Cat Misbehavior: 9 Common Bad Habits and How to Correct Them, a Must-Read for Cat Owners!
Cat Misbehavior: 9 Common Bad Habits and How to Correct Them, a Must-Read for Cat Owners!
Have you ever been driven crazy by your cat's disobedience? If your cat is constantly causing trouble at home, how do you correct their bad habits?
I believe many cat owners have had similar troubles. The mischief and naughtiness of cats often make their owners laugh and cry, even making them lose their temper. But their behavior is not intentional. In many cases, they have developed bad habits due to the way they were raised.
Cat's bad habits often stem from the owner's negligence. When you are angry because your cat scratched your clothes, when you can't help but yell because your cat jumped on the table to steal food, when you are worried because your cat is playing dead and won't eat, have you ever thought that maybe it's because you haven't trained them properly, that's why they have these bad habits!
To make your cat behave well and develop good habits, you need to start with yourself, change your daily feeding methods, and help your cat correct its bad habits!
Common Cat Bad Habits and Correction Methods
1. Stealing Food: The lure of delicious food, irresistible!
Cats' "stealing food" behavior often makes their owners extremely distressed. In order to taste various delicacies, cats often take risks, take human food to hidden places to eat secretly, or jump on the table immediately when their owners are away, and enjoy the leftover food at home. Even though they know they will be punished, they never change their ways!
How to correct your cat's habit of stealing food?
- Investigate the root cause: First, investigate the root cause of your cat's bad habits. Check if you have provided your cat with sufficient, fresh, and delicious cat food and water, and if you have prepared snacks that your cat likes. If your cat is stealing food due to hunger, we shouldn't punish it.
- Modify the environment: If your cat steals food even when it has enough food, then you should be vigilant and correct your cat's bad habit in time!
- You can place items that are easy to make noise around the food. Once your cat accidentally steps on it when approaching the food, it will make an unusual noise, scaring the cat. In this way, timid cats will be too scared of the loud noise to approach the food.
- When your cat is home alone, you can put some fresh orange peels, lemon peels, camphor balls, and other fragrant items around the food on the table. Cats are very sensitive to strange smells, so they will naturally not be willing to get dizzy from the smell just for a moment of greed.
- Water gun warning: If these methods still don't stop your cat, and it continues to steal food, you can prepare a medium-pressure water gun and spray it when you see your cat on the table or stealing food. Since cats are generally afraid of water, they will generally put down the food and run away to avoid becoming a drowned chicken.
- Prevention is key: Of course, before your cat develops good habits, you should keep food out of your cat's reach to avoid being accidentally taken away by your cat who loves to steal food. Eating things that are not allowed can be fatal to your cat!
2. Picky Eating: Even foodies can be proud!
Cats are sometimes resistant to food, and they may often yell loudly without regard for their image, hoping that their owners will give them meat cans and small yellow croakers. But if they only get a bowl of plain white rice or vegetable cat food in return, even if their stomachs are rumbling, they will turn around and leave, showing an attitude of "You can kill me, but you can't insult me." At this time, the owner should be vigilant, the cat may have developed picky eating syndrome.
There are several possible reasons for cats being picky eaters:
- Environmental changes: Cats that are fostered to a new home will not be used to the food in the current home and may be picky eaters.
- Overindulgence of owners: The owner's excessive indulgence leads to the cat's picky eating. Some people like to hold the cat while they eat and give the cat a taste of their own food, or they feed the cat when it's hovering under the table. This not only disrupts the cat's eating habits, but also unknowingly makes the cat develop picky eating habits!
- Nutritional deficiencies: The cat itself lacks certain nutrients, which can lead to symptoms of picky eating.
How to correct your cat's picky eating habits?
- Scientific diagnosis: If your cat has developed picky eating habits, you can take your cat to a regular pet hospital for a physical examination and testing. If it is diagnosed as a nutritional deficiency, you should provide your cat with a balanced diet under the guidance of a doctor, and medication may be needed to regulate.
