*****KatKwery! - July 25 - did she win again?*****

When I mentioned I would be moving the KatKwery around in time, little did I know that my posting of two hours ago would just disappear.

Due to a strange technicality which you can read about in the July 24 KatKwery, Marianjela won again, this time for the sixth straight time using the word half. But as she mentioned, she did not gain on luvmycat1 who also won by using remember. Cocoa Cream used two secret words but only the first, little counted, allowing Kluchetta to win by using series. The only word not used was want.

Today's KatKwiz was about squirting cats with water bottles.

OK, let's get honest here, how many of you have used the "water method" on your cat(s)? What other types of discipline do you use or do you let them do anything they dang well please? Have you ever been so mad at your cat(s) that you did something to them that you later regretted? How exactly do your cat(s) respond to loud noises such as coins in a can? If there was one single thing that you could break your cat's bad habit of, what would that be?

OK, let's get honest here, how many of you have used the "water method" on your cat(s)?
I have before, my cats are pretty well behaved most of the time though.

What other types of discipline do you use or do you let them do anything they dang well please?
They pretty much do what they like. I can yell and argue with them but they just dont listen!

Have you ever been so mad at your cat(s) that you did something to them that you later regretted?
Hmm.....no I dont think so, nothing comes to mind.

How exactly do your cat(s) respond to loud noises such as coins in a can?
Never tried it. Sometimes it'll get their attention if I clap.

If there was one single thing that you could break your cat's bad habit of, what would that be?
I've got five pee'ers

Originally Posted by Persi & Alley

OK, let's get honest here, how many of you have used the "water method" on your cat(s)? What other types of discipline do you use or do you let them do anything they dang well please? Have you ever been so mad at your cat(s) that you did something to them that you later regretted? How exactly do your cat(s) respond to loud noises such as coins in a can? If there was one single thing that you could break your cat's bad habit of, what would that be?

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In all honestly, I have never squirted a cat with water to teach them; however, my cats have been shot with a water gun by my children in play. Too bad the cats didnt find it funny! I have tried making loud noises to scare the cat from doing something, for example when scratching the couch, we'll let out a loud, "hey" or "pssst" and the cat usually stops. I have even tried shaking a can full of coins of screws to get their attention or startle them, but it is never convenient enough. Although someone mentioned clapping - that sure is "handy" enough! But now that I've read today's article I might have to rethink my tactics.

One things for sure, no matter what method we use, they do seem to do whatever they dang well please already! We are constantly shoeing them off the table. I have tried putting down double stick tape, but it doesnt defer them for long. Probably because I cant keep the tape down forever. It's just as easy to pick them up and put them down. When my boys were younger and in cribs, we put balloons covered by a sheet to teach the cats to stay out. No matter the method, cats really are stubborn creatures! I dont think there was ever anything I did to a cat to regret... although, I have a foster/orphan kitten at the moment that I literally let walk all over me; I think she thinks I am her mother, she comes up to me on occasion and tries to suck on my lips, ears or hair and I have thought it was cute, that is til this morning when she bit me and put a bleeding hole in my lip! I still love her Forgiveness is easy when you weigh less than a can of soda! But I still dont regret spoiling her - she is too darn cute... only it will make it harder on me when it comes time to say goodbye.

If there was one single bad habit that I would like to break the cats of - getting on the table or counter top. They rarely claw enough to cause me grief, and I cant think of any other behavior that they really need corrected for... I only have one male and he is neutered and luckily doesnt spray. So it definitely would have to be the counters and tables. Or maybe trying to deter them from escaping outside in the summer. I really want to add a cat fence/topper to my existing fence so that I dont have to worry about that. Especially since they seem to want out so badly sometimes. If only I didnt have to worry about them getting hurt. I've also looked into cat enclosures, but I dont know if I have the room outside for something of that nature.

By the way... thanks for the points again. I think my half my luck can be attributed to my lengthy posts! Really, when I type the dictionary, I'm bound to hit on one of the words sooner or later. Albeit, yesterdays first post was quite long and I didnt hit on a secret word until my last tiny little post. I guess that is a little bit of luck!!! All that said, I admit... I probably would love to meet your wife, I imagine we could finish each other's sentences!

PS - I was happy to learn what the KatKlik was today, but sad to see it isnt a contest Clever pun really, I sure didnt guess what it was. I hope you and your crew have lots of fun, but make sure you make plenty of "kliks" and take plenty of pics!

Originally Posted by Persi & Alley

When I mentioned I would be moving the KatKwery around in time, little did I know that my posting of two hours ago would just disappear.

