Then allow the cat to explore the rest of the house. Top of Page Behavior Modification Techniques Realistically, problems may be beyond the prevention stage, and need treatment. There are different methods that can be used to help cats learn more acceptable behavior patterns. The method chosen should be appropriate for the problem you are trying to correct. It is effective for oral behavior problems such as wool sucking or plant eating.
Desensitization works well for managing fear or anxiety.
First expose the cat to nonfearful stimuli and then gradually increase the intensity of the stimuli over time. For extreme cases, the use of antianxiety medications are helpful in the initial desensitization process. Punishment for misbehavior is only effective when the cat is caught in the act. Cats are unable to associate their actions with punishment unless the two occur within minutes of one another. Cats differ from other species in the type of punishment that is most effective to change behavior.