Crash Course in Cat Behavior Training

Cats are fascinating and adorable pets that offer a companionship that is hard to beat. But there is more to your cat then purring and curling up in your lap. At times, they can be a pain in butt to the household too.  Scratched furnishings, ripped curtains, spraying urine on objects are just a few things that misbehaving cats can do. Cat behavior problems are number one reason why cat owners seek veterinary advice. Yet, many problems can easily be solved by understanding why they misbehave.

So what are the causes of misbehaving and what can you do about it?

Entire cats misbehave when they are sexually motivated

When the mating time comes your cat can exhibit extremely unpleasant behavior like spraying urine on various objects, meowing loudly in the middle of the night and getting involved in cat fights.

The answer is straight forward: get your cat neutered as soon as possible. It may take a little while until you see an improvement as the body needs some time to adjust to hormonal changes. 

Cats misbehave when owners don’t answer to their basic needs

Cats devote a lot of time to their body hygiene and they are very fussy when it comes down to the toilet business. They like their litter box clean and out of the way. They don’t like other cats using their box and they can be very picky about the litter. If something about the litter box doesn’t suit them, be it location, scent or the litter, they simply will find another suitable “toilet”.

Keep the litter box clean. Wash it at least once a week and rinse well to remove remnants of detergent. Put it in an easily accessible and secluded place and fill it with unscented litter. Don’t overfill.

Scratching is a perfectly natural cat behavior that keeps their claws in shape and furthermore is used to mark the territory. If you fail to provide a suitable scratch post, it will be party time on your furniture!

Cats misbehave when they are bored.

When cats are bored stiff they will do naughty things because they need to get rid of their energy in some way. Chasing around the house like mad, running up the curtains and knocking things over will help them to do just that

Boredom can be solved by spending more time with the cat. Playing with it regularly will not only help your cat to get rid of excess energy but it also proves beneficial in establishing a firmer bond.  However, do not play immediately after your cat misbehaved otherwise the cat may associate its misbehavior with you giving it more attention.

Cats just love to play with certain things

It may be a plastic bag, a curtain, your table cloth or anything else. They also hate certain smells so this could come in handy for you.  Spray unpleasant smells like lavender, citronella or a commercial repellent on those things to deter them.

Cat behavior training requires understanding, patience and consistency, but the results can be very rewarding. And after all, your cat is worth it!