What’s up with that behavior?
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For the Crazy Kitties (courtesy of ehow.com) |
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| PROBLEM | REASON | WHAT TO DO |
| Aggressive scratching, biting and hissinng | Improper socialization, fear, separation anxiety, irritation due to illness or injury | Discontinue affection if cat gets aggressive. Reward cat with treats and affection for good behavior. Bring cat to vet if injured or ill. |
| Begging | Instinct, hunger, desire for affection | Feed cat right before you eat as a distraction or relocate her into another room before dinner. Never feed cat from the dinner table. Remember to say “no” firmly. |
| Fighting with other cats | Territorial instinct | Spay or neuter to curb sex drive. Keep cats indoors if fighting neighborhood cats; if cats are in same household, provide them with separate spaces. Clip nails. Use a water gun when they’re fighting to break it up. |
| Jumping on kitchen counters & furniture | Hunger, curiosity, wants company | Place double-sided sticky tape on counters to adhere to cat’s paws, or use a water gun; both of these things cats hate. Spray the area with cat repellent. Say “no” firmly and remove cat from forbidden area.Give positive reinforcement after pushing off counter. Give loving strokes and a treat. |
| Plant eating and digging | Hunger, curiosity, desire to induce vomiting | Make plants inaccessible; spray plant with cat repellent or hot pepper sauce; provide cat grass (available at some grocery stores, pet stores, nurseries) as substitute. Put wire over the dirt. |
| Scratching furniture, carpet or curtains | Natural instinct to shed old claws, marks territory | Put scratching post next to area cat has been scratching and rub post with catnip to attract cat; trim cat’s nails to reduce damage. |
| Spraying | Natural instinct to mark territory, cat feels threatened, separation anxiety | Spay or neuter cat to decrease territorial instincts. If cat sprays near window, he probably spotted another cat. Close curtains or drapes. Don’t leave dirty laundry around if cat sprays clothing that has owner’s scent. This indicates over dependence on owner. Wash sprayed area with citrus-based cleaner to remove scent and discourage future sprayings. Provide lots of petting and affection to reassure cat. Do not punish cat. He will not understand why you |