- Gradual transition: For newly fostered cats that have stopped eating and have developed picky eating in a new environment, you can mix their favorite foods with new foods. At first, it may eat all the food it likes first, but because of the mixed smell of the old and new foods, it will eventually be able to accept the new food. Then gradually reduce the amount of the original food to make it gradually accept the taste of the new food.
- Stick to principles: Cat owners should also pay attention when eating, try to avoid letting cats approach, and don't give them food under their "pleading" eyes. It is not easy to correct a cat's picky eating habit in a day or two, because it may relapse under some "temptation". Owners should be mentally prepared and persist in correction!
3. Biting During Play: Hunting instinct, out of control!
A cat's teeth are its built-in weapons! But it's not okay if it bites during play! If a cat bites during play, it's because it's "hunting"! "Hunting" is a cat's instinctive behavior. In a comfortable home environment, cats generally can't show their hunting skills. So they have to integrate this skill into their daily games. When the owner teases the cat with his hand, every nerve cell in the cat becomes abnormally excited, staring intently at the target, leaning forward, with a serious expression, and then pouncing on it like a fly.
How to correct your cat's habit of biting during play?
- Safety measures: When playing with your cat, the owner needs to wear thick gloves to ensure the safety of their hands, and then use the usual methods to lure the cat to play.
- Stop it immediately: If your cat only uses gentle bites to express its love for the owner, the owner can call its name while cooperating with the cat and stretch out his hand for it to play with. If the cat opens its mouth wide and bites down, it should immediately shout loudly and at the same time hold the cat's scruff with one hand and fix it on the cat's abdomen with the other hand, completely controlling it. Then, every time the cat bites during play, use this method to stop it immediately, so that the cat understands that the owner has enough deterrence and control, so it will form a conditioned reflex that biting will stop the game. Over time, the playful cat will abandon its "violent tendencies".
4. Biting While Being Petted: Wrong way to pet, the cat also protests!
When a cat is enjoying the owner's petting and massage, it sometimes suddenly becomes like a startled bird, lying on its back with its limbs up, biting the owner's arm hard. A cat suddenly biting while being petted is not because it's doing it on purpose. There are actually other reasons.
Possible reasons why cats bite while being petted:
- Inappropriate petting method: It's very likely that the owner is petting the cat in the wrong way, making the cat feel uncomfortable or uneasy, or the owner's hand is suspected of restricting the cat's freedom. At this time, the cat will directly use its actions to tell you that it is not happy.
- The owner is too rough: The owner's sudden rough hand makes the cat painful, and it will "bite back" to retaliate, making you feel its pain! Just like a natural reaction.
- Feeling threatened: When suddenly hearing a loud noise or encountering other cats, the cat feels threatened and will immediately "vent" its displeasure on the owner.
How to correct your cat's habit of biting while being petted?
- Pay close attention: Pet your cat carefully, don't pet it for too long, and stop petting it when you realize it's asleep. Otherwise, your petting will become a disturbance. When petting, pay attention to stroking the cat's fur in the direction of the hair growth, from head to tail, gently. The other hand can slowly scratch from its jaw to chest. If the cat closes its eyes, it means your "massage" makes it very comfortable, so you can continue to be close to the cat.
- Get out of the way in time: When the cat's tail swings back and forth and its expression becomes serious, get out of the way in time, because it may feel some kind of crisis and is about to attack the surrounding things.
Other Common Cat Bad Habits
5. Hiding Things While Home Alone: Missing the owner, take items as "hostages"!
Cats may not be like dogs and follow their owners around like a shadow, but they will also feel very lonely and uneasy when their owners are away for a long time. At first, the cat may meow loudly. However, after no one responds, it will take the owner's comb, socks, glasses, or even a large T-shirt and take them one by one to its nest or under the bed, where they are hidden.
How to correct the habit of hiding things?
- Understand the cat: For this silly infatuation of the cat, I believe every owner will be deeply moved. At this time, even though you know that the thief of your belongings is this little guy, you should not pursue it because of its "love motives". Of course, if it's the owner's valuables and clothes, they should be kept in a closet where the cat can't reach, to avoid being soiled or torn.
