Strange cat behaviours explained

We take a look at a few funny and frustrating cat antics

1 Why do cats misuse the litter box? A cat with a urinary tract infection can have trouble making it to the litter box in time. If a UTI isn’t the problem, the box may be. Cats like litter to be clean and deep – they want to be able to dig and cover their mess. To learn more about toileting issues, speak to your vet. 2 Why do cats cry incessantly? Non-stop crying can have lots of reasons. Some breeds (Siamese and Oriental breeds) are more vocal than others. If your cat is older, its hearing may be impaired. Crying could also be a sign of illness, so call your vet to see if a check-up is warranted. Or, your cat could be hungry or know that crying will get your attention or a snack. 3 Why do cats act like alarm clocks? Waking you up early can be two things, the season and you. When summer approaches and the birds are up earlier, so is your cat. If your cat is inappropriately waking you for food, take action. Feeding your cat when it cries reinforces the crying; not responding to the behaviour with food teaches your cat there will be no reward for early-morning wake-ups. 4 Why do cats roll on the floor? This behaviour is designed to grab your attention, so look to the time and location of this strange drop-and-roll move for clues. Does it happen when you’re doing computer work? If your response is affectionate cooing or a tap on the head, you’re giving it exactly what it wants: attention.

Giving your cat what it needs to be healthy and happy is key, but like kids, pets act up. Preventing and correcting problem behaviour will make life less stressful for you and your pet.