Inappropriate reinforcement

[jducoeur]

Intellectually, I know that I should be strict about Jedi climbing up onto the top of the back of the chair behind me. It's distracting, and I really can't allow him to do it most of the time. Letting him do it for a little while *some* of the time simply provides intermittent reinforcement, which is absolutely the worst way to teach him not to.

But it's so damned *cute*. And warm against my shoulders. Being disciplined with cats is very difficult sometimes...

Comments

[dlevey.livejournal.com]

Disciplining cats is sort of like yelling at traffic: it may make you feel a little better, but in the grand scheme of things doesn't accomplish much. Though bystanders may look at you as if you're crazy. This could be a good, or bad, thing.

[calygrey.livejournal.com]

But it's so damned *cute*. And warm against my shoulders.

The cat is training *you* with positive reinforcement. Good job, Jedi!

[rickthefightguy.livejournal.com]

Orlando does the same thing. And it is very nice. Puck, on the other hand, cannot make the jump, poor old girl. But she manages to get behind me, between me and the chair back (I don't sit all the way back usually.) And that is startling, but very nice - a little lower-back warmer!

[dsrtao]

Well... do you actually not want Jedi purring behind you? [Most] cats are reasonably good about "I'm allowed to do that here, not anywhere else."

[jducoeur]

By and large, not while I'm working -- it's pleasant, but really too distracting. (Remember that I mostly work from home: I have an ad hoc home office in the basement.) I let Jez get away with climbing all over me while I've got the computer open in my easy chair, but that's usually just surfing, not real work...

[cvirtue.livejournal.com]

Can you arrange something that is temporary and will mean that he isn't able to jump there, which you can put in place when you need to work, and can remove when it's ok for him to be there? I'm thinking of something like a cardboard tent which makes a peak along the back of the chair...

[serakit.livejournal.com]

He's a cat. Cats are immune to all forms of discipline becuause they are higher life-forms than us. Although I can see why it would be distracting.