6. Hiding or Peeing When Guests Come Over: Fear of strangers, declaring sovereignty!
It's normal for cats to hide when they see strangers, but it's not okay if they pee when guests come over! Cats are extremely fearful and wary of strangers. When guests come to the house, cats will have a big change in mood. Cats that were originally lively and active will suddenly become timid and squeamish, their eyes full of fear, and they will shrink their necks and quietly back away.
Correcting the problem of cats peeing when they see guests
- Respect the cat: It's not recommended to force the cat to be held in front of strangers, because the cat is very scared at this time, and it may scratch people in fright.
- Wait patiently: Ignore the cat's avoidance. When it observes that the guest poses no threat, it will come out and observe. After seeing the cat come out, you should also stay calm. Don't get up and greet it immediately. We need to wait patiently for the cat to shyly come over and sniff the guest, or rub its head and ears back and forth against the guest's legs before the guest can accept its friendliness. Gently scratch its jaw and give it a greeting gift with a smile.
7. Going to the Bathroom With the Owner: Afraid of separation, follow close behind!
Some cats are like their owner's bodyguards, they like to go in and out with their owners, especially when the owner takes a bath or goes to the toilet, they can't help but slip in and "accompany", and stare at the owner with wide eyes or play by the owner's side. This behavior of cats is actually a habit of extreme dependence on humans. They can't stand the owner's "disappearance" for a moment in front of them, otherwise, they will feel extremely frightened psychologically. Therefore, even when taking a bath or going to the toilet, the cat must follow close behind and monitor, lest it be "abandoned".
Correcting the cat's "shadowing" behavior
- "Collateral" comfort: When you are away for a short time, give the cat items with your scent on them, making the cat feel like it has received a "collateral", and gently pet the cat and tell it that you will be back soon.
- Develop independence: Normally, you can prepare more toys for the cat at home to train it to play independently, so that the cat's dependence on the owner gradually weakens until it returns to normal.
8. Waking Up or Attacking During Sleep: Light sleep, alert, and nightmares!
Cats can suddenly wake up from their sleep and attack people around them! Have you encountered this? The cat seems to be in a sweet sleep, but once you reach out to touch it, it will suddenly grab your hand and scratch it hard, or bite it tightly in its mouth, then jump up and wake up completely, looking very confused, as if it had a nightmare.
How to prevent cats from attacking people while sleeping?
- Quiet environment: You need to provide your cat with a quiet and less disturbed sleeping place, so that the cat can sleep soundly for a long time to achieve a better rest effect.
- Respect sleep: Don't shout or touch the cat when it's sleeping. Instead, you should stay away and wait patiently for the cat to wake up naturally before interacting or playing with it.
- Harmonious family: Family harmony also has an important impact on the cat's sleep quality. Therefore, the owners should be harmonious and loving, care for each other, and create a harmonious living environment, so that the cat will have fewer violent scenes in its dreams, thereby reducing the possibility of attacks.
9. Dislike of the Owner's Lover: Jealousy jar overturned, defend love!
A cat's possessiveness is not only reflected in food and territory, but also in how much the owner loves it. In other words, a cat's trust and reliance on its owner is like the deep affection between husband and wife, and naturally, it doesn't want anyone to "take over". So when the owner brings a lover or friend home and shows intimacy and enthusiasm, the cat's jealousy will be ignited, and it will change its usual "gentleman" image.
Correcting the cat's behavior of only loving the owner
- Adapt in advance: Before getting married, you can often invite your lover to your home to visit and subtly guide the cat to get acquainted or play with him (her), so that the cat is familiar with this future family member in advance and shortens the time it takes for the cat to adapt to the new member.
- Temporary fostering: In order to get enough rest and ensure the safety of the child, it is best to temporarily foster the cat at the home of a familiar friend and bring it back for feeding when the home conditions are convenient.
