How Long Should Cats Stay in Timeout?

Cat owners use a variety of discipline techniques when their cat is bullying the timid cat in the family, clawing at the furniture or hissing at the baby. Some owners use a water bottle as an effective cat discipline aid. Others choose to put their cats in timeout inside their kennel. But how long should you keep your cat in timeout?

Make Sure the Time Fits the Crime

If your cat got into your son's toy box for the second time this week, placing your pet in timeout for 30 minutes or more is a little harsh. Make sure that whenever you put your cat in timeout you never let the cat stay inside the kennel for too long. Remember that it is unreasonable punishment when the cat is shut away for a great length of time and has no access to food, water or its litter tray. A 5-minute stint in the kennel should be sufficient to curb the cat's naughty streak.

Let the Cat Out when it is Calm

Cats often hate to be placed inside their cat kennel when they have misbehaved and will resist until they have no choice but to lie down and wait to be let out again. They know that once they are inside the kennel, they will have to patiently wait until they are let out again. If your cat was in a rage when you first placed her in timeout, wait until she has calmed down again before letting her out. This can take a few minutes, but should not be an excessive amount of time.

Set a Timer

If you are prone to forgetting that your cat has been placed in timeout (I must confess to being guilty of this on occasion!) then set a timer so that you will remember to take Fluffy out of the kennel after a few minutes. This can be an egg timer, an alarm clock or a phone alarm, that will quickly alert you and remind you to release the cat from timeout.

Cats that are placed in timeout often learn quickly that if they misbehave they will have to spend a few minutes of time alone inside their kennel. Do not leave a cat in timeout for too long, as this constitutes unreasonable punishment and can cause added stress to the cat when it is finally released. However, timeout that is administered fairly and consistently can serve as an effective deterrent and actually reduce a cat's mischievous or destructive tendencies.

More from this contributor:

How to Effectively Discipline Cats.

Is a Water Bottle an Effective Aid to Cat Discipline?

Use a Cat Kennel for "Time Out" When Your Cat Misbehaves.