curtain again or has settled down to do its business in a flower pot, take a spray bottle and spray water on it. It won't hurt her or scare her too much. But the cat will remember that something unpleasant happened in this situation, and will not repeat it. The advantage of this method is that she will not directly associate the punishment with your person, and will not begin to be afraid of you.
  • Products with an unpleasant taste or strong odor.
    If your pet explores the world and tries everything, it makes no sense to beat her for it. You just need to make her stop wanting to do it. Is your cat chewing on wires or plant leaves? Treat them with a special anti-gnat product, which is sold in pet stores.
  • Harmless traps
    . To make it clear to your cat that she should not jump into certain places, you can put objects in them that the cat will definitely touch. For example, place a metal tray on the edge of a table, or empty tin cans on a cabinet. The main thing is that they are positioned unstable and fall when the cat gets to them. A loud, sharp noise will cause her an unpleasant sensation and an association with this place: subsequently it will cease to be so tempting for her.
  • Noisy objects
    . If you notice your cat doing something wrong, you can scare it away. For example, throw an empty can or a bunch of keys in her direction. The main thing is not to hit her with these objects, but just create noise nearby.

In addition, there are easier methods - if a cat is misbehaving, look straight into her eyes, point your finger at her and strictly say “no”. You can also distract her from this activity by strictly calling her nickname. Our pets are very smart and have studied us well. Many people are able to distinguish between words and intonations, and read our mood by gestures and facial expressions. So there is no need to hit or raise your voice - this will only scare your pet.

Remember that you are responsible for your pet, and do not take your anger out on it.

How to properly punish a cat?

1. An animal must be punished immediately after committing an “illegal action,” otherwise it simply will not associate the punishment with the action and will continue to do so in the future. It is necessary to catch the cat at the scene of the crime and punish it no later than a few minutes after the dirty trick, otherwise new impressions in its mind will overshadow this act and it will associate the punishment with completely different actions.

Thus, if you returned tired from work and found a puddle on the carpet, a broken vase in the morning, or a torn chair, then it is too late and absolutely useless to punish. The cat has long forgotten about what she did. But if you start shouting at her and grabbing her by the scruff of the neck when she was walking joyfully to greet you or was lying relaxed, then you can seriously injure her psyche and, in a couple of such unfortunate times, lead the animal to depression. The cat will start to be afraid of you

2. You cannot humanize a cat and demand that it understand things that its brain is not able to understand.

For example, cats simply cannot understand the value of expensive items in your home. From the point of view of animals, the space of our apartment is filled with useless rubbish, which often prevents them from moving around comfortably.

A mink coat or an expensive merino blanket is just a soft and warm item that is good to lie on. From a cat's point of view, upholstered furniture and wallpaper are simply created in order to sharpen their claws and calm down (and without this, cats simply). Get used to the scratching post on time!

It is impossible to rebuild a cat’s consciousness in a human way, but it is simply necessary, with the help of constant repetitions, to consolidate in it the knowledge of what objects it should not touch (upholstered furniture), equipment, and you must secure all small, fragile and breakable things yourself by putting them away turnkey . It is in the nature of cats to drop small things, read more.

3.You should never hit a cat with your hands!!!

All animal behaviorists (behaviorists) and animal psychologists agree that after beatings, cats begin to act out much more actively.

To hit any animal hard is, firstly, vile and inhumane, and secondly, you can injure it under the heat of the moment.

If the cat has committed a really serious offense, do not hit it with your hands; you can slap it on the back (BUT NOT ON THE MOUTH AND HEAD) with a folded towel. Veterinarians and animal psychologists do not even recommend hitting cats with a newspaper.

Under no circumstances should a cat be hit on the back near the tail. In this place she has something similar to our solar plexus, that is, a sensitive collection of nerve endings.

But you can swing at a cat if it is going to harm you. Often such an impact is enough for her to get scared and retreat (or fight

Cautions

Another reason why hitting a cat is absolutely forbidden is its vulnerability. Namely

:

  • Cats are small and their bodies are fragile; if we do not calculate our strength, we can cripple them. Under no circumstances should you hit a cat on the head - this will cause a concussion with all the attendant negative consequences.
  • You also need to be careful with the area where the spine meets the tail. For a cat, this is a very sensitive area, similar to our solar plexus - there are many nerve endings there. Hitting this place means causing very severe pain.
  • Take care of your pet’s mental health - if a cat is frightened and beaten, it will get used to living in constant fear. This will cause many problems that are very similar to human ones. Scientists have proven that animals can also experience post-traumatic disorders, they can suffer from depression or panic attacks. But, unlike people, cats have no one to help them cope.

Punishment rules

To prevent the cat from thinking that its owner is a sadist, it is necessary to use democratic methods of education. You can punish your pet without assault. Better yet, punish cats in accordance with the following rules:

The timeliness of punishment is the most crucial moment. It will be clear to the cat why he is being punished if retribution occurs immediately after committing the dirty trick. If you punish a cat in the evening for going to the toilet in the wrong place in the morning, she will be completely bewildered by what is happening. Moreover, the animal may become very upset and decide that the owner has stopped loving him, will begin to treat him with caution or even take revenge - it all depends on the character of the pet. Payment for sins - before punishing your beloved cat, you need to figure out whether the committed dirty trick is really her paws. Perhaps it was one of the household members who dropped a flower pot and was afraid to admit it, or other animals were frolicking in the absence of their owners. Moderation of punishment - the amount of damage from cat pranks can be either insignificant or enormous. The main thing is to punish

It is important for the cat to clearly convey that he is to blame, without succumbing to emotions and without going to extreme measures. Now don’t kill the cat if he broke his favorite vase

There is no need to hit the animal - this method has an increased risk of injury to the cat and is also not effective. You can also punish verbally. Painful sensations will not help the cat think carefully about its behavior. In addition, this may lead to retaliatory aggression or resentment.

  1. Purrs don’t understand what “no” means. In relation to cats and children, taboos are meaningless: they cause a backlash.
  2. Traditional punishments of scolding and beating will bring negative results: the attacker will become the cat's worst enemy. She will fear, hate and take revenge on the offender. Rather than start a thrashing, it is wiser to calm down the prankster with an “accidentally” dropped key or a stream of water from a spray bottle.
  3. In addition to losing trust in the owner, corporal punishment can cause harm to the pet's health. If you hit a cat on the head, you can upset the vestibular system, hurt the auditory nerve, and disrupt the most important functions of the brain. Is it possible to hit a cat on the butt? Definitely not: in the area of ​​the tail, the continuation of the spinal column, there is a bundle of nerve endings. If you do not calculate the blow, you can cause a painful shock (cats have an unusually developed sense of touch), break a backbone, and damage the genitals.
  4. It is useless to scold someone for a prank committed more than half an hour ago. The tailed prankster will not learn such a lesson. It’s another matter if he is caught at the moment of harm and suffers adequate punishment.
  5. To avoid conflicts between an old-timer cat and a newbie animal, the former should be given maximum respect: give priority during feeding, caress more. Then he will not mistake the “alien” for a competitor. To prevent your cat from becoming jealous of your newborn baby, you need to set aside time for playing and talking with your pet.

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.

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