Maria Allen
In many cat households, the dining table, kitchen counter, or bed are taboo areas for the cat. So that your cat understands this, you can teach her to listen to the command “No”. Find out how here.
Before you get a cat, you should think about what the cat can and cannot do in the future. The entire household should be involved here so that the cat is allowed or not allowed to do the same with every household member.
Teaching Cats the “No” Command
Once it has been established what the cat is allowed to do and what not, it is then important to implement these rules consistently in everyday life with the cat:
- What is forbidden is forbidden from day one. Consistency is very important here. Because the cat will only learn that it is not allowed to do something if it is always like this. (e.g. don’t let the cat sleep in a bed once and not the next day, it won’t understand that)
- If the cat is doing something it’s not allowed to do (e.g. jumping on the table/kitchen/bed or scratching furniture) you need to be consistent in teaching it every time.
Violence or shouting is by no means meant. That has no place in cat training! Instead, a definite “no” helps, which is best always said in the same tone and intonation.
Does the cat ignore the “No!” and simply stay on the table or in bed, take it immediately after saying “no” and carry it to the desired place to lie, for example to the scratching post. There you praise the cat and play a game together.
It is important that you always remove the cat from the table/bed or another forbidden place as soon as you notice it, following the “no”. Otherwise, she will not respect the taboo zone.
The Right Command for the Cat
Some cats respond well to the “No!” when it is used in a stern tone of voice that is as consistent as possible. Other cats respond better to hissing sounds, which may remind them of a cat’s hissing. For example, you could say “Leave that!” emphasized on the “S”. use.
Distract the Cat With Something to Do
So that it doesn’t even get that far that the cat jumps on the table or the kitchen or scratches on the furniture, you should offer it enough other activities in the apartment. Make sure there are plenty of play rounds as well as scratching and climbing opportunities. Since cats often enjoy the view from an elevated point and also like to look out of the window, you should definitely allow your cat to do so, for example by using a scratching post by the window. So the cat doesn’t need the elevated vantage point on the dining table at all.
Young animals in particular often do something because they are bored. If humans provide a variety of distractions with toys and there is a fellow animal to romp around and cuddle with, small misdeeds are much rarer.