How to Determine the Cause of Cat Behaviour Problems

June 30th, 2009



Living with a cat that seems intent on making your life a misery can be very hard. Having a cat that is scratching carpets or furnishings can become very expensive in replacing all those damaged items. Having a cat that refuses to use its litter box can make for a smelly house. Having a cat that is aggressive towards visitors or even other members of the household can be very embarrassing. Don’t despair; even the worst cat behaviour problems can be cured turning your fur ball into the perfect pet cat.

Cats are not spiteful and will not punish you for doing something to them, if they are behaving badly then there is a reason for it. The way to solve cat behaviour problems is by discovering the underlying cause first and then fixing it. There are many possible underlying causes of cat behaviour problems and I am going to discuss a few of the more common ones here.

Possible Cause 1 – Medical Reason

If your cat’s behaviour has changed suddenly from the perfect pet cat into a psycho cat then it could be because of a medical reason. The most common change in behaviour is the avoidance of their litter box. This could be due to a urinary tract infection which makes it painful to pass urine. Your cat will then associate its litter box with pain and will avoid using it and instead find elsewhere. If a cat is in pain then it may also become aggressive and temperamental due to the pain that it is in. If you suspect a medical problem seek medical advice from a veterinarian.

Possible Cause 2 – Environmental Changes

If your cats behaviour has suddenly changed and it is not medical then it could be down to some environment changes. These can be things like moving house, getting another cat, the birth of a new baby. Even a new cat in the neighbourhood can cause cat behaviour problems. The most common change in behaviour for these types of causes are spraying indoors and scratching furnishings. This is a cat’s way of letting the new cats (or baby!) know that this is their territory.

Possible Cause 3 – You Cat is simply the boss!

If your cat has always behaved this way then it is because he feels like your home is his territory and he is the boss of it. This will mean that your cat will be aggressive to anyone that dares to trespass on their territory. Also as he is boss of his territory he can do as he feels within it which includes scratching and toilet areas.

So how do you solve such problems I hear you ask! Well, it’s not necessarily as hard as you may imagine. If you think that the change in behaviour may be due to a medical reason take your cat to the vet and tell them your concerns. In many cases once a cat has had treatment then its behaviour improves almost instantly. If you think that your cat is behaving badly following an environmental change then it’s simply a matter of reassurance and simple retraining techniques. However, if your cat is just ruling the roost then some serious retraining is required to get your cat under control and you back in control of your home. Article source

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How to Stop Biting Cats

June 25th, 2009


Next to litter box misses, biting cats are one of the biggest behavioral problem for their owners. Most cat owners do not understand this behavior among their cats thus they tend to fail to deal with it properly. Many feel that biting the cat back is a good way to discourage this behavior, but usually end up receiving a second bite or a lovely scratch or two in return.

One of the best ways to stop biting cats is to never allow the behavior in the first place. Using your hand or foot as a ’spider’ or other type of monster while playing with your kitten lets her know that attacking and biting is acceptable. Little teeth become big teeth and a cat who is taught to play this way as a kitten will usually want to play the same game in adulthood. My husband played with our female cat when she was young by rubbing his foot on her stomach until she attacked. Now fully grown, she will still periodically lay on the floor near his foot and bite and scratch it. He yells and I smile sweetly and mention that I told him that it was a bad idea ages ago.

Always be aware of your cat’s body language. If she is laying comfortably on your lap while you are petting her, pay attention to what she is trying to say. When she has had enough or you have touched a sensitive area, she will give warning before the impending bite. Signals will include a flattening of the ears, a flick of the tail and her head will turn towards your hand. When you notice this happening, stop the petting immediately. If you are still unsure, stand up to force her to jump down.

Cats who are stalking pretend prey will also bite. Again, body language will tell you everything. Before attacking, she will crouch down, flatten her ears, her pupils will dilate and she will swish her tail or wiggle her bum. Although this is only her way of honing her skills, the attacks can hurt if you are the target. If you see her preparing to pounce, divert her attention by rolling a toy across the floor or placing a stuffed animal between you and the cat. Allow your cat to wrestle and play with the toy and praise her. Another great cat toy is one that you can pull along the floor and let your kitty run after it.

If your cat does bite your hand, yell “Oww” or “No”. This will usually surprise her and she will let go. Pushing your hand towards her as opposed to pulling it away, as prey would do when trying to escape, is another way to make her let go easier. After you have your hand back, walk away from the cat and ignore her.

By being persistent and always discouraging or redirecting the behavior, biting cats soon quit using you as their main target. Article source

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