Some surely are in poor and childish ways kidding about harming cats but sadly many are not and for those folks just remember bad things happen to those with bad thoughts so dont come crying when something happens to you or things you care about. There are no bad pets just bad owners with limited exceptions, you get out of them what you put in and time, love, patience, and effort cant be taken for granted. Cats are smater than dogs, you can teach most anything to come to you or sit even a person with severe retardation but cats choose what they will and wont do if you allow it. They for the most part are too smart to buy into the notion of pleasing their caregiver like dogs often do. The old saying is true, dogs have owners, cats have staff.
We got very lucky with our cat, he actually listens, comes, sits and follows better than our dog (who is great at it too). There are always the few that simply cant be trained but those are a small minority, those that dont listen are far more often the product of owners that have not put in the required time and steps to mold a great companion.
Tinfoil, squirt guns, clickers, positive rewards of affection and treats, sprays are all ideas to try. Catnip near stationary activity centers with scratch posts will likely train and draw the cat to an area thats is fun along with their own, everyone wins.
