Unlike the dog the cat has retained a significant
amount of their wild ancestors’ behaviours. They
have learnt to tolerate and even enjoy human
interactions but they still need to be able to perform
normal wild cat behaviour patterns to remain
happy and healthy.
The vast majority of cat behaviour problems
occur due to stress; whether that be due to
circumstances beyond the owner’s control or due
to a lack of understanding regarding a cat’s normal
behaviours and needs and in some cases the
assumption that they should be treated in a similar
manner to a dog.
Urination, spraying, grooming, scratching, hunting
and nocturnal behaviours are all normal cat
behaviours. The problems occur when these
behaviours are shown in less desirable situations
e.g. when the owners are trying to sleep, in places
within the home or in excessive amounts, and
over-grooming (which in some cases can result
in self-mutilation!). There are often a number of
factors that can contribute to these problems.
One of the most common cat behaviour problems
is spraying or urination within the home. These can
often be as a result of stress. They can occur due to
feeling threatened outdoors by the neighbourhood
'bully', living in a home with multiple cats, decorating
or building work and in some cases something as
simple as a new piece of furniture or another cat
getting into the house. These are just a few things
that can result in your cat becoming stressed.
The stress of illness can be a common trigger for
behavioural problems, emphasising the importance
of a physical check up from your vet before
consulting a qualified companion animal
behaviourist. It is also worth knowing that stress
itself can cause a number of medical problems
including urinary infections which in turn, can cause
spraying or urination within the home.
Aggression can be caused by many
situations and unlike a typical dog, cats
have a 'shorter fuse' and are more reactive.
Misunderstandings with regards to how we
interact with our cats can cause seemingly
unprovoked attacks on owners. For instance,
research has shown that cats prefer to initiate
interaction with their owners rather than being
approached for attention (unlike most dogs
who will give and take human interaction at
any given opportunity!). Playing with your cat
in an inappropriate manner as a kitten can
also result in aggression problems. It may
seem funny when the cat is young to play
with them using your hands and feet to
provoke a chase/pounce sequence, but
later on when the cat gets bigger the
results of this can become distressing for
most owners.
The important thing to
remember is that there
are a number of measures
you can take to help
resolve cat behavioural
problems and in some
cases the solution can be
simple, providing they
are tackled sooner
rather than later.
Small Talk
Special Feature
Feline behaviour
by Vicki Harrington RVN DipCABT (QCF Level 4), Hook Norton Veterinary Group
When thinking of getting a cat, owners often consider them to
be less demanding than a dog. In some respects this is true but
the difficulties arise when misunderstandings occur with regards
to their cat’s behavioural needs.