Our experts offer solutions
to the top 10 feline behavior problems
by Arden Moore
Hilary Platt's favorite photograph took three years, some Prozac and lots of loving patience to create. At first glance, you see a happy person and her cat sharing a sofa and staring back at the camera lens. A closer look reveals the true dynamics: Platt's smile is one of relief. Vera the cat conveys a look of tolerance as her body leans away from Platt.
"This marked the first time in nearly three years that Vera allowed me to get close to her. This photo marks our major breakthrough," says Platt, who lives in Meridian, N.H., and had been the target of Vera's hissing, growling, scratching and biting attacks since she rescued the cat as a frightened, starving stray kitten along a rural roadside near her home.
Desperate to stop these unprovoked attacks, Platt contacted Myrna Milani, DVM, an animal behaviorist in nearby Charlestown.
"It was to the point that Vera was clawing me [all the time]," Platt says. "Yet she adores and worships my husband, Jim. I never encountered a cat like this."
Dr. Milani's solution: put Vera on Prozac temporarily and give her the cold shoulder. Ignore her. Other than feeding, watering and cleaning the litter box, the Platts were instructed to even avoid eye contact with their temperamental feline. Gradually, they gave Vera small doses of affection as her temperament softened.
"Dr. Milani taught us leaders initiate and followers react," Platt says. "I stopped being a follower and took charge of the situation. When she growls or hisses now, I don't yell. I don't say anything. I just walk away. Vera will never be a perfect little kitty, but each day she shows improvement."
Do you have a problem cat? One you love and adore, despite its drive-you-batty behavior? Does your cat create more mayhem, mischief and madness than you care to tolerate? Are you running out of options?
CAT FANCY solicited the help of leading national cat experts to resolve the 10 most common feline problems. The challenge, they said, is to find out what triggers the behavior and treat the cause, not merely the symptoms.
Although each situation presents its own set of circumstances, our experts offer these remedies:
Catty Behavior No. 1: Avoiding the Litter Box
If your cat suddenly sidesteps the litter box and defecates on your favorite Persian rug or takes aim at the living room wall, get it to the veterinarian's office for a medical checkup. It may he allergic to the litter or have a urinary blockage.
If no medical problems are detected, your cat may be acting like a little stinker because the litter box stinks. Scoop out the contents daily. If the behavior continues, switch litters and boxes. And, don't overfill the pan. Keep the litter no more than 2 inches deep.
"Some cats hate those enclosed litter boxes because the urine smell gets trapped inside and they are vulnerable to other household pets that stalk them while they are going to the bathroom," says Roger Valentine, DVM, who specializes in cats at The Pet Allergy Center Veterinary House Calls practice in Santa Monica, Calif.
Other tips: switch locations and for easy scooping, spray the bottom of the litter pan with a no-stick kitchen spray before pouring in fresh litter for easy scooping, Dr. Valentine says.
Cats that spray walls and dampen carpets are marking their territory. They may feel threatened by a new cat in the family, a taunting outdoor feline trespasser or heightened household stress. If you can't pinpoint the cause, put your cat in a large crate with enough room for food, water, blanket and a small litter box while you are away from the house, Dr. Milani says.
Clean up messes promptly. Stay away from cleaning products that contain ammonia because urine contains ammonia compounds that attract cats and encourage them to return and repeat a mess. Finally, place the cat's food and water bowls near the targeted spots because cats typically don't like to eliminate where they eat.
If you catch your cat backing up against a wall with a quivering tail, calmly walk over, push the tail down at the base with your finger and distract it with a play activity, says John C. Wright, Ph.D., a certified applied animal behaviorist in Macon, Ga.
Catty Behavior No. 2: Clawing the Furniture
Cats claw to spread their signature scent, shed dead nail tissues and to express anxiety, says Larry Lachman, Psy.D., an animal behavior consultant in Carmel, Calif. They aren't purposely seeking out your most expensive — or treasured — sofa or chair to curb their urge.
"Redirection and prevention are the keys to resolving this behavior problem. If you catch your cat in the act, startle it by shouting, 'No scratch!' or by shaking a can with pennies inside," Dr. Lachman says. "Wait a couple of hours and then redirect your cat to a scratching post sprinkled with catnip. Reward your cat with treats and praise when it begins to claw. Your cat will soon figure out that it gets rewarded for working the scratching post."
During this transition, heighten your chances for success by applying double-sided tape to the targeted furniture. Cats hate feeling anything sticky on their paw pads, Dr. Milani says.
