No means no

How do I get Oscar to understand that when mommy says no it means no??

I try to tell him sternly, I've yelled and I feel like all that's left is spanking him, although I don't think I could because I heard it's bad for animals. I cannot get him to listen and it's frustrating.

Anyone have any suggestions to keep your cat to understand no means no?

Thanks, Courtney

Honestly, I think the best you can do is get them to understand that no means no ... when you're standing there. And some cats are particularly strong-willed. Most of ours behave; one has always been really stubborn. He is getting better with age and repetition of "no" and an occasional squirt (not on the face) with water.

But don't ever hit your kitty. Doing so will either make him afraid and timid, or angry. It won't help.

Courtney, they are not dogs. You can't discipline them the same, you have to relate to them in a way they understand. And first of all you have to ask yourself if this behavior is something that is a cat instinct (like jumping on to high counters) or attacking your feet because they move, or if the cat is being willfully disobedient- which they are really not prone to do. If your cat is doing something unacceptable hiss at him- that will get the point across, but first ask yourself if he is doing it because he is programmed to do it- or for other reasons.

Hissy's reply made me think. (Thanks, Hissy. ) Often if your cat is doing something natural (clawing, climbing) but in what you consider an inappropriate place, if you provide an alternative, that will help a lot. Our climbers LOVE their cat condo for climbing and scratching. Also, if your kitty is, for instance, clawing a lot, it helps if you keep their claws trimmed, because most of the time they are just trying to trim their claws themselves. (I also think Soft Paws is a helpful product; works great for our oldest cat, Ace.)

If you have specific instances of what your cat is trying to do, maybe you will get some specific suggestions.

Originally Posted by Oscarsmommy

I try to tell him sternly, I've yelled and I feel like all that's left is spanking him

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Please what ever you do, don't spank him!. Like MA said their not dogs that you can train.

Whats he doing to make you want to yell?, because yellings bound to frighten him . Hell you should be in my house with some of the things Sophie gets up to, but i don't need to remind myself that she's a cat and she doesn't know any different when it comes to knocking over vases etc...

At the end of the day you have to have patience and if he's up to mischief then play with him

Iam curious as how to clip a cats claws osiris needs his done , i dont have a claw post foe him yet, but in the meantime how safely can i clip his claws without making him bleed?
Nyzki

Originally Posted by nyzki

Iam curious as how to clip a cats claws osiris needs his done , i dont have a claw post foe him yet, but in the meantime how safely can i clip his claws without making him bleed?

Nyzki

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You have to make sure you don't clip the vein running down the claw. In good light, get your kitty in a comfortable position and gently squeeze her paw. Try to find the light pink/whitish thing running down the middle of the claw. That's the vein. If you can see where it ends, it is safe to clip as long as you don't clip into that. If you can't see it, only clip the very end, the sharp tips, or take her to a groomer's or the vet's office to be clipped.

Originally Posted by rosiemac

Please what ever you do, don't spank him!. Like MA said their not dogs that you can train.

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I don't think this was meant but I want to add that a dog should also NEVER be hit or "spanked".

This will cause as many problems in a dog as a cat.

I agree with all that has been said in that you need to re-direct a cat in terms of its natural behaviours rather than punish...(this usually works well with dogs too

Originally Posted by Loveysmummy

I don't think this was meant but I want to add that a dog should also NEVER be hit or "spanked".

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I meant train as in saying "No" to dogs. No animal on this earth should be spanked no matter what it is.

I know you didn't mean that, Susan.



I just wanted everyone else reading this to realize that this isn't what was meant.
People have the craziest dog training ideas, I tell you

I fully agree..I could never hit an animal. I would feel sick.

Originally Posted by Loveysmummy

I know you didn't mean that, Susan.

I just wanted everyone else reading this to realize that this isn't what was meant.
People have the craziest dog training ideas, I tell you

I fully agree..I could never hit an animal. I would feel sick.

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Gotcha! Sometimes it's difficult to comprehend what someones saying on the computer