Page 236 - The Complete Cat Breed Book (DK)

C ARE AND BEHA VIOR

BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS

Pet cats sometimes have (what we humans consider) behavior
problems, such as sudden aggression, scratching furniture, spraying
urine, and refusing to use the litter box. Such actions make perfect
sense—to a cat. Your job is to try to find out whether the behavior is
caused by illness or stress, or just a case of a cat following his instincts.
A stressed cat may You will then, with patience, be able to solve or minimize the problem.
be very destructive

Aggression having been socialized properly as a kitten. He may always
If your cat bites or scratches when you’re playing with him, remain wary of humans, but be patient and you may
stop play immediately. He is probably becoming overexcited eventually gain his trust. In general, cats are much more
or does not want you touching a sensitive area, such as his docile after neutering.
belly. Don’t use your hands as “toys” when playing with him,
since it will encourage him to bite or scratch them. Rough Chewing and scratching
play may trigger aggression, so make sure your children play Boredom may lead to stress and destructive behavior. A cat
gently and know when to leave him alone. Any pet dogs must that spends his life indoors, especially if he is often alone,
be trained not to tease your cat, to avoid a backlash. If your may chew household objects to relieve the tedium. If this
cat likes to ambush ankles or jump on shoulders, anticipate sounds like your cat, give him plenty of toys to play with, and
this and throw your cat a toy to play with instead. make sure you set aside some special time each day when
Should your cat become aggressive for no obvious reason, you give him your full attention. Scratching is natural cat
he may be lashing out because he is in pain, so take him to behavior that sharpens the claws and makes a visible and
the vet. Long-term aggression may result from your cat not scented sign of a cat’s territory. If your sofa is becoming
heavily scratched, buy a scratching post as an alternative
for your cat to mark his territory. If he prefers to claw at
the carpet, provide a horizontal scratching mat instead. Make
sure that the material covering the post is different from that

CATS AT WAR
Aggression may occur between two previously friendly
cats after an upset in their routines. For example, a cat
that has spent some time away from home, such as at
the vet, may be greeted with hostility on his return.