Does punishment teach a cat to stop scratching?
In general, cats do not respond well to punishment, because they see no link between the punishment and their “crime.” The only thing punishment does is teach your cat to fear you. Worse, it may lead to aggression. Yelling, squirting a water gun, or startling your cat with a loud noise when he scratches the couch teaches him that your presence, rather than the act of scratching, brings punishment. If your cat is punished for scratching only when you are present, he will simply learn to scratch when you are not there. More effective deterrents to scratching such as the “tower of cups” booby trap mentioned earlier are consistent and immediate. Return to Top Fabric Chewing and Sucking Fabric chewing and sucking is relatively rare in cats. Some speculate that it is a comfort-seeking behavior, or that it fulfills a desire to play and investigate. It is perfectly normal for kittens to chew as they explore, and although many grow out of this behavior, some exhibit it for life. Fabric chewing