Recognize cats want and desire something they can call their own. Donate an old chair, buy a durable scratching post or give your cat a thick log with bark for sharpening claws. Place the log vertically because cats like to stretch upward when they claw, Dr. Wright says. "Forget about those dangling scratching pads because they sway too much for the cat to get a good grip," he says.
Catty Behavior No. 3: Displaced Aggression
Your two cats are suddenly acting like prizefighters as you watch helplessly from the ringside. Aggressiveness that emerges suddenly in one cat toward its housemate has many origins. It may be the result of a long simmering dislike, a traumatic event like a broomstick crashing on the floor (one cat may blame the other), a medical problem or the addition of a new pet or person to the household.
"Your indoor cat could also be displacing its aggression for an outdoor cat to the other inside cat," Dr. Wright says.
Success is never guaranteed, but you can help restore harmony in the household by feeding the feuding cats in separate locations. For intense tangles, try placing each cat in a carrier positioned far apart but still within sight of one another in the living room for 30 minutes at a time. Let them simmer down. Put treats in each carrier. Reintroduce the cats to each other gradually.
"Cats can't be happy and mad at the same time," Dr. Wright says.
If you notice the bully cat dipping its head, shimmering and arching its back end to pounce, distract it with treats or play. However, during the midst of a chase, stick to the sidelines and don't interfere unless there is bloodshed.
"It is important to allow each cat access to escape routes," Dr. Wright says.
Finally, when both cats are calm or napping, run towels across their coats. Then swap the towels and place them where each cat sleeps and eats to help them get used to the other's scent, which helps make a positive association with the other cat. "Cats are real olfactory organisms and can be influenced by smells," Dr. Lachman says.
|
 |
Catty Behavior No. 4: Ambushing Ankles
You walk down the hallway, turn the corner and e-owww!! Your feisty feline springs from its hiding spot and wraps its claws around your ankle. Many times, the cat is simply redirecting the need for natural play and possibly its sexual impulses (yes, even if it is spayed or neutered) toward you.
"Quite often it is a male cat or single cats deprived of sufficient play time," Dr. Valentine says. "One remedy is to get another cat for it to act out its play prey aggression."
Try to ignore the cat during the attack and walk away, Dr. Lachman says. When your cat is calm, avoid overstimulation by limiting friendly pats and strokes to 10-second intervals and never engage in roughhouse play.
Invest in interactive toys, such as wands with feathers or low-voltage laser lights made specifically for cats. Schedule five to 10 minutes twice a day to play with your cat.
One woman sought out Dr. Wright after weeks of being attacked by her cat each morning. The cat would hide by the spare bedroom door, spring and latch on to her calf. Her legs had wounds in various stages of healing.
"I told her to walk down the hall and stop just before the door and toss the cat's favorite toy mouse down the hall to elicit a play response. As the cat played with the mouse, she walked by. Now, her cat has a safer, friendly ritual each morning and lies in wait for the mouse," Dr. Wright says.
Catty Behavior No. 5: Constant Meowing
Your cat might be a born talker or be trying to tell you it doesn't feel well. Have your cat examined by your veterinarian to see if the cause is medical. If not, pay closer attention to the times when your cat turns up the meow volume. It may be telling you its litter box is disgusting, or it hears or smells a cat outside, or its food bowl is empty, Dr. Wright says.
For cats talking out of loneliness, leave the radio or television on while you're gone to keep them company. You can also set the radio or television on timers to go off in the late morning, Dr. Valentine says.
Catty Behavior No. 6: Morning Wake-Up Calls
It's difficult to be alert and clearheaded during the pre-dawn hours. Unfortunately, your cat may be clever enough to take advantage of your sleepiness by jumping on you, pushing up your pillow, pawing the window blinds or systematically knocking books off your shelf to wake you.
Before you get angry at the cat, blame yourself. Most owners trigger these early morning wakeups by feeding their cats first thing in the morning, It only takes a few times for this to become a habit for the cats.
"Your cat is looking for any signs of you reacting. By getting up and feeding the cat, even simply sitting up in bed and yelling at it, you are reinforcing the behavior," Dr. Wright says.
So, if you want a good night's sleep, change the habit. Give your cat its favorite food before heading to bed so it will sleep. Ban the cat from the bedroom by shutting your door. Distract the nocturnal feline by placing timer devices that shoot out cat treats or toys in the opposite end of the house, where your cat can play while you snooze.
Catty Behavior No. 7: Begging for Table Scraps
How can you say no to a pair of emerald eyes and a soft tapping of a friendly paw on your knee as you prepare to take your first bite of food at dinner time? Try feeding your cat its favorite treat in a different