Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/17/84; site opus.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!genrad!teddy!panda!talcott!harvard!seismo!hao!cires!nbires!opus!rcd From: rcd@opus.UUCP (Dick Dunn) Newsgroups: net.pets Subject: Re: water pistol unniceness Message-ID: <1033@opus.UUCP> Date: Thu, 17-Jan-85 03:20:51 EST Article-I.D.: opus.1033 Posted: Thu Jan 17 03:20:51 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 21-Jan-85 03:08:19 EST References: <128@magic.ARPA> Distribution: net Organization: NBI,Inc, Boulder CO Lines: 33 > What is this rubbish about tormenting cats via water pistols? A > cat understands "No" said in a scolding tone of voice, and it > understands being picked up and taken away from whatever you > don't want it messing around with. Do these things often enough > and you will break the offending habit. The ethics of tormenting cats > with water pistols I will refrain from commenting on. You're the one who added the word "tormenting"...and frankly, you don't know what you're talking about even a little bit. 1. A spray bottle is a standard recommended deterrent--the recommendation from vets, breeders, and other pros. 2. The effect of either spraying or scolding is to startle the cat, and the psychological effect of either is about the same: nil, unless you have a badly maladjusted cat to start with. 3. Water is harmless to the cat. On the other hand, cats have VERY sensitive ears, and careless scolding when you're angry about something can be loud enough to be painful to the cat. 4. Squirting causes the cat to associate the undesired activity with an unpleasant result, but not necessarily (or strongly) with you. Scolding and physically removing the cat, while sometimes the best or only thing you can do, has the adverse side effect of making the cat associate the unpleasantness with you, and may have a bad effect on the cat's temperament in general or affection toward you. 5. Some cats, just by the the temperament of their particular breeds, are harder to discipline effectively; scolding may not work at all. Please don't inflict your ethical judgments on other people, especially by innuendo, if you don't know anything about the issue. -- Dick Dunn {hao,ucbvax,allegra}!nbires!rcd (303)444-5710 x3086 ...A friend of the devil is a friend of mine.