Cats are mostly quiet, but they are not without mischievous moments. Cats can be very naughty, such as jumping all over the room, indoor potted plants can’t escape their claws, frequent meowing disturbs family and neighbors from peaceful sleep, or urinating and defecating everywhere, making the indoor environment dirty and messy. Facing such cats, what should owners do?

　　1. Find the root cause of the problem

　　Many times, your cat is not simply doing something for the sake of doing it, but there are reasons behind intolerable behaviors. Your cat might be facing difficulties adapting to a new environment or needing more love and care. If your cat had no previous problems but suddenly acts out, try to think about what might have caused its bad behaviors.

　　Here are some possible reasons:

　　1. Trouble coping with changes.

　　If you moved to a new home, your cat might still be in the process of getting used to its surroundings, so please be patient and wait for it to adjust. If you gave it a new litter box and it suddenly eliminates outside it, switch back to its previously preferred one.

　　2. Overstimulation.

　　Your cat may be stimulated by loud outdoor noises, a neighbor’s dog, the TV, or even visitors trying to show attention. Remember that sometimes your cat needs privacy and quiet.

　　3. Not enough entertainment.

　　Your cat might act excited and rough because you haven’t given it enough attention or toys. Play with your cat at least twice a day for about fifteen minutes using dangling toys, rolling balls on the floor, or chew toys.

　　4. Health problems.

　　At this point, it’s best to take your cat to see a veterinarian to investigate the causes of its bad behavior.

　　2. Change its environment

　　Your cat might show depressed or restless behavior because of a bad past experience—for example, if it was scared while using the litter box, it might resist eliminating in the same area again. Try moving the litter box to a quieter place. Or, if you notice your cat repeatedly eliminates in a spot, don’t place its food bowl there, as cats won’t eliminate where they eat.

　　3. Reinforce good behavior with rewards

　　If you are trying to retrain your cat to use the litter box, give it a small reward or affection each time it complies. At first, reward every success; then reduce the frequency but still reward good behavior. This will teach your cat that good behavior leads to positive outcomes and make it more likely to keep up good habits even without rewards every time. Here are some ways to reward your cat:

　　1. Playtime.

　　Reward your cat with a few minutes of play.

　　2. Attention.

　　Hug, pet, or cuddle your cat when it does the right thing.

　　3. Intermittent rewards.

　　You shouldn’t give too many of these, but you can reward your cat when it behaves well, such as using a scratching post or trimming claws.

　　4. Stop bad behavior

　　Cats dislike water and high-pitched noises. Next time you catch your cat misbehaving, spray water on it and make a sharp “psssst” sound or shake a can with coins. Hide yourself so the cat doesn’t realize you are spraying—it’s associating the bad behavior with the water, not your presence. Remember to spend more time rewarding good behavior than punishing bad behavior. Spraying water may not work for all cats. Some long-haired cats might not feel water well due to their fur. Find a spray bottle with a strong nozzle or try a high-pitched whistle.

　　Do not use air cans. If your cat likes to unroll your toilet paper or knock down decorations on your furniture, put an empty water bottle in the toilet paper or corner. It will accidentally knock the bottle and be startled by the loud noise. Do not harm your cat’s body. If it bites or scratches you, simply walk away or spray water at it, but don’t retaliate in a way that might reinforce aggression, no matter how much it hurts you at the moment.

　　5. Know when to take your cat to the vet

　　Your cat’s behavior could indicate urinary problems, anxiety, digestive issues, or other health problems. If you have tried all ways to stop the bad behavior but to no avail, or if your cat shows new concerning symptoms, quickly take it to the vet. Your vet will tell you if your cat has a behavioral disorder that is best handled by behavior specialists or trainers; if they can’t help, your cat might have deeper problems.

　　Finally, there are many ways to punish a cat. When punishing, owners should maintain a reasonable degree. Owners should be clear about rewards and punishments, use mild punishment to educate, and avoid abusing or hitting the cat casually. Because pet cats have their own proud personalities and dignity, when punishing a cat for wrong behaviors, lightly tapping the cat’s head is an acceptable method.