Has your cat quit using the litter box? Does she participate in destructive scratching? Maybe he yowls nonstop? These are three of the most common unwanted behaviors cat owners experience. Let’s take a look at possible causes and how you can address these issues:
Eliminating outside the litter box. Unfortunately, eliminating outside of the litter box is not an issue with a straightforward solution. There could be several reasons that this is happening, including:
- Issues with the box or litter themselves
- Dissatisfaction with the placement or number of boxes
- Environmental changes in or out of the home
- Undiagnosed medical conditions
Take time to think about the possible causes. Have you recently changed the litter box or has a new cat been introduced in the house? The cat may no longer feel there are enough litter boxes, or he could be stressed about the new change. Finding the cause will be a process of elimination. If none of these have occurred, there may be a recent medical condition contributing to this unwanted behavior. It is best to take the cat to the vet for a checkup and ensure he is not suffering from a medical situation.
This particular behavior may take time to figure out, but don’t ever scold your cat for eliminating outside of the litter box. Instead, be patient and persistent. Once you have identified what the cause is, it will be fairly easy to get the cat back on track with healthy litter box usage.
Destructive scratching. All cat owners know that cats love to scratch. It’s built into their DNA. So while you can’t prevent cats from scratching, there are steps you can take to help them learn the right things to scratch. First, make sure your cat has enough cat-scratching items. There is no shortage of products in stores, and you may have to test a few in order to determine what your cat enjoys. Second, make your furniture a deterrent. You can start off trying aluminum foil. Most cats hate aluminum foil and will avoid it. If your cat likes to scratch the edge of the sofa, try covering it in aluminum foil. Chances are he will avoid this area and will learn to leave it alone. There are also a lot of options on the market, from protectant tape and to scratch guards, that will help to protect your furniture, doors, and carpet. In addition, these products will act as a deterrent. Lastly, redirect your cat when you catch him in the act of scratching. Simply tell him no, pick him up gently, and place him on one of his scratching posts. When you see your cat using his appropriate scratching posts, reward him. With repetition and persistence, he will begin to gravitate towards his scratching posts.
An important note about destructive scratching: Declawing your cat should never be an option. Declawing is the amputation of bone in the paws that also removes the claws. What many owners don’t know is that declawing often creates irreversible and lifelong consequences that result in more issues than what you started with. Try working with a vet or a behaviorist if you are unable to resolve a scratching issue.
Yowling. Is your cat constantly yowling? More than likely, your cat simply wants attention. To tackle this problem, wait for your cat to stop yowling. During that moment of silence, immediately give your cat the attention she is craving. If she yowls again, walk away and only give her attention again when she is quiet. If the yowling is at night and you know all her needs have been taken care of, completely ignore the behavior. She will eventually learn that no amount of noise will get her more attention. Lastly, don’t discount a possible medical condition. If yowling is a new behavior and constant, she may be in pain. Check with the vet to ensure the yowling is not being caused by a medical condition.