cat territorial behavior?

[Anonymous]

Our cat will bite and scratch if she is someplace we don't want her and try to gently move her or persuade her. The vet verified that she's not sick or in pain, but doesn't know what to offer us behaviorally. She's just ... territorial? Mean? I don't know.

Any suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Try luring away with a toy or a treat. If that fails, squirt bottle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try luring away with a toy or a treat. If that fails, squirt bottle.

Do you think that the toy or treat would be rewarding the undesirable behavior?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try luring away with a toy or a treat. If that fails, squirt bottle.

Do you think that the toy or treat would be rewarding the undesirable behavior?

Who cares, as long as the cat moves? It’s not a reward, it’s a distraction and/or bribe.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP! Can you elaborate? What are the sorts of places you'd prefer your cat not be? Is there a reason she wants to be those places? I'm wondering if you'd want to try to get her to avoid those places to begin with by offering more interesting alternatives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP! Can you elaborate? What are the sorts of places you'd prefer your cat not be? Is there a reason she wants to be those places? I'm wondering if you'd want to try to get her to avoid those places to begin with by offering more interesting alternatives.

Hi, thanks!

Let’s see... her favorites are:
- kitchen counter
- my office chair
- my keyboard (so, no spraying water!)
- dining table

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP! Can you elaborate? What are the sorts of places you'd prefer your cat not be? Is there a reason she wants to be those places? I'm wondering if you'd want to try to get her to avoid those places to begin with by offering more interesting alternatives.

Hi, thanks!

Let’s see... her favorites are:
- kitchen counter
- my office chair
- my keyboard (so, no spraying water!)
- dining table

OK, this is really good info. It sounds like your cat likes heights and likes to be part of the action when you're working or cooking/eating. For each of these places, you'll want to make the appealing places not so appealing and then put a "yes" next to a "no." In other words, make a desirable spot just for her nearby that is way better than the place you don't want her to be. To make your dining table and counter less appealing, get cat tape (basically really thick double stick tape) and put it over as much of the table and the counter as you can stand. It will be a pain for two weeks because you'll have tape on your counters, but after that time, I would be surprised if your cat wanted anything to do with your counters or table. In the mean time, put a cat tree or a cat shelf near those two places that she can easily get to. Think like a cat - she wants height, something nice to scratch, where she can watch everything that's going on. Bonus points for a place that gets a lot of sun and more bonus points for a place next to a window. Show her where these places are by using a wand toy to lure her up to the shelf or tree. If she doesn't seem interested in the tree, try moving it somewhere else.

The keyboard and office chair are a bit tougher. It seems like she likes the warmth and comfort of them, so perhaps try a heated cat bed nearby where she can watch you while you work? Heated cat beds don't get very hot for safety's sake, but they can get just warm enough to be alluring.

She doesn't want to be moved just because she's happy where she is. So making her happier somewhere else would be the strategy that would make both of you happiest.

Usually negative reenforcement like spray bottles unfortunately just lead to your cat resenting you for spraying them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP! Can you elaborate? What are the sorts of places you'd prefer your cat not be? Is there a reason she wants to be those places? I'm wondering if you'd want to try to get her to avoid those places to begin with by offering more interesting alternatives.

Hi, thanks!

Let’s see... her favorites are:
- kitchen counter
- my office chair
- my keyboard (so, no spraying water!)
- dining table

OK, this is really good info. It sounds like your cat likes heights and likes to be part of the action when you're working or cooking/eating. For each of these places, you'll want to make the appealing places not so appealing and then put a "yes" next to a "no." In other words, make a desirable spot just for her nearby that is way better than the place you don't want her to be. To make your dining table and counter less appealing, get cat tape (basically really thick double stick tape) and put it over as much of the table and the counter as you can stand. It will be a pain for two weeks because you'll have tape on your counters, but after that time, I would be surprised if your cat wanted anything to do with your counters or table. In the mean time, put a cat tree or a cat shelf near those two places that she can easily get to. Think like a cat - she wants height, something nice to scratch, where she can watch everything that's going on. Bonus points for a place that gets a lot of sun and more bonus points for a place next to a window. Show her where these places are by using a wand toy to lure her up to the shelf or tree. If she doesn't seem interested in the tree, try moving it somewhere else.

The keyboard and office chair are a bit tougher. It seems like she likes the warmth and comfort of them, so perhaps try a heated cat bed nearby where she can watch you while you work? Heated cat beds don't get very hot for safety's sake, but they can get just warm enough to be alluring.

