Adjusting cat behavior

NinjaCakes · #1 December 21st, 2012, 07:31 PM

So, I'm a dog person. I always have been. Not that I don't like cats but I prefer my canine companions. Oddly, we now have two cats. It puzzles me at times how this happened! Regardless, I love the little jerks. I don't really know how to train a cat, though. I get that there's not much point to physical punishment, because that teaches them to fear the person rather than discouraging the behavior. Every cat I've ever known will do what they aren't supposed to if people aren't around.

Fortunately this doesn't apply to our biggest problem. Our older cat came to us only a year ago, so he's had his whole life to have his bad habits reinforced by unknowing owners. In particular, when he wants something (attention, food, water) he will walk in front of us. Then if we don't give him what he wants, he'll start biting our feet while walking in front of us to make his point more clear. Obviously this makes walking to the next room safely a problem if he's in a lovey dovey mood. Ignoring him doesn't seem to be making an impact, he simply becomes more and more persistent. And since I'm pregnant, I'm worried about tripping over him. Not only that but he occasionally gets kicked as we don't know he's there, and then I feel horrible and want to hold him (which reinforces this behavior).

I understand he doesn't know this is an issue - he's clearly been taught by someone that it's the most effective way to get what he wants. I'm simply seeking a way to correct this behavior. Any advice?

SpazTaz · #2 December 22nd, 2012, 03:18 PM

You can get a squirt bottle and squirt him with water. Or a can (like a soda can) and fill it with 4-5 pennies and shake it when he does it. You can walk slowly and nudge him away.

Orangebrittainy · #3 December 27th, 2012, 02:09 PM

I would recommend the spray bottle. For us it actually reduced the amount of time they spent on the banned surfaces (as evidenced to the lack of fur), but once you quit using it they return to the habit.