Summary:
Cat's bad habits are often the result of long-term neglect by the owner. As long as we observe carefully and patiently correct them, we can help the cat get rid of its bad habits and make it a more obedient and cute little angel!
Have you ever been driven crazy by your cat's disobedience? If your cat is constantly causing trouble at home, how do you correct their bad habits?
I believe many cat owners have had similar troubles. The mischief and naughtiness of cats often make their owners laugh and cry, even making them lose their temper. But their behavior is not intentional. In many cases, they have developed bad habits due to the way they were raised.
Cat's bad habits often stem from the owner's negligence. When you are angry because your cat scratched your clothes, when you can't help but yell because your cat jumped on the table to steal food, when you are worried because your cat is playing dead and won't eat, have you ever thought that maybe it's because you haven't trained them properly, that's why they have these bad habits!
To make your cat behave well and develop good habits, you need to start with yourself, change your daily feeding methods, and help your cat correct its bad habits!
Common Cat Bad Habits and Correction Methods
1. Stealing Food: The lure of delicious food, irresistible!
Cats' "stealing food" behavior often makes their owners extremely distressed. In order to taste various delicacies, cats often take risks, take human food to hidden places to eat secretly, or jump on the table immediately when their owners are away, and enjoy the leftover food at home. Even though they know they will be punished, they never change their ways!
How to correct your cat's habit of stealing food?
- Investigate the root cause: First, investigate the root cause of your cat's bad habits. Check if you have provided your cat with sufficient, fresh, and delicious cat food and water, and if you have prepared snacks that your cat likes. If your cat is stealing food due to hunger, we shouldn't punish it.
- Modify the environment: If your cat steals food even when it has enough food, then you should be vigilant and correct your cat's bad habit in time!
- You can place items that are easy to make noise around the food. Once your cat accidentally steps on it when approaching the food, it will make an unusual noise, scaring the cat. In this way, timid cats will be too scared of the loud noise to approach the food.
- When your cat is home alone, you can put some fresh orange peels, lemon peels, camphor balls, and other fragrant items around the food on the table. Cats are very sensitive to strange smells, so they will naturally not be willing to get dizzy from the smell just for a moment of greed.
- Water gun warning: If these methods still don't stop your cat, and it continues to steal food, you can prepare a medium-pressure water gun and spray it when you see your cat on the table or stealing food. Since cats are generally afraid of water, they will generally put down the food and run away to avoid becoming a drowned chicken.
- Prevention is key: Of course, before your cat develops good habits, you should keep food out of your cat's reach to avoid being accidentally taken away by your cat who loves to steal food. Eating things that are not allowed can be fatal to your cat!
2. Picky Eating: Even foodies can be proud!
Cats are sometimes resistant to food, and they may often yell loudly without regard for their image, hoping that their owners will give them meat cans and small yellow croakers. But if they only get a bowl of plain white rice or vegetable cat food in return, even if their stomachs are rumbling, they will turn around and leave, showing an attitude of "You can kill me, but you can't insult me." At this time, the owner should be vigilant, the cat may have developed picky eating syndrome.
There are several possible reasons for cats being picky eaters:
- Environmental changes: Cats that are fostered to a new home will not be used to the food in the current home and may be picky eaters.
- Overindulgence of owners: The owner's excessive indulgence leads to the cat's picky eating. Some people like to hold the cat while they eat and give the cat a taste of their own food, or they feed the cat when it's hovering under the table. This not only disrupts the cat's eating habits, but also unknowingly makes the cat develop picky eating habits!
- Nutritional deficiencies: The cat itself lacks certain nutrients, which can lead to symptoms of picky eating.
How to correct your cat's picky eating habits?
- Scientific diagnosis: If your cat has developed picky eating habits, you can take your cat to a regular pet hospital for a physical examination and testing. If it is diagnosed as a nutritional deficiency, you should provide your cat with a balanced diet under the guidance of a doctor, and medication may be needed to regulate.
