Like people, cats can experience a variety of emotions that can influence their behavior, including fear, pleasure, anxiety, and frustration. While certain cat actions are typical, some are not, and they may point to a behavioral or medical concern.(cat behavior problems).

Here, we’ll go over the most typical feline behavioral issues, how to deal with many of them, and when to seek out expert assistance.

What causes cat behavioral issues?

Cats are amusing creatures that each have their own distinct personalities. Finding the explanation for their behavior changes might be difficult because there are so many potential causes. Your cat can be purring against your leg one moment and scratching you the next at three in the morning. Despite how annoying this behavior can be, it’s best to try to comprehend it. Adult cats with behavior problems are too frequently abandoned or given to shelters. It’s better to get aid than to give up. Let’s examine some typical feline behavioral issues and what they might indicate.(cat behavior problems)

What cat behavioral issues are most typical?

Cats can exhibit a variety of irritating behaviors, from refusing the litter box to scratching your furniture. Some cats, particularly kittens, don’t understand the distinction between appropriate and inappropriate behavior. It’s good to know that you’re not by yourself. In actuality, 77% of cat owners have dealt with a behavioral issue. The following are the most typical feline behavioral issues:

Scratching

One of the most prevalent behavioral issues is furniture scratching, which cats use to mark their territory. Inappropriate home goods like chairs, rugs, and other furniture are scratched by about 84% of cats. Though this behavior is typical, it may make your cat more likely to worry about their area. They might misbehave if you alter the furnishings or toss out a damaged piece.

Chewing

Despite not being as ravenous as dogs, cats may nevertheless do some serious harm with their fangs. In addition to boredom and hostility, excessive chewing can also result from play and enjoyment of the texture and flavor of the object being chewed. Chewing habits in kittens may indicate teething or that they were weaned too early.

A Urine Mark

The most frequent behavior issue mentioned by pet parents is inappropriate eviction, often known as inappropriate urination. According to estimates, 10% of cats will eventually urinate outside of the litter box, whether as a result of illnesses, inflammation, bladder stones, stress, or tumors. Cats can become stressed and experience litter box problems as a result of disputes with other cats or household pets. This can also be the reason why your kitten is still in the litter-training stage and is leaving urine marks.

Aggression

There are several reasons why cats could become hostile toward people, other animals, or even their owners. Stress and anxiety, as well as a cat’s health issue that causes discomfort or hormonal changes, can all contribute to this behavior. This kind of aggressiveness is typically followed by warning indications, such hissing and cowering, which indicate that your cat is terrified. When your cat is overstimulated and unable to discern what behavior is appropriate, they may attack while merely playing. The best people to handle this issue are a veterinarian and an animal behaviorist because fixing it requires a deeper understanding of precisely what is generating this behavior.(cat behavior problems)

Having an Excessive Licking Habit

All cats lick themselves, but persistent licking frequently results from discomfort, anxiety, or stress. A cat’s excessive licking could be a significant problem and a sign that it is in distress. They may constantly groom other parts of their body or lick a section of their body till it is bald and raw.

Vocalization

Cats are loud animals, and they frequently meow to communicate their hunger or desire for play. Given that cats tend to be more active at night when their owners go to bed, it is normally common to hear your cat weeping and wailing outside your bedroom door. They can be famished, bored, or just need your attention. Siamese cats may meow loudly to get your attention because they are inherently more noisy than other cat breeds. On the other hand, daylight meows could be a symptom that your cat is in pain, and wailing might be a sign of senility in senior cats.(cat behavior problems)

How to fix cat behavior issues

The best method to understand your cat’s behavior if it suddenly changes is to take them to the doctor to make sure they aren’t ill or in discomfort. To help manage your cat’s behavioral concerns, your veterinarian can talk about dietary supplements, drugs, pheromones, special meals, and other options. Following that, you can start to reprimand your cat for acting out and assist them in overcoming the problem. Here are some tried-and-true solutions for dealing with your cat’s bad behavior.

• Undesirable Scratching can be dealt with by giving your cat scratching posts or condos where they can dig their claws in, keeping them off of your furniture. You may need to experiment with scratching posts with a variety of textures because some cats prefer particular fabrics and materials more than others. To ensure that your furry buddy has plenty of playtime, spread them out throughout the house in various locations. It also helps to put them on perches and tall surfaces. Pheromones can also be used to relax your cat and stop any scratching that can be brought on by stress or anxiety. There are sprays, wipes, and diffusers that contain pheromones.(cat behavior problems)

• The first thing to do if your cat has a chewing issue is to have your vet rule out any dental issues. If you rule this out, it’s conceivable that your cat is using the thing they’re chewing to vent any pent-up aggression. Pheromones and vitamins may be able to lessen this violent behavior.

• Litter Box Issues require immediate attention from a veterinarian. Your cat’s urinary behavioral issues can be helped by using special litter, diets, pheromones, vitamins, and pharmaceuticals. When medical diseases have been ruled out, the improper exclusion of those conditions is typically due to a benign source. Try switching to an unscented litter or a different brand if you think they don’t like the kind of litter you’re using, and make sure their litter box is kept consistently clean. Make sure each cat has its own litter box if you have numerous cats, and that the boxes aren’t too close to one another. Cats prefer their privacy when using the restroom, just like humans do.(cat behavior problems)

• Don’t reprimand your cat if it bites you or exhibits other violent behaviour. It’s advisable to ignore them completely because doing otherwise only makes the situation worse and could make the game more thrilling for them. Pheromones, vitamins, drugs, and special diets may once again assist control this undesirable behavior. You can also give your cat catnip or toys that encourage exercise to divert their attention. you keep things interesting, make sure you swap them frequently.

• A lot of licking talking to your veterinarian is a smart first step because it probably requires the opinion of a veterinarian or qualified behaviorist. To lessen your cat’s tension and anxiety in the interim, work on improving their environment’s sense of safety and security. Create a location where they can go without being bothered or use pheromones to give them a sense of security.(cat behavior problems)

• Try to give your pet more activity during the day so they’re less active at night if they’re roaring or sobbing uncontrollably at night. Be careful how you respond because they can be seeking attention, be hungry, or want to go outside. Your cat will learn to make these vocalizations in order to get what they want if you respond to them when they call for your attention.

Be careful to expose your kittens to a wide variety of experiences while they are still young since they are better able than adult cats to adjust to environmental changes. You’re considerably less likely to get a scared cat if you expose your kitten to anything and everything they might encounter as adults. By improving the quality of your pet’s life, you can assist avoid cat behavior problems by reducing their likelihood of being bored.

Remember : The earlier you socialize your animal buddy, the better because it’s preferable to prevent behavioral issues than to wait to address them. Nevertheless, behavioral problems can occasionally occur despite our best efforts.

Also Read : What to Look For When Adopting a New Cat?