Depending on what age your cat might be, there is a chance a behavior will take a lot of patience to correct. Cats are like kids in many ways and consistency, patience and water guns are definitely a must in correcting bad behavior. First things first, what may seem bad or inappropriate behavior to us may simply be the thing to do for a cat. Cats like most animals do not like loud startling noises. A soda can (cleaned and dried) with a few loose coins or washers and taped at the top is a great noisemaker. When your cat is jumping onto the counter, or sticking his cute little paw into your printer and you don’t wish for him to be doing either, then shake the can near him or toss the can toward (NOT AT) the cat. It will take a few times in most cases before the cat associates what he is doing with that horrible noise and eventually he will stop jumping on the counter. Or at least not while you are home. Importantly if you are teaching your cat not to be on the counter you must never scoop him up from the counter and kiss him. Consistency matters.

Cats aren’t usually fond of water either; a water gun is another inexpensive way to gain the upper hand in the case of bad behavior. Squirting him from across the room when he jumps on the counter is a sure fire way to eventually stop that from happening. If a cat is eating your plants, the first thing to do is make real certain there are no plants that will cause him to be sick. Then if water or noise is not making a difference, removing the plants is one option or planting cat grass just for your cat is another option. As with any behavior modification project you will do well to pick your battles and stick to your guns with issues that are just not acceptable. We choose cats as pets due to their independent traits, but they truly love to spend time with you. Be certain your cat is getting lots of stimuli in other healthy and good ways and perhaps he won’t have time to be bad. Don’t imagine he will be mad at you for correcting his behavior, odds are your cat will never admit he is doing anything wrong or even look ashamed.

Sometimes cats do things we would rather they didn't. Often, it's simple confusion on his or her part - s/he's curious about what you're doing, so s/he jumps on the counter to find out; s/he doesn't realize that you've got a row of trays holding wet cookie dough just about to go into the oven *right* where s/he's about to jump. Or worse, s/he don't realize that the stove isn't safe for him or her. Sometimes it's more of a behavioral problem - s/he doesn't like the new cat, so s/he hisses and whacks at it every time it approaches. Or he sprays all available surfaces with his "special scent" to let the interloper know who's "boss". There are many reasons why cats do things - most of them are not in the realm of human logic, and some of them are quite similar to things humans do and are very understandable, yet undesireable.

It's important to remember that a cat will not respond well to force, either in the moment or over the long term. Imagine, if you will, if you were the size of your cat, and someone your size hit you or yelled at you. It doesn't teach you anything, only makes you afraid, and makes you mistrust the abuser, or maybe even make you want to retaliate - which is the opposite of what we want to accomplish with our pets. The best part of a relationship with our pets is the closeness and trust we share. So how do you get the message across?

Cats aren't human, but it's best to think of them like little furry people with very basic needs. They need to feel safe and loved; they need to feel that there is enough food and lots of fresh water; they sometimes need to feel entertained. They need tuna. (Everyone needs treats now and then.) They need peace and quiet - anyone with a loud vacuum cleaner knows how much its loud noise will drive a cat insane with fear - until s/he figures out that it won't jump up on the couch with him or her. They need routine, and they need to know that their environment is stable with as little trauma as possible. And they like to be clean and dry. Working with a cat's needs is the best way to discipline them while keeping their trust and your close, gentle relationship while communicating your needs. You can't do this by explaining in words, but there are some simple actions you can take.

If your cat has a habit of jumping on the counter or dinner table, one of the best solutions is to keep a spray bottle filled with clean water nearby. Kitties *hate* being wet (most do, anyway), and a little squirt in the face accompanied by a firm - not yelling, just as you would say to a small child - "No, no, no." Be as gentle as possible when you speak to them. Eventually, all you'll have to do is lift the bottle, and possibly only have to say "no, no, no" (hard to believe, but it does work) and your cat will get the message. Follow it up with praise and petting for doing the right thing. This is a very important step; don't leave it out, because it will reinforce the good behavior faster than anything else.