- Gradual transition: For newly fostered cats that have stopped eating and have developed picky eating in a new environment, you can mix their favorite foods with new foods. At first, it may eat all the food it likes first, but because of the mixed smell of the old and new foods, it will eventually be able to accept the new food. Then gradually reduce the amount of the original food to make it gradually accept the taste of the new food.
- Stick to principles: Cat owners should also pay attention when eating, try to avoid letting cats approach, and don't give them food under their "pleading" eyes. It is not easy to correct a cat's picky eating habit in a day or two, because it may relapse under some "temptation". Owners should be mentally prepared and persist in correction!
3. Biting During Play: Hunting instinct, out of control!
A cat's teeth are its built-in weapons! But it's not okay if it bites during play! If a cat bites during play, it's because it's "hunting"! "Hunting" is a cat's instinctive behavior. In a comfortable home environment, cats generally can't show their hunting skills. So they have to integrate this skill into their daily games. When the owner teases the cat with his hand, every nerve cell in the cat becomes abnormally excited, staring intently at the target, leaning forward, with a serious expression, and then pouncing on it like a fly.
How to correct your cat's habit of biting during play?
- Safety measures: When playing with your cat, the owner needs to wear thick gloves to ensure the safety of their hands, and then use the usual methods to lure the cat to play.
- Stop it immediately: If your cat only uses gentle bites to express its love for the owner, the owner can call its name while cooperating with the cat and stretch out his hand for it to play with. If the cat opens its mouth wide and bites down, it should immediately shout loudly and at the same time hold the cat's scruff with one hand and fix it on the cat's abdomen with the other hand, completely controlling it. Then, every time the cat bites during play, use this method to stop it immediately, so that the cat understands that the owner has enough deterrence and control, so it will form a conditioned reflex that biting will stop the game. Over time, the playful cat will abandon its "violent tendencies".
4. Biting While Being Petted: Wrong way to pet, the cat also protests!
When a cat is enjoying the owner's petting and massage, it sometimes suddenly becomes like a startled bird, lying on its back with its limbs up, biting the owner's arm hard. A cat suddenly biting while being petted is not because it's doing it on purpose. There are actually other reasons.
Possible reasons why cats bite while being petted:
- Inappropriate petting method: It's very likely that the owner is petting the cat in the wrong way, making the cat feel uncomfortable or uneasy, or the owner's hand is suspected of restricting the cat's freedom. At this time, the cat will directly use its actions to tell you that it is not happy.
- The owner is too rough: The owner's sudden rough hand makes the cat painful, and it will "bite back" to retaliate, making you feel its pain! Just like a natural reaction.
- Feeling threatened: When suddenly hearing a loud noise or encountering other cats, the cat feels threatened and will immediately "vent" its displeasure on the owner.
How to correct your cat's habit of biting while being petted?
- Pay close attention: Pet your cat carefully, don't pet it for too long, and stop petting it when you realize it's asleep. Otherwise, your petting will become a disturbance. When petting, pay attention to stroking the cat's fur in the direction of the hair growth, from head to tail, gently. The other hand can slowly scratch from its jaw to chest. If the cat closes its eyes, it means your "massage" makes it very comfortable, so you can continue to be close to the cat.
- Get out of the way in time: When the cat's tail swings back and forth and its expression becomes serious, get out of the way in time, because it may feel some kind of crisis and is about to attack the surrounding things.
Other Common Cat Bad Habits
5. Hiding Things While Home Alone: Missing the owner, take items as "hostages"!
Cats may not be like dogs and follow their owners around like a shadow, but they will also feel very lonely and uneasy when their owners are away for a long time. At first, the cat may meow loudly. However, after no one responds, it will take the owner's comb, socks, glasses, or even a large T-shirt and take them one by one to its nest or under the bed, where they are hidden.
How to correct the habit of hiding things?
- Understand the cat: For this silly infatuation of the cat, I believe every owner will be deeply moved. At this time, even though you know that the thief of your belongings is this little guy, you should not pursue it because of its "love motives". Of course, if it's the owner's valuables and clothes, they should be kept in a closet where the cat can't reach, to avoid being soiled or torn.
