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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / March 2005Do cats really know "no?"
I'm wondering if you can really teach a cat "no." I mean by "no" that they have to stop what they're doing, shut up and sit down. Kami responds to "no" as in "oh, okay, I don't really have to chew the power cord," or "all right, it's not that important to me to drink out of the shower faucet." But I was eating ice cream and "no" had zero effect. It meant absoluely nothing to her, as she insisted on putting her face in my snack and trying to get some for herself.  SignatureBrandy??Alexandre? http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx Well, would you? > I'm wondering if you can really teach a cat "no." I mean by "no" that > they have to stop what they're doing, shut up and sit down. Kami [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > It meant absoluely nothing to her, as she insisted on putting her face > in my snack and trying to get some for herself. Otto has no concept of the word "no". He likes to jump on Tiger (bite her neck, try to mount her even though they're both 'fixed') and poor Tiger, who will be 15 next month, really dislikes this. Yelling at him doesn't do a thing. Even when I get up and go over to where he has Tiger pinned down, he completely blocks me out. When he wants to do something he seemingly becomes deaf. Harriet, one of the cats at work, does seem to understand "no" and it's not a word she likes to hear. If she decides that it's time to bite me and I tell her "no", it just pisses her off and she decides to bite harder. She also gets a really mean look on her face, narrow eyes and all. If I just take my hand away without saying anything her reaction is much less severe. Harriet believes she is the only cat in the universe (despite living with Stinky right there) and feels that she should be entitled to do and have everything she wants. Stinky, my little angel, never needs to be told "no". With Tiger, it's hit or miss. -- Liz Elizabeth Blake <poodlebone@NOSPAMearthlink.net> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: > "Brandy Alexandre" <brandyalx@kittylittercomcast.net> wrote in > message [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > -- > Liz What you describe for Harriet is what led to Kami's declawing, because it was similar except with claws, instead of teeth, and I have deep permanent scarring to prove it. She could either be a declawed cat or a shelter cat, it got that bad. Taking one's hand (or whatever) away was hit or miss on whether she would launch and bigger attack. Anyway, glad to hear that I don't have the only cat with selective hearing or hearing "no" loss. LOL! SignatureBrandy??Alexandre? http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx Well, would you? > Elizabeth Blake <poodlebone@NOSPAMearthlink.net> wrote in > rec.pets.cats.health+behav: [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > Anyway, glad to hear that I don't have the only cat with selective > hearing or hearing "no" loss. LOL! Harriet is actually declawed. I got her & Stinky from a shelter at the same time (for work - bookstore). Harriet was 1 1/2 years and Stinky was 3 months old when we got them. Stinky was the only kitten in the shelter (it was the middle of winter) and Harriet was in the cage right above her. Harriet looked so scared and pathetic, plus she was beautiful so she was chosen. They did NOT tell me that she was declawed, and I didn't even realize it for several weeks. She was very timid when I brought her to the store and she spent a lot of time hiding from Stinky. When she finally started coming out, I realized she was declawed. Once she got more comfortable in her new home, she started biting. We've all wondered if her original owners declawed her because she scratched, or of she started biting after she was declawed. We all pretty much figured the biting happened after she was mutilated, and then her original owner(s) decided to dump her. She hadn't even been spayed. Harriet's biting can be tolerated. Unless a cat is absolutely truly psychotic, I wouldn't consider declawing it. Harriet has also calmed down a lot in the past couple of years. She's been in the store for 6 years now and I guess she feels that she's here for good. I used to get bitten every day, now it happens maybe once a month and she rarely bites deep enough to leave any marks. -- Liz Elizabeth Blake <poodlebone@NOSPAMearthlink.net> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: > Unless a > cat is absolutely truly psychotic, I wouldn't consider declawing it. Kami is psychotic. Not so much anymore, but at the time you never knew what you would get day by day, or sometimes hour by hour. If she woke up from a bad dream she might even attack simply because you're nearby. Like I said, it was the claws or the shelter. She's just too hair- trigger and dominant. Never had a cat like her. However, I met an adoptee before I left for SoCal who apparently is quite the tasmanian devil. The woman said she's honest about it because she wants to make sure she goes to the right home. I wrote about it here before--Cajun, the tortie. Unfortunately, I doubt I could blend her in with Kami. I'd have to find a submissive, and frankly that would be boring. SignatureBrandy??Alexandre? http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx Well, would you? > Elizabeth Blake <poodlebone@NOSPAMearthlink.net> wrote in > rec.pets.cats.health+behav: [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > the tortie. Unfortunately, I doubt I could blend her in with Kami. > I'd have to find a submissive, and frankly that would be boring. A friend of mine who is a counselor had an unpredictable tortie (now R.B.) that she described as having "borderline personality disorder". David > > Elizabeth Blake <poodlebone@NOSPAMearthlink.net> wrote in > > rec.pets.cats.health+behav: [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > A friend of mine who is a counselor had an unpredictable tortie (now R.B.) > that she described as having "borderline personality disorder". Yeah, other people call that "being a cat." > > I'm wondering if you can really teach a cat "no." I mean by "no" that > > they have to stop what they're doing, shut up and sit down. Kami [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > It meant absoluely nothing to her, as she insisted on putting her face > > in my snack and trying to get some for herself. Saying "No" to a cat starts a special circuit in the cat's brain which sorta goes 1. Hoomin says "no" 2. Cat considers options 3 Is thing cat is doing so enjoyable that its worth doing until they come over and stop cat from doing it?- If Yes keep doing until hoomin comes over and stops you 4. Is thing cat is doing not so enjoyable as to be worth the hassle- If Yes stop doing it and see if you can make them reward you for being "good" Lesley Slave of the Fabulous Furballs My cat understands "no" but most of the time chooses to ignore it, he just likes being naughty. Yet, he never ignores the word "chicken". <chrisoakey@msn.com> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: > My cat understands "no" but most of the time chooses to ignore it, he > just likes being naughty. Yet, he never ignores the word "chicken". Yeah, Kami has "hungry?" "chicken" and "brush" down cold, and we're working on "milk" for her Cat-Sip treat. "No' for some reason escapes her. SignatureBrandy??Alexandre? http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx Well, would you? in article 1110777040.1d4cbb305024ea00cc891efe530df082@teranews, Brandy Alexandre at brandyalx@kittylittercomcast.net wrote on 3/13/05 11:10 PM: > I'm wondering if you can really teach a cat "no." I mean by "no" that > they have to stop what they're doing, shut up and sit down. Kami [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > It meant absoluely nothing to her, as she insisted on putting her face > in my snack and trying to get some for herself. Well, there is your answer. When it comes to some things, no is just not enough. In general it works for me. Though when I use it on Pearl (usually to stop bothering Sugar) she cowers as though I hit her. I have NEVER hit her. Makes me a bit annoyed. Karen <kchuplis@alltel.net> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: > in article 1110777040.1d4cbb305024ea00cc891efe530df082@teranews, > Brandy?Alexandre at brandyalx@kittylittercomcast.net wrote on [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > on Pearl (usually to stop bothering Sugar) she cowers as though I > hit her. I have NEVER hit her. Makes me a bit annoyed. Boy, I know that one. Kami will sometimes reacted as though she's been battered all her life. Makes me feel really annoyed and guilty, and eventualy allows her to get her way. I *hate* that cowering thing! SignatureBrandy??Alexandre? http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx Well, would you? Brandy Alexandre wrote: > Karen <kchuplis@alltel.net> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: > [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > Boy, I know that one. Kami will sometimes reacted as though she's been > battered all her life. If she reacts that way, perhaps she feels that way. She probably remembers it was you who dragged her off for the declawing. > Makes me feel really annoyed and guilty, and > eventualy allows her to get her way. I *hate* that cowering thing! "Brandy Alexandre" wrote: > I'm wondering if you can really teach a cat "no." I mean by "no" that > they have to stop what they're doing, shut up and sit down. Kami [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > It meant absoluely nothing to her, as she insisted on putting her face > in my snack and trying to get some for herself. Bijou knows "no". When he wishes to, that is. If anything, he knows it doesn't mean "yes". > "Brandy Alexandre" wrote: > > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Bijou knows "no". When he wishes to, that is. If anything, he knows it > doesn't mean "yes". Heh. Mine respond to :no: but I do think the tone of voice is what they know. On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 05:10:40 GMT, "Brandy Alexandre" <brandyalx@kittylittercomcast.net> wrote: >I'm wondering if you can really teach a cat "no." I mean by "no" that >they have to stop what they're doing, shut up and sit down. Kami [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >It meant absoluely nothing to her, as she insisted on putting her face >in my snack and trying to get some for herself. They know the word and what it means, they just don't obey. > I'm wondering if you can really