Thread: Discipline: What works, what doesn't

Time out was exactly what I used with our first girl MC,we didn't have her as a babe & she had some rather nasty ways to start with, I have had to grit my teeth & do the same as you grab a snarling wailing wriggling cat by its scruff & put it in its own bedroom for time out with a very firm NO but when I let her out we always had a play or one to one time for forgiveness,in the end if she was naughty by the time you got to her she would have put herself away & I would arrive to a face peeping out of the door with an "oooops"shouldn't have done that look but I am here mum so what now....... eventually she was the one who not only made one of the most loving cats I could have wished for but also became the "nannie" to all the other babes.
It was when my numbers went above three that I found the water more effective to bring things under control but again luckily do not have to use it too often just picking it up quells the storm before it starts, I think like children all have different ways of responding to discipline & it is knowing your furries enough to know what will work best..... with China although she was a bit of a loner she didn't like falling out with us plus she was a nosey girl & hated missing out on things so while she was shut up & could hear others getting attention was enough for that to be a "hit home"time for her & soon knew she was missing fun but that also is why when she came out we carried on as normal & gave her a bit of attention too so she didn't feel the need to straight away turn on the others again......
I tell you i think you have to be equally ahead with your thinking with these animals as you do children but because they are so bright there is a right way to overcome all problems just don't let them know you are feeling stressed about it or again like children they know they have got you, I know in the early scrums with C I have come back down to the sitting room & sat & howled as I felt things were going backwards but done the same as I did with human babe put favourite music on had a cuppa chilled & then face it again, I used to say to OH that I wished we hadn't ever had her but I know deep down that wasn't true it was just wading through things together until we came through the other side & a lot of the super MC traits must have shone through for her to give us the love of the breed that it did & China has left us with a real MC legacy....good luck I am sure you will win & have peace in your house too,wonder how long before Merlin takes himself off for time out too if that is what seems to work best.....xxx