Behavior Problems in Cats

Not using the litter box, shredding the furniture, biting the hand that feeds her--humans see these as behavior problems in cats. But to the cats, they're perfectly normal responses to what they see as behavior problems in humans. Here are the most common areas of disagreement between cats and their people and some ways to resolve them.

  1. Spraying

    • Cats who are stressed spray to reassure themselves by marking their territory with their scent. In a multicat household, provide lots of high places (cats like to arrange themselves vertically) and hidey holes so the cats can get away from each other when they want to. Catnip is a "friendly" scent and will discourage urine marking. Put mounds of catnip in all the places where your cat sprays.

    Urinating Outside the Litter Box

    • Cats can be very picky about their litter box arrangements. In a cat's eyes, the "purrfect" litter box does not have a top and is in a very accessible location. Ideally, you should have a litter box on every level of your home. At the very least, make sure the box is far from the cat's food dishes and the washer and dryer and furnace.

    Defecating Outside the Box

    • Some cats like to have two boxes side by side, so they can defecate in one box and urinate in the other. And many cats prefer defecating in an empty box with no litter in it at all. Putting a puppy training pad in the box will make cleanup easier for you.

    Clawing the Furniture

    • Cats scratch to mark their territory visually and with their scent. If you put a suitable scratcher near the entrance to your cat's favorite room, he will use it. If he's clawing furniture, also put scratchers against the furniture. If the scratcher and furniture are touching, he'll find the scratcher much more interesting. Scratching posts should be at least 36 inches tall and have very stable bases. Cardboard scratching pads should be wide enough for the cat to nap on. Other materials cats love to scratch are logs, carpet remnants and doormats.

    'Stop Petting Me' Aggression

    • Some cats become aggressive when being petted. Some experts think cats bite because the stroking becomes painful for them. Others believe the cat is just doing what comes naturally when reacting to a pleasurable sensation. Learn to read your cat's body language. When he swishes his tail, flicks his ears or quickly turns his head to look at your hand, it's time for the petting session to end.

    Predatory Aggression

    • Cats are predators, and instinct tells them to pounce on anything that moves. If your cat ambushes your feet as you're getting out of bed or stalks you as you're walking by, she hasn't suddenly turned "mean" or "viscous." She's just doing what comes naturally. If she attacks your feet, give her a large toy to bite and kick instead. If she stalks you, try saying her name and gently tossing some small toys or a handful of treats across her line of vision. She should chase the toys or treats instead of you.