Due to a strange technicality which you can read about in the July 24 KatKwery, Marianjela won again, this time for the sixth straight time using the word half. But as she mentioned, she did not gain on luvmycat1 who also won by using remember. Cocoa Cream used two secret words but only the first, little counted, allowing Kluchetta to win by using series. The only word not used was want.

Today's KatKwiz was about squirting cats with water bottles.

OK, let's get honest here, how many of you have used the "water method" on your cat(s)? What other types of discipline do you use or do you let them do anything they dang well please? Have you ever been so mad at your cat(s) that you did something to them that you later regretted? How exactly do your cat(s) respond to loud noises such as coins in a can? If there was one single thing that you could break your cat's bad habit of, what would that be?

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Yep, I've used the water bottle method before. It didn't do a bit of good either. If Popsie is doing something he's not supposed to, like getting on the coffee table, I just keep telling him to get down in stern voice and that usually works. He really isn't affected by loud noises or things like that. Sometimes he just doesn't listen at all and that's when I have to physically remove him from the trouble he's trying to get into. If I could break Popsie's bad habit of one thing, it would be waking me up all the time to feed him.

Originally Posted by Persi & Alley

OK, let's get honest here, how many of you have used the "water method" on your cat(s)? What other types of discipline do you use or do you let them do anything they dang well please? Have you ever been so mad at your cat(s) that you did something to them that you later regretted? How exactly do your cat(s) respond to loud noises such as coins in a can? If there was one single thing that you could break your cat's bad habit of, what would that be?

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You would think that I could do a better job of matching DW than Marianjela. Let's see...

(of course I do not get points)

Being honest I did try the water treatment but let me quickly point out that this was before I was a member of TCS and read the article pointed out in today's KatKwiz. The only other discipline I have used is yelling, which I might point out, I should just save my breath. Yelling sends Alley for cover but just causes Persi to look at me like I am deranged. When I read about the water method I regretted having tried it and immediately stopped using it. Persi has pretty much free range of the house while Alley, a true alley cat, stays off of counters and such. Maybe I should not have abandoned the water treatment (just kidding). Noise causes Alley to run in fear to her room. We have an elevator in this townhome that I call the Alley Terrorvator because she hides out in her closet all day. Persi now races the elevator in both directions and does not seem to respond to noise at all. I don't know if this would qualify as a habit, but if there were any way in the world that I could stop Alley from being such a Fraidy cat, I would. I never see her during the day because she is always hiding from the Terrorvator which I have to use.

Originally Posted by Persi & Alley

You would think that I could do a better job of matching DW than Marianjela. Let's see...

Being honest I did try the water treatment but let me quickly point out that this was before I was a member of TCS and read the article pointed out in today's KatKwiz.

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That is like what I was saying about the noise-ridden can method. I have used it and manners like it, but that was before I was a member and read the article. After I've read it, and realizing the cat associates it's negative connotations with me, I will be more aware of what I am doing. But I still have my doubts. Cats seem to be pretty forgiving animals. A dog will get skittish with repeated abuse or yelling, but I think cats are more magnanimous. Hmmmm.... I might be quick to regret typing that.

Cat's do think their stuff doesnt stink, whereas a dog will do anything to please it's owner... maybe it's that cats just dont care. LOL

Well, definitely cats and discipline are like oil and water. Cats just do not respond to punishment. I imagine that is why you cant take your cat to obedience class!

One thing is for sure... todays KatKwiz and KatKwery have made me rethink and ponder my techniques. I have already read several of the behavioral cat pages to learn how to discourage a cat from improper actions, paying particular attention to the kitchen counter article! Diversion is a good rule of thumb. Makes sense. I do this with my kids. A bored or stressed cat (or dog) is just looking for an outlet for his or her frustration. Very logical! Nice article in that it explains the reasons and explains the conduct or mannerisms of the feline, except that it doesnt necessarily tell you what you should do. It gives examples of watter bottles or air horns, but then states it's hard to accomplish and still disassociate the cat with the human as it's punisher. I guess I expected to read the magic cure! Nevertheless, it did give me good ideas on how to deal with the issue. I think I should go back to using double stick tape, but just be more consistent about it. Perhaps do it at a time when I dont rely on my dining room table or kitchen counters as much - like NOW - during cookout season!

I've not used the water method, but we do use something similar... the air-can method. Pooch knows what it does. It spritz air with this "sss!" noise that he doesn't like. (You know, those air spray cans that you clean things with?) As soon as the air can is picked up, his eyes squint and he knows. Immediately after he "escapes", he runs to some cardboard and scratches it with attitude. A lot of times we just tell them "Noo!" in a lower tone, and they understand.

