General Strategies for Deterring Your Cat From Bad Behavior

Find the root of the problem. Many times, your cat isn't acting out just for the sake of it, but has a reason for its unbearable behavior. Your cat could just be having trouble adjusting to a new environment or may need more love and attention. If your kitty has previously had no trouble and is suddenly acting out, try thinking of some reasons that could be causing them to act badly. Here are a few of them:

• Trouble dealing with change. If you've moved to a new home, your kitty may still be getting used to their surroundings, so be patient as they takes time to adjust. If you've given them a new litter box or new litter and they're suddenly eliminating outside the box, then switch back to the litter and box that they liked.
• Overstimulation. Your kitty may be troubled by loud noises from outdoors; a neighbor's dog, the television, or even from the noises of the guests in your home who try to give him too much attention. Know when your kitty needs some privacy and quiet.^[1]
• Not enough play. Your kitty may be acting aggressive or wild because you're not giving them enough attention or toys. Take at least 15 minutes twice a day to play with your kitty using dangly toys, rolling balls across the floor, or giving them toys to chew.
• A health problem. See Step 5 for a list of situations where it may be best to take your cat to a vet to investigate the cause of the bad behavior.

Change its environment. Your cat may be exhibiting frustrated or upset behavior because of a bad past experience - for instance, if it was once startled while using its litter box, it could be reluctant to do so again in the same area. Try moving the litter box to a quieter place. Alternatively, if you notice your cat eliminating in the same location over and over, try placing its food bowls there - it will avoid eliminating where it eats.

Reinforce good behavior with rewards. If you're trying to get your cat to use the litter box again, give it a small treat and a pet when you see that it succeeds. Offer a reward for every time at first; then taper down but continue to reward your kitty for good behavior. This will teach your cat that good behavior has positive repercussions, and make it more likely to continue doing it on its own even when it is not rewarded every time. Here are some ways to reward your kitty:^[2]

• Play time. Reward your kitty with a few minutes of play.
• Attention. Just cuddle, pet, or snuggle with your kitty when they do something good.
• The occasional treat. You shouldn't over do this, but you can give your kitty a treat if they've done something great, like use the scratching post or let you trim their claws.

Deter bad behavior. Cats dislike water and high-pitched noises. Next time you catch your cat committing the offense, squirt it with water and make a sharp "psssst" sound or shake a can of pennies at the same time. Try to position yourself so that the cat doesn't see you squirting it - you want it to associate the water with the bad behavior, not with your presence. Just remember that you should spend more time rewarding your kitty for good behavior than punishing it for bad behavior.^[3]

• Squirting may not work with all types of cats. Some long-haired cats may not feel the water due to the nature of their fur. Find a squirt-bottle with a stronger blast, or try a high-pitched whistle. Do not use canned air.
• If your cat likes pulling your toilet paper off its roll or knocking things off your furniture, place an empty water bottle on top of the roll or counter. He'll accidentally knock over the bottle and will be startled by the loud noise.
• Don't physically hurt your cat. If they bite or scratch you, just walk away or squirt him, but don't reinforce the behavior by fighting back, no matter how much it hurt.

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