|
Cat Behaviour Problems: The Most Common Problem And How To Deal With It |
|
|
Cat Behaviour Problems: The Most Common Problem And How To Deal With It
Cats make excellent pets and have recently overtaken dogs as Britain’s
favourite pet. There are many reasons for this shift but it may well be
a reflection of the fact that our lifestyles have become busier and
more hectic so we no longer have the time to devote to more demanding
pets. Cats need less space, less food, don’t need to be walked twice a
day and are generally easier to care for. However they can be prone to
behaviour problems which may lead to extremely unpleasant ‘deposits’
around the home, ruined furniture and limbs covered in bites and
scratches. Here is some information regarding the most common cat
behaviour problem and some tips to help treat it… Failure to use the
litter box or house soiling is undoubtedly the most common cat
behaviour problem. Cats may stop using their litter box/tray or even
have trouble learning to use it in the first place. One thing to
remember is that you should never punish the cat by ‘rubbing it’s nose
in it’. This method of correction has never worked and will only serve
to make the cat even more traumatised, thus adding to the problem. The
three main reasons for failing to use the litter box/tray are: - 1.
Medical Problems such as: · Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)
· Bacterial Infections · Tumours · Kidney Disease · Liver Disease
Treatment · Always take the cat to a reputable vet in the first
instance in order to rule out the possibility of any medical problems.
· If there is more than one cat in the household, all will need to be
examined. Once all medical problems have been ruled out, you can
consider the following: - 2. Problems with the litter box/tray itself:
· Not emptied often enough · Not clean · Too many cats using the same
box · Overuse of deodorizers · Changing the type or brand of the litter
· Changing the location · Too near to ‘frightening’ domestic appliances
e.g. the washing machine Treatment · Change the litter at least once
every 3 days or as often as daily for some cats · Ensure deposits are
removed on a daily basis · Clean the box with an odourless disinfectant
– there are many brands available designed especially for litter boxes
· If there is more than one cat in the household, make sure, where
possible, each has it’s own litter box · Introduce any new brand/type
of litter a little at a time, mixing it with the old brand/type. Do
this until eventually you are using only the new brand. If this doesn’t
work, you may have to consider returning to the old brand/type. · If
the box has been moved put it back to where it was previously. If this
is not possible, put the box on the spot that the cat is choosing to
use and then move it towards the desired new location at a rate of one
foot per day · Move the box away from the ‘frightening’ noise or move
the appliance that’s causing the problem · Consider a covered litter
box/tray. This gives the cat more privacy, which many prefer and it
also helps with odour control and prevents litter being kicked out of
the box. 3. Stress/Trauma: · New cats introduced to the household ·
Visitors, especially large gatherings e.g. a party · Workmen carrying
out work in the household · Moving house · A change in routine e.g. new
working hours · Problems with other cats in the neighbourhood · A new
baby Treatment · Try to give each cat it’s ‘own space’ within the
household and introduce them gradually spending a little more time
together each day. The unfortunate fact of the matter is that if the
soiling continues to be persistent, then it may be advisable not to
keep the second cat · Remove the cat to another area of the house along
with it’s bed, litter box, food and water when visitors are present ·
The above point can be used when workmen are in the house as well but
if it is likely to be for more than a couple of days or very noisy then
you should consider placing the cat in a cattery until the work is
finished · Tranquillisers prescribed by your vet may be effective or
consider products like Feliway also available from your vet as a spray
or in a diffuser · A new baby sometimes means the cat can become
jealous. Give your cat plenty of attention to reassure it that you
still love him/her Above all, remember that punishing the cat using
pain or fear will completely destroy any relationship you may have with
him/her. At the very least, discipline in this way is likely to
escalate the problem and will very likely result in the cat leaving the
household altogether to escape the ‘abusive human behaviour’.
Tags: Cat Training and Behavior Cat Behavior Cat Behaviour Problems Common Problem cat problems |
