Cat Behavior Problems

Can Cats Be Disciplined?

First of all let me dispel a common myth concerning the training of cats. Cats are inteligent animals and will learn new behavior much faster than you think. Many people find it hard to believe that cat discipline is possible but despite their independent nature it is possible to train a cat that a particular behaviour is bad. All it takes is some patience and consistency in their training. So have a go, be persistant and you will see results.

Cats are animals not humans

It is important to remember that cats are not human beings they work using their own logic and instincts. Your Ragdoll cat will assume that you think like he does and will comminicate with you accordingly.

Cats do not understand violence

A cat will not understand the use of violence as a form of discipline and so will not associate it with their bad behaviour. The only effect this will have is to make them afraid of you. Hitting your Ragdoll cat is a very bad form of punishment for bad behaviour, the following techniques are kinder ways to discipline your Ragdoll cat:

The ‘Face Push’ Method

For times when you are within arms length while your cat is behaving badly ‘The Face Push’ method should be used. It consists of a GENTLE but firm push back on your cat’s face along with a stern ‘NO’ command. This is a strong message to cats and used consistently will get the message over that a particular behaviour is wrong.

The Squirt Gun

If your cat is out of reach and needs reprimanding a squirt gun filled with water and a dash of vinegar is very useful. Just a quick squirt in the face with a stern ‘NO’ command is enough to get the message over.

The Rattle Bottle

If the above techniques are not practical a small can or plastic bottle partly filled with pebbles or coins when shaken or dropped and the ‘NO’ command can provide a great deterrent from bad behavior. Try not to over use this method to prevent your Ragdoll cat from becoming desensitised to its affect.

Being consistant with these methods will soon teach your Ragdoll cat which behaviour is ok and which is unacceptable.

Problems with aggression

Aggression problems in cats is not as common as it is for dogs but for many reasons cats can develop an aggression problem and this issue must be addressed as early as possible to avoid impacting the problem with wrong treatment from you the owner. There are different reasons for cat aggression and below are the most common:

Play Aggression

The most common form of aggression is play aggression and is usually your cat playing rough. This is almost always because they have been taught to play like this from when they were kittens; this is called ‘conditioned aggression‘.

Conditioned Aggression

As explained above if you have this problem then it was conditioned into your Ragdoll cat from when it was a kitten. To prevent doing this when rearing kittens always divert aggressive play onto toys and other objects like string on the end of a stick. This will help to distance the aggression from you. If necessary use a squirt gun to stop the wrong behavior along with the usual ‘NO’ command.

Pain Aggression

If the aggression problem suddenly appears for no appparent reason pain or injury may be the cause. Your cat has no way of telling you if it has a medical condition and is in pain so biting or scratching you could be your cats way of either getting your attention or protecting itself. If it continues you should consult your veterinary surgeon to get a diagnosis if there is a medical problem, which needs treatment.

When your ragdoll cat jumps on the table

This is a common problem with cats if they are not taught otherwise. A squirt in the face with the squirt gun or a drop of the rattle bottle along with the ‘NO’ command may be all that is required to deter your cat from jumping up but you must be consistent so that your Ragdoll cat knows why they are being squirted.

As mentioned above it is quite possible to have a cat that is well behaved and knows his boundries if the above techniques are used consistantly.