I have never done anything to my cats that I regret. They are generally very good babies. If they do do something wrong, hey... they are just being cats. It's not their fault. If anything, it's mine for not kittyproofing well enough. I learn though... as they learn too!

My cats don't like loud noises. They have come to be less afraid of the vacuum, and they know very well what it is and how it looks like. At first, as soon as I moved the vacuum they would book to the nearest hiding spot. Now, they will stay for a few, and as the vacuum approaches, they'll move out of the way. Sometimes they still hide, but it's not as bad. One way to definitely keep the cats from running out the door when I open it is to make a lot of noise. That's one thing I learned, and it has come in really useful. Their ears usually pull back a bit when they hear loud noise, as their ears must be much more sensitive than ours. They meow (and bite at each other playfully) when we whistle. I'm going to guess that the pitch is really high for them and it makes them uncomfortable.

I wouldn't change a thing about them as I love them as they are. They don't have bad habits anyway. Well, not major ones. They're just being themselves. Kelly tears up the toilet paper if it's on the TP dispenser roll. Both Pooch and Kelly shred rolls of paper towels if they're in sight. I actually find the fact that they do these acts CUTE. Even though I'm the cleaner-upper, I do it with a smile.

Originally Posted by Persi & Alley

OK, let's get honest here, how many of you have used the "water method" on your cat(s)? What other types of discipline do you use or do you let them do anything they dang well please? Have you ever been so mad at your cat(s) that you did something to them that you later regretted? How exactly do your cat(s) respond to loud noises such as coins in a can? If there was one single thing that you could break your cat's bad habit of, what would that be?

Click to expand...

I heard about spraying water at cats a long time ago, way before ever becoming a member of The Cat Site. It sounded logical to me, so before we brought home out kittens we also got a few little misting spray bottles and put them around the house. We have only used them a few times, and that has been to keep them away from my plants or from climbing up the curtains. I have stopped using the spray bottle for the most part, as it seems not work very well anyway, and because of all I've read on TCS. My husband, on the other hand, thinks it is the best thing to do if the kittens are really being naughty. But we never squirt them in the face or ears, just the back.

I really prefer to use the scruffing method along with a firm "NO" when the cats misbehave. I also try to use positive reinforcement whenever possible. I'm pretty laid back about what I'll let the cats do, though. DH is more firm with them, and he seems more picky about where he thinks the cats should or should not be allowed. He grew up in more of a dog family, so he's used to being able to tell animals what to do and have them obey!

I have yelled at the kittens a time or two, always because they suddenly decided to use my legs or back as trees and surpised/hurt me. I always feel sort of bad about that afterwards. After all, they are just doing what comes natural to them.

I have not tried to discipline the kittens using loud noises, and I'm not sure I would. They are kind of skittish when they hear loud things, and I don't want a bunch or nervous, stressed kitties around the house!

I wish that I could teach my cats to stay off the kitchen table, but I don't know if that is ever going to happen!

Originally Posted by Persi & Alley

When I mentioned I would be moving the KatKwery around in time, little did I know that my posting of two hours ago would just disappear.

Due to a strange technicality which you can read about in the July 24 KatKwery, Marianjela won again, this time for the sixth straight time using the word half. But as she mentioned, she did not gain on luvmycat1 who also won by using remember. Cocoa Cream used two secret words but only the first, little counted, allowing Kluchetta to win by using series. The only word not used was want.

Today's KatKwiz was about squirting cats with water bottles.

OK, let's get honest here, how many of you have used the "water method" on your cat(s)? What other types of discipline do you use or do you let them do anything they dang well please? Have you ever been so mad at your cat(s) that you did something to them that you later regretted? How exactly do your cat(s) respond to loud noises such as coins in a can? If there was one single thing that you could break your cat's bad habit of, what would that be?

Click to expand...

Hmmm... *getting a little discouraged* Your twin didn't win because she won too many times this month, it would have been her 5th time or something like that! Persi was so stinking cute in that picture, I dont think the cat was dirty either! Not with the way he looked!

