Common Problems in Cat Behavior

Cat behavior often puzzles us, cat caregivers. In spite of years of domestication, they have retained an instinctual behavior, they had developed in the wilderness of Africa. Some behavior patterns, during the centuries of cohabitation with humans, were transformed to a lesser extent. When a cat behaves by our standards, we do not bother ourselves with the causes of its behavior patterns. However, when our cat develops a bad habit, then we are annoyed, angry, and not sure what to do. To prevent or stop a bad behavior in a cat, we have to understand their natural instincts.

According to cat experts, behind every problem in cat behavior, there is a certain reason. Thus, the common problems usually have their source in the inability of a cat to express its natural instincts freely. In nature, they hunt, jump, climb into high places, scratch and run around. They also prefer dusk and dawn for their hunting activities. Understanding cat’s instincts can help us adjust the cat’s environment to suit better their inborn, habitual behavior. If we motivate them to use a scratching post, they will avoid scratching furniture. Or, if we provide a cat with high perches in our home, then it will not climb on the furniture, tables, or counters. Whatever behavior in the cat we want to change, it is essential to think in terms of what we can do to meet their natural instincts. The article “How to Train a Cat to Stop Doing Almost Anything” gives us useful advice on how to use rewards to overcome the common problems in cat behavior.

Reinforce good behavior with rewards. If you’re trying to get your cat to use the litter box again, give it a small treat and a pet when you see that it succeeds. Offer a reward for every time at first; then taper down but continue to reward your kitty for good behavior. This will teach your cat that good behavior has positive repercussions, and make it more likely to continue doing it on its own even when it is not rewarded every time. Here are some ways to reward your kitty:[2]

• Play time. Reward your kitty with a few minutes of play.

• Attention. Just cuddle, pet, or snuggle with your kitty when they do something good.

• The occasional treat. You shouldn’t overdo this, but you can give your kitty a treat if they’ve done something great, like using the scratching post or
let you trim their claws.

When encountering bad behavior in cats, we should carefully examine their health condition because the common problems can emerge from illnesses. Some underlying disease can affect cats behavior in a negative way, especially when a cat suffers from pain. Toilet problem is a number one sign that can indicate bladder stone, a problem with urinary tract, or kidney disease. Thus, apart from keeping a cat toilet fresh and clean, we should be cautious about possible health problems and take a cat to the vet immediately when necessary. Even though our cats cannot speak, by learning, observing and knowing our precious pets will help a kitty to live long and happily. And a happy and healthy cat rarely behaves oddly.