I just got a new kitty. He's 3-5 mos. old, and doing well. He's very high strung and energetic, which is to be expected of a young cat I suppose. But there is one thing he's doing that is hard to live with -- attacking our feet when they are under our blankets in bed.
I had a rude awakening the other night, and I don't wish to have that repeated! I've been closing the bedroom doors, but I don't want to do that forever. Is there something that works when it comes to disciplining cats? I use the word "No", for other things like biting, and it seems to be working. But it isn't working to save our poor feet.
I have heard of using a squirt bottle & giving them a shot each time they do something undesirable. Is that cruel?
I've never owned a cat before that I've had to raise myself, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for all your answers!
2006-12-29 05:21:27 · 12 answers · asked by Nikki 6 in Pets ➔ Cats
Using a squirt bottle isnt cruel at all. Its an effective way of disiplining your kitty. Oh and I saw in another thread, a tin full of coins will help scare your cat if he attacks your feet. Shake the tin when your kitty attacks you when your in bed!
Hope that helped.
2006-12-29 05:25:31 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Cats don't understand cause and effect the way we do. They are basically stuck at the human equivilant of six or seven months old. They don't really understand that "no" is connected to what they just did or are doing. So adverse physical responses (like a swat across the nose) work but yelling doesn't.
A mother cat disciplines her kittens with her paws. They misbehave, she swats them. A kitten doesn't have to get bowled over by loving mom very many times before it gets the point.
A couple people mentioned spraybottles. Water is amazing an amazing deterent. Most cats hate it in any form that's not voluntarily lapped up. For a cat attacking toes, the spraybottle is your best bet. If you've got one of those cats who likes to play in water, add a tablespoon of vinegar to the spraybottle. They dislike the taste and smell of it.
As an alternative, you might spray your toes with bitter apple spray before going to bed. Again, this is a taste deterent. Yes, kitty will attack. But once he gets a mouthful of bitter apple, he will stop in a hurry.
2006-12-29 10:36:11 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, personally i do think the water bottle is a cruel idea, but some people swear by it. Just think if you were doing something bad and someone scared the crap out of you everytime.
Anyway, i don't know if it will work, but keep toys at the bottom of the bed so he has something to play with. My cats never played with my feet so much before and when they do i usually just kick them off the bed, but a young cat like yours might think it is play time and just jump back up...
So i can't be of much use but good luck
2006-12-29 05:52:02 · answer #3 · answered by Kelley 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Get a heavy quilt to protect your feet under and when kitty makes a grab for your feet, play along. Remember, Kitty will not last forever, you just wish that they would. Never out-grow the desire to play with your cat, friends, family, or others. Fill your years with life, not your life with years. Life is not a punishment, enjoy it and revel in the new things you can experience.
You invited a cat into your life not the other way around. There will be adjustments on BOTH your part and your cat's part as well. Enjoy each other!!!
2007-01-02 05:21:20 · answer #4 · answered by Tony B 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, it isn't cruel to blast him with a water pistol but a clear sharp "NO" and maybe throwing a soft toy at him and onto the floor might help. That way he understands the word "NO" and will be distracted off your bed. You might also want to leave some soft toys on the floor to keep him off your bed to begin with. You could also say "NO" and pick him up and drop him on the floor. He will eventually get the hint that he's not supposed to play with your feet.
2006-12-29 05:33:28 · answer #5 · answered by Sunny_1_ 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I asked my cat about disciplining my cats I have 4 of them and he suggested using a water bottle and squirt them one or two times when they do something wrong.
2006-12-29 05:30:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Nothing cruel about the water bottle, as long as you avoid squirting them in the face.
2006-12-29 05:28:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Squirt bottle is my suggestion. No it's not cruel. Just try not to aim for it's face.
2006-12-29 05:32:01 · answer #8 · answered by msnite1969 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Try this. take your cat the next time he does this and lay him on your pillow. wrap him in a blanket and pet him . this will calm him and he will go to sleep . he wants to play when he attacks your feet so you have to make him go to sleep.
2006-12-29 05:48:21 · answer #9 · answered by veg3rdchair 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
use can use a spray bottle with water in it and spray him when hes doing it.
2006-12-29 05:25:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