Is feline discipline possible?
People often ask me if it is really possible to train cats. Cats are intelligent animals and will learn new behaviors much faster than you think. Many people find it hard to believe that cat discipline is possible, but despite its independent nature, it is possible to train a cat to know that a particular behavior is bad. All it takes is a little patience and consistency in your training. So try it and don’t give up.
Cats are not human.
It is important to remember that cats are not human beings, they think using their own logic and instincts. Your Ragdoll cat will probably see you as just another big cat and will communicate with you accordingly.
Violence won’t work
A cat will not understand the use of violence as a form of discipline and therefore will not associate it with their bad behavior. The only thing this will do is make them afraid of you. Spanking your Ragdoll cat is not a good form of punishment for bad behavior, the following methods are gentler ways to effectively discipline your Ragdoll cat:
The ‘facial push’ technique
For times when you are around your cat and he misbehaves, ‘The Face Push’ technique should be used. It consists of a GENTLE but firm push back on your cat’s face accompanied by a stern ‘NO’ command. This is a strong message to cats and if used consistently it will teach them that a particular behavior is bad.
the water gun
When your ragdoll cat is further away and needs a scolding, a squirt gun filled with water and a dash of vinegar is a great tool. Just a quick squirt in the face with a stern ‘NO’ command is enough to stop them in their tracks.
the rattle bottle
If the above techniques are not practical, a small can or plastic bottle partially filled with pebbles or coins when shaken or dropped along with the ‘NO’ command can be a great deterrent to misbehavior. Avoid overusing this technique to prevent your Ragdoll cat from becoming desensitized to its effect.
Being consistent with these methods will soon teach your Ragdoll what behavior is good and what is unacceptable.
problems with aggressiveness
Aggression problems in cats are not as common as in dogs, but for many reasons cats can develop an aggression problem and you should address this as soon as possible to prevent the problem from being affected by inappropriate treatment by the dog. owner. There are different types of aggressiveness in cats and the most common are detailed below:
play aggression
Play aggression is the most common form of cat aggression, and your cat is usually playing rough. This is almost always because they have been taught to play like this since they were kittens; this is called ‘conditioned aggression’.
conditioned aggression
As explained above, if you have this problem, your Ragdoll cat has been conditioned since she was a kitten. To avoid doing this when raising kittens, he always redirects aggressive play to toys and other objects like a string on the end of a stick. This will help distance the aggression from you. If necessary, use a water gun to stop the bad behavior along with the usual ‘NO’ command.
bread aggression
If the aggression problem appears suddenly for no apparent reason, it could be caused by pain. Your cat has no way of telling you if she has a medical condition and pain, so biting or scratching may be your cat’s way of getting her attention or protecting himself. If it continues, you should see your vet to find out if there is a medical issue that needs treatment.
When your ragdoll cat jumps on the table
This problem is common in cats if they are not taught otherwise. A squirt in the face with the water gun or a drop from the rattle bottle along with the command ‘NO’ may be all that is required to stop your cat from jumping, but it must be constant so that your Ragdoll cat knows Why does he do this. being punished
As mentioned above, it is not that difficult to have a cat that is well behaved and knows its limits if the above techniques are used consistently.