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Cat Behavior Hints

Clawing---cats are hunters and used their claws to catch prey. We can teach them that people are not prey. With kittens, we do not want to allow them to scratch or climb on us.

Trimming the claw helps greatly.
With adult cats sharp voice commands or a loud hiss can deter them.
Most pet cats are clawing in play and avoiding the play will keep us from being scratched.
Donít tease them with your hands or feet
Use cat toys to play with them.
Understand that some cats have areas of their bodies that, if petted, will aggravate them and they may strike out---for some it is their belly, for others it is the lower back
If we handle kittens all over and get them used to being touched a lot, they may be more accepting of touch when they are adults.

Cats also use their claws to mark territory and place a scent on objects. Unfortunately this can result in shredded couches and drapes. Use nature to help...get a piece of log with bark still attached, and anchor it to a firm platform and hang toys from the top and they will likely be attracted to that rather than your upholstered couch. Be aware that many cat trees are covered with carpet and one might want to avoid them if the cat has also shown a tendency to claw the living room rug.

Spraying---is a natural way cats communicate outdoors but an unacceptable practice in most homes. There can be medical reasons for spraying and all cats that spray should be examined for potential bladder infections. ANY MALE CAT STRAINING TO URINATE IS IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION AND SHOULD BE SEEN BY A VETERINARIAN IMMEDIATELY

Some Basic Facts

Male and female cats can spray.
Unneutered male cats are required to spray by “hormone law.”
Castration will eliminate spraying in 90% of the cases.
Crowding can create stress and cats may spray to establish their space
Outside influences can be bad--an indoor/outdoor cat may run inside to spray if being tormented by an outdoor bully
Cats responding to outdoor cats will often spray at doorways, windows, on floor furnaces (ugh, when the weather cools and the heater is turned on...)
DIRTY LITTER BOXES will deter a fastidious cat from using it...some cats want to urinate in one box and defecate in another

Some Basic Solutions

Neuter all cats
Be sure there is no medical reason for not using the litter box
THE BOX NEEDS TO BE CLEAN. Get down to the cat’s level and take a sniff...now realize that is what your cat has to face every time it wants to urinate or defecate. How’s it smell??
Use a litter your cat likes
Have a box per cat in the household

Ask your veterinarian about facial pheromones or mode altering drugs

Getting Along--the new kitten in the household can cause some behavioral problems for the other cat(s). This is one time a perfectly behaved adult cat may start acting out and spraying furniture. The adult cat may hiss and spit at the seemingly innocent kitten.

HOW TO INTRODUCE A NEW KITTEN

begin slowly
have all kittens examined for any potential diseases before entry to household--test for leukemia and check for respiratory diseases
if the kitten must be brought into the house, keep it in a separate room with a towel across the bottom of the door to avoid air exchange
allow the cats to get to know each other under the doorway first
let them be in the same room under your supervision. They may hiss but as long as the adult cat doesn't lay its ears flat on its head and lunge at the kitten, the introduction is going fine. The kitten will take its cue from the adult and the adult will determine if they will have a close relationship or a mere tolerance of each other

HOW TO INTRODUCE A NEW ADULT

new adult cat introduced to other adults follows the same guidelines with an added caution. While most adult cats will not really hurt a kitten, adult cats can get into very nasty fights
never leave unsupervised until you are convinced they are tolerant of each other
give the less aggressive cat a safe place to get away...this will lessen the stress on the cat
use remote punishment on the aggressor---a strong spraying squirt bottle can be directed at the tormentor without its knowing
most cats will realize (unlike humans) that they just have to get along
be sure there is enough "space" for each cat---don't think you can have a bunch of cats in a small area with limited litter boxes and not have behavioral problems

respect your cat's inherent physical needs

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