Common Behavioural Problems in Cats

Cats are considered mysterious creatures, so discovering the cause of certain feline behaviours can be a challenge. In this post, you'll learn about seven common behavioural problems in cats and how to help your cat overcome them.

Spraying

Spraying is a way for cats to mark their territory. You can usually tell if your cat is spraying if they back up to a vertical surface (such as a wall) with their tail straight up, and they urinate slightly. This is particularly inconvenient if you have indoor cats, as spraying can leave smelly stains all over your house.

If your cat hasn't been neutered or spayed, spraying is a sign that your cat is becoming an adult. Neutering or spaying will probably stop your cat from spraying. It is also a good idea to have your vet check that your cat doesn't have a medical problem such as cystitis, as this can also cause your cat to spray. 

Stress can also cause cats to spray, particularly if you have introduced a new animal or family member into the household. If this is the case, it is recommended to give your cat a safe space to call their own and ensure that their routine is consistent.

Going into the cat carrier

This is a very common issue: you need to take your cat to the vet, and you can't get your furry friend to get into their carrier. But it doesn't have to be like this!

It's a great idea to get your cat to associate their carrier with safety and home. One thing you can do is to have the carrier out all the time, preferably somewhere where your cat enjoys spending time. Place bedding inside the carrier, along with food, treats, and toys. Your feline friend will love spending time there and will hopefully comply and get inside when a vet, grooming trip, etc., is needed.

If you haven't had time to let your cat get accustomed to its carrier, you can still put the carrier in a small room which doesn't have many places to hide in which to hide. Close the door, and entice your cat into the carrier with treats or catnip.

Once your cat is in its carrier, it's also a good idea to cover the carrier with a towel, which tends to have a calming effect.

Aggression

Unfortunately, some cats can act aggressively, with behaviours such as biting, swiping and fighting. Firstly, you need to figure out what type of aggressive behaviour they're expressing.

Aggression between cats

If your cat hasn't been exposed to other cats or hasn't had many positive experiences with other animals, they might react adversely when introduced to a new cat. This is especially common when you're introducing a new feline friend into your household. It's also possible that even if your cat is relatively social, they simply don't like the other cat. All cats have their own personalities, and sometimes that means they'll clash!

It's never a good idea to let your cats fight. They don't think like humans, so fighting doesn't tend to resolve anything! Instead, interrupt them by clapping loudly, and give your cats space to calm down.

One of the first things you should do is ensure that your cats are spayed or neutered. Unneutered male cats can be particularly aggressive towards each other. Next, make sure that your cats have separate territories - provide individual food bowls, beds and litter boxes so they don't feel like they have to compete. It's also a good idea to give them more perches and areas to hide - this gives them more space to themselves.

Finally, it is a good idea to reward friendly behaviour. If you see your cats interacting or playing happily, give them praise or treats!

Aggression towards humans

There are again a couple of different reasons why your cat might be acting aggressively towards you. The most common reason is that your cat hasn't learned to play correctly. If you have only one cat, they may not have learned to bite gently or not use their claws whilst playing. This is because this behaviour is usually displayed when kittens play together. If your cat plays aggressively, don't play with your hands. Instead, use toys that are on sticks or strings.

Petting may be another reason why your cat is aggressive. Some cats do like being petted, but only to a certain extent. It may be that stroking the same place over and over again can quickly become irritating to a cat. It helps to understand feline body language. If your furry friend is leaning into your stroking, then keep going. If they're fidgeting or flattening their ears, it's probably time to stop!

Finally, you should check with your vet and ensure that your cat isn't sick or in pain. Cats are very good at concealing pain, and aggression can be one of the few outwards signs that something is wrong. Even a normally docile cat can lash out if you touch a painful area. 

Anxiety

Like many humans, cats can also suffer from anxiety. This can be due to many different things, including moving house, introducing a new human or animal, or significant changes to their routine. This can lead to your cat behaving in ways they haven't before, such as scratching or clawing the furniture, hiding or being easily scared. Again, it is important that your cat has safe spaces and places to perch. This will make them feel less anxious and more in control.

If your routine has changed considerably, it is also possible that your cat has separation anxiety. To help with this, you should make your home a bit more stimulating for your cat, especially an indoor cat. Having an adequate level of stimulation will distract your cat whilst you're out. Some good ideas would be to get more cat trees or perches that will allow your cat to look out of the window, as well as more toys. Read our handy guide on how to keep your indoor cat happy.

Destructive scratching

Like it or not, cats need to scratch. They don't do it to destroy your furniture - they do it because it helps them mark their territory, relieve stress, and stretch! However, if your cat is shredding your favourite armchair, there are a couple of things you can do to stop it.

Firstly, buy more scratching posts. It's a good idea to choose a variety of shapes. Your cat will enjoy having the choice between using a horizontal, vertical, or even diagonal scratching post. Secondly, provide a variety of surfaces. Some cats may prefer certain surfaces, such as fabric, cardboard, and wood.

To stop your cat from scratching on your furniture, you should put their scratching posts in their favourite places. Sprinkle or spray a bit of catnip on the scratching posts, and your cat will be in love. If your cat attempts to scratch the furniture, gently move them to a scratching post and praise and reward them once they start using it.

Jumping on counters & tables

Another common problem with cats is that they love to jump. On counters, tables, wardrobes - you name it! However, this can be dangerous, especially if your cat is fond of jumping on or near a hot stove.

Happily, there are some easy ways to stop this. A variety of cat trees or towers will help your cat climb and jump to its heart's content. You can make this particularly appealing by placing the cat tree next to a window so they can look outside (cat TV!). A comfy bed might also make a good spot to have a catnap.

You can also discourage your cats from jumping onto kitchen counters by ensuring that it is always clean and free of food. This will make them far less tempting, even to a ravenous cat! You can also line your counters with sticky tape. This will be uncomfortable for your cat, but it won't hurt them, and it can discourage them from jumping onto the counters.

Early morning wake-up calls

Finally, there's the problem of being woken early by your cat, usually caused by two things.

Your cat is hungry

Your furry friend might be a bit hungry, and they're letting you know about it! Unfortunately, cats are very good at training humans. So if they previously woke you up early and you fed them, this means that they now expect you to do this every time. To break this cycle, you'll need to feed your cat without actually getting out of bed.

How do you do that? With an automatic feeder. You can set it to distribute food before your cat wakes you up. This way, they get what they want, and you can sleep on in peace. If you'd like to train your cat to eat later, you can slowly set the feeder pop open a few minutes later every day. Eventually, your cat will get hungry when you're awake and able to feed them, and they won't yell at you to get out of bed!

Your cat is bored

Think about it - you're (hopefully) asleep for a good 8-10 hours every night. That's a long time for your cat to entertain themselves! Luckily, it's easy to stimulate your cat, even when you're asleep. You can simply hide toys around your house. Food puzzles are beneficial for this, as this will simulate hunting and give your cat something to do once they've found the puzzle.

As you can see, no matter how your cat is behaving, there are ways to figure out what's going on and how you can help them. And if in doubt, you can always contact a cat behaviourist to help you. 

Sandra James

Owner & Founder

The Cat Butler was set up by Sandra James in recognition of the fact that a stay in a cattery can be unsettling for many cats and also their owners.