Cat Behavior Specialist

Is Your Cat Misbehaving? 4 Tips to Understanding Your Cat

Despite their status as the most popular pet in America, cats can still be difficult. With their sometimes aloof attitudes and unwillingness to tell us what they want, figuring out your cat can be tough.

When your cat, whether it's an Abyssinian or a Turkish Van, starts misbehaving, it can cause serious damage. From ripped curtains to urine-stained bed sheets, a cat on the rampage is hard to handle. Unfortunately, many owners give up on cats with behavior problems, but there are steps you can take to help your cat grow through or out of them.

To learn how to stop your cat from misbehaving, keep reading for 4 key tips on how to understand your cat.

1. Take your cat to the vet for a complete physical.

Sometimes a behavior problem can actually be a physical problem. For example, a cat that's urinating in strange places may be suffering from an illness or an infection.

Your vet can also offer suggestions and advice for problems that are behavioral.

2. Check the house for environmental factors.

Sometimes the solution is simpler than you think so check around the house for environmental factors that could be wreaking havoc on your cat's disposition.

For example, litter box problems are typically the source of rampant or improper urination. First, check where you're keeping the litter box - is it next to a loud appliance or in a heavily trafficked area of the house? Just like you, your cat wants a private and quiet place to do its business. You can also try a covered litter box, which most cats, particularly longhaired cat breeds, tend to prefer.

Next, try switching out the litter that you're using. If you're using scented, try unscented and if you're using non-clumping, try clumping. Some cats are just picky about their litter.

Finally, make sure the litter box is being cleaned frequently enough. Just as you wouldn't want to use a dirty toilet, your cat also wants a clean litter box. Also, make sure there is at least one litter box per cat as cats prefer to have their own.

3. Look to your other pets.

Sometimes problems with other animals in the house, like an aggressive older cat or a constantly chasing dog can lead to behavioral problems. Much like the child who acts out after being bullied, your cat may be dealing with those issues in the same way.

Always introduce new animals into the house slowly, keeping them separated from one another, but still able to smell and hear each other. Once they've gotten acquainted, let them co-mingle. If you're trying to deal with an existing problem, try using baby gates to keep your cats or pets separate from one another for a few days. This separation can help reduce anxiety.

4. Consult a professional.

Expensive and sometimes a last resort for many pet-owners, a pet behavior specialist may be able to help you and your cat work through your problems. According to the listings provided by the Association of Companion Animal Behavior Counselors (ACABC), a private behavior 1-hour consultation can cost anywhere from about $50 to $500, but most hover around the $70-$100 range

CS Swarens is the CEO of Find a Pet Online. 800 998-7065

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Cat behavior Specialists(? I dont Know how to word this....?
I have a cat, approx. 2-3y/o. We had a dog which recently passed away and we want to get her a friend, but another cat this time. We are scared though hoe she will react to this new cat. We are going ot be getting a young cat. Does anyone have any advice, or experience...anything really? thanks. my cat now is female, and the kitten we plan to get is also female my cat and dog got together very well. they would kinda clean eachother and the cat would balance on her back feet to reach our dogs face to rub up on her.

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due to financial problems I moved in with an uncle. My cat is not allowed in the house?
and has been confined in a room. I took a job where I am gone a lot, like months at a time. I finally found another job, but that isn't starting until a few weeks. I finally have enough money to move out back on my own. Now, I am worried I damaged my poor cat. He went from free about the house to confined to a room. I don't believe my uncle took care of him in the way I asked. I am taking him to the vet, and then placing him into boarding until I move in to my new place. My uncle called me tonight to tell me my cat has been meowing nonstop and sounds like a baby. I feel horrible all because of financial trouble. I didn't think I'd be this long at my uncle's house. I am finally financially better, but is there anything else I should do for my poor cat? Is the meowing just him being lonely? Any cat behavior specialists? When I get my own place is there anything special I need to do? or to watch for?

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Any Cat Behavior Specialists Out There?
My 3 year old Tuxedo cat has been acting strange lately. Normally, she is TERRIFIED to go outside, and won't so much as get her paws dirty. However, lately, at 11 at night, she BEGS to go out. She's spayed, so we know she's not trying to mate (plus, she tends to hate other cats). But when she goes out, it's hard to lure her back in, and we don't want to risk anything bad happening to her, so we do our best to avoid letting her out.Does anyone know what might cause a change in this behavior, or, more importantly, how to divert her attention away from the door so she doesn't destroy it? Thanks! Note: While it COULD be a friend, she has always been rather anti-social/aggressive with other cats (and with us, too). She seems to think she's superior to other cats, so I don't think she'd be mingling with neighborhood cats. Could it just be that she's adjusted to a schedule?

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