Okay, Ive used the water method before, sprayed a little on the cats to try to stop them, normally it just makes them angry though which really doesn't help enforce anything, or stop them from doing wrong. I have been a mean meowmy before and gave them a squirting or a tap that I have later felt terrible about, same with my kids, the only thing you can do is go to bed and at night and prey things go better the next day, give them special treats to try make them love you again... Apoligze in your own way, say your sorry... I use a clicker on my cats, like one you would use for a dog to train them, the high pitched noise let them know when they are doing something wrong so they can correct their behavior! My cats are perfect, they dont have any behavior, and if they did it would be sneaking outside,
I dont want them to get run over, and they are afraid of cars but not in a good way, it startles them and they pause where they are at, making it very easy for an accident to happen. Ive never punished my cats or kids in anyway that I would make the normal person feel terrible for life, giving them to hard of a spanking or anything, but it is an awful feeling.... I think the only thing that will break their habit of sneaking out is snow or death... Which is terribly unfortinate considering my neighbors threatened death today

I have only tried the water method on my dogs, although I thought about it for my cats, but after reading about water and cats' ears, I'm glad I never did.

I'm not sure if my cats don't need a lot of discipline, or if I'm exceptionally lenient! The only thing I really have to get on them about is occasionally Smudge scratching the furniture, and Tigger on the doorways. I just yell "no" and that tends to work.

I have another of those cats that wakes me up very early to eat, so that's about the only bad habit I can think of! (Oh, and the way ALL the other cats chase Elsa. That's bad. )

Originally Posted by Persi & Alley

OK, let's get honest here, how many of you have used the "water method" on your cat(s)? What other types of discipline do you use or do you let them do anything they dang well please? Have you ever been so mad at your cat(s) that you did something to them that you later regretted? How exactly do your cat(s) respond to loud noises such as coins in a can? If there was one single thing that you could break your cat's bad habit of, what would that be?

Click to expand...

I have never used the water methods on my cats. I have yelled at them though and gave them a light swat on the bottom. Not hard but enough to get their attention. I have "hissed" at them when they were being naughty. Or I just use a tone of voice and say their name and they stop..... sometimes.. Never tried the coins in a can... they might think it is a new toy knowing them. I would like to break the girls of opening the cabinets and drawers. We have dish cloths covering the utensils in the drawer, because they know how to open them and then they sit on them! But my girls know who is boss in this house..... THEY ARE!!! They have us wrapped around their little paws. I do wish though that Dusty wouldn't wake me up at 3:30am wanting to be petted. She is so persistent!! I normally give her some pets and loving, and then banish her and Rusty from the room. I need my sleep! But they are very good girls for the most part.

Originally Posted by Persi & Alley

OK, let's get honest here, how many of you have used the "water method" on your cat(s)? What other types of discipline do you use or do you let them do anything they dang well please? Have you ever been so mad at your cat(s) that you did something to them that you later regretted? How exactly do your cat(s) respond to loud noises such as coins in a can? If there was one single thing that you could break your cat's bad habit of, what would that be?

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Honestly, I would never! In fact, Evie is my first kitty, and until I came on here, the though of squirting my baby with a water bottle never crossed my mind! Or the can and coin method. Maybe I'm lucky that she's a little angel. Yeah, right.

We don't let her do anything she pleases, though don't dare tell her that! We tend to use cat-like methods, namelly "hissing" and just stopping her. Though I guess that isn't very cat-like! For example, if she wants our food, we just pick her up and move her away from it. She can be VERY stubborn, but hubby and I are both even more stubborn.

No, I have never done anything to Evie that I've ever regretted. Though hubby accidentally let her out once. We caught her right away, so I don't really "regret" it, but it still wasn't good!

She's a little chicken-butt, the epitomy of "scaredy cat"! So any loud noises (she especially HATES our mail man, who slips mail through the door after opening the screen- kitty heart attack!!), she bolts up the stairs and under our bed!

Honestly, I can't think of anything I want to break her of. Even though her sleeping-time cuddles are slightly annoying, I love them! She does have this bad habit of making trouble when she wants someting. Generally chewing on things or knocking them down. But I don't really want to break her of it, because I need to know when she needs something! So instead of breaking her of it, I just try to give her what she needs. Love or food or water or playing or whatever... She's my spoiled girl!

Hope I made it in time!

Originally Posted by BelongsToEvie

Hope I made it in time!

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You did, but you did not use one of my DW's provided words. So, you can blame her.

Most of the people on here are too young to remember the resignation of Richard Nixon. I have no idea why this comes to mind but marian won again for the seventh straight time.

In the words of Richard M. Nixon: I AM NOT A CROOK!

The twin strikes again, looks like no matter what time its posted she will find a way! Its got to be telepathy, it has to be!

Originally Posted by glitch

The twin strikes again, looks like no matter what time its posted she will find a way! Its got to be telepathy, it has to be!

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Ah, quit your crying, you won today, too.

You guys are too funny!!!! I dont know what it is.... except maybe that I keep my laptop holstered to my hip and it sends out electric charges whenever a Kwery is posted