counter cat

The Case Against Remote Punishers, or Why I Hate SSScat

An internet search for “how to keep my cat off counters” will turn up thousands of sites offering advice. One of the most common solutions is the use of deterrents: canisters that blast air when triggered by a motion sensor, like SSScat, or mats that deliver a shock when touched, like scat mats, are just a few examples. They have become popular because they are easy to use and appear to work quickly to stop annoying behaviors. Unfortunately, these devices can do more harm than good and are simply inhumane to use.

Air cans or shock mats are considered remote punishers. They punish a behavior without your involvement and can be triggered even when you are not around. They appear to work because the cat gets startled, the behavior is interrupted, and the cat avoids the area in the future. There are many problems with their use, however, and professional animal organizations like the Pet Professional Guild and International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants do not recommend their use under any circumstances. Let’s take a look at a few reasons these tools should not be used. 

They may physically hurt the animal.

There is no way to know what an animal feels. Even if a trigger doesn’t hurt you, your cat may find the experience painful. There is always a risk of the product triggering as not intended – imagine a sharp puff of air too close to your cat’s eye that could cause injury. There are even several reviews on shock mat products from users that tested it on themselves first and found even the lowest setting painful.

They cause generalized fear and stress.

Remote punishers work by startling the animal, invoking a stress response to avoid the surprising trigger. That stress can last far beyond the moment of receiving the shock. In the cat’s mind, they don’t understand when they’ll be shocked again so they might be afraid to go anywhere in the house. Their home becomes a mine field – they never know where they will hit the trigger. They might also associate the shock with you because you were in the same room, or they might start to fear the tile floor where it happened, or the music that was playing on the radio at the time. 

Generalized anxiety, in addition to being a negative emotional state that should be avoided for our pets, can lead to other behavior problems. If the cat is afraid to move freely around the home, they will spend more time hiding and avoiding interactions with you or other pets. They might stop using the litter box. They could display redirected aggression if they don’t feel safe.

Despite claims that these tools do not associate you with the negative shock, they certainly can affect your relationship with your cat.

They don’t always stop behavior.

Yes, a blast of air can cause your cat to jump off the counter in the moment. These tools appear to work quickly and effectively. But they don’t always work. The cat on the counter may jump to the floor to avoid the blast, which is what the owner wants. But she could also avoid it by jumping into the sink instead. Or she might decide that reaching the roasted chicken on the counter is more important than a little blast of air and ignore the canister.

We can also look at whether the cat tries to jump on the counter again. If they do, we’re not actually punishing the behavior. The cat hasn’t learned anything. To be effective, we would need to up the ante by making a stronger blast of air or dialing up the shock mat. Continuing to raise the level of a punisher pushes you closer and closer to abuse. 

Environmental management and positive reinforcement should be used instead.

Addressing a cat’s needs through environmental management and using reward-based training is the most effective and humane way to address problem behaviors. Keeping cats off counters may mean wiping counters after each meal or providing a cat tree nearby. (See the post “Keeping Cats Off Your Counters” for more ideas.) Your cat might be bored and needs more play in his life. You might use clicker training to teach your cat to sit on a mat when the front door opens to prevent door dashing. These non-invasive methods are best for providing what your cat needs, teaching alternative behaviors, and maintaining a happy and healthy pet.

If you would like help addressing your cat’s problem behaviors without the use of punishers, contact me at Pawsitive Vibes Cat Behavior and Training for a personalized plan.

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