Page 237 - The Complete Cat Breed Book (DK)

BEHA VIOR PR OBLEMS 235

TERRITORIAL SIGN SCRATCHING POST
Scratching tree bark is Your cat will continue
natural feline behavior. his territorial behavior
It leaves a visible and indoors (see left), so
scented sign to other give him a dedicated
cats, warning them that scratching post to
they are now trespassing minimize damage
into another cat’s area. to furniture.

of the sofa. Place the post close to where your cat
has been scratching. Rub some catnip into the post
to tempt him if he is reluctant to use it. If he
persists in scratching the furniture, deter him
further by cleaning the scratched area to take away his Litter box problems
scent—use rubbing alcohol, because cats hate the smell. If your cat experiences pain when relieving himself, he may
Then cover the area in something that cats dislike the feel associate his discomfort with the litter box and go elsewhere.
of, such as sticky, double-sided tape. So when he relieves himself outside the box, seek a vet’s
If he still will not stop, gently spray your cat’s rump advice. An all-clear from the vet will mean that the problem
(never his head) with a water pistol whenever he scratches. is probably something you are doing. If waste is not removed
You can also minimize damage from scratching by gluing from the box frequently, your cat may find the box’s odor
small, plastic caps over your cat’s claws. These are overpowering. Similarly, adding a cover to the box, to shield
available from pet shops, but should only be used for the smell from you, may make the smell inside too much for
permanently indoor cats. him. Switching to a new type of litter can also cause problems,
since your cat may find its texture unpleasant (p.211).
Spraying
Like scratching, spraying marks territory too, but this
TOP TIPS
behavior usually disappears once a cat is neutered. It may
■ To stop him from nibbling
recur if your cat becomes stressed by a change in his
on houseplants, coat the leaves
environment, such as the arrival of a baby or another pet. in a strong-scented citrus
To combat indoor spraying, distract your cat the moment spray that cats dislike.
you see him raise his tail to spray. Push his tail down or throw ■ A pheromone treatment
from a vet can solve aggression
him a toy. If there is an area he sprays repeatedly, cleanse it
or anxiety-related spraying.
thoroughly and place his food bowls there to deter further
■ If you have two indoor cats, give each
spraying. You can also line sprayed areas with aluminum foil,
a litter box. Some cats don’t like sharing.
because cats dislike the sound of their urine hitting it.