Slightly pull the kitten tail for a punishment?

The spray method is just the same ad any other method. NO punishment will work if it isn't connected with the problem, which is only possible when catching the cat in the act.

It probably comes from the same idea as hitting a cat or dog, associate a bad feeling with a bad behavior. All it accomplishes is hurting the cat and scaring it. I get that they may not intend for it to hurt, but I think it would be easy to accidentally pull to hard or to have the cat try and run as soon as you grab the tail.

I've never heard anyone suggest pulling a kitten's tail. Perhaps it was a very old book written when people didn't understand as much about cats?.

I don't really believe in punishment as I find that positive reinforcement has much better results. Hissing is also very effective because it re-awakens memories of the mother cat's discipline.

The squirt bottle seems to be a North American technique as I've never come across this suggestion from any UK sources. Behaviourists there recommend distracting the cat with scrunched up balls of paper to chase instead. Squirting a cat with water may temporarily stop it from doing something, but it doesn't provide the cat with an alternative outlet for their behaviour.

never heard of that method. Weird one anyway. I always used the hissing method after observing a mother cat with her kittens. I just clapped my hands loudly and hissed when the kitten was doing something wrong. Boy, they move fast then so it must obviously mean something in cat language! LOL

I am with you on this it is never heard of it

However to flick the cat or kitten on the tip of the ear with your finger is a great way of learning the word no or stop without saying a word

If we were in a coma for example our ear lobe would be pinched & pinched to see any reaction as it is the nearest to the brain

Hence the flicking of the top of the ear with our finger for a cat or kitten has always proved successful

i have never ever heard of this and i have had animals all my life. I always was told that the tail is fragile and if pulled too hard it could be pulled out of place which then it would fall off. Maybe that was just my parents trying to scare me but i doubt this is proven affective anywhere.

Poor kitten. I think that is just the book trying to say in a nice way of abusing a poor kitten. I love animals and when people yell at them or slap and hit or kick or punch them I hate that! Even if they just hit them on the mouth or pull their tail. If humans had a tail and a animal pulled on that we would get mad wouldn't we!? so why is it ok to do it to a kitty?

Oh I see I tell everyone that abusing animals is wrong and people give me a thumbs down. Why do you think it is ok to hurt animals?

No never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever pull a kitties tail. They are kitties if you don't want him to poop or pee or claw or bite try training and if you don't work out then try something else. Never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever pull a kitties tail. If you cant handle it get rid of the kitty to an understanding family. My hands look like swiss cheese but i have never harmed a hair on my kitty's little head or body for that matter.

NEVER use physical harm on a kitten. It will make it less cuddly later in life.

A firm, deep and long "NOOOOOOOO!" will do. Don't use a higher register, the kitten won't understand the difference between "Good" and "Bad" unless you make the sounds distinctly different.

Odd, My cat will walk up and put his tale in yout hand, then if you close it he will pull... He also if you lift it, so his feet are not on the ground he will walk on his front if you dont lift his butt he will just annoy you untill you do.

I don't see why anyone would do that when you could hurt the kitten far worse than need be or even disconnect the joint