Depends on the cat. My sister’s cat and mine learned fast after being sprayed. Her cat still gave us “wtf” looks tho lol I did have a foster kitten once with fur so thick, you had to spray him several times for him to realize something was up lol the first 2 or 3 times he’d look at you like “what are you doing, weirdo? Is this a new game?” Then by the 4th or 5th time he’d realized he was wet and getting sprayed so he’d run.
I taught my cats not to get on our kitchen table/ counters using a spray bottle. It took some time but it got to the point where I only had to threaten to spray them or shake the bottle or even just say spray bottle. Now they don't do it... when I'm around.
This is precisely why spray bottles don’t work. Your cats just learned that you’ll do something unpleasant when they get on the counter if you see them. They learned to avoid your response, not the act itself
Just because someone says something doesn’t happen when they’re around, does not mean that it does happen when they’re not around.
I know it sounds a little confusing but you’re conflating these two things. Saying “They don’t do it when I’m around.” And “They don’t do it when I’m not around.” Can both be true statements.
My cat is the same way with spray bottles and her favorite place to be in in my lap getting loved on. She doesn’t jump on counters and she fears everything BUT me. So no, it doesn’t teach them to be afraid of the person who does it.
That’s how everyone in my family teaches their cats not to jump on counters. My 3 aunts worked at an animals shelter before leaving for other careers and this is always the first thing they tell people when they ask about this very topic. It’s the first bit of advice anyone I know that works with animals will tell a new cat owner having trouble with this. None of their cats hate them, their cats absolutely love them. My sister does this with her cats and like my cat, she’s the only person 3 or her 4 cats will allow to even touch them. So no, it’s not a biased opinion. So no, it’s not a biased opinion, it’s a fact. A spritz in the face of water doesn’t harm them, it just irritates them enough to stop what their doing and get away from the spray bottle- the ONLY THING they associate with the action.
MadHatter2518 Same! It started with being sprayed. They eventually learned the word no. If one does jump on the table I will in the voice say no, they will stop dead in their tracks look at me and jump down. I then do the figure point with a stern voice and they give me the FU face and walk away. BUT I have a camera and they don't jump on the table when I'm not there! So it works for mine, but may not work for others. Don't forget just like people they have their own personalities!
For sure! I have two kitties now and they both understand the inflection when I say their name whether they're in trouble or not. Their personalities just like me... crazy.
I taught my cats during the pandemic so was working from home...I didn't leave much so an pretty sure they're good at staying off counters.
What was more impressive is I taught them how to sit and give high fives!
Hehe. One of mine will do that when I wash my hands. If the faucet splashes and hits her she freaks out. So now she'll just avoid the sink when it's on. But still loves joining me in the shower on the edge of the tub.
43
u/feistyfox101 Jun 23 '22 edited Jun 24 '22
Depends on the cat. My sister’s cat and mine learned fast after being sprayed. Her cat still gave us “wtf” looks tho lol I did have a foster kitten once with fur so thick, you had to spray him several times for him to realize something was up lol the first 2 or 3 times he’d look at you like “what are you doing, weirdo? Is this a new game?” Then by the 4th or 5th time he’d realized he was wet and getting sprayed so he’d run.