Preventing the cat from doing something

kutubira

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So, my Sakiz, 3 months old kitty, is a naughty one. I basically forbid two things: Entering the kitchen, and climbing to the table. 

She does both. But she is sneaky about it. When she sees me, she gets out of the kitchen, and jumps off the table. 

Whenever she does one of these two things, I gently hit her head and take her somewhere else. She kinda knows she shouldn't do these things.

There are some other stuff that I don't want her to do that I can't think of right now. What can I do? 
 

catpack

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First, please never hit your cat...no matter how "gentle" it is. Reprimanding cats simply doesn't work, as you have seen.

To keep her off the table...
Get some placemats and cover them with double-sided tape. Place these on top of the table. This will make the table be an unpleasant place for Sakiz to spend time on. (Some people have also used aluminum foil...it makes a noise and some cats don't like the way it feels.) In addition to this, place a cat tree or perch close to where the table is and at a similar or taller height. This will give her an appropriate alternative to being on the table.

As for keeping her out of the kitchen...
Is there a particular reason why you don't want her in there? IMO, unless you can close off the kitchen, it's really not reasonable to expect her to stay out of the kitchen.
You could try something similar as I mentioned above and place foil or placemats with double-sided tape at the entrances; but, this has not worked for people that I know have tried it. Your best bet is to provide her with her own space in the kitchen (a window perch or special chair, etc...)
 

pinkdagger

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Agreed, you would have to completely close off rooms you don't want your cats in. Likewise, unless you can either block off the tabletop or make it an unpleasant experience for the cat, they'll probably sneak on when you're not around or looking anyway. The tips @CatPack gave are both common and relatively effective among the things you can do.

If you want something to let the cats know that you disapprove of whatever they're doing, we use a hiss (if it's something they're going to do, like slooowly opening their mouths around a metal doorstop to start chewing it, we use a slow but sharp SSSS sound. if it's something immediate and super bad that they're already doing, we do a loud SSSSCHHTTSSCCCHH). It's telling them, in their own "vocabulary" that whatever they're doing isn't cool.

If they're still attracted to the table and other high or similar outlets (cat trees, chairs, platforms) aren't as appealing, something to consider may be Ssscat Cat. It's dicey though, because it may not catch all 360 degrees if the cats like to jump on from different sides or angles.
 

the3rdname

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In addition to double-sided tape and tinfoil, you can use vinyl carpet protectors, the kind with the blunt spikes on the bottom.  Place spike side up wherever you don't want the cat to hang out (it doesn't hurt kitty, but it's uncomfortable).  They won't be necessary after a while because the cat will always expect them to be there.

On the subject of hitting, that accomplishes nothing except damage to your relationship with your cat and/or cultivates behavioral problems like aggression or anxiety.  For one, negative reinforcement has to happen at the very second the cat does something it's not supposed to, otherwise the connection between behavior and discipline is lost on them.  It's why jumping onto an uncomfortable surface or triggering the compressed air cans is effective: it's immediate feedback.  If you swat the cat for being in the "wrong room", it has no idea why it's getting smacked.  That's not how feline logic works.  Besides, what you've described is very normal, healthy cat behavior.  It hasn't done anything "naughty".  Cats are instinctually driven to explore and survey their territory, and if they have access to it it's their territory.  Echoing what everyone else has said, you're going to have to keep the kitchen door closed if you don't want the cat in there.  I have a cat tree in my kitchen and that's all that's necessary for keeping kitties out of my hair.  They only want a lofty vantage point for observing the goings-on; curiosity in cats isn't a flaw, it's a feature.  When you have cats you have to fully embrace their catliness, and hopefully even appreciate it, or you'll soon drive yourself crazy.  

Adopting any animal means familiarizing yourself with their needs and being prepared to meet them willingly and happily.  Cats need their curiosity sated, they need safe and comfortable places, preferably plenty of vertical spaces like cat trees and shelves, for observing their world and everything that happens in it.  Okay, *almost* everything 
 
 
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kutubira

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Thank you all for your responses. I was busy, so I could not check this.

