Behavior Issues
Why Does My Cat Do That? |
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| Behavior | What It Means | What You Can Do | Keep In Mind |
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Clawing Scratching |
Cat is marking territory and cleaning dead scales away. | Put a scratching post near your cat's favorite destruction areas,then reward herwhen the post is used. Wrap sites that should not be clawed with plastic, double-stick tape, or aluminum foil. Spray surfaces with cat repellent. | Use foil, tape, and plastic cautiously, since they're harmful if swallowed. To prevent cutting your cat's claws to the quick, let a veterinarian show you the proper (and pain-free) nail-clipping methods. |
| Ignoring the litter box Marking Spraying |
Cat has a urinary-tract problem, is marking territory by spraying, or has developed an aversion to some aspect of the litter box. |
Have your cat checked for a urinary-tract blockage, which is a life threatening emergency, or constipation. Put the litter box in a quiet area. Scoop solid waste from the box daily; replace litter weekly. Cover her usual soiling spot (other than the box) with foil or plastic, or soak it with animal odor neutralizer. | Don't punish your cat for mistakes. She will probably still avoid the litter box and may develop additional behavioral problems. Never "teach your cat a lesson" by rubbing her nose in feces or urine. |
| Finicky eating Ignoring food |
Cat is ill, dislikes the new food you gave her and wants the usual back, or has found a source of food elsewhere. | Rule out sickness; take her for a medical checkup. Stop feeding her table scraps. Have a private food dish for each of your cats. Clean her dish daily. Institute a routine; feeding time should be the same time and place each day. | Nutritional deficiencies can result if the cat's diet isn't complete and balanced. |
Phone: (262) 473-4769 Fax: (262) 473-0779 Email: tbapcats@sbcglobal.net