he doesn't listen..

My cat Maynard is a 4 month old male cat. He is only allowed to get onto our couch and nothing more although he is constantly jumping onto all of our tables and dinningroom chairs as well as the kitchen stove, which he isn't suppose to do. And he's like a dog, when we eat he sits watching us, so we now lock him in a room or in his kaboodle. To try and stop him from doing this we have tried spraying him with water, spraying him with half vinegar and water, and spanking him and nothing works....and we no longer spank him. The scent of vinegar does not faze him abit. And as more time goes by the worse he gets. He's going to be getting fixed in 2 months and we're hopeing he'll get better at things, if not we're going to buy him a giant cage and lock him in it during our nights. I really don't want to do that but if nothing more works then there is nothing more I can do. Does anyone have any advice for me, that's permanent. As in after awhile I will not longer have to show him a spray bottle or yell at him to stop him. Please help!

First of all two points....

Never never never spank your cat....your kitten is very young, and any amount of force can damage her...regardless of how little force you use...

Never never never spray water and vinager at your kitten...what would give you such an idea.....If it ever got in her eye it could do serious damage....

As for just spraying her w/ water...some people use that method some people do not...you are definitly going to get some mixed reviwes about that.....

She is a kitten that doesnt know any better...she needs to be trained not assaulted.....

That being said, their are many safe and non violent training methods...such as the "clicking method"........

There are also sprays and scents that can repell some cats...which may work...such as lemon and bitter apple...

Also if you get your kitten a scratching post...a tall one...it may deter her from jumping on other things....

Good luck

Okay tell me how to try my cat then. HE is not a girl. You kept calling him a she. I'm not sure if you realize this or not but the vinegar thing, I've read it everywhere and have heard it from everybody including vets. I don't know how a clicking noise would stop my cat from doing things. Vinegar is a very strong smell and he was all about it. I know a scrathing post will not stop him because he has one and he's not jumping on things to scrath them he's doing it to check it all out. I may try the bitter apple thing but i don't believe that will work ither. I would try the click thing but i'm not buying it over the internet.

I am sorry that I kept calling him a she....Its very late...and for that I apologize...

As for the spraying vinigar at him...I have never heard of that....and it makes no sence that vets would suggest spraying a cat w/ something that could damage there eyes....But thats just my opinion....

As for everything else....I am sorry that nothing has worked....but it appears you don't want to try anything else, so I am not sure how I can help you....

If you did want to try the clicker method...which many of us on TCS swear by..you can learn about it in the behavior forum I believe...(I will look for the link for you)...

It is difficult to train a 4 month old kitten - they are the most curious animals on earth. But punishment almost never works - they just don't associate it with what they have done, and only think you are hurting them. Try positive reinforcement coupled with one strong word - my cats all know the words 'no' and 'down' spoken very strictly as I lift them off whatever it is they are doing wrong. But the boys are only 8 months old now and I have had them for 3 months, and they are just getting the idea about leaving the plants/ tables etc alone. I think it would be very sad for you and the cat if he has to spend a lot of his time locked in a cage. You don't say why you don't like him watching you when you eat, but if you never feed him off your plates and again use the word 'no' very strongly if he tries to jump up, he will get the idea. But it does take time, just like stopping a toddler throwing food around the room!

Hi, welcome to TCS, to you and Maynard! I'm glad you have wisely learned to never spank your cat. This will only serve to cause him to fear you. I have also never heard of spraying your cat with vinegar to deter a behavior and feel this is a dangerous practice as the acidic vinegar could harm his eyes.

Thank you for coming to us seeking advice in finding a solution to your wishes of keeping Maynard from jumping on your furniture. We are a friendly forum and treat each other with respect. You've come to us for advice and we appreciate your not criticizing the advice you receive.

I understand you very much Jenny, the older he gets the more out of control her gets. I don't always mind him watching me eat but it's annoying. It's like a person sitting right across from you straing back into your face as you eat, it's just annoying. I just hate that we constantly have to tell him no, show him the bottle, or grab him. I want smething permanent.

I do not spray this vinegar stuff at his head. If his body is facing me I wait until he moves sideway to me so I don't get his face, I'm very careful with that.

