Cats And Behavior Problems

Cats And Behavior Problems

Ilana Reisner

At some point in every human-cat relationship, the day will come when the cat misbehaves. It's a fact of pet life; sooner or later, your cat will do something that, to him, seems like normal cat behavior and to you seems like a nefarious feline offense.

When that happens, it's important to remember that no matter now inappropriate or inconvenient the behavior, most feline acts are quite normal -- for your cat. Simply understanding the normal behavior of cats can help you live with (and even appreciate) your cat's eccentricities. If and when your cat's behavior presents a serious problem, the situation can be tackled with the help of a behavioral specialist or your veterinarian.

What kinds of behavior problems do we see in our pet cats' The most common, by far, is urination and defecation outside the litter box. Although a life-long prevalence study has not been done, chances are good that every cat will have an "accident" at least once in her life; after all, cats care naturally seek unsoiled substrates in which to do their business. Whether or not a single event will develop into a repeated problem is unclear, but by far your safest bet is to try to prevent this from happening in the first place. As a general rule, you need at least one litter box for each cat in your home (single cats benefit from having at least two boxes). Another formula to use is the one-box-per-cat-plus-one-box rule: So if you live with three cats, that would add up to four boxes. Having enough boxes ensures that each cat will always be able to find a box that is clean, convenient, safe and private.

Another cause of out-of-box accidents is urine spraying, which is usually a territorial behavior. It is best treated by reducing the environmental or social stress that caused it. If your cat care does miss the box one day, a potential headache may be averted by seeking help right away.

The social behavior of cats is also often in conflict with our expectations. Many cat owners make an incorrect assumption that cats are happiest in numbers. In fact, given the choice, many cats will either live alone or will develop relationships only with a select group of others. Introducing an unfamiliar second or third cat into a household often leads to long-term conflicts. Cat owners are understandably upset when their pets hiss and bat at one another. Understanding that one cat's irritability does not imply "hatred" toward another can help owners live more peaceably with cat behavior. When intercat conflicts occasionally result in fighting or loud chases, the problem can often be helped by a professional.

Top Ten Reasons To Keep Your Cat Indoors

1. Kitty is less likely to be hit by a car crossing your living room than crossing the street.

2. You are less likely to bite kitty than the free-roaming pets outdoors.

3. You (hopefully!) don't have fleas, worms, or rabies as do many free-roaming animals.

4. You cannot transmit contagious feline diseases such as feline leukemia.

5. Bad-tempered neighbors won't complain as much or try to hurt your kitty.

6. Kitty won't ever come home looking like something the cat dragged in.

7. When kitty disappears, it will be cute - not alarming.

8. You won't have to go looking for kitty all over the neighborhood in the dark.

9. Kitty won't wind up in the local animal shelter.

10. Kitty will live a longer, stress-free, happier life and so will you.

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