She doesn't want to be moved just because she's happy where she is. So making her happier somewhere else would be the strategy that would make both of you happiest.

Usually negative reenforcement like spray bottles unfortunately just lead to your cat resenting you for spraying them.

First, these are all classic “cat places,” and you really need to be more broad minded about living with a cat.

Second, the foregoing are good ideas.

Third, the squirt bottle like a bolt from the blue is more effective than letting the cat see it; that way they associate it with the place rather than you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP! Can you elaborate? What are the sorts of places you'd prefer your cat not be? Is there a reason she wants to be those places? I'm wondering if you'd want to try to get her to avoid those places to begin with by offering more interesting alternatives.

Hi, thanks!

Let’s see... her favorites are:
- kitchen counter
- my office chair
- my keyboard (so, no spraying water!)
- dining table

OK, this is really good info. It sounds like your cat likes heights and likes to be part of the action when you're working or cooking/eating. For each of these places, you'll want to make the appealing places not so appealing and then put a "yes" next to a "no." In other words, make a desirable spot just for her nearby that is way better than the place you don't want her to be. To make your dining table and counter less appealing, get cat tape (basically really thick double stick tape) and put it over as much of the table and the counter as you can stand. It will be a pain for two weeks because you'll have tape on your counters, but after that time, I would be surprised if your cat wanted anything to do with your counters or table. In the mean time, put a cat tree or a cat shelf near those two places that she can easily get to. Think like a cat - she wants height, something nice to scratch, where she can watch everything that's going on. Bonus points for a place that gets a lot of sun and more bonus points for a place next to a window. Show her where these places are by using a wand toy to lure her up to the shelf or tree. If she doesn't seem interested in the tree, try moving it somewhere else.

The keyboard and office chair are a bit tougher. It seems like she likes the warmth and comfort of them, so perhaps try a heated cat bed nearby where she can watch you while you work? Heated cat beds don't get very hot for safety's sake, but they can get just warm enough to be alluring.

She doesn't want to be moved just because she's happy where she is. So making her happier somewhere else would be the strategy that would make both of you happiest.

Usually negative reenforcement like spray bottles unfortunately just lead to your cat resenting you for spraying them.

Thank you for this!

I created an alternate “yes” place for her today in our dining room and after luring her over, bombarded her with her favorite stinky treats. And, she didn’t even hiss. Score one for me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP! Can you elaborate? What are the sorts of places you'd prefer your cat not be? Is there a reason she wants to be those places? I'm wondering if you'd want to try to get her to avoid those places to begin with by offering more interesting alternatives.

Hi, thanks!

Let’s see... her favorites are:
- kitchen counter
- my office chair
- my keyboard (so, no spraying water!)
- dining table

OK, this is really good info. It sounds like your cat likes heights and likes to be part of the action when you're working or cooking/eating. For each of these places, you'll want to make the appealing places not so appealing and then put a "yes" next to a "no." In other words, make a desirable spot just for her nearby that is way better than the place you don't want her to be. To make your dining table and counter less appealing, get cat tape (basically really thick double stick tape) and put it over as much of the table and the counter as you can stand. It will be a pain for two weeks because you'll have tape on your counters, but after that time, I would be surprised if your cat wanted anything to do with your counters or table. In the mean time, put a cat tree or a cat shelf near those two places that she can easily get to. Think like a cat - she wants height, something nice to scratch, where she can watch everything that's going on. Bonus points for a place that gets a lot of sun and more bonus points for a place next to a window. Show her where these places are by using a wand toy to lure her up to the shelf or tree. If she doesn't seem interested in the tree, try moving it somewhere else.

The keyboard and office chair are a bit tougher. It seems like she likes the warmth and comfort of them, so perhaps try a heated cat bed nearby where she can watch you while you work? Heated cat beds don't get very hot for safety's sake, but they can get just warm enough to be alluring.

She doesn't want to be moved just because she's happy where she is. So making her happier somewhere else would be the strategy that would make both of you happiest.

Usually negative reenforcement like spray bottles unfortunately just lead to your cat resenting you for spraying them.

Thank you for this!

I created an alternate “yes” place for her today in our dining room and after luring her over, bombarded her with her favorite stinky treats. And, she didn’t even hiss. Score one for me

PP here - I'm so happy you're both already making progress!