Instructions
Check with a veterinarian if the habit came on suddenly or seems uncharacteristic, like urinating or defecating outside the litter box, vomiting, or excessive licking or biting. Some bad habits are actually the result of a physical problem that a vet can identify and heal.
Create new habits. Once a cat has a new habit she can rely on, she will likely forget about her old, bad habit. When the time is coming that the cat's bad habit rears its ugly head, change things up for the cat. Do not allow her to do the bad habit, but instead do something else she will like, such as play with a favorite toy, sit on the couch and cuddle, or give her a treat. Just make sure the new habit is something that can continue. Do this new habit every day at the same time (preferably at the same time the bad habit was happening). After just a few days, the cat will be perfectly happy with her new habit.
Refocus the cat. If a cat likes to scratch the couch, refocus her need for scratching to a scratching post. If she likes to chew the house plant, get a flat of cat grass for her to satisfy her desire for fresh greens. The key is to make the new option better than the old. Sprinkle cat nip on the scratching post, and place it near the favorite scratching couch, at least at first. Put some double-sided tape on the section of couch kitty likes to deter her. Hang the house plants to take away the temptation.
Reward the cat for good behavior. Some cats will not respond to rewards, but most cats like to please their owners. When they respond positively to some form of retraining, give them a pat on the head, a scratch under the chin or a favorite cat treat. Cats like attention, and sometimes bad habits are a ploy to get attention, even if it's negative. Do not reward bad habits with attention; instead, give the cat positive attention when she does the correct behavior.
Use deterrents. To keep a cat from doing something negative, make it less enjoyable for the cat by using deterrents like bitter apple spray, citrus, double-sided tape, bubble wrap, crumpled newspaper or a motion-activated sound device. Use the bitter apple spray or citrus flavor on things that kitty likes to chew, like electrical cords. Cover surfaces with tape, bubble wrap or newspaper to keep the cat off.
How to Stop a Bad Habit in a Cat
Cats are creatures of habit. Once they find a habit that suits them or results in special attention, it can be hard to break, though not impossible. Each cat has an individual personality, and working specifically with that personality can help make breaking bad habits more successful. For instance, some cats respond to rewards or positive reinforcement, while others will not and need to be refocused.