Why Cats Are Stubborn

Some people believe that cats are indifferent to humans at best, and spiteful toward them at worst. If you're trying to train your kitty, and he simply glares at you and bats his tail in annoyance, you may feel this way yourself. His stubbornness might be driving you bonkers, as he continues to knock your valuables off the tables and keep you up all night with his howling. However, this instinctive behavior comes from his cat nature. Instead of resenting or punishing it, a responsible cat owner must learn to work around it.

  1. Nocturnal Natures

    • Your cat is awake in the middle of the night. He howls at your bedroom door, wanting to be fed or let outside. Putting him in a cage doesn't seem to solve the problem, and neither does ignoring him. You might think your cat is being stubborn, and is hellbent on disturbing your sleep. But in reality, cats are nocturnal by nature. They sleep most of the day, and live, play, hunt and eat at night. You can retrain your cat by giving him ample exercise during the day, so he'll be tired when you are.

    Observant Hunters

    • Have you ever noticed that your cat is quick to knock something off the table when it's been placed there recently? For example, he might knock the day's mail off the hallway table, but leave a vase of flowers alone. Your cat isn't trying to annoy you; he's trying to maintain familiarity in his environment. Cats are hunters, and their predatory nature gives them a keen sense of their surroundings. When something unfamiliar appears in his realm, the cat becomes wary and tries to return things to their natural order.

    Scratching Instincts

    • Cats love to scratch. When you yell at your cat for scratching up your newly upholstered chair, he runs away in fear...only to start scratching up your expensive new couch. Your cat isn't being stubborn about training; he needs to scratch. According to the Animal Humane Society, cats scratch to trim their claws and reduce stress. Yelling at your cat will scare him, and make him want to scratch more. To avoid damage to valuable objects, place several scratching posts around the house. If your cat does scratch something of value, don't lose your temper. The cat won't understand that you're angry about the scratching, and will become more stressed.

    High Climbers

    • Cats are natural climbers; they enjoy getting a bird's-eye view of their territory, and watching people and other animals from a "safe" perch. Your cat might seem especially stubborn and incorrigible when it comes to visiting your kitchen counter. If so, figure out how he's accessing the counter (e.g., nearby chairs or tables) and remove these counter-walking enablers. It's also wise to remove expensive or fragile items from high surfaces where he's been known to climb. Installing a cat tree can satisfy your cat's desire for climbing and perching, and keep him off your furniture.