Written by Mary Anne Miller
Why You Should Never Punish Your Cat
The words discipline and cats should never be used in the same sentence. A cat does not respond to discipline in a positive learning fashion. Rubbing a cat's nose in a recent urine stain on your carpet is liable to get you either bit or scratched or start a resentment streak in your normally laid-back cat. Cats when restrained, even briefly will fight back vigorously. They have no way of knowing that they have displeased you. All they know is something bigger than they are is holding them against their will.
Every time I surf into a cat board and read that members are using squirt bottles on their cats, I cringe. If you are using a squirt bottle to achieve a behavior modification, I urge you to stop. All you are doing is instilling fear into your cat. You are traveling from friend to predator in your cat's mind because you are scaring her with something by nature most cats hate (unless she is a Turkish Van or another special breed) and that is water. Heaven help you if you have administered this form of punishment on your cat and then find you have to bathe her for medical reasons. Bathing a cat is difficult enough, but bathing a cat that has good reason to be terrified of water is twice as tough. Add to the scare factor of the squirt bottle the scenario of you shooting your cat with spray as she is running from you, and you accidentally get water in her ear, then you are faced with a problem. Getting water in a cat's ear will upset the PH balance and make your cat vulnerable to ear infections. This may lead to hefty vet bills before it clears up.
Cats need guidance, teaching tempered with love, and patience. You need to understand their basic nature and their instincts. If, for example, you have a cat that is peeing outside the litter box, the most important thing to do first of all, is to get the cat to a vet to rule out a health problem. Don't head for the squirt bottle, or the noisy can full of rocks, head for the phone and call your vet.
Once the cat has been given the "all clear" health-wise then you need to look at the environment and ask yourself what has changed? Have you added something new to the household, changed the furniture added a second or third kitty, or a new puppy? Is the litter pan clean? Is it big enough? Did you put enough litter in it? If you have one cat, you should have two litter pans. Have you changed cat foods recently?
Think of your situation as a giant jigsaw puzzle and start putting the pieces together until they fit.
There will always be a reason why a cat is acting out. Acting out is not a good enough reason to reach for a squirt bottle. Instead, reach inside yourself and find the right solution and solve the problem that way. In the long run it is the best way to stay friends with your cat. She will thank you for taking the time to work out the problem, instead of creating more problems in the long run for her.
Write a review and commentary !