Cat Behaviour Problems - Possible Causes

No one really expects a cat to behave in the same way as a dog as far as doing things on command, but we do have a reasonable expectation that there will be some common courtesies observed between cat and owner. Therefore, when your cat starts to manifest behaviour problems such as not using the litterbox, showing aggression, scratching furniture etc., we need to take inventory on what might be causing this and set about finding a solution so that we can live in peace once more with our feline companion.

First:

Rule out any possibility that a health problem could be the reason for the misbehaviour. Animals cannot moan and complain as we do and so their only reaction to being in pain or discomfort is seen in their behaviour.

Once your cat has received a clean bill of health from the veterinarian you can now look for other explanations. Here are a few possible causes for cat behaviour problems:

• Changes on the home front - is there a new person in the house such as a baby or more human activity, like visitors, than usual?
• Have you introduced a new pet to your home?
• Have you made changes to your home. Are you having construction done or maybe purchased a new piece of furniture, carpet or anything that may have a different smell to it?
• Of course if you have moved and are living in a new home, chances are that this been extremely stressful to your cat.
• Are you changing the litterbox regularly? As a rule, cats will not use a dirty litterbox.

The good news is that most cat behaviour problems are pretty common and can be easily remedied. You just have to be persistent and consistent. If you only try something for 1 week and give up because there are no changes, you could very well be looking at an entirely new problem...trying to find a new home for your pet. No pet lover wants to come to that point when a solution can be found through careful and loving persistence. Cats are creatures of habit and with enough diligence on your part, your cat's behaviour problem will more than likely be an easy fix.

For more information, explanations and solutions the following books may be of interest:

• Cat Secrets Revealed - Plus Free Secrets of Cats Newsletter. This woman tamed and trained 11 feral kittens..and she had never even owned a cat in her life
• Solutions to Cat Behaviour Problems - For the serious cat problem solver only..the facts and solutions for your cat's behaviour straight from a veterinarian