Cats are lovely pets; we love when they knead our laps, look in our eyes, and purr and rub against our legs. Sometimes, cats show some behavioral issues that are not desirable, such as excessive meowing and eliminating outside the litter box.
Cats can feel fear, anxiety, stress, frustration, hunger, and pleasure, just like humans that affect their behavior. Some of the cats’ behaviors are so annoying that they affect cats and cat owners. These behavioral issues need to be solved as soon as possible to maintain a healthy relationship between pet and owner.
Some most common behavioral problems you can face as a cat owner
Eliminating issue
Cats show different behavior problems, but the most common is refusing to use litter box and urinate at unusual places. Almost all cat parents face this problem in their pet parenting life when their furry baby refuses to use the well clean litter box.
Why cat eliminate outside the litter box
1. Health issue
It is a primary reason that leads to behavioral change in your pet. Cats having urinary tract issues often eliminate outside the litter box. It is not pleasant for you and painful for the cat too. When your cat shows this behavior, maybe she is in pain. This issue is common in older cats because they are more prone to UTI and arthritis.
2. Anxiety
A stressed or anxious cat often eliminates outside the litter box. Cats can get anxious due to any reason; your feline baby feels stressed when you change your house interior, furniture position, or adopt a new pet. The arrival of a new baby in the house may also make your pet anxious. Your cat feels insecure and eliminates at unusual places to mark her territory or make the things familiar to her.
How to stop the cat from eliminating outside the litter box
You can stop this behavioral problem of your pet by finding the root cause and fixing it. Although the cat shows these behavioral changes due to any reason, it is not acceptable; therefore, solve the issue as soon as possible to make sure your pet is living a healthy life.
- Visit your vet and ask to examine the medical issue of your pet.
- Keep the litter box clean and fresh, always.
- Scoop the litter daily
- Use the litter that your cat likes.
- Cats don’t want to use the litter box, which is not comfortable; therefore, try to find a large litter box. A large litter box is best for almost all bread as it gives a roomy space to your pet to do her business, and they can turn around quickly to dig the litter. You can buy an extra-large covered litter box to provide full room and privacy to your cat for doing her business.
Aggression
Aggression is also the most common behavioral issue in cats. It is a harmful or threatening behavior toward people, things, or other pets by your cat. Aggression can cause serious injuries; therefore, it is essential to understand the origin of your pet’s aggressive behavior to solve it successfully.
Signs of aggression
Your cat can show any of the physical signs of aggression:
- straight-legged upright stance
- Hardened rear legs, with the rear end raised and the back, sloped downward toward the head
- The tail is hard and lowered or held straight down to the ground
- Direct stare
- Upright ears, with the backs, rotated slightly forward
- Piloerection, including fur on the tail
- Constricted pupils
- Directly facing opponent, possibly moving toward him
- It might be growling, howling, or yowling
Types of aggression
Cats show aggression due to several reasons. Some common reasons behind this behavioral issue are discussed below:
1. Fear aggression
Fearful cats become aggressive to escape from the triggering threat. It occurs in a situation that makes the cat afraid such as visiting the vet.
2. Maternal aggression
Some cats have maternal aggression toward other cats, people, or children. It is excessive aggression shown by the mother cat. A little aggression in this situation is normal, but much aggression can harm the kittens and other people.
3. Pain aggression
It is a type of aggression that a cat shows in pain or some kind of illness. This behavioral issue occurs when your cat feels pain in moving or being touched.
4. Aggression due to less socialization
This aggression occurs in unsocialized cats; your pet may become aggressive to unfamiliar things such as visitors, pets, and even toward new furniture. In this condition, cats are friendly with their owner but aggressive toward other people and pets.
5. Play aggression
Some cats show aggression while playing. It includes biting, chewing, chasing, and play-fighting. Cats have predatory nature, and sometimes they show aggression during predation.
Why aggression is bad
Aggressive behavior in animals is not acceptable; if your cat shows aggressiveness, try to deal with it as soon as possible because an animal showing aggressive behavior can cause severe injury to itself, other people, and pets.
How to treat aggression in cats
You can apply some behavioral modification techniques to improve the cat’s behavior. You can use your feline baby’s favorite food as a reward for positive reinforcement. You can get the help of your vet for better treatment. However, the test and medication may be expensive, not more than your pet’s health.
Some other behavioral issues
Some other cat behavioral problems you can face as a cat parent are hyperesthesia and compulsive behavior.
1. Hyperesthesia
It is a rare disorder that can occur in cats of any age, but mature cats are more prone to it. Your cat shows odd behavior when you touch or try to scratch her back. This dramatic behavior lasts up to twenty or thirty seconds. Because of being a rare disease, it is much difficult to discover without a proper diagnostic test.
2. Compulsive behavior
It is a behavioral disorder that causes abnormal and repetitive behaviors in your cat such as, chewing leather, scratching furniture, and excessive grooming. There is no special cure for this disorder, but some treatments can help you reduce this behavior problem.
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