6. Hiding or Peeing When Guests Come Over: Fear of strangers, declaring sovereignty!
It's normal for cats to hide when they see strangers, but it's not okay if they pee when guests come over! Cats are extremely fearful and wary of strangers. When guests come to the house, cats will have a big change in mood. Cats that were originally lively and active will suddenly become timid and squeamish, their eyes full of fear, and they will shrink their necks and quietly back away.
Correcting the problem of cats peeing when they see guests
- Respect the cat: It's not recommended to force the cat to be held in front of strangers, because the cat is very scared at this time, and it may scratch people in fright.
- Wait patiently: Ignore the cat's avoidance. When it observes that the guest poses no threat, it will come out and observe. After seeing the cat come out, you should also stay calm. Don't get up and greet it immediately. We need to wait patiently for the cat to shyly come over and sniff the guest, or rub its head and ears back and forth against the guest's legs before the guest can accept its friendliness. Gently scratch its jaw and give it a greeting gift with a smile.
7. Going to the Bathroom With the Owner: Afraid of separation, follow close behind!
Some cats are like their owner's bodyguards, they like to go in and out with their owners, especially when the owner takes a bath or goes to the toilet, they can't help but slip in and "accompany", and stare at the owner with wide eyes or play by the owner's side. This behavior of cats is actually a habit of extreme dependence on humans. They can't stand the owner's "disappearance" for a moment in front of them, otherwise, they will feel extremely frightened psychologically. Therefore, even when taking a bath or going to the toilet, the cat must follow close behind and monitor, lest it be "abandoned".
Correcting the cat's "shadowing" behavior
- "Collateral" comfort: When you are away for a short time, give the cat items with your scent on them, making the cat feel like it has received a "collateral", and gently pet the cat and tell it that you will be back soon.
- Develop independence: Normally, you can prepare more toys for the cat at home to train it to play independently, so that the cat's dependence on the owner gradually weakens until it returns to normal.
8. Waking Up or Attacking During Sleep: Light sleep, alert, and nightmares!
Cats can suddenly wake up from their sleep and attack people around them! Have you encountered this? The cat seems to be in a sweet sleep, but once you reach out to touch it, it will suddenly grab your hand and scratch it hard, or bite it tightly in its mouth, then jump up and wake up completely, looking very confused, as if it had a nightmare.
How to prevent cats from attacking people while sleeping?
- Quiet environment: You need to provide your cat with a quiet and less disturbed sleeping place, so that the cat can sleep soundly for a long time to achieve a better rest effect.
- Respect sleep: Don't shout or touch the cat when it's sleeping. Instead, you should stay away and wait patiently for the cat to wake up naturally before interacting or playing with it.
- Harmonious family: Family harmony also has an important impact on the cat's sleep quality. Therefore, the owners should be harmonious and loving, care for each other, and create a harmonious living environment, so that the cat will have fewer violent scenes in its dreams, thereby reducing the possibility of attacks.
9. Dislike of the Owner's Lover: Jealousy jar overturned, defend love!
A cat's possessiveness is not only reflected in food and territory, but also in how much the owner loves it. In other words, a cat's trust and reliance on its owner is like the deep affection between husband and wife, and naturally, it doesn't want anyone to "take over". So when the owner brings a lover or friend home and shows intimacy and enthusiasm, the cat's jealousy will be ignited, and it will change its usual "gentleman" image.
Correcting the cat's behavior of only loving the owner
- Adapt in advance: Before getting married, you can often invite your lover to your home to visit and subtly guide the cat to get acquainted or play with him (her), so that the cat is familiar with this future family member in advance and shortens the time it takes for the cat to adapt to the new member.
- Temporary fostering: In order to get enough rest and ensure the safety of the child, it is best to temporarily foster the cat at the home of a familiar friend and bring it back for feeding when the home conditions are convenient.
Summary:
Cat's bad habits are often the result of long-term neglect by the owner. As long as we observe carefully and patiently correct them, we can help the cat get rid of its bad habits and make it a more obedient and cute little angel!
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