Common feline behavioral issues
Cats are complex creatures with rich emotional lives and distinctive natural behaviors. Unfortunately, our failure to meet their unique needs and our lack of understanding of their operation often leads to problems. Behavioral issues are among the most common reasons cats are surrendered to shelters, despite these issues often being preventable or correctable.
SCRATCHING » Although scratching is an entirely normal and instinctive feline behavior, it is also a common cause of complaint by cat owners. Scratching serves functional purposes such as sharpening the claws and removing the outer nail sheath. Perhaps more importantly, though, it serves as a mode of territory-marking with scents secreted by glands in the paws. Social tension in multi-cat households can cause increased scratching (among other marking behaviors), damaging furniture, and irate owners.
While it isn’t reasonable to stop cats from scratching altogether, there are ways to reduce the behavior and minimize household damage. Clipping nails, applying plastic nail caps, and providing alternative outlets for the behavior are often helpful. Scratching posts should always be provided, ideally of various textures and conformations, in areas where your cat typically scratches. Identifying and alleviating causes of stress or anxiety can also help to reduce scratching behavior. Declawing is an extreme, painful, and highly controversial method of preventing scratching behavior. It is ill-advised and illegal in many places due to legitimate animal welfare concerns.
AGGRESSION » Aggression issues in cats can be related to fear, pain, play, predatory, territorial or mating instincts. Aggression toward people is often fear-based, resulting from a lack of handling early in life, but genetics, previous punishments, and other factors can also play a role. Like puppies, kittens require early socialization (frequent handling and exposure to new people and other stimuli) to become welladjusted, friendly, and confident adults.
Inter-cat aggression is common in multi-cat households, especially among unrelated feline housemates in different age groups. Status and territory/resource protection are common causes of inter-cat aggression, as unrelated cats do not like to share areas for feeding, resting, or elimination. In these situations, major aggression issues can often be prevented or mitigated by ensuring ample space, separate access to resources, mental stimulation, and safe retreat areas. Spaying and neutering are also essential in avoiding inter-cat aggression (and other problematic behaviors).
HOUSE-SOILING » Spraying (urine marking) and inappropriate elimination (urination/defecation outside the litter box) are perhaps the most frustrating behavioral issues cat owners face. Spraying is most often attributed to territory-marking but can also be a sign of anxiety. It is most common in male cats, especially those that are not neutered. Neutering reduces or eliminates spraying in ~90% of cats and is most successful when done before adulthood.
Contrary to popular belief, cats do not eliminate outside the box to spite their owners! There are numerous potential triggers, including medical and environmental causes. The behavior can be a sign of multiple health issues (such as urinary tract disease, kidney problems, digestive issues, musculoskeletal pain, etc.), so medical causes must always be ruled out before treating this as a purely behavioral problem. Once a vet has ruled out medical causes, it is time to look at possible causes of litter box aversion. Cats may avoid using the litter box because of fear of inter-cat social conflict, noises, odors, insufficient cleaning, location, or substrate preference. Treatment includes addressing sources of stress, frequently cleaning litter boxes, providing litter boxes in multiple locations, and switching types of litter. As a general rule, multi-cat households should have at least one more litter box than cats (e.g., three cats to four litter boxes). Punishment is NOT recommended and will often make the problem worse.
They all have their nuances, but many behavioral problems in cats can be prevented and managed by ensuring that their basic, medical, and behavioral needs are being met. However, cats are complicated creatures, and more specialized intervention (such as medication or behaviorist referral) is sometimes needed. If you are at your wit’s end with Simba’s sofa-shredding, bathmatpiddling, or housemateassaulting, please consult with your vet before throwing in the towel.
The ASPCA also has many helpful articles and tips to get you started: https:// www.aspca.org/pet-care/ cat-care/common-cat-behavior-issues.
Inter-cat aggression is common in multi-cat households, especially among unrelated feline housemates in different age groups. Status and territory/resource protection are common causes of inter-cat aggression, as unrelated cats do not like to share areas for feeding, resting, or elimination.