Stop Your Cat From Biting People In 6 Steps

2. Exercising Selectivity in Reinforcement

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Although negative reinforcement can be a useful technique in deterring bad habits in cats, such biting, it is imperative to apply it selectively. Using negative reinforcement wisely calls for timing, severity, context, as well as frequency. Knowing these subtleties can help you distinguish between effective behaviour adjustment and maybe souring of your bond with your cat friend. Selectivity in negative reinforcement starts with realising that cats have complicated emotional and cognitive processes, just as people do. Particularly with regard to their own behaviour, they may not always grasp cause and effect in the same manner that we would. In cats, overusing negative reinforcement can cause confusion, tension, and worry that might show up as different undesirable behaviours, therefore aggravating the very problems you're trying to solve. Negative reinforcement calls for making sure the cat can clearly link their behaviour to the result. The reinforcement must thus be constant and instantaneous. Should the negative reinforcement lag behind the undesired behaviour, the cat might not link the two, therefore rendering the approach useless. Furthermore, the degree of the reinforcement should match the degree of the misbehaviour. A little infraction does not call for the same degree of reaction as a more grave one. One also should take into account the surroundings of the behaviour. Stress, fear, or medical problems could cause cats to act in particular ways. Under such circumstances, negative reinforcement could not only be useless but might further aggravate the problem. See a veterinarian to rule out any underlying medical conditions before starting any behaviour modification programs. Another element of selection is realising that some actions, although unpleasant to humans, could be normal and required for cats. For example, cats mark their territory and preserve their claws by scratching—a natural activity. Redirecting this behaviour to suitable surfaces like scratching posts would be a more successful strategy than trying to completely eradicate it by negative reinforcement. Negative and positive reinforcement must also be balanced. If you concentrate too much on punishing poor behaviour without fairly rewarding good behaviour, you, the owner, may develop unfavourable associations with you. This may sour your relationship with your cat, which will make next training initiatives more difficult. Create a good learning environment by always trying to catch your cat performing something well and rewarding them. Finally, keep in mind that every cat has individual personality and learning method. One cat may find something working for them; another may not. Ready to change your strategy depending on how your cat responds? While some cats may need more constant reinforcement to properly change their behaviour, others may be more susceptible to negative reinforcement and call for a softer approach.