New Behavior

Moving to Colorado and the great wilderness area behind our house meant converting our outdoor cat, Edmond, into an indoor one. He's adjusting quite well. I think he was ready to settled down and enjoy the cush life! However, Edmond still thinks he can scratch at the ground, like he did outside.

I've been working with him to re-enforce the good behavior (using the scratch post instead of the carpet) and then spraying him with water when he attempts to shred the carpet. It's not his fault. The rules changed, and he is still learning the inside rules.

We often get into habits, and when we try to change them, we revert to the old ways. It is what we knew. May times, we were taught these old rules and had them implanted into our minds, so changing them takes time.

Give yourself some understanding...you are still in the learning curve. Don't beat yourself up when you have an "ooops" to the old behavior but celebrate the times you do remember! Before you know it, you'll be on a new path with the old a mere memory.