Is your cat a bit of a menace when it comes to being rough? This is most likely a trait that comes along with loving to hunt for prey. Cats, after all, do enjoy pouncing and rolling, whether it be with a toy or a feline housemate.
Still, having a cat that is easy to handle and cooperative is important. Tasks like grooming, giving medicine, and even general play are much more pleasurable for both cat and human when a docile and agreeable personality is in the picture.
Cats work a little differently than dogs do, and that’s completely okay. Because cats and dogs are different! Pet parents love each species for that exact reason. A message often given to kitty-loving humans is to always reward your cat for the behavior you do like (such as giving them a tasty treat when training) and ignoring the actions you don’t like.
So while you can attempt to train a frisky cat to be more gentle, ignoring their actions is effectively training them that the behavior isn’t acceptable. You’ll see more about that through the methods below.
What do all cats love? A favorite treat like a vet-approved soft chew or a tiny morsel of tuna will come in handy when training your cat to be gentle. Practice this training exercise consistently on its own for several days or weeks, depending on how long it takes your cat to catch on.
Why is this? Interspersing fun like training your cat to spin may get them excited and rowdy. Stick to one training type at a time, perfect that, and then move on.