To preface: I'm not trying to be funny (arguably it is) or mean.
But my cat, Salad, is stupid. I don't mean endearingly dumb, or adorably perplexed by new things. I mean that she's frustratingly and DANGEROUSLY incapable or unwilling to learn. My house is baby-proofed, but I still spend a big chunk of my day watching her, because she can, will, and has hurt herself. For example, Salad has REPEATEDLY stepped on the hot stove burners, burned herself, gotten scared and froze, and I had to pick her up and remove her. The first time, my back was turned and it wasn't until I smelled burning fur and flesh that I realized I had to save her. After that, I figured she would realize that stove equals pain..... no. The stove has to be WATCHED and the area cleared before the oven is opened because she will burn herself in her curiosity. Also, the idea of opening the cabinet door (from the inside) is lost on her. One time I lost her.... I found her terrified in the cabinet, because she didn't know how to get out.
It sounds amusing, and admittedly, at times it is. However, it's also really sad, because she spends a lot of her life scared. It's also insanely frustrating, because I can't teach her anything. Even for a short period of time. Examples: Salad woke me up loudly cleaning herself. I nudged her, and as soon as I stopped she started again. I scolded her, she looked at me for a second, and started again. I pushed her off the bed, she jumped right back up and started again. My couch is clawed to hell. It doesn't matter if it's right in front of me, if I stop her, scold her, spray her with water, spray the couch with scratch deterrant, physically remove her from the area and put her paws on the scratching post.
She's about two years old, and I've had her a bit over a year. She's not my first cat. I've tried all my usual training techniques, I've tried conventionally recommended things. I've tried unconventional things. I've scoured the internet, I've asked friends and family. I'm at my wits end and it almost seems that she has to be locked in a room whenever I'm asleep, cooking, or out of the house...but I don't want to do that, because she gets lonely and mopey when she's separated from her brother (who does not need to be confined).
Oh, possibly pertinent: she isn't deaf, she isn't blind. Salad has no obvious handicaps, deformities, no other special needs. I sincerely think her brain may have not formed properly, or she has some other functional issue...
Any advice is welcome. Tips, tricks. Be it training ideas or product suggestions to protect my next couch. TIA!
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from Pets https://www.reddit.com/r/Pets/comments/e76nqg/advice_from_cat_parents_needed/
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