Ragdoll Cat

　　Before raising a cat, you might not think that owning one is a particularly challenging task, but only after you actually have a cat do you realize this is no joke! To help cats adapt to human family life as quickly and smoothly as possible, owners usually train their cats. During training, you may encounter various problems. Initially, when problems arise, you might still be able to gently guide your cat using methods described in professional articles, but if the cat repeatedly makes the same mistakes and never learns the skills you are trying to teach, those reminders that "only patience can train a cat well" are likely ignored by you. This may ultimately lead to you using the "Eighteen Palms to Subdue the Cat" out of frustration.

　　However, once you really lay hands on your cat, your cat's attitude toward you might flip 180°. Perhaps originally you could call the cat and have it come to you easily, but after you hit it, calling it over seems much harder. The cat will always observe your attitude and only approach after confirming you won’t hit it again. This confirmation process takes some time, varying according to the individual cat’s personality, how many times it was disciplined, and the severity of the punishment.

　　It is often said that cats hold grudges and will remember being hit for their entire life, but rather than grudge-holding, cats are naturally sensitive and cautious. When owners hit them and then call them again, cats hesitate because they fear another round of corporal punishment. In such situations, to help rebuild the cat’s trust, some owners use "sugar-coated bombs," such as calling the cat with treats in hand or attracting the cat with its favorite toys. As long as the cat has not completely lost trust in you, it usually accepts these sugar-coated bombs. Pay attention to the following points here:

　　1. The cat likely won't instantly regain trust just because you gave it one good treat or toy; you need to patiently rebuild your relationship;

　　2. If you only want to get the cat over to retrain it, no matter how good the treats or toys you later have, the cat basically won’t come near you again;

　　3. Do not hit the cat indiscriminately again, or even sugar-coated bombs won’t work eventually, and the cat will grow increasingly distant from you.

　　In fact, corporal punishment not only drives the cat away but may also change its personality. Some cats who have been punished may become shyer and more melancholic than others, often fearful of human proximity. Even if you have no ill intent, they may be unwilling to get close to you. Other punished cats can become more irritable than usual. Although corporal punishment may sometimes have an effect during training, the resulting negative effects such as "cats unable to get close to you," "personality changes," and "increasingly difficult training" are likely not what owners hoped for initially!

　　Additionally, a reminder: for stray cats newly brought home (especially adult cats), absolutely avoid corporal punishment. Besides lacking enough trust in you, they might attack you, and as predators, cats have considerable strength.

　　While some owners avoid corporal punishment entirely, they may swing to the opposite extreme—always catering entirely to the cat’s commands. This is what is commonly called spoiling. Despite lavish pampering, some cats still act aloof and indifferent toward their owners, like the old saying "Zhou Yu hits Huang Gai: one willing to strike, the other willing to endure." However, no matter how much cat slaves wish to serve their masters, the problems caused by spoiling can be difficult to handle. For example, providing whatever the cat wants to eat may lead to excessive obesity. Once the cat becomes obese, it may suffer diseases caused by obesity (such as diabetes, heart disease, etc.), and owners can only helplessly watch their cat suffer. Furthermore, spoiling can make cats more willful; some spoiled cats may become so unruly that even the owners find it hard to manage. So to help cats adapt better to family life, owners must master proper care methods, avoiding corporal punishment and excessive indulgence. (Source：PetsZone)