Behavior

Below is a list of behavioral issues we frequently run in to here at the Cat's Pyjamas and a brief outline of how we tend to deal with them. Some of these methods should only be attempted if you feel 100% confident. As is often the case, when dealing with cat's behavioral issues, our own anticipation can often adversely affect the cat's mood.

Biting

More and more we see cats who bite. Not like dogs, but in a playful way. Usually this behavior happens when you least expect it. When you are brushing the cat (who appears to be quite happy) or while you are playing with the cat. Suddenly, the cat turns around and takes a chomp out of your finger. When asked, I find many of the owners have been trying desperately to fix this behavior Here's what works for us: fight the natural urge to pull your finger away when bitten. Instead, push your finger to the back of the cat's throat. You don't want to hurt the cat, but at the same time you want this action to have meaning. When done correctly, the cat will actually open his mouth wide and try to gag your finger out. He will hate this. Doing this a couple of times is usually all it takes. top| home

Urinating

This is a more complex behavioral issues. The age, sex and circumstances of the cat need to be examined very, very closely. Of course, altering an unaltered cat will almost always fix this problem! The best line of defense is to first take your cat to the vet. First eliminate any possibility that there is a physical cause. Urinary tract infection, blocked anal glands, age, kidney disease are all possible culprits. Once you have the all clear from the vet, you need to look very, very carefully at what has changed in the cat's environment. It could be something as simple as rearranging the sofa in the living room. Perhaps you purchased a new cat litter or the cat box no longer meets up to the pristine nature of the cat. Putting food dishes too close to litter is another problem. Depression is yet another cause of inappropriate urination. Your vet can, indeed, prescribe medication to help your cat deal with anxiety and/or depression. top| home

Aggression

Aggression is one of the most difficult behavioral characteristics to deal with and should only be dealt with if you are 100% confident. An aggressive cat can indeed be a dangerous cat. First, the cause of the aggression. If this is a cat you have had for years and it is suddenly aggressive this may be a by-product of pain. A cat in severe pain can become aggressive, especially if you touch the painful area. A cat in pain may lash out with her claws. Take this cat immediately to the vet. To handle a cat suffering from pain-aggression, wrap her in a towel before putting her in a carrier. Wrapping serves to both comfort the cat and protect you from accidental injury.

Fear aggression is another form of aggression that comes on suddenly. While it appears the cat is in fact acting offensively, this is a defensive form of aggression. This might happen if you bring another animal into the house suddenly or if your otherwise quiet cat is suddenly spooked. A cat might lash out at that which scares them. This is often the reason why cats act up at the veterinarian. The fear of the car ride and strange surrounding precipitates the lashing out. This type of fear is eliminated once the fearful situation is removed. top| home

Waking

This is a common problem among cat owners. We all know that cats are nocturnal. However, if your cat is waking you up in the night, this is not acceptable! We are NOT nocturnal and the cat needs to learn this! Unfortunately, we are the ones that train cats to wake us up at all hours. A head-butt at 4 a.m. that is met with a pat is only a re-emphasis of a good and acceptable behavior Getting up to feed a cat at 6 a.m. because he's meowing, is actually teaching a cat to beg for breakfast. So, what to do? Easy. Do NOTHING. Do not talk to the cat, do not touch the cat, do not remove the cat, do not lock him out of the room. Ignore the cat completely. After a few days (get earplugs if necessary) your cat will get the idea and leave you be. If there's nothing in it for the cat, the cat will either curl up and go to sleep or simply go off in search of night prey. An additional tip: do not feed treats or wet food in the morning when you wake up. If you give treats at 7 am before going to work, your cat will get in the habit of wanting his treats at 7 am. That will include Sundays! Always give treats during the day or evening - likewise for wet food. Feed wet food in the evening meal. top| home

Lethargy

Lethargy should be dealt with immediately by a veterinary visit. While cats get progressively quieter as they age (as do we all), a cat that suddenly becomes totally lethargic may very well be ill. Do not hesitate to take your cat to the vet if you find she is not "looking like herself", sleeping or simply lying in an unusual place like in the middle of a room or facing a wall in the corner. Lethargy accompanied by poor appetite is a sign of illness. top| home