Pricey Critter Nook:I've a feisty younger tabby cat that desires to pounce and sort out me all day. It has began going after my ankles and it hurts! What can I do to cease this conduct?
Tough play is frequent in younger cats and a traditional conduct. Fortunately, it's a straightforward one to deal with. To handle a state of affairs the place your cat has latched onto your leg like a lion searching wrestling a small antelope, redirect your cat off your leg to an acceptable toy. If the depth is simply too extreme, inform your cat “uh-uh” and provides them a timeout in a small, plain room, behind a closed door, for a number of minutes. Allow them to settle down earlier than exiting the room after which repeat as wanted. Keep in mind that your cat is in play mode and never really attempting to assault you.
The foundation of the problem is your cat requesting extra bodily and psychological train. For the bodily half, I like to recommend having a variety of vertical areas in your cat to climb. Wand toys are a enjoyable means in your cat to interact with you at a secure distance. Ping pong balls and cardboard rolls filled with tissues and treats are easy however entertaining in your cat. Have your cat “hunt” for meals by hiding it all through your own home for them to search out. Cats have glorious olfactory receptors and revel in scent video games. For extra enjoyable engagement along with your cat, create a “shell sport” by poking holes within the backside of a number of paper cups after which hiding a deal with beneath one and having the cat discover it. You might initially must decrease the problem get them to interact.
For psychological train, contemplate clicker coaching your cat (Sure, you may prepare a cat!). That is best in case your cat is meals motivated. A easy starter command in your cat is the “contact command. For contact, maintain out both your hand palm aspect out or a wand barely in entrance of the cat’s nostril, when it touches you or the wand with its nostril, click on then deal with. Repeat and begin including the command if you end up assured the cat goes to do the conduct.
Daniel Levit is the Assistant for the Habits and Coaching Division on the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA. For extra info, go to www.PHS-SPCA.org, name 650-340-7022, ext. 416, or e-mail dlevit@phs-spca.org.