Cats are fascinating companions. Every kitty has a unique personality and behaves in ways that are intriguing, perplexing and occasionally unpredictable. Most cat behaviors, such as sitting on your lap and purring, are pleasant. Sometimes, however, your feline friend may act ill-behaved or even destructive. Fortunately, our veterinarian in Charlottesville, Dr. Mahanes, can provide helpful cat behavior advice.
Our Veterinarian in Charlottesville Discusses Common Types of Misbehavior in Cats
People ask our veterinarian in Charlottesville, Dr. Mahanes, about all sorts of odd bad behavior in cats. Destructive scratching, aggression and inappropriate elimination are among the most common feline misbehaviors, and here are some of the common problems explained:
Destructive Scratching
Scratching is a natural cat behavior that helps kittens remove the dead outer layers of their claws. Clawing and scratching is a way for felines to mark their territories with a visual scratch, and their scratching is marked with an odor produced by scent glands from their paws. Scratching is also a way for your cat to stretch and flex their feet and claws.
Advice: provide a scratching post made from materials your cat likes to scratch, such as carpet or upholstery materials.
Aggression Towards Other Cats Or Humans
A cat that gets aggressive with humans or other felines may be in need of human interaction and play. A cat who feels dominated by another cat may become aggressive, for example. Sometimes cats behave aggressively when they want a greater amount of personal space and less interaction. Aggression is often a reaction to a stressful situation.
Advice: Learn to recognize the signs of aggression, such as hissing and a crouched stance. Observe your cat for during these signs and determine the cause of stress by observing their surroundings.
Inappropriate Elimination
Behavioral problems and certain health conditions can lead to this unwanted behavior. Urinary tract infections make it painful to urinate, for example, and this can cause your cat avoid the litter box because he associates it with pain.
Stress can also cause a cat to urinate outside the litter box. Cats require a sense of privacy and security when using the litter box, and may eliminate outside the litter box if they feel threatened there.
An issue with the litter box itself may lead to inappropriate elimination. Scented liners can upset your cat’s sensitive nose or the litter box might be in a distracting location.
Advice: Assess the area near the litter box, including the litter. Make an appointment with your veterinarian in Charlottesville to make sure your cat does not have a urinary tract infection or other health problem.
Call Our Animal Hospital Today To Schedule An Appointment!
When your cat exhibits unusual or difficult behavior, make an appointment with our Charlottesville Cat Care Clinic. Our veterinarian in Charlottesville, Dr. Mahanes, has the expertise to determine the cause of your cat’s behavior and suggest ways overcome it. Charlottesville Cat Care Clinic is conveniently located at 1901 Seminole Trl in Charlottesville, VA. Make an appointment for your cat today by calling (434) 975-2287.