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Just like children, cats are sometimes naughty and we need to find appropriate techniques to help them modify their behavior. Time-outs [otherwise known as ‘sin-binning’] are a useful tool for managing feline behavioural issues.
When Should I Use Time-Out?
Time-out is effective when a cat is biting and scratching you, playing aggressively, bullying the timid cat in the family, or hissing and spitting at your baby. Time-out is not appropriate for cats with anxiety issues, phobias or toileting issues.
How Does the Time-Out Technique Work?
Time-out involves calmly placing your cat somewhere on its own where it is isolated and deprived of attention. The laundry or bathroom is an ideal location. When placing your cat in time-out be sure not to play, pet or talk to your cat as this could be perceived as a reward for bad behaviour. Make sure you do not chase your cat into the time-out room. Cats love to chase and be chased and this attention could unintentionally reinforce the behaviour that you are looking to change.
The Time Should Fit the Crime
10 minutes is usually an appropriate amount of time for a time-out. In 10 minutes your cat will have made the connection between their bad behaviour and their isolation which is no fun. It is unfair to punish your cat for an extended length of time by shutting it away without access to food, water or a litter tray.
Letting Your Cat Out
Give you cat the appropriate amount of time to calm down, especially if they were angry when placed in the time-out room. Cats know when they have been naughty, and they also know that they will have to relax, lie down and patiently wait to be let out again. 10 minutes in the time-out room is usually sufficient. Too long in the time-out room can cause added stress to your cat. If you think you might forget to let your cat out of the time-out room, set the alarm on your mobile phone to remind you.
Cats are smart and they learn quickly. Placing a cat in the time-out room works as an effective deterrent and can correct many destructive or aggressive tendencies if used moderately and consistently.
Image: ganesha_isis via Flickr
We had two 17 year old female cats, Xena and Gabby. They were not siblings, but were adopted together as kittens. They stayed away from each other, because Xena didn’t like Gabby. Gabby died in May. My husband thought that getting a new kitten might revitalize Xena, who seemed to be getting sluggish, and maybe depressed. They seemed to be OK at first, but then Athena started to play rough – jumping on Xena’s back, scratching and biting. Xena defends herself, but she is not happy. Recently, I put the kitten in time-out – in and inverted laundry basket for 10 minutes. I did this about 4 or 5 times after the attacks. It seems to be working, but I’m worried that she’ll eventually turn into a mean cat.