my 8 month old cat loves to go places i dont want her to. for example on top of my kitchen cabinets, the refrigerator, etc.. is there any way i can stop her from doing these things?
2007-03-21 15:34:12 · 12 answers · asked by MBC 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Ah, been there... get ready to be strong for a long, long time. I have two cats, one responds well to "NO!" and the other ignores me unless I shake the water-sprayer, with it's distincly slushy-shloshiness. He hates being squirted. We've had standoffs where he ended up soaking wet, streaking from the room, but I stayed my ground. I gave in on letting him jump on top of the cupboards, but he's learning (after two years) to sometimes pay attention to me.
Also, try showing dominance at other times throughout the day. She may be more receptive to obedience if you're the alpha of the pack (even if there's just the two of you, it still counts!) Stare her down a lot, it may take thirty seconds, but do it at least once a day. Once she looks away, she's lost the competition... for now. Don't be afraid to speak louder if you know she understands and she doesn't seem to hear you. As barbaric as it seems, sometimes yelling sharply is what it takes. I tend to think back to the animal kingdom from whence my cat came, and act accordingly. If he insists on playing dumb with human behavior, I switch to his. They read body language and tone of voice more than anything. Oh, and don't ever scratch, bite, hit or kick your cat, or they will fear you and never trust you. I don't go THAT far.
If you don't have so grand a problem as I (which I sincerely hope) you could try a spray-on pet repellent. It doesn't smell like roses, but it's not like skunk, either. The important thing is cats can't stand it. We've found the best brand is "Simple Solution" Indoor/Outdoor Repellent for Dogs & Cats, but you have to apply it every 24 hours. Still, it works for areas you don't have to smell.
2007-03-21 16:05:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anniekd 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats love high places. I had one that somehow got onto the top of the door. She acted like a vulture up there! I've found that if I junk up the top of the refrigerator my cat doesn't get up there -- no room. You could also try to figure out how she's getting up there, for instance the counter then the top of the range hood and then the top of the cupboards?
2007-03-21 23:04:59 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Set up boundaries. Whenever she goes someplace you don't want her, automatically correct her by placing her on the ground. A more severe way of correcting her is to get a spray bottle and spritzing her with a little water. Some people do not agree with this method, but it is effective and safe, no different from slapping a child on the back of the hand. Also remember that she is young! Kittens always want to get into everything. It might take some time for her to grow out of it.
2007-03-21 15:39:09 · answer #3 · answered by NYCWondering 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can't really train a cat. As far as I can see it you have two options.
1. Get used to your cat getting up on your cabinets and refrigerator.
2. Get a few scat mats. They will administer a mild electric shock when the cat jumps on them. You can find them at Petsmart.
Remember that cats love high places so if you aren't going to allow kitty up on these things provide her with a tall cat tree or something high that she CAN get on.
2007-03-21 15:45:35 · answer #4 · answered by The OTHER Boelyn Chic 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Your cat should never know the punishment or correction came from you because if she notices it only happens when you're around, she'll wait until you're not there.
My suggestion would be filling an aluminum can with coins and letting it drop on the ground whenever you see her on the counter. The noise will scare her and she'll begin associating the big scary noise with getting on the counter and stop doing it. Just make sure you throw the can somewhere away from you so she won't know it came from you.
2007-03-21 15:45:38 · answer #5 · answered by Dana L 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Use double sided sticky tape on those surfaces. You can apply it to cheap placemats or cardboard that you can move when you want to use the spot yourself. Try using that and or a water spray bottle on jet stream, and spray her with it. Sometimes a citrus cleaner on the surface will help deter them too. Some people have had success with aluminium foil on the surfaces, but I found my cats just like to play with it and eat it which is dangerous. Also, a shallow dishes with a little water in on top of the surfaces can help but I wouldn't suggest it around electrical appliances just in case.
2007-03-22 02:36:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats like climbing onto high places. Get her a cat tree so she has a high place she can go. Then remove her from places you don't want her to be and put her on the cat tree.
2007-03-21 15:41:21 · answer #7 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my cat used to do that too, only on my work desk though. I just put down some lightly crinkled aluminum foil and for my laptop I put cardboard over the keyboard and put foil on top of that for a few weeks I had to take of the foil when I was using my desk and put it back on when I was finished this won't stop a particularly determined cat but it stopped mine
2007-03-22 06:40:10 · answer #8 · answered by Hazel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
buy or make a 3story scratcher as cats love to be high up as it makes them feel safer..mine was climbing trees till my son and i made a 3story scratcher,,,now she only climbs up there ........p.s.your cat is not bad it;s only doing cat behaviors that they have had for thousands of yrs' and climbing is 1 of those cat things,,
2007-03-21 16:32:02 · answer #9 · answered by Cami lives 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They love to be high, maybe get a scratching pole that is tall.
2007-03-21 15:45:50 · answer #10 · answered by Calais 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