Nuisance behaviors are normal behaviors that annoy or may pose some danger
Avoid thoughts about it being spite, dominance, or vengeance- this creates an adversarial relationship with your pet in your mind. Makes you less likely to recognize what your cat actually needs to help
Punishment should always be last option, not first. Why? Because if the punishment is delayed or inconsistent (you sleep, leave the house, etc), cat only learns that "sometimes this person just goes ballistic at me for no reason" which in turn creates *anxiety*.
Scratching? Scratching is psychologically necessary. Even declawed cats will do this even though it causes them pain.
Protect furniture with a cover. Not aversives like sticky tape, just protect. Look at what textures, heights, sturdiness, orientation, location cat is scratching. Do best to replicate with something they *can* scratch. Encourage them to use with play, attention, treats.
Climbing counters? Cats want to be high AND social.
Keep tempting items off counters. Provide nearby climbing opportunities that are slightly higher than counter. Put treats there to encourage use.
Do NOT punish when up high or on slick surface. Startle response means they can easily land wrong and break a bone.
Pouncing on ankles? Cat needs more opportunities to express hunting behaviors AND interact with you.
If pouncing through doors, keep basket of noisy toys nearby and toss a toy through door to get cat to pounce on that instead. Provide more enrichment.
It is not enrichment if the cat doesn't actually engage with it.
janainaart
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