Is Your Cat Annoying?
It your cat annoying? It happens a lot. Your cat sits on your paperwork or laptop keyboard, scratches and kneads, maybe even bites. Or maybe she meows loudly while looking directly at you, or jumps on your lap as soon as you sit down. Your cat might even look directly at you and then use her teeth to tear the pages of a book you’ve been reading or those papers she is sitting on.
Why would your cat do this?
You might think your cat is demanding, but cats just have a different way of communicating than people do. It would look weird if humans did those same things, wouldn’t it?
If we don’t expect humans to act like cats, why would we expect cats to act like humans?
So now that we realize it’s different, is it really demanding? Or is it just your cat’s normal way of getting some affection and attention from you that maybe they don’t get as often as they should?
Once you understand the reason, you have some options.
If the reason is that your cat does need more attention from you, give your cat more regularly scheduled attention. Spend some time with him each day:
- Petting
- Brushing
- Playing
- Giving a treat
- Cuddling
- Talking
Or bring them to Morris Animal Inn for some pampered pet sessions! If, however, you are bothered by this behavior and want to try to stop it, you are better off choosing to reinforce those positive behaviors you recognize in your cat rather than punishing the negative behaviors.
You can read more in-depth about classical conditioning here, and with some dedication and practice, you can help improve your cat’s behavior, and, ultimately, your relationship.
Are you a pet parent in the Morristown, Warren or Montville, NJ area? To find out more about Morris Animal Inn’s award-winning boarding, grooming, training, and daycare services, give us a call.