this post was submitted on 21 Jul 2025
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Just play a chasing off song and slowly impinge on their personal space every time they beg or try to solicit unauthorized feedings
You must not reward or validate that which you would otherwise seek to discourage
Chasing off song?
🎶Get the fuck off the counter🎶
🎶Get the fuck off the counter🎶
🎶Get the fuck off the counter, you little shit🎶
Whatever helps you
I need to try that. 😆
Seriously! Its effective and fun! Do baby shark, that should be plenty irritating for them. Actually play and sing along to it for boosted effect and let the song play you in so they learn it as a trigger for i need to quit the bullshit
This is not a joke? Ok, I dig it. I'm going to give it a try
I think almost everyone vastly underestimates cats' capacity to be trained and reinforced to do or not do certain things that can be problematic if left solely up to their instinctive out of the box behaviors
I mean, I trained her with a water spray to never step foot on my food table. She never ever goes there. Just never thought about it with the food bowl.
You dont even really need the water or spraying tho either, its often enough to use the firm tonality of "Nooooooo" and physically impose a bit on their space and pick them up to gently place them in a more acceptable spot without making it too comfortable for them so its not like a ride or attention or something.
They need to hear and see that you are upset with them so they can learn and know the rules and its not imposed with violence or anything gratuitous
My kid already trained me with Baby Shark, I think I'll go with another song.
They must believe you will persist with this until they cease and desist in order for them to learn that behavior is unhelpful to them. Be gentle, no need to bang and make a fuss, just follow them similar to how someone goes to sit where their cat took over and where they understand if they dont move you're going to "smother" or continue to impunge on their space