What is the best way to discipline a kitten?

Question

My 9 month old cat keeps jumping up on everything and doesn't seem to get that he is not allowed on the funiture.

Answer 1

The best way is the way that works. For many cats - a spray bottle is the answer. Do get him something that he can be on - a multi-level tower comes to mind - whether or not you decide to continue with "not allowed on the funiture". As noted, cats are not like dogs and all your cat may learn is not to get on the furniture when you are around. Scruffing is okay, but I would not recommend shaking - too much risk of injury. I like the canned air idea - one of mine didn't mind getting wet, so the spray bottle was no use with her. She didn't like loud noises, so l clapped my hands at her, which worked. Any discipline should be accompanied by a firm "No!" Other options: shake a tin with pennies in it, put double sided sticky tape on your furniture (I used this to discourage scratching on the couch arms - it's available at pet stores) or you could accept that the cat is most likely to get on the furniture anyway and let it (the behavior) go.

Answer 2

Get a water bottle and use the spray not squirt...but this can make ur kitten violent and scarred of you..So only use it when he absolutley does not listen..

Best way to keep him off of things is yell "NO!" very loud and in the deepest tone you can get while stomping your foot on the floor...Or you can take it by the nape on the back of his neck and shake him (not violently) *This is the way mother animals tell their young when they are behaving badly..

Also your cat will more than likely still get on your furniture...you should have thought about this before getting it...The best thing to do is buy a scratch post that has levels for your cat to climb and sleep on...Cats like to be in high places....

Answer 3

I would say spray bottle. But also you have to remember that cats are not dogs. The whole not getting on the furniture thing, I'm not so sure thats going to work. I have never met anyone that had a cat that expected it to stay off the furniture. Cats do not train very well. So good luck with that.

Answer 4

Cats should be allowed to jump up on elevated areas of a home, this is what nature intended. Their ancestors lived in trees, you know? Either enjoy your cats amazing jumping capabilities and put breakable items into a cabinet or place something in your house that would mimic a tall tree. Maybe decide on using an old piece of high furniture, cabinet etc. or even build your own high scratching post that you can place near a window. It's very healthy for your cats joints and general health when they are active this way, so let him do what he does naturally, please. You should enjoy it!

Answer 5

What worked best for me was keeping canned air dusters (like you use on the computer) stashed around the house, and spray the cat's butt when she's doing something bad. The noise and rumpled fur worked great on my boy. If she figures out it's you doing it and not a random event, then she may just learn to jump on everything when you aren't watching. Mine's not allowed in the rocking chair, and I regularly come home to a sleepy-looking cat in the middle of the floor, and a moving rocking chair with a warm spot on the seat.

Answer 6

Spray bottle set on a steady stream and "NO" or "DOWN" repeated consistently until he gets it which could be awhile since he is already 9 months old. And you don't have to shoot him in the face. Mine hates being shot in the foot or in the leg. And how would he know he isn't allowed on the furniture. He doesn't even know what furniture is.

Just remember to "PICK YOU BATTLES CAREFULLY" since cats typically prefer to be off the floor; they like high places. For example, you can't keep him off of EVERYTHING. I choose my battles mainly in the kitchen. Kittens aren't allowed to go on the counters or table or stove. In the living room they can put only their front two feet on the coffee table to look at stuff, any further is forbidden.

I had one that would go in the kitchen, jump on the counter, open the cabinet and get his snacks out. As cute as it was, I had to stop that. So I started with the spray bottle. Finally he started to get that I didn't like that and he would hide behind the microwave thinking I wouldn't see him. Then when he understood "NO" but still didn't like it, I would come in the kitchen and see him calmly sitting on the floor surrounded by cans of kitten food, look at me quite innocently.

Answer 7

Canned air (the kind that you clean computer keys with) is harmless from a distance and scares them - mine are afraid of the empty bottle that has been sitting on the piano, and they keep their distance. Also, a TINY bit of ammonia or white vinegar in a large spray bottle of water will work well, but I don't use it because I can't stand the smell.

You can try the rolls of carpet protector that you can get at Home Depot or Wal-Mart - the long rolls of clear stuff with the little spikes on the bottom, turned upside down and placed on furniture or countertops, is great for teaching them what to stay off of! It hurts their feet, but doesn't harm them, so they learn quickly to stay away.

Answer 8

I've heard of spritzing them with a water bottle because cats don't like getting wet. But I've also heard you can't discipline cats because they are too smart. But I've also heard that mankind descended from cats and pretty soon we will all be cats again, but walk on our hind legs as a human/cat superbeing.

I don't know how much truth there is to that, though.

Answer 9

Why do you have a cat indoors if you won't let it up on furniture????????

My suggestion is to find someone who wants a cat and get it re-homed

Running around spraying a cat with junk and air etc to scare it etc is mean and non productive

Especially when it sounds like it cannot get up on anything

Possibly short of giving it away you might get it its own furniture and window ledges etc that it is allowed to get on, so it doesn't end up just being a captive slave

I am sorry if this seems harsh, o wait, I need to get my bottle to spray you

Answer 10

The spray bottle works. One of my cats always liked to jump on the kitchen countertops. It was a bad habit, so I reached for the sprayer. Now all I have to do is make the sound "shhhhhh" and she stops whatever she is not supposed to be doing.