However much you love your cat, there’s a good chance they do some things you don’t love. Maybe they scratch the sofa all the time, or wake you up at 5am (if not earlier!) to demand breakfast. These disruptive and frustrating behaviours might lead you to wonder if you can actually discipline a cat.
But before you explore feline discipline methods, it’s important to understand where their ‘bad’ behaviour comes from.
If your cat behaves in a way you don’t like, the most common explanation is that you haven’t provided an opportunity for them to perform natural feline behaviours, according to Molly DeVoss, certified feline training and behaviour specialist and Vitakraft cat advisor. For example, a cat who constantly shreds furniture may be saying they need a scratching post.
Figuring out the best way to discipline a cat, then, lies in addressing the cause of the behaviour and offering a better way to get their needs met. Using gentle training techniques to redirect the behaviour can improve your relationship with your cat and help you live together happily and harmoniously. Here’s how to get started.
5 Safe Disciplinary Techniques for Cats And When To Use Them
Tapping into the why behind your cat’s behaviour can help you discourage that behaviour in a more positive way—one that doesn’t involve an angry or frustrated reaction.
“Typically people get frustrated or angry and react in the moment. I suspect most of us are guilty of doing this at one time or another,” says Stephen Quandt, qualified behaviourist and founder of Stephen Quandt Feline Behavior Associates in the USA.
It’s completely natural to feel upset if your cat has just peed on your bed in the middle of the night, or cry out in pain when your kitten claws your legs as you walk by. But yelling at your cat won’t help. Choosing the right technique to address the behaviour can, however, make a difference.
DeVoss recommends reframing this as behaviour modification, since cats don’t really understand disciplinary responses.
“When trying to modify a cat’s behaviour, you need to show them what you want them to do instead. Think of it as saying: ‘do this, not that.’ This means you need to be responsible for figuring out what natural behaviour your cat is trying to do and provide an acceptable outlet for that,” DeVoss says.
Here are five expert-approved techniques that work.
Redirection
You can’t stop innate feline behaviours like scratching, so redirection is your best option.
“If your cat is scratching the sofa, lead them to a scratching post, play with them there, and as soon as they scratch the post, give them a treat,” Quandt says. “This is called positive reinforcement, and timing the treat to the desired behaviour is key to making the association stick.”
As your cat gets the hang of this, you can reinforce the behaviour further with intermittent reinforcement.
“After your cat learns they get a treat for the desired behaviour, you start randomising when they get the treat,” Quandt says, adding that this may get your cat to do the desired behaviour even more in an effort to get that treat from you!
Ignoring
Ignoring your cat, also called extinction training, can also work. Just be prepared for a potential battle of wills!
“Your cat meows because it works, not because they like the sound of their own voice,” Quandt says.
He goes on to add that if you ignore your cat completely, they’ll eventually stop the behaviour, but this can take a while.
What’s more, if you ever give in, the work you’ve done is lost. Your cat has just learned a new time frame to get the reward, whether that’s playtime, a treat, or more food. Keep in mind, too, that the unwanted behaviour may get worse before it improves.
Remote correction
This method involves changing the environment to keep your cat away from specific areas. You can use gentle environmental corrections, like cat-repellent mats, double-sided sticky tape, or aluminium foil to make counters or the kitchen table a no-cat zone.
The advantage of this technique, compared to a squirt of water when your cat jumps on the counter, is that they won’t link the change in the environment to you. In other words, it won’t damage your bond with them.
Calming devices
Some undesirable behaviours, like yowling at night or peeing outside of the litter box, may relate to anxiety or stress. If that’s the case, calming devices could help improve your cat’s mood and the behaviour.
Calming pheromones, released by devices like Feliway plug-ins and calming collars, can help, Quandt says. He adds that if you use calming collars, stick with breakaway collars for safety.
Noise devices
Remote control noise makers and sound mats may help stop undesired behaviours in certain circumstances, but it’s best to use these with caution.
Quandt says that more aggressive noise devices, like motion-sensitive cans of compressed air, will likely scare your cat and should only be used as a last resort.
Before you use any noise devices, it’s always best to speak with a trained cat behaviourist.
3 Cat Discipline Methods To Avoid
Quandt cautions against using discipline methods like shouting, hand clapping, tapping your cat’s nose, or squirting them with water.
These methods teach cats to avoid you or avoid doing that behaviour when you’re around. They can also increase your cat’s stress and fear, which can damage the bond between you and raise the chances of them acting out in other ways.