What I've done with my kitties when they do things I don't like is to simply clap my hands and say "No!" very firmly. When they stop the behavior (which they do immediately because they recognize the word) and walk away from the "scene," I go up and hug/pet/kiss them and say, "Good girl" or "Good boy!" just to let them know I love them.

It might sound crazy, but I really treat them like my children and I also talk to them in full sentences and it makes a huge difference. Cats are very perceptive and I believe the more you treat them with respect, they respond accordingly. Just from the tone of my voice as I'm talking, they understand when I don't approve of something (first I say, NO- and then explain, something like "That's not for kitties" or "That's dangerous, OK, don't go up there" - they recognize the "NO" immediately but also know from my tone that I'm disapproving but still being loving). (Once I stepped on Kuri's tail by accident, also, and because I treat him like a child and not just a pet, I went in search of him through the house and apologized and hugged him, and I swear that he "forgave" me and he has never been scared of me doing that again - because he knew it was an accident, unlike some cats who have a bad experience with a human and are always wary of them.)

Well, I hope what I shared helps with your kitten. It does work, and best of all, there is no cost. I grew up with animals but my parents weren't big animal lovers, so I think we just gave them the basic care, but I've found that now, with my husband, we have grown so close to our kitties and we treat them like family. It is so fulfilling to love and be loved by precious cats.
Good luck!

By the way, if he is interested in people food and it's something safe to give him, you might want to consider giving him a tiny bit of food in the kitchen before you eat, so he'll leave you alone when you're eating at the dining table. However, you also don't want to create a monster, a kitty with a taste for people food. (But I sometimes do this when we have tuna or lasagna, which our kitties love. Kuri esp. likes food that we eat, but he knows that if he doesn't get a taste of it in the kitchen, there is no chance he'll get any food in the living room or dining room so he doesn't beg.)

Cats are not like dogs. It sounds to me as though you expect this kitten to be. If you allow him on the couch, how does he know the difference between that and other things he jumps up on? Cats seek out high places naturally.

If this kitten is looking at you while you eat, as opposed to jumping in your lap or on the table, I would say his behavior is good in this area. Disciplining him because you are uncomfortable with being looked at seems extreme to me.

Like any animal, or child for that matter, training takes time and patience. When you are punitive with your cat, all you teach him to be is fearful and distrusting of people.

Maynard is a young kitten. I have probably had 25 cats in my life and I can tell you from this personal experience that cats are the most curious and wilful creatures on the face of the earth. An adult cat can barely be "trained" not to go on something, but the only way I am ever able to do this is by patiently removing the cat from that place. For instance, though my Hobbs has run of the house, I dont like him to go on my kitchen table. So the rare time that he climbs up there, I simply and firmly tell him "no" and remove him from the table, and gently place him back on the floor. He seems to now know that he isnt allowed up there, as now when I am eating he will just jump on a chair by the table like a little person and politely watch us eat. But for a kitten, forget it. Their life is full of play, and climbing and exploring. The only other thing I would suggest is getting something that has an odor, like citrus, that he doesnt like, and put it where you dont want him to go. Pls remember cats are not like dogs, they generally dont listen at all, and are very very difficult to train. If this is not a good match for what you need out of your pet, maybe think about adopting him out, and buy a dog that will be much more responsive to you. Good luck!

I cant help much as My cats run the house... but there is a quote you need to think about
dogs have owners cats have servents... cat training can be done but it aint easy..

You are describing typical kitten behavior. I suggest you chill out a bit and let this kitten just be a kitten and DON'T lock him in a cage. I have 4 kittens at the moment and they run up and down the furniture, jump on things and race through the house. They even at time run across our dinner plates, but I don't get upset because I have been working with kittens long enough to understand this is a phase, and it will pass.

I don't squirt my cats with water, I have fourteen cats at this time, and awhile back I decided to try this squirt bottle issue with a kitten who was suckling on our dog. It has changed this kitten immensely and NOT in a good way. And so I maintain my stance that squirting water on a cat or a kitten is not a good way to do things.

When a kitten is being a kitten and you punish him for this, it really does confuse things for him. He acts by nature and instinct and does not understand why you would spank him, hurt him or scare him. He trusts you to provide for him and you let him down when you lose patience and want an "instant obedient kitten" It ain't gonna happen. He needs to grow and in the growth are energy spurts and bouts of curiousity. he is not a dog and will never respond instantly to commands. You can use clicker training, it is effective, but you have to know what you are doing.

So what if he sits there and watches you eat? Would you rather he got into your plate and stuck his bum in your face (which by the way would be a compliment on his end) no pun intended. If that bothers you then feed him near the table some tasty treat to distract him.

Your subject line "He doesn't listen" made me laugh. Of course he doesn't listen, he is a kitten not a dog. Please understand the distinction between the two species, different species, different programmed responses. Embrace that he is a kitten, that he is curious and wild-eyed and wants to have fun. Give him a cat condo, some cat ramps, a window perch- feed the birds outside your window or invest in a Mewvie and let him watch kitty videos while you eat-

If you have somewhere your kitten isn't allowed to be, I think the best way to keep him off of it is to make it undesirable for him (e.g. sticky tape, stinky spray, etc.), or to remove him every time he jumps up there until he doesn't even bother because he knows he won't get to stay. That will take a lot of effort on your part, but will be rewarding when your kitten is behaving as you want him to, and you're not having to scold him. I imagine that's emotionally exhausting for both of you.

If your kitty is JUST staring at you while you eat, it's a very 'good' kitten! Maybe you could try giving him a treat to divert his attention, or eating in another room. I'm lucky in that regard because my cat doesn't usually want to eat people food, but he is still very curious and will stick his little nose in it. I just let him sniff it, but on the off chance that he is uncharacteristically persistant, like he wants some, I will just keep moving it away from him until he gives up. Hey, it's healthy to eat slowly anyway.

I hope you & your kitty can eventually cohabit your home peacefully and naturally.

Originally Posted by cersiey

Okay tell me how to try my cat then. HE is not a girl. You kept calling him a she. I'm not sure if you realize this or not but the vinegar thing, I've read it everywhere and have heard it from everybody including vets. I don't know how a clicking noise would stop my cat from doing things. Vinegar is a very strong smell and he was all about it. I know a scrathing post will not stop him because he has one and he's not jumping on things to scrath them he's doing it to check it all out. I may try the bitter apple thing but i don't believe that will work ither. I would try the click thing but i'm not buying it over the internet.

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#1 don't hit your cats/ this will not work and the cat will fear you possibly leading to mental problems.

#2 I wouldnt spray my cats with vinegar either. Just because a vet told you it was alright doesnt make it so. I have seen plenty of IDIOT vets out there. My suggestion is take a shot glass of vinegar, splash it in YOUR eye, if it doesnt hurt then try on your cats.

#3 Now for the suggestions, Try getting a scat mat from Dr. Foster and Smith. the beep when the cat jumps on them. It may work to keep your cats off the furniture. The best thing you can do is just accept the fact your cats will be on your furniture. They are hard to train and do what they want. The sooner you come to terms with this the better. If you want an animal that follows directions and listens to you, get a dog.

Originally Posted by sharky

I cant help much as My cats run the house... but there is a quote you need to think about
dogs have owners cats have servents... cat training can be done but it aint easy..

Click to expand...

good one!

Originally Posted by Deb25

If you allow him on the couch, how does he know the difference between that and other things he jumps up on?

When you are punitive with your cat, all you teach him to be is fearful and distrusting of people.

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Okay one I have had a ton of other cats that knew they weren't allowed on other furniture aside from the couch. They would only jump on the couches and nothing more. Two my cat is not fearful of me. Even after I do those things to him he jumps up on my lap. As soon as I'm done he does this.

Why ask for advice from long-term cat owners and cat lovers if you mean to discount the advice you get?

All you people are telling me this is typical kitten behavior an such which I know is true but in my life time I have had 5 cats or so, while they were kittens as well and they NEVER jumped up on your tables, NEVER! They would watch us eat, and I don't mind al that much when Maynard watches me I ither prop my leg us so he can't see my face or ignore him, as long as he's out of my sight I'm good. Like I said, I have never had such a bad behaved cat like him before.