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Ragdoll Cat Behavior Problems |
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Ragdoll Cat Behavior Problems
Ragdoll Cat Behaviour Problems Is Cat Discipline Possible? There are
some common beliefs about training cats which are totaly untrue. 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 give it a try and don’t give up.
Cats are animals not humans It is essential to remember that cats are
not humans they work using their own logic and instincts. Your Ragdoll
cat expects you to think the same way he does and will treat you
accordingly. Violence is a poor motivator 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 thing this will do is make them
afraid of you. Hitting your Ragdoll cat is a very bad form of
punishment for bad behaviour, below are kinder ways to discipline your
Ragdoll cat: The ‘Face Push’ Method For times when you are near your
cat when behaving badly ‘The Face Push’ method 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 used
consistently will re-enforce the message that a particular behaviour is
wrong. The Squirt Gun When your ragdoll cat is further away and needs
to be disciplined 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. Avoid over use
of this technique 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. Aggressive behavior Aggression problems in cats is not as
common as it is for dogs but for many reasons cats can develop an
aggression problem and it is important to address this as early as
possible to avoid impacting the problem with wrong treatment from you
the owner. There are different types of aggression in cats 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 avoid
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 your
cat could be in pain. 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 persists you should consult your veterinary surgeon to get a
diagnosis if there is a medical problem, which needs treatment. Keeping
your cat off the table This is a common problem with cats if you don't
teach them not to. 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 not that difficult to have a cat that is obedient
and knows his boundries if the above methods are used consistantly.
Tags: Cat Training and Behavior Cat Behavior Ragdoll Cat Behavior Problems training cats Ragdoll cat |