Yelling
“You never want to yell at your cat,” DeVoss emphasises. If you do, your cat will likely begin to think of you as scary and unreliable.
What’s more, yelling doesn’t usually work. DeVoss says this is because cats are smart. They can figure out pretty quickly that the scary stuff, like you yelling, won’t happen if you’re not in the room to catch them. So, they’ll probably just keep doing the same behaviour when you aren’t around.
Remember, your cat isn’t purposely acting out. They’re doing something they need to do, whether that’s scratching or jumping on the table to look out the window for entertainment.
Other aversive techniques
Aversive methods are anything your cat finds extremely unpleasant.
This includes things like clapping your hands, shaking a tin can with coins in it, spraying water, or, worst of all, electric shock—and these methods should be avoided at all costs, says Susan Nilson, qualified canine and feline training and behaviour expert and founder of The Cat and Dog House.
Sure, these tactics may interrupt the behaviour. But they only work because they create pain or fear—which is no good for your cat or your relationship. They don’t fix the issue or show your cat an alternative behaviour.
“When an animal is in a state of high emotional arousal, their rational brain becomes inhibited, meaning they are unable to learn anything new. All they care about is escaping the painful or frightening stimulus,” Nilson says.
Nose tapping
Nilson also cautions against giving your cat a tap on the nose to correct a behaviour.
“Not only does a boop not teach the cat anything, but you also risk antagonising them when they’re already in a state of heightened emotional arousal. You could get scratched or bitten—and it’ll be your fault, not theirs!”
(A gentle and loving boop, however, is always fine—as long as your cat welcomes it.)
When Should You Discipline A Cat? Unwanted Behaviours to Monitor
Does your cat consistently show aggressive or destructive behaviour, like scratching, biting, hissing, or fighting with other pets?
Before exploring ways to discipline your cat, a good first step involves checking in with your vet. Once they’ve ruled out any underlying health issues, Nilson recommends consulting a feline behaviourist. They’ll be able to create a tailored behaviour modification plan to address your cat’s emotional state and pinpoint any motivations for the behaviour.
Not all behaviours require training
You might think it strange that your cat sucks blankets—but no matter how you feel about this behaviour, you’ll never want to discipline a cat for it.
This natural behaviour mimics nursing, which soothes and calms cats, DeVoss says. Unless your cat actually swallows pieces of blanket or develops any related health issues, it’s best to let them enjoy their blanket time. You can always check in with your vet if you’re concerned.
Training may not also solve house soiling, or peeing and pooping outside the litter box.
“Underlying medical issues are often at the root of litter box avoidance,” DeVoss says. Your cat may also dislike the box, feel stressed, or have a need to mark their territory, so it’s important to find the root cause as quickly as possible and correct it for your cat, she says.
A certified cat behaviour specialist can help you uncover the reasons behind this behaviour and explore possible solutions.
When Should I Bring In A Vet, Behaviourist, Or Trainer For My Cat?
If you’re getting frustrated by your cat’s behaviour, it’s time to call the professionals.
“I always suggest that as a rule, your vet is your first call,” Quandt says. A vet can make sure your cat doesn’t have any health conditions contributing to the unwanted behaviour.
After that, you can work with a certified feline behaviour specialist or consultant to dig into possible causes of those behaviours. A cat trainer can also offer more guidance on providing your cat with regular mental and physical enrichment to help keep them happy and healthy.
What’s The Best Way To Train A Cat?
Behaviourists agree that the best approach for training cats is to use positive reinforcement.
“Reward the behaviours you like and ignore the ones you don’t,” DeVoss says. She adds, though, that this doesn’t work well with issues like house soiling, since this often relates to medical problems.
“It’s also important to remember cats won’t change their behaviour for a ho-hum reward. You need to use a treat that is very motivating for them,” DeVoss says.
To start using positive reinforcement, give clicker training a try. “Cats learn through positive reinforcement when the reward is timed precisely to the desired behaviour,” Quandt says. “Because it can be hard to time the giving of a treat to the exact moment when your cat does the desired behaviour, you can teach your cat that a ‘click’ means a treat is coming. So the cat works to get the click.”
Cats are independent creatures who tend to do best with short training sessions, which you can start when they’re still kittens. (Rescue cats may need time to settle into a new home before you start training.)
These sessions can not only teach your cat to come when called or walk on a leash but also strengthen your bond—which might be the biggest win of all!