@pinkdagger

Yes, I wanted a general thing to let her know I don't approve what she's doing. I'm trying this. She just looks at me clueless. But she sometimes stops what she is doing, so this might help (hissing). Although I'm not sure if I'm doing it right lol.

@the3rdname

Thanks. I can't close my kitchen, because it does not have a door. But the weird thing is, I think she knows she is not supposed to be there. When I enter the kitchen while she's there, she looks at me saying "Sorry dude, I thought I'd let myself in" and then she slowly goes out. To be honest, I LOVE that behavior. 


I just took this photo. I don't want to lose this. I did not know even a gentle hit would send her away. I love her being around me and making me uncomfortable time to time. I only hit her 4-5 times. Normally, I just take her from the kitchen/table and put her somewhere else. But lesson's learnt, no gentle hitting. 

I understand her irresistible desire to climb to table, and enter to the kitchen. I read that while we, humans think vertically, the cats think horizontally. When we're in a room with 10 meters width and 4 meters height, I see the 10 meters, and she sees 4 meters. So it completely makes sense when she wants to climb. And I am aware that it's unreasonable to ask her not to do what her nature "commands" her to do. But I need her not to do these lol. 

@Mani

I read about the vertical thinking thing from a book, I wish I just took a look at the site :)

I'm going to move from this house, so I'll use my old method to keep her away (Move her away from kitchen/table when she's there). But tape thing looks promising. 

I'm still open to recommendations to let her know I'm not approving what she's doing. Not for a particular issue, but general issues.
 

the3rdname

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I just took this photo. I don't want to lose this. I did not know even a gentle hit would send her away. I love her being around me and making me uncomfortable time to time. I only hit her 4-5 times. Normally, I just take her from the kitchen/table and put her somewhere else. But lesson's learnt, no gentle hitting. 

I understand her irresistible desire to climb to table, and enter to the kitchen. I read that while we, humans think vertically, the cats think horizontally. When we're in a room with 10 meters width and 4 meters height, I see the 10 meters, and she sees 4 meters. So it completely makes sense when she wants to climb. And I am aware that it's unreasonable to ask her not to do what her nature "commands" her to do. But I need her not to do these lol. 

I'm still open to recommendations to let her know I'm not approving what she's doing. Not for a particular issue, but general issues.
What a sweet bonding moment 
  She is such a cutie pie!  

I know you've said "no more hitting", and I'm glad to hear it, but I just want to take a moment to address something.  When Sakiz slinks out of the kitchen, she's thinking, "There's something about this room that turns him into a mean person I don't like, so maybe I should leave before he pulls that Jekyll/Hyde act again."  It's a fear-based response.  We can modify a cat's behavior in a way that preserves trust, love, and all that good stuff, or we can squash their spirit, change who they are, and teach them to fear us.  Parents can beat their children into submission and, technically, those children are now "well-behaved".  But at what cost?  There are myriad ways to get a kid or an animal to do what you want them to do, but some methods are undeniably better for the kids and animals.  

With cats, it's always best to think proactively and strategically.  See if we can't first address their needs before resorting to negative reinforcement.  Cats want to be up high, they want to survey their territory and observe all the goings-on.  If you can address that need, with a tree or shelving, etc., you've made your cat happy *and* curtailed the unwanted behavior.  You can even clicker train them to get up on the tree using treats.  You enter the kitchen and she follows, she gets up on the tree (shelf, whathaveyou), click the clicker, deliver the treat, and before you know it you've got a well-trained cat.  It's what professional trainers do.

As far as "general issues" go, it really all depends on the situation.  There is no magic bullet, mostly creative thinking and attempting to meet the cat's needs in a way that makes everyone happy at the end of the day.
 
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