How do I get my cat to stop biting my clothes?
How do I get my Cat to Stop Biting my Clothes?
Do you have an overly-energetic feline friend who loves to nip at your clothes? If so, it’s time to take action to keep your wardrobe safe from harm. Cats can be persistent and persistent behaviors become habits, so it’s important to act fast so that your cat stops biting your clothes for good.
Discourage the Behavior
There are several easy ways to discourage the behavior:
- Gently move your cat away while reminding them that biting is not allowed.
- Distract your cat with a toy.
- Create an unpleasant sensation on your clothes by using double sided sticky tape.
- Try using a motion-activated air spray.
- Limit the areas in your home that vulnerable clothes are available for your pet to find.
Positive Reinforcement
Encourage non-destructive behavior with positive reinforcement. Give your cat attention and love when they explore, sniff, or touch human clothing without biting. Positive reinforcement paired with discouraging the unwanted behavior can have a powerful effect on a cats behavior – they learn what behavior they can and cannot do.
Provide an Alternatve
If you suspect that your cat is biting your clothes because they are bored or may benefit from something else to gnaw on, provide safe and appropriate toys that they can chew. You can also give them small, cat-safe blankets or clothes that they can attack instead of your own.
Seek Assistance
At times, even with all of the solutions above, cats can be quite complicated creatures. If the above methods do not stop your cat’s biting behavior, the best thing you can do is to seek assistance from a professional animal behaviorist. They can assess your cat’s behavior and give you an individual plan to help you and your pet in the long term.
Biting is an issue that all pet owners face, but you don’t have to stand by and take it. With patience and follow-through, you can have your wardrobe safe from your cat’s teeth in no time.
