# Rookie seeks cat behavior modification advice **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 12, 2011, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rookie-seeks-cat-behavior-modification-advice/567354 "2011-01-12T16:44:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rookie-seeks-cat-behavior-modification-advice/567354/21 "2011-01-13T09:20:34Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > They hate that. So you could instead of “bumping her” awake, once she falls asleep, pet her in the wrong direction. And about the 3rd time, pull back a stump. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rookie-seeks-cat-behavior-modification-advice/567354/22 "2011-01-13T09:27:40Z")
That’s not a bad idea. I did have a cat once, though, that ENJOYED being petted the wrong way. Weird! O\_o ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rookie-seeks-cat-behavior-modification-advice/567354/23 "2011-01-13T12:57:38Z")
I have had similar issues with cat(s) scratching/meowing at the closed bedroom door. My partially successful solutions have included - throwing a shoe at the (closed) door - putting something bulky in front of the door (outside the room) so the cat can’t get at the door itself - wearing earplugs to sleep ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rookie-seeks-cat-behavior-modification-advice/567354/24 "2011-01-13T13:34:10Z")
Isn’t “cat behavior modification” a nonsense phrase? ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rookie-seeks-cat-behavior-modification-advice/567354/25 "2011-01-13T15:49:58Z")
Last night, she hung out with me in the bedroom for about two hours. A small amount of petting was involved, but mostly it was her just dozing in my general vicinity (as evidenced by the photo posted above). Eventually, she got up and wandered out (distracted by Smoke having the audicity to roam the house unimpeded, I believe). I followed her out, turned out the lights, went back in the bedroom and closed the door. A short while later, I heard maybe two or three minutes of protest from the outside. But that was it. Nothing further. As far as I can tell, we all slept soundly. Maybe she’s just being random, but it may also be that she got her “quiet time” with me last night, or it may be that she’s learning (she exhibited a couple of other learned behavior patterns last night – after several days of shooing and scolding her for jumping on the table while I was eating dinner, she looked at me last night, but did not pursue my food). I hope it’s not the quiet time, because my work schedule just doesn’t allow me to spend that kind of time relaxing with her every day. But, we’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![Scubaqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Scubaqueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scubaqueen)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rookie-seeks-cat-behavior-modification-advice/567354/26 "2011-01-14T20:50:30Z")
Sounds like things are improving! Good news. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rookie-seeks-cat-behavior-modification-advice/567354/27 "2011-01-14T20:55:30Z")
Well, maybe. Last night, I kicked her out early because she kept trying to knock over a can of soda I was drinking. She protested for a long time later in the evening. But I never opened the door again, and she eventually was quiet for the night. I will not surrender! (Probably!) ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rookie-seeks-cat-behavior-modification-advice/567354/28 "2011-01-19T17:39:40Z")
Just a quick update – she seems to be responding now to the bedroom door being fully closed. She might whine for a minute or two, but I never hear anything else from her. I think I’ve gone five nights in a row without any real protesting. Am I being successful, or is she quietly plotting my doom? Stay tuned! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rookie-seeks-cat-behavior-modification-advice/567354/29 "2011-01-19T18:33:20Z")
Why can’t it be both? ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rookie-seeks-cat-behavior-modification-advice/567354/30 "2011-01-19T19:58:38Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > That’s not a bad idea. I did have a cat once, though, that ENJOYED being petted the wrong way. > > Weird! O\_o Bwuh?! Every cat I’ve ever owned LOVES this treatment, and I have 3 right now. Start with the backwards scratching along the spine, and before long all of them are vacant-eyed with bliss, purring like something’s rattling around inside them, and making biscuits on whatever surface (usually my leg - ow!) happens to me handy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rookie-seeks-cat-behavior-modification-advice/567354.md?page=1)