Cat Behavior- When It Becomes a Problem…
January 12, 2009 by lucky
Filed under Cat Behavior, Cat Problems
Cat behavior is a very fascinating subject, but unfortunately many people only show an interest in it when they are experiencing problem behavior from their cat.
This is a shame, as they are amazing little animals, and a constant source of joy. Who can stay downhearted for long at the sight of kittens playing, or your cat stalking a leaf blowing in the breeze? What better way of winding down after a hard day at work than stroking your cat on your lap, listening to her purrs of contentment? A lot of cat behavior is normal, such as sleeping for long periods during the day and night, grooming themselves several times each day and covering urine and feces with earth or litter. Other behavior, such as urinating in inappropriate places and aggression, is not normal, and can start to cause problems in the household.
Cat behavior problems may become so severe that their owners are no longer able to cope, and the cat finds herself in one of the many pet shelters. This is a very drastic solution however, and should only be seen as the last resort. Once your cat starts a behavioral problem, it is unlikely to disappear by itself as there is more than likely a reason behind the behavior. Sooner or later you are going to have to try to solve the problem. The earlier you deal with it the better; cats are creatures of habit, and once they have learned a behavior it can be very difficult to change it, even after you solve the reason for it.
Your first port of call is to find out as much as you can about the problem behavior your cat is displaying. Go to the library, look on the internet, and ask friends and co-workers whether they have experienced this. Online chat forums can be a mine of information as people will post problems for others to answer. You could take your cat to the vet to check that there is no physical reason for the behavior, however he or she may not be experienced at solving behavior problems.
If all else fails, you could try consulting a professional, also known as a ‘cat whisperer’. Your vet may have details of these, as more and more interest is being shown in cat behavior. With a little effort, cat behavior is easily understood.
Professional advice on fixing cat behavior problems.
Hi there,
7 months ago adopted another cat, Yoda. my resident cat Misa is two years old and Yoda is one. I followed proper introducing instructions to the book. The new cat tried to take over the house. I’ve been correcting this with the spray bottle and that’s working. My problem is with Misa, I’ve noticed that she’s not as affectionate with me, she’s not as playful, and it seems as if she hates the new cat, and he just wants her love. Sometimes, i put him in another room for an hour and try to have one on one time with Misa, but i feel horrible leaving Yoda in a room for an hour. When its just her, she seems to be normal. It seems that her problem is Yoda. I’ve been searching for ways to change this situation. Please help.
Hi Nadia, sorry to hear about your problems. Sometime it can take a while before two cats become used to each other, and unfortunately some cats just don’t get along with other cats and merely learn to tolerate each other. A couple of things that might help are; keep to the routines Misa is used to, for example feed her and play with her at the same times you have always done. It sounds as though she maybe needs some reassurance. Also make sure Yoda doesn’t take over any of Misa’s special places- her sleeping/ eating areas for example. Another suggestion is to establish Misa as ‘boss’ cat by making a point of feeding her first, fussing her first and greeting her first. That will send a clear message to Yoda that you see her as the dominant cat.
Things may also resolve themselves in time, especially when Misa starts to realize that Yoda isn’t a threat to your affections.