teach a cat "no." I mean by "no" that > they have to stop what they're doing, shut up and sit down. Kami [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > -- With my cat its like a child learning the word for the first time, over and over and over. She stops, hestitates, looks at me, then continues. > But I was eating ice cream and "no" had zero effect. > It meant absoluely nothing to her, as she insisted on putting her face > in my snack and trying to get some for herself. As my dog Madison the Velcro Pooch and my cat Rowan The Spoiled Princess can attest to, there is a world of difference between understanding what "no" means and deciding to actually comply with your request to stop bothering things. Take "get down" as an example... Me: "Rowan. Get down off that shelf." Looks at me...'are you sure you want me to get down?' Meows. Me: "Get DOWN. Now!" Rowan moves to get down, but doesn't quite. Gives me the "are you REALLY sure?" look. Meows again. Me: "GET DOWN NOW." Clap hands and move to get up. Insert optional expletive. Rowan jumps off the shelf and runs to me and purrs. "Aren't I cuuuuute?" Me: sighs. Pets the damn cat. Rinse, repeat, wipe hands on pants. *heh* Signature-- ~kaeli~ Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end. http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace kaeli <tiny_one@NOSPAM.comcast.net> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: >> But I was eating ice cream and "no" had zero effect. >> It meant absoluely nothing to her, as she insisted on putting her [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > *heh* Hehehe! I know that one. They don't stop unless you actually make a move like you might stop them. LOL SignatureBrandy??Alexandre? http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx Well, would you? Sure, they can know what "no" means. They just choose to ignore it. Me: no! Sushi (the cat): dum dee dum I can't hear you Me: no! Zoot (the dog): OH MY GOD I'M SO SORRY I'LL NEVER DO IT AGAIN PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE FORGIVE ME!! Irene Brandy Alexandre wrote: > I'm wondering if you can really teach a cat "no." I mean by "no" that > they have to stop what they're doing, shut up and sit down. Kami [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > It meant absoluely nothing to her, as she insisted on putting her face > in my snack and trying to get some for herself. Suddenly, without warning, Brandy Alexandre exclaimed (3/14/2005 5:10 AM): > I'm wondering if you can really teach a cat "no." I mean by "no" that > they have to stop what they're doing, shut up and sit down. Kami [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > It meant absoluely nothing to her, as she insisted on putting her face > in my snack and trying to get some for herself. Yes! Meep knows NO (and "no") very well. I've taught her to "ask" before jumping on my lap - If I say no, in a level, even tone, she'll just walk away. Ok, sometimes she'll continue to ask (which means she'll continue to stare at me) and I'll have to say no in a more firm voice, before she'll leave in a huff and pout. To train a cat, you have to be VERY consistent. They'll remember if no sometimes means maybe, and take advantage of that, they're generally very clever animals. If you say no, enforce that no, gently but firmly, even if you didn't really mean it. You can change your mind in a few minutes (Meep also knows "you can come up" which means she's allowed on my lap). I'll also use hissing and growling as negative reinforcement as well, if I use either she KNOWS I mean business, and immediately desists. One of the rules Meep lives by is she's not allowed to touch my food. I'm alpha, it's my food, and normally she doesn't even try. If she does, I'll just growl low, and she'll back right off. jmc jmc <NOnewsgroupsSPAM@NOjodiBODY.HOMEus> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: > To train a cat, you have to be VERY consistent. They'll remember > if no sometimes means maybe, and take advantage of that, they're > generally very clever animals. If you say no, enforce that no, > gently but firmly, even if you didn't really mean it. You can > change your mind in a few minutes (Meep also knows "you can come > up" which means she's allowed on my lap). I often do that. "Just a minute" isn't something you can tell a cat, so I give a no, and when she stops asking, then I'll extend an invitation. Like when she wants CatSip and is being a pest about it. I'll give her a firm no and be dismissive, like turn my back on her. AFTER she's stopped being pesty, I'll say, "Hey, want some milk?" > I'll also use hissing and growling as negative reinforcement as > well, if I use either she KNOWS I mean business, and immediately > desists. I've used the cease and desist hiss a time or two. It means I am absolutely serious, no kidding around, you're going to be in really big trouble otherwise. > One of the rules Meep lives by is she's not allowed to touch my > food. I'm alpha, it's my food, and normally she doesn't even try. > If she does, I'll just growl low, and she'll back right off. Sadly, Kami is alpha. I've always tried, but we're pitting a Cancer human against an Aries cat. I have size and opposable thumbs over her, but I still don't always win. SignatureBrandy??Alexandre? http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx Well, would you? Brandy Alexandre wrote: > jmc <NOnewsgroupsSPAM@NOjodiBODY.HOMEus> wrote in > rec.pets.cats.health+behav: [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > her. AFTER she's stopped being pesty, I'll say, "Hey, want some > milk?" Aw, such a tease. >>I'll also use hissing and growling as negative reinforcement as >>well, if I use either she KNOWS I mean business, and immediately [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > human against an Aries cat. I have size and opposable thumbs over > her, but I still don't always win. > Yes! Meep knows NO (and "no") very well. I've taught her to "ask" > before jumping on my lap - If I say no, in a level, even tone, she'll > just walk away. Ok, sometimes she'll continue to ask (which means > she'll continue to stare at me) and I'll have to say no in a more firm > voice, before she'll leave in a huff and pout. Tiger doesn't understand that. She asks to get on my lap by clawing my a.s )when I'm sitting at my desk). No matter how many times I remove her claws and tell her she has to wait until I'm finished, I get hooked again. > To train a cat, you have to be VERY consistent. They'll remember if no > sometimes means maybe, and take advantage of that, they're generally > very clever animals. If you say no, enforce that no, gently but firmly, > even if you didn't really mean it. You can change your mind in a few > minutes (Meep also knows "you can come up" which means she's allowed on > my lap). While I haven't been able to teach Otto "no", I was able to teach him "sit". I was amazed at how quickly he learned that. Unfortunately, it only works when I have treats. In the past, as soon as he saw a treat he would be standing up, sinking his claws into my legs. I started pushing his butt down, saying "sit" and when he was still he'd get the treat. Now he almost always sits after just saying it once (as long a treat is in my hand). > I'll also use hissing and growling as negative reinforcement as well, if > I use either she KNOWS I mean business, and immediately desists. > > One of the rules Meep lives by is she's not allowed to touch my food. > I'm alpha, it's my food, and normally she doesn't even try. If she > does, I'll just growl low, and she'll back right off. Otto also doesn't understand that my food is MY food. The only way to make sure he doesn't touch my dinner is to lock him in the bedroom. I usually don't, and have to constantly push him away. Maybe I'll try the hissing & growling. -- Liz >While I haven't been able to teach Otto "no", I was able to teach him "sit". >I was amazed at how quickly he learned that. Unfortunately, it only works >when I have treats. In the past, as soon as he saw a treat he would be >standing up, sinking his claws into my legs. I started pushing his butt >down, saying "sit" and when he was still he'd get the treat. Now he almost >always sits after just saying it once (as long a treat is in my hand). I suspect most cats know the words, they just don't care unless there is something in it for them. > Tiger doesn't understand that. She asks to get on my lap by clawing my > a.s )when I'm sitting at my desk). No matter how many times I remove her > claws and tell her she has to wait until I'm finished, I get hooked again. *ROFL* Rowan asks to get on my lap ONLY when I am at the computer. And if I say 'no', she will jump on the keyboard. If I put her down, she will scale the back of the chair (it's a fabric office chair, not wood) and try to lay down on the edge of the back of the chair, leaning against my neck. It's actually pretty cute, so I don't make her leave, even though my chair suffers from it. It's just a chair. And she's just being so damn sweet when she does that. *heh* Signature-- ~kaeli~ Dancing cheek-to-cheek is really a form of floor play. http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace > Rowan asks to get on my lap ONLY when I am at the computer. And if I say > 'no', she will jump on the keyboard. If I put her down, she will scale the [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > It's just a chair. And she's just being so damn sweet when she does that. > *heh* Both of my guys will do that, too "lay down on the edge of the back of the chair". I don't remember them "scaling" the back of the chair tho'. They either jump up (I'm pretty sure Screech has made it) or sneak up between my butt and the chairback (the only way I can see Gizmo making it). Both get jealous if I'm spending too much time at the keyboard. Screech will settle for lying half on my thigh. Gizmo will stare at me and meow until I pet him or talk to him. So I either don't do computer stuff or I don't hear whatever it is on tv in the background. Either way, he wins. Brandy Alexandre wrote: > I'm wondering if you can really teach a cat "no." I mean by "no" that > they have to stop what they're doing, shut up and sit down. Kami [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > zero effect. It meant absoluely nothing to her, as she insisted on > putting her face in my snack and trying to get some for herself. I don't know about teaching them, but when I scold my cat, she will actually stop doing whatever she's doing. In the past, she was not allowed in the basement. When I couldn't find her, I would stand at the top of the stairs and shout down, "Kitty! You'd better not be down there!" and she would run up the stairs and hide somewhere. When she uses the corner of my bed as a scratching post, I tell her to stop and she does. Then she sits down and stares at me, as though to say, "What's the big deal?" FWIW, she was a Humane Society cat, but not a surrender. She had been a stray during one of the coldest winters in Winnipeg's history (and we have freakin' cold winters) and has the frost-bitten ears to prove it. I don't know what her previous owners did to her to make her so obedient, but she's now the sweetest little kitty in the world (even though she still doesn't like to cuddle). rona Signature***For e-mail, replace .com with .ca Sorry for the inconvenience!*** "[America] is filled with people who decided not to live in Europe. We had people who really wanted to live in Europe, but didn't have the energy to go back. We call them Canadians." ---Grover Norquist in Newsweek, November 22, 2004 On 2005-03-14, Brandy Alexandre penned: > I'm wondering if you can really teach a cat "no." I mean by "no" that they > have to stop what they're doing, shut up and sit down. Kami responds to [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > nothing to her, as she insisted on putting her face in my snack and trying > to get some for herself. Oscar instantly stops if I tell her "No!" or otherwise inform her she's doing something wrong. She may start it up again shortly thereafter, but she always responds. If DH tells her "No!", on the other hand, she completely ignores him. He has to physically remove her from whatever she's doing. I think it has a lot to do with whether you've been consistent. I've had Oscar longer than I've known DH, and he generally leaves any discipline to me, so she doesn't have any reason to take him seriously. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca When they want to. It's all about selective hearing and responding. They won't be doing anything they don't want to and they won't be prevented from doing what they want either. If one of the cats is doing something she shouldn't, I gave up on no and just diverted their attention to another toy or a treat. Signature.oO rach Oo. > I'm wondering if you can really teach a cat "no." I mean by "no" that > they have to stop what they're doing, shut up and sit down. Kami [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > It meant absoluely nothing to her, as she insisted on putting her face > in my snack and trying to get some for herself. I gave up on no and just diverted their attention to another toy > or a treat. That works every time. Redunzel and Sarrasine have a thing about climbing onto the curtain rail which is simply not going to stay up much longer if it keeps bending under the weight of two kitties. Not to mention they frequently try to tear the threads off the hooks or in Redunzel's case slip and have to hang onto the curtains. Solution... Open cigarette packet....Remove the foil inside....ball up...throw.... They are down off the curtains and standing there eager for a game as soon as you pick up the packet. Dave moans about how it might encourage them to go up on the curtains to get the foil. I just tell him I am glad that we have cats who are so easy and cheap to entertain! Lesley Slave of the Fabulous Furballs Lesley Madigan <LMadigan@hhnt.nhs.uk> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: > or in > Redunzel's case slip and have to hang onto the curtains. Velcro Kitty! That was one of Kami's favorite self amusements. She wouldn't do it by falling, just a running leap at the sliding glass door to see where she would stick. I'd know she was playing it when I heard the thud. Maybe that's why she's warped--brain damage from hitting the glass. Luckily she grew out of it, and it was time for the apartment to change the drapes anyway... SignatureBrandy??Alexandre? http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx Well, would you? > Lesley Madigan <LMadigan@hhnt.nhs.uk> wrote in > rec.pets.cats.health+behav: [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > hitting the glass. Luckily she grew out of it, and it was time for the > apartment to change the drapes anyway... How did she do this with no front claws? Mary <marys@catlovernospam.com> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: > "Brandy Alexandre" <brandyalx@kittylittercomcast.net> wrote in > message [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > How did she do this with no front claws? She had her claws for 6 years. Besides, this was kitten activity. She got to be too heavy for it. SignatureBrandy??Alexandre? http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx Well, would you? > Mary <marys@catlovernospam.com> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: > [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > She had her claws for 6 years. Besides, this was kitten activity. She > got to be too heavy for it. I'm sure you know that you were unbelievably cruel to declaw a 6-year-old cat--or a cat of any age. Still, I have to point it out. Mary <marys@catlovernospam.com> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: > I'm sure you know that you were unbelievably cruel > to declaw a 6-year-old cat--or a cat of any age. > Still, I have to point it out. Blah, blah, blah. We've been over this here a bazillion times. Go to google and leave it alone. SignatureBrandy??Alexandre? http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx Well, would you? Brandy Alexandre wrote: > Mary <marys@catlovernospam.com> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Blah, blah, blah. We've been over this here a bazillion times. Go to > google and leave it alone. You don't seem to be taking your cat's perspective on this issue. She had those claws for 6 years and grew accustomed to having them. She used them instinctively. Then one day she woke up with very sore paws and no more claws. Life changed forever after that. Nothing worked the same. She was upset, and very likely still is. You had her declawed for purely selfish reasons. Not the actions of a true animal lover. You want an ornament. > I'm wondering if you can really teach a cat "no." I mean by "no" that > they have to stop what they're doing, shut up and sit down. Kami [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > It meant absoluely nothing to her, as she insisted on putting her face > in my snack and trying to get some for herself. Personally, I think they know "No", but choose to heed it only if they feel like it. ;-) Cathy -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- From: "Brandy?Alexandre" <brandyalx@kittylittercomcast.net> >I'm wondering if you can really teach a cat "no." Every cat we've even lived with has eventually learned that "NO" means "Not while I'm watching". > I'm wondering if you can really teach a cat "no." I mean by "no" that > they have to stop what they're doing, shut up and sit down. Kami [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > It meant absoluely nothing to her, as she insisted on putting her face > in my snack and trying to get some for herself. Rebecca understands "no" and usually does what I want. Sundance also understands, but it makes him speed up to finish what he's doing before I can get to him and make him stop! Sandy > I'm wondering if you can really teach a cat "no." I mean by "no" that > they have to stop what they're doing, shut up and sit down. Kami [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > -- Chloe seems to understand "no" perfectly well. When I use it firmly and moderately loudly she simply stops rolls over tummy up, paws crossed as if saying "sorry, Dad." I usually give her a stroke in acceptance to which she never objects. Icedog. What my cat has learned (and it makes perfect sense to him) is that when a person is a coming, it's time to jump off the kitchen table. If no one is around, I think he jumps up there guilt free. icedog <deadnokennel@tesco.net> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: > "Brandy Alexandre" <brandyalx@kittylittercomcast.net> wrote in > message [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > Icedog. Yeah, I get that, "Oops, ya caught me. But aren't I cute?" roll over sometimes. SignatureBrandy??Alexandre? http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx Well, would you? > Chloe seems to understand "no" perfectly well. When I use it firmly and > moderately loudly she simply stops rolls over tummy up, paws crossed as if > saying "sorry, Dad." I usually give her a stroke in acceptance to which she > never objects. This morning, Oscar was pawing at the strings that control the blinds while I tried to get a few more winks of sleep. I said, "Oscar, no" in a stern but quiet voice and she stopped and looked at me. I made a "down" gesture with my hands, saying nothing, and she hopped down from the ledge in the bathroom and wandered off to find some other entertainment. If only she were this responsive all the time! Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > This morning, Oscar was pawing at the strings that control the blinds > while I tried to get a few more winks of sleep. I said, "Oscar, no" in [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > If only she were this responsive all the time! Tahi responds to the "go away, I'm not interested in a cuddle" gesture straight away (shooing him away with a dismissive gesture of my right hand, as you'd shoo a naughty child away). It's more effective than a vocal "No". It's quite interesting how he learned it - I think I spontaneously shooed him away with my hand sometimes while saying "No" and he picked up on it, then I noticed he was responding and, voila, a mutual language was born! It's a black-and-white message to him now, but Cassius doesn't have the foggiest idea what it means!! my cats know what no is - but sometimes they don't care to listen .... soft http://www.elexorr.com/~soft/index.html http://www.elexorr.com/~soft/Mat/index.htm http://www.elexorr.com/~soft/cats/index.htm "If a man is a fool, you don't train him out of being a fool by sending him to university. You merely turn him into a trained fool, ten times more dangerous." ----Desmond Bagley. My cats also know other words off get out are you hungry? want a treat? I am sure there are more but I can't think right now. http://www.elexorr.com/~soft/index.html http://www.elexorr.com/~soft/Mat/index.htm http://www.elexorr.com/~soft/cats/index.htm "If a man is a fool, you don't train him out of being a fool by sending him to university. You merely turn him into a trained fool, ten times more dangerous." ----Desmond Bagley. |
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