this post was submitted on 03 May 2025
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I've been told it's acceptable to flick a cat's ears (gently, obviously) because that's what a mama cat does to her kittens when they do something dumb. Any opinions on this?
I personally don't use violence as a punishment, but a gentle ear flick is fine because it's not causing pain and, as you say, it'll communicate "don't" in a way they get without being likely to make them afraid of you.
I opt for a "tsst" sound instead.
Mine are trained to understand that hissing = wrong, the kind you do when inhaling with your teeth clenched. Can recommend, you're very unlikely to make that sound by accident and afaik cats are great at picking up similar sounds (so it gets their attention better)
One of mine hisses all the time. She'll hiss and then slow blink. We say that she's swearing and has a potty mouth, because she grew up in the streets. If I hiss at her she doesn't flinch, so I have to physically move her from doing something I don't like.
Mine are also trained this way, although I do feel bad sometimes when two of them are quietly chilling on the couch while the third is climbing on my keyboard and when I hiss they all flinch and look at me
I spray mine with water if they do something really bad. Like bite someone.
I've tried, but they don't do wrong often enough for me to keep track of the bottle, so by the time I've found it, it would just be a punishment for some random thing and useless.
Very true. It pretty much only works when he bites me.
My brother’s cat just stands there and braces for the water spray, then goes right back to misbehaving
Wasn't a cat, but my friends pit pup started treating it like a game. Act up, I grab the bottle, she'd square up ready to try and dodge the spray.
Mine loves the spray bottle. Not the water, the actual spray head. He rubs his face against it and wants me to drag it down his back. Isn't really afraid of the water, just gets a little annoyed if I accidentally squeeze the trigger while rubbing his face.
I don't keep a spray bottle around but I do keep some canned air (electronics duster) on my desk and that pretty much accomplishes the same thing without making anyone damp
A loud PSHHT sound and some harmless wind is a good analogue for "No" and he seems to get it
If it's something serious I take them to the scene of the crime, pinch the neck folds (do not ever carry them by that btw) and speak in an angry voice. Works best with cats that have more than 2 braincells lol
edit: mine would ignore the ear flicks, it's not even an annoyance to them
But cats can't flick things.
Yeah, they more like swat at their ears. I've seen an adult cat do this to another when they did something they didn't like.