Guide to Cats – Common Behaviour Problems

12th February 2016

Part 1: Common Behaviour Problems

Rule No. 1 – Scolding a cat is counter-productive. It is a sign of aggression and weakens the bond between cat and owner making any problems worse rather than better.

Confinement Stress
IMG_20150126_115822-300x224This can be a problem for indoor cats in a multi-cat household (cats behave towards their owner as if they were a member of their cat group so contributing to any overcrowding problem). With territorial animals like cats, disputes are usually settled by one withdrawing from the scene allowing the other to gain or retain the ‘territory’. Inside a house this is more difficult with the result that they are forced to live closer to one another than is ideal. Stress can result in health problems as well as allergic and inflammatory responses

Owners should consider the balance between the risks outside against the risk of causing stress through confinement or overcrowding. If cats are to be confined indoors, giving them the ability to climb is a great stress reducer – a cat gym or shelving for them to retreat to. Access to a bedroom can also reduce stress. It is not uncommon to see timid cats hiding under beds, on top of wardrobes or even inside them.

Fouling inside the home

Inappropriate urination in the home is more of a problem than soiling.

Generally indoor/outdoor cats are less comfortable using a litter tray indoors and will favour an outside location; they will choose a site at the edge of their territory as a form of territory ‘marking’.

Cats can soil in the home for a number of reasons that could include

  1. Overcrowding – timid cats can feel trapped and feel unable to use a litter tray so will find a quiet corner elsewhere. Also another cat might be ‘guarding’ the litter tray or the cat flap making it impossible for another cat to use it or exit.
  1. Stress outside the home – an aggressive male entering a female or timid males garden/territory may make it impossible for them to go to the toilet outside, so they come inside and ‘go’ where they can……
  1. Too few litter trays – the rule of thumb is 1 tray per cat + 1
  1. Dirty litter trays – the most common cause of fouling is failure to clean out litter trays and to change the litter frequently enough. Positioning is also important, the cat must have confidence that is not going to be disturbed. A litter tray cover may be needed for some cats and avoid placing trays near their food and water.
  1. Laziness or old age – Persians are particularly prone to fouling. Mobility problems in older cats can affect their ability to use be able to either use a litter tray or cat flap.
  1. Illness – cystitis, common in middle-aged females, can cause them to suddenly start fouling. Easy access to a cat litter and antibiotics should quickly resolve the problem.
  1. Litter type – it might be necessary to use trial and error to find the litter type your cats prefer using.
  1. Preferred place – cats will tend to return to the same spot, so it is important to clean up with something that will not harm them. Also avoid ammonia-based products as this will encourage urination. Moving the furniture a little or putting something in the cats’ way might help. Putting the litter tray there instead might do the trick.

IMG_0274-225x300

Spraying

Spraying inside the home is a far more common problem than fouling and isn’t always caused by the resident neutered male, but often by an interloper from elsewhere.

Uncastrated resident males are nearly always responsible for spraying in their own home, as it is a territory marking behaviour that castration normally reduces or stops altogether.

If you have had your cat castrated but it is still a problem, talk to your vet as there may be short-term progesterone drug treatments available. Otherwise you can try techniques like using a water pistol, fired from a distance and unseen, while the cat is spraying to help dissuade him or, having identified the favoured site, as mentioned before move the furniture around a bit or put an obstacle in the way.  You may have to turn detective as, in a multi-cat household, identification of the culprit can be difficult.

Next time: scratching and aggression