Understanding Common Cat Behavioral Issues

Cats feel fear, pleasure, worry, frustration, and a host of other emotions that may influence cat behavioral issues, just as people do. Certain cat actions are natural, but others are not, and they may be a sign of a health or behavioral problem.

Here, we will discuss the most typical cat behavioral issues that cats have, how to fix many of these issues, and when to get expert assistance.

Why do cats have behavioral issues?

Cats are humorous creatures with distinct personalities. It might be difficult to determine the reason for their behavioral changes since there are many possible causes. Your cat could be purring and rubbing against your leg one minute, and then at three in the morning, they might be clawing you and yowling. It is advisable to try to comprehend this behavior, even if it might be annoying.

Due to cat behavior issues, adult cats are much too often abandoned or turned over to shelters. Seeking aid is preferable to giving up. Let us examine some typical feline behavioral issues and their potential causes.

A face-to-face consultation with a certified behaviorist is necessary for the complicated diagnosis and treatment of behavioral issues in cat. This blog’s explanations of the many kinds of cat behavioral issues are meant to assist you in understanding them; nevertheless, they should not be used as a substitute for expert assistance in resolving issues.

Cat Behavioral Issues Linked to Aggression

Fear, play, or predatory tendencies may all contribute to aggression toward humans. other cats bite to prevent humans from contacting them when they are eating, sleeping, or resting, while other cats may bite during stroking because they dislike physical contact.

If the cat is approached when it is aroused, the aggression may be quite severe. Fear is often a factor in aggression against strangers.

The unnatural, out-of-context threat or assault that cats exhibit toward humans when they approach or try to handle them is known as aggression owing to a lack of early handling.

For kittens to grow up to be amiable adults, they must be exposed to humans at a young age. But sometimes, these issues run in families. In these situations, the cat could learn to be amiable with its owner but not with others.

1. Moniker (Leave-me-alone bite)

Cats that bite or scratch persons who attempt to restrict their behavior are exhibiting status-related hostility. The “leave-me-alone bite” has also been referred to by this moniker. This behavioral issue in cats is not connected to resources like food, toys, or space, in contrast to comparable circumstances in dogs.

Play, predatory behavior, redirected behavior, fear, and maybe a status-related behavior where cats utilize violence to maintain control over food, sleeping quarters, or shared areas can all contribute to hostility against other cats in the home. Fear or defending one’s imagined territory might be the cause of aggression against unknown cats.

A cat will act aggressively out of fear in certain circumstances. Many forms of aggressiveness stem from fear. Cats that are afraid may attempt to avoid the danger that triggers their fear, but when they are unable to flee or realize that behaving forcefully would eliminate the threat, they may become violent.

Animals may behave violently even in the absence of danger if they are taught that aggressiveness “works” to neutralize dangers. Fear aggressiveness may also result from learning, prior punishment, temperament (acquired from parents), and poor socialization.

2. Maternal Aggression

Excessive hostility from a mother cat (sometimes known as the “queen”) to humans, other cats, or her kittens is known as maternal aggression. Aggression may be common at lower doses, particularly during the weaning process. Excessive hostility might be harmful to the kittens. Once the kittens finish feeding, the hostility should end.

3. Pain Aggressiveness

A cat’s protective response to pain is known as pain aggressiveness. It might occur when a cat expects to be handled or moved. Aggression may also result from some illnesses and conditions. Veterinarians rule out medical reasons for hostility because of this.

4. Redirected Aggressiveness

When a cat is kept from getting to its prey, it exhibits redirected aggressiveness. After then, the assault is aimed at a different person or cat. The cat will aggressively chase the human or other cat, demonstrating that its aggressiveness is not coincidental. For instance, a cat may turn and attack a third cat within the home if it sees another cat outside and is excited because it can not get to the outside cat.

Behaviors include stalking, pawing, pouncing, pursuing, and biting are examples of predatory aggressiveness.

Biting, chasing, and play fighting are examples of play aggressiveness that coexist with play activities.

Therapy

Preventing further harm to humans and other cats is the first step in treating aggressiveness. When cats act aggressively against one another, they must be kept apart and reintroduced gradually only after behavioral retraining strategies have been used. Similar to dogs, cats will participate in counterconditioning programs in exchange for food incentives. For an effective treatment regimen, it is important to enlist your veterinarian’s assistance. The likelihood that a treatment program will be effective increases with its initiation time.

Elimination-Related Cat Behavioral Issues

Because a variety of medical illnesses might lead cats to urinate or defecate outside the litter box, your veterinarian will always rule out any medical issues before implementing house soiling.

Your veterinarian will inquire about the kind of litter, cleaning procedures, quantity and placement of litter boxes, and how and where the incidents happen. To rule out medical disorders, blood and urine tests are usually required.

Box of litter

Urine marking, often known as spraying, is the process of removing pee via a little stream. The tail is lifted and trembling when standing. Urine is directed toward a vertical surface, such a door, wall, or curtain.

Neutering may help minimize or eliminate spraying activities in around 90% of cats, and urine marking is more frequent in male cats. Cats may indicate or show signs of worry by spraying.

Inappropriate elimination occurs when cats pee and/or defecate on horizontal surfaces, such clothing, carpet, rugs, or beds. Cats may have a substrate or site preference if they often visit the same spot.

Consistent elimination in a location other than the litter box is known as location preference. Consistent elimination on a certain surface or substrate (such as tile or carpet) is known as substrate preference.

Alternatively, cats may avoid the litter, the litter box, or its location if they do not use their litter for urination, feces, or both. This is known as litter box aversion. Once a medical issue has been ruled out, your veterinarian will concentrate on treating the behavioral problem.

Aspects of the litter (texture, depth, scent, cleanliness), the box (size, shape, hood), or its location that detract from its appeal, unpleasant experiences at or near the box (such as inadequate cleaning, noises, or pain from medical issues), or challenges getting to the box itself may cause people to avoid it.

If they are afraid or if there is cat fighting in the house, cats may also avoid the litter or box. Furthermore, some cats could really favor a certain smell, texture, or spot.

Therapy

Keeping the litter box as clean as possible, treating the underlying fears and any aggressive behaviors that may be linked to it, and figuring out your cat’s favorite litter, box, number of boxes, and placement are all part of treating feline elimination issues. Medication and behavior modification strategies may also be very helpful in treating the issue if anxiety or marking is a contributing factor. Punishment is not advised and can further exacerbate the issue. The optimum course of therapy may be determined with the assistance of your veterinarian.

Cats might also have other kind of behavioral issues.

1. Hyperesthesia

The condition known as hyperesthesia is not well understood. Particularly around the back, cats with this issue are very sensitive to touch. When handled, they could yell or become irritated. A cat may scream, run away, urinate, hiss at or bite its back, or groom the area excessively.

First, your veterinarian will rule out medical reasons, including skin disorders and discomfort, which might present with identical symptoms. In the absence of a medical problem, compulsive disorder might be the cause.

2. Compulsive behavior

Cats are likewise prone to compulsive behavior. These are otherwise typical actions that are out of context or happen so often that they get in the way of regular activities. Excessive grooming and chewing on wool, other textiles, plastic, rubber, cardboard, or thread are the most prevalent kinds.

Stress or anxiety is the cause of compulsive behavior in many cats. In Siamese and related breeds, chewing wool or other textiles is common and probably genetic. To handle these kinds of behavior issues, your veterinarian may assist you with medicines and a behavior modification program.

Scary situations or inadequate early socialization as a kitten might cause fear. It may be inherited as well. Cats may be afraid of new people, new dogs, new cats, new sounds, or new locations and circumstances including vehicle journeys, vet appointments, and new surroundings.

Additionally, some cats could be afraid of cats and humans they know. Fear may lead to avoidance, hiding, and potentially spraying, as well as threatening behaviors like growling or hissing and overt aggressiveness like biting or clawing. It is preferable to determine the source of the fear, if at all feasible. Following that, your veterinarian may develop a treatment plan that incorporates behavior modification strategies, avoidance (if feasible), and perhaps medication.

Numerous medical issues that affect older cats might result in aberrant behaviors. Additionally, they may exhibit pathologically aberrant behaviors that are more challenging to address than those of younger animals.

Similar to Alzheimer’s disease and senile dementia in humans, cognitive dysfunction syndrome in older cats may also result in confusion, agitation, anxiety, memory loss, housesoiling, and personality changes.

Consult your veterinarian to rule out medical concerns and create a suitable treatment plan if you observe behavioral changes in your elderly cat.

Where to Look for Assistance

There are several resources available to cat owners who are looking for assistance with a behavioral issues. Numerous veterinary medical specializations are recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association. These include board-certified veterinarians in surgery, internal medicine, ophthalmology (eye care), dentistry, behavior, and many more disciplines, just like human medical specialties. The majority of veterinary behaviorists with board certification are employed by private referral offices or veterinary universities.

Resources include the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and the Find a Consultant tool from the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior.

Additionally, some veterinarians with a particular interest in cat behavioral issues are not board-certified. Many of these veterinarians provide behavioral consults as part of their routine veterinary practice, and they have a variety of experience and knowledge in the discipline.

Non-veterinary professionals may identify as behaviorists and provide pet behavior therapy. Some have obtained certification, while others have a master’s or doctorate degree in psychology or a similar discipline.

Others, mostly trainers, provide guidance on resolving cats’ behavioral issues while lacking a professional background in behavior. Before scheduling an appointment, pet owners who want assistance should inquire about the experience and expertise of the behavior consultant. Veterinarians are the experts who can provide the most thorough treatment since many behavioral issues in cats may be caused by medical ailments.

Understanding Cat Behavioral Issues Is Often A Challange

Despite our affection for our furry companions, it is critical to address a cat behavioral issues so they may have a fulfilling life with us. Certain acts must be modified with the assistance of a reliable veterinarian since certain habits are normal and others are not.

We have been assisting pet owners with behavioral path correction for decades. Every creature that enters our facility is loved, and we are delighted to learn that we have assisted your cat or kitten in acclimating to their new existence. Get in touch with the our staff right now if you have any queries or worries about your cat’s behavior. Make an appointment right now; we would love to speak with you!