How to teach good behavior in cats

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By motherNN
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my two indoor house cats

Use cats' natural instincts to teach them good behavior. With some patience and consistancy, cats can learn to:
1) Stay out of cat-free zones in your home.
2) Go to cat-friendly areas on their own.
3) Use a scratching post or pad to scratch, not damage furniture or have a painful de-clawing procedure.
4) Be well-behaved, happy housecats.
Saying "No" or hissing a "PSSST" is not always enough to teach cats house manners.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Patience
scratching posts or pads
Cat comfort spray
Cat "No" boundary spray
clean water in a small household spray bottle
blanket, Cat bed, and/or kitty condo
Catnip ~ optional

Step 1

Lightly mist cat-free zones in your home with cat-"no" boundary spray. Common spots are near your houseplants, trash bins, and the legs of fine furniture. The places you catch your cat eating, rummaging, or scratching that is forbidden.
Step 2

Set out a washable, soft, cat blanket or cat bed in a warm & quiet room and lightly mist with cat comfort spray. Your cat will use this area to groom itself and sleep, leaving the rest of your home much cleaner.
Step 3

Next to your cat's favorite places to scratch, set out a scratching post or pad. Usual places are near the living room couch, easy chair and the cat bed (cat's love to wake up and stretch & scratch.) Rub a pinch of catnip into the post or pad fibers. Consider investing in a kitty condo if you have more than one cat in the house.
Step 4

One squirt of water on your cat's hind quarters is a sure-fire remedy for behavior that continues for a week or more, such as: excessive yowling, food pantry raids, clawing fine furniture. If you use this "last resort" method, say "no" or "PSSST" and squirt just as you catch them in the act ONLY. Usually, one or two repeats of this and just the sounds you make will be enough. Keep consistant and just the memory will do the trick.
Step 5

Gradually stop using the aroma sprays, water and catnip once you have noticed your cats have learned indoor manners. Use them for a day or two if you notice a relapse. I like to keep some cat comfort spray for misting the cat carrier inside before car trips & Vet visits.