You can also try to control scratching of furniture this way, but an even better way is to buy an inexpensive scratching post or a catnip-scented cardboard or sisal scratching mat. When your cat begins to approach your furniture with a gleam in her eye, either try to catch her before she does any damage, or gently unhook her paws, carry her to the scratching post, and place her paws on it. It may take a few times before she gets the message (cats are no mental giants), but she'll figure it out. She really does need a place to scratch, and if she knows of a place where she can do it that won't make anyone spray her, she'll choose the post. Again, make sure to pet her and praise her when she's using this post - she'll associate the good feelings with it.

When it comes to cats that seem to be or have become "problem children", sometimes the simplest answers are the best. If your cat is acting up first ask yourself if you're keeping his or her environment clean and comfortable. A full catbox or a messy living area can sometimes trigger unpleasant behavior in cats such as voiding in inappropriate places and spraying (in males), as can an environment that's too high-energy or loud all the time. Cats get stressed by mess and noise just like people, and just like some people, some more than others. It may not bother you, but it may be bothering your cat.

Also - and this is especially important in multiple-cat households - make sure there are areas where your cat can perch, at least one perch for every cat you have. An example of a "cat perch" is the top of the television, a tall bookcase, a cat tree, a windowsill, even something you build yourself specifically for the purpose of perching. Cat behavioralists have noted that cats need to perch to feel safe, and also to establish a hierarchy amongst other cats in their community. I won't go into cat community dynamics here, since I'm not an expert on them, but perches are important to keep the peace.

Cats will sometimes "leave presents" when you leave them alone for a long time, or if they're used to being able to come and go as they please and are suddenly made to stay inside. If it seems they're responding to changes like this, it's really best not to punish your cat or be angry at them. They don't have any way of expressing their feelings, so they "act out" to try to get your attention. The best thing to do is to identify what's cheesing off your cat, and try to change it. In the mean time, you may have to do some dry cleaning... but that's the price of having a sweet little furry creature in your home. They're animals, after all. (At least they're not monkeys - monkeys like to fling poo.)

If you happen to catch your cat about to make a mess somewhere s/he shouldn't, don't yell at or hit them, and also don't rub their nose in it! Treat them like you would a small child you're potty training. When they begin to squat, lift them and carry them to the litter box, hopefully before they've actually voided. As long as you make sure they have a relatively clean and empty sandbox, most cats would rather use this - healthy cats are fastidious creatures and like to cover their business. If your cat continues to void in inappropriate places, you should consider a trip to the vet. It could be a sign of illness.

During the time you're training your cat not to decorate your carpet, bed or other furniture with their special paint, you may want to keep them in an area where they won't do any damage while you're not around, then let them roam free when you can watch them. It will take very little time overall, and will be well worth the effort.

Another thing to ask yourself when your cat begins misbehaving is whether there have been any additions to your household recently. A cat who suddenly begins biting family members while they're petting him, when he was reasonably gentle before, is very possibly reacting to one of the high-stress environments described above, or possibly to the new, very energetic puppy you've just brought home. This is another example of your cat trying to communicate something to you. Punishing your cat for this behavior is not only unfair but will certainly not make sense to your cat and will only add to his or her feelings of stress. And if his or her behavior is in reaction to a new puppy, s/he will very likely associate any unpleasantness or indignity s/he experiences with the puppy in the vicinity with the puppy, setting the stage for a poor relationship in the future. To avoid this, introduce a new pet very slowly, with plenty of respect for your established cat.

To make the introductions as smooth as possible, it's best to quarantine the new puppy when it's first brought home until your cat gets used to its scent and sound from there. S/he'll probably react with great interest and possibly some anxiety, but nothing like what s/he would feel if the puppy were galloping around. Obviously you're going to take the puppy out for walks and playtime, but during this period make sure s/he's always in a place where s/he and your cat are separated. Try to make it a room where there is a closed door - a gate that can be seen through and where paws can reach in doesn't provide enough separation.

Once your cat seems to have accepted that level of "newness", let your cat smell a strip of fabric that's been rubbed on the puppy's fur. Make sure to pet and praise your cat during this step, as well as all the following ones. If your cat accepts the strip with disinterest, allow your cat to investgate the puppy's bedding - just bring it out of the room your puppy's staying in and let your cat have a smell and a walkabout. Otherwise, repeat with the strip of fabric until it gets no reaction, then move on to the bedding. As before, depending on your cat's reaction, you may need to repeat this step or even go back to the previous step. This can take up to a week or two.

Next, remove the puppy from the quarantine area, and allow your cat to investigate the area. Again, depending on how your cat reacts, you may need to repeat this step a few times before moving on to the next one.

The Big Introduction: For this step, you should enlist the help of a friend or family member, so that you can each monitor a pet. Place your puppy and your cat, not facing each other, in separate parts of a room, and give each of them a special treat. This accomplishes two things - it gives your pets something to focus on other than each other, and gives them something positive to associate with the experience. If the puppy notices the cat, keep him or her from wiggling excitedly over to play or chasing your cat - I know it's hard to control an ebullient puppy, but try to keep him or her as calm as possible. If your cat hisses or bites you or whacks the dog, immediately remove the puppy to its quarantine room and let your cat cool off. If your cat is feeling stressed by a new arrival, it's best for them to relax by themselves. Don't try to comfort your cat right away, but do make sure to treat him or her gently, and leave plenty of time before you try again. If your cat's reaction was very negative, go back a step or two and repeat the process.

Make sure, and this is so important, to give even more attention and love to your established cat than usual, even if they've transformed from the sweet, mellow kitty you once knew into a screaming banshee. Cats don't have the powers of reason humans have; they live in the moment and when they're scared and stressed, they need an environment change, quick, and lots and lots of comforting. Stock up on treats. (Cheap tuna works great.)

If this introduction goes well, let your puppy and cat spend more and more time together. Eventually they'll either not notice each other, or they very well may become cuddle partners. It depends on their personalities.

In a home where a cat has lived with other dogs previously, and you can get the puppy to calm down and treat your established cat with respect, a slow, careful introduction should be sufficient. If there's still a problem, it would be best not to bring a new animal into your home. Consider that your cat was there first, and either pick an animal with a compatible personality, or wait until your current pet has passed on. Some cats, while lovely on their own, just can't abide sharing their space with others. Be fair to them.

A new cat coming into a home where there are already established cats needs special introduction as well, similar to those above. Here is a link to a good internet article on the subject - Introducing a New Cat Into Your Home. It is very important to slowly introduce newcomers, especially if you already have a multi-cat household. Doing otherwise may set the stage for longterm unpleasant relationships amongst your cats, but putting a little more work and care into the first encounters will result in a harmonious cat community.

Synthetic pheromone sprays like "Feliway" have been very beneficial in aiding this process, as well as controlling spraying in cats. These are sprays that contain a pheromone that mimics what felines produce, and what is deposited when they spray urine or rub their cheeks, which contain glands that produce the pheromone, against objects. It has no odor that is discernable by humans, but spraying it onto furniture or, for a little more money, investing in a diffuser (a bulb of Feliway in a diffuser will last for about a month of continuous release pheromone). The spray is good for protecting areas a cat is known to spray in (and often will curb that behavior) and the diffuser is great for keeping kitty tempers on an even keel and can ease the introduction of a newbie by releasing its contents into a large area, like a fragrance oil. No one's scent in particular is represented, which seems to calm everyone down.

There are many more complete internet articles and wonderful books on this subject - this is simply intended as a brief introduction to ways of helping your cat behave in the way you'd like, gently and calmly - which is what a cat loves best. (Besides tuna.)