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Cat training

cusm

01:39 / 07.09.04

I have 2 cats, red tabby boys. One of them is about 9 years old. Old enough to be bossy and demanding about things being just the way he's used to. Enter two kids, now 20 months, and a massive change to things at home. Now, they don't get very much attention, and there are noisy monkey creatures that chase them and pull their tails.

One of them, we're pretty sure its the older one, is pissing all over the house and on the kids's stuff. Recently, he crapped on one of their toys. My wife wants to get rid of them, being a cold heartless bitch (not that I'm bitter about anything here...).

My question being, does anyone have ideas on correcting the behavior problem and retraining him to not crap on the kids's things? Is there any hope for that?

Mazarine

02:10 / 07.09.04

Jeeze, I'm not sure about that problem in specific, but air in a can (like for cleaning keyboards and such) has worked wonders with punnishing my cats, whose fur is too thick for them to feel a squirt gun. Cats hate the noise it makes, and they don't much care for being blown on that strongly either.

There are products to discourage urinating/deficating in forbidden areas, but I've never tried them personally. There's this whole line called Feliway that makes stuff to deter cats from marking, set boundaries for them, and emit smells that comfort them in stressful situations (according to them, who knows if this actually works.)

I'll keep my eyes peeled for anything else that looks promising. Good luck, sugar.

Solitaire Rose as Tom Servo

03:03 / 07.09.04

I don't know how many litter boxes you have, but if you have three cats, you may need to have 4 litter boxes, so that the cat who has been there longer doesn't have to deal with them at all.

This is also the kind of problem a vet can help with, as they have LOTS of experience with cat behavior. There is also at least one other Barbelither (who might be reading this or might not) who is a cat expert. PM me and I can let you know if she doesn't respond.

iconoplast

04:43 / 07.09.04

I remember using a "throw can" (empty soda can with some pennies in it) to punish cats for going in forbidden areas / clawing furniture / &c.

The object being not to, as might be ttempting, bean the cat with the can, but to throw it nearby and scare whatever bejeezis is left in the thing out of it.

This all presupposes catching them in flagrante.

Grey Area

06:41 / 07.09.04

Have they been neutered? Because then the older male's reaction is a natural one to having his soverign territory invaded: leave scent markers all over the place, reafforming that this is his place, damnit, not some hairless monkey's playhouse.

The marking behaviour occurs in a lot of male housecats at some point or another, and neutering them seems to be the only long-term solution. Trying to scare him out of doing it can possibly even increase the frequency of the behaviour (higher need for him to assert himself and all). But yeah, ask your vet. They're good at figuring this kind of thing out.

angel

10:31 / 07.09.04

I agree that there are some good aversion therapy options here, but there is maybe something you can do in conjunction to these which will perhaps address the core issue as well.

I take it from your post that your cat has become more unmanageable as it has received less attention from you. So is there a way in which you can give it more positive attention, actively taking time out to show affection and be attentive, whilst staying strong on saying no to the offending behaviour?

I have a feeling that if you don't address the fact that it is feeling left out and unloved, the behaviour will just continue.

gale

19:52 / 07.09.04

Hi,

I agree w/ angel. You have to spend more time with both cats, let them know you still love them. You could also sit down with cats and kids and show them (the kids) how to treat and even play nicely with animals.

I definitely think your cats are feeling a bit neglected. Remember--you're the only family they have! Good luck.

gale

19:56 / 07.09.04

MissLenore

22:22 / 07.09.04

My family used to have a cat that did that all of the time, and my uncle, who is a vet, put it on valium. It greatly reduced the behaviour, although it did still happen occasionally. So that's one option, anyway.

alas

23:09 / 07.09.04

I put mothballs in the plants--the smell is bad, but not as bad as cat urine--and it seems, at least, to keep them away from the plants. It is hard with young children, but do spend a little time each day with your cats, petting them.

Lilly Nowhere Late

05:49 / 08.09.04

Just make sure the small children can't get to the moth balls to eat them.
Another thing that might help is to let your cats roam outdoors if they don't already. Depending on conditions where you live of course. Giving them access to a whole new territory(i.e., the great outdoors) does obvious wonders for helping them to let go of their old space.
Be mindfull that cat urine and feces is pretty bad stuff to have around small children in the way of health risks.
Good luck!

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