Cat Behavior

It's great to have a cute cat in the house. But when it starts behaving abnormally, you may actually start despising it. However, you do not have to leave your pussy in a shelter house just because she has started urine-marking outside the litter box. There are ways to handle behavioral shifts in cats. And the first step is to understand why such behavior occurs.

It's not just inappropriate urination that may make you tear your hair in despair, but there are many other behavioral traits that demand your attention. One of them is inter-aggression. This is usually seen when there are many cats in the house. The aggression may either be territorial, redirection, or non-recognition. One thing that you need to remember is- whenever cats are at their aggressive best, stay out of the fight or you might get hurt.

There's also the predatory aggression to watch out for. Actually, this not aggression, but their own natural instincts coming to life! Cats are natural predators. So, it's not surprising to see kittens displaying predatory behavior like stalking and pouncing on your feet or legs. This type of behavior is commonly seen in all cats which live without feline company. When such cats have no other cats to show their predatory play to, they turn towards their masters, who label them as aggressive.

One of the most annoying behaviors admitted by cat owners is furniture scratching. How these fur balls ruin your favorite and expensive furniture! But, have you ever wondered why they do this? If you learn the reason for this behavior, you may not find it that maddening. In fact, you'd be happy to install scratching posts around the house for your cat to exercise its claws. And please stop thinking of the declawing surgery for your cat. It's so inhumane! You're cutting off one of the most important part of your cat's body! Nail trimming is better.

What do you do if your cat develops fears? Fear is not bad; it keeps humans and animals out of danger. It tells them whether they should fight or flight. It is the excessive fear that you need to worry about. It turns into a phobia and may hinder the normal life of a cat.

There are three factors that may create fear in your pussy. The first one is the fear of other animals like dogs, other cats, or humans. The second one may be the fear of non-living things like loud noises. The third may be the fear of certain situations like going to the vet or being left alone in the house. You need to understand the fear factor of your kitty and handle it with care. Never punish your cat for fearing something.

There are certain cats which don't like to remain alone in the house and may display separation anxiety. Although cats are not known for extreme attachment with their masters, but there are some cats that do get attached heavily. And when this happens, you can see a sulking ball of fur hiding behind the sofa. She may even cry after you're gone or show extreme excitement when you return.

Most of us have heard cats, if not in our house, then in the neighborhood, who howl all night. Then there are those who break into a song of "meows." They won't stop until you've paid them their expected attention or given them what they want. This is hypervocalization. But, you do not need to get hyper over this issue, as it can be tackled easily. You just have to refrain yourself from responding to such noisy cats. In fact, this behavior is more tolerable than housesoiling!

So, the next time your cat behaves sheepishly, give her a break! Understand her feelings. At the end of the day, she's still your best companion.