Cats can associate negative experiences with events, but they do not learn rules or specific behaviors from punishment the way people hope they will. Their learning window is only a couple of seconds, so anything aversive that happens after that just feels random to them. What they actually learn is that the person or place involved is unsafe, not that the behavior was wrong.
That is why punishment often leads to fear, hiding, aggression, or avoidance instead of fixing the problem. It damages trust faster than it changes behavior.
Positive reinforcement, environmental management, and redirection work far better because they match how cats naturally learn. Reward the behavior you want, set up the environment so the unwanted behavior is less appealing, and guide them toward better choices.
In practical terms, aversive training with cats is almost always counterproductive. Positive methods are both more effective and more humane.
I did that once, instantly felt terrible, and spent 150$ on cat toys, treats, and scratching posts for him to tell him that I was sorry. He has now learned that if he does something naughty I will treat him like a king
How DARE
I’ve never once had a cat who cared about verbal excoriation. Mine will only stop doing naughty things if you get up and approach them, then as soon as you sit back down they’re back to doing it again.
Have you tried a squirt bottle? If you follow up the ignored words with a damp coat they start being more reasonable pretty quick.
Squirt bottles taught my car exactly how far they would squirt and he would stand just out of range.
I feel you, I had to chase them around with it for a while. Consistency got there, it was an uphill battle for a bit. Nowdays I can just shake the water bottle and they general start behaving.
I used to use canned air, but they eventually stopped caring.
The room where I spend most of my time and they get up to most of their shenanigans is pretty long across so, unless I used a super soaker, I’m not sure I could hit them with water.
I have occasionally thrown something soft - like a pillow, I have no desire to issue actual corporal punishment - in their direction. That’s gotten mixed results.
Canned air is good for the noise, but yeah they do tend to realise after a bit if there are no actual consequences.
I had a period initially when training them where I had to more or less chase them around the house to get a squirt in. It sucks, but they need the consistent punishment to reinforce the idea that certain behaviours are associated with punishment.
I feel you on not wanting to use punishment, unfortunately they aren’t receptive to harsh language by default, they are really only built to respond to physical stimulus. Not using unneeded force is good obviously, the most I do are light taps on the nose if they bite someone too hard, that’s really rare nowadays thankfully. Everything else is the squirt bottle if they don’t respond to verbal signals.
Though I’m not an expert, just speaking from 1.5 demons worth of cats. Grain of salt etc. Eldest used to bite my stomach during important meetings during lockdown, sharing the apartment with her during that time was a real lesson in training cats.
What is the charge? Eating a succulent meal?
A succulent house plant meal?
DEMOCRACY ENCARNATE
Incarnate?
SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES
OKAY
I see you know your
judovocabulary well!
Get your hand off my penis!
“This is a safe space. You are not welcome here.”
We don’t deserve cats
Well, when in history did humans ever deserve anything?
I wish my pets liked each other. They “tolerate” each other.
good
Ahh, classic “here is a picture of cat(s) with made up caption”. It’s funny, but it definitely did not happen.
Nothing ever happens.
You’ve cracked the case, detective party pooper!
