1: When in Doubt, Distract What about the squirt gun?In the past, cat owners were told to spray cats with water from a squirt gun to stop a fight or keep cats off the counter. Some experts still recommend this approach, but Blunt, Peterson and others say it's always best to distract cats that are fighting rather than hit them with anything, even water. As for those counters, positively rewarding them for being on their perch is considered the better approach. Alas, it's time to holster that squirt gun.
It's too late -- the fighting has begun. What do you do? Don't step in and try to break it up by hitting the cats or chasing them with a broom. You'll merely end up with a wealth of scratches and possibly with cats that never trust you again. Your interference may even escalate their aggression. Instead, make a sudden, loud noise from a hidden spot by clapping your hands or banging a pan. The noise will startle the cats, and they'll likely both run away. (Or at least the one who is losing the fight will.) Another tactic, says Peterson, is to distract them by tossing something -- a pillow, for example -- to a spot a little bit away from the fight. Again, the distraction will likely end the squabble. Just make sure you lob the object from a hidden spot so they don't associate you with the fight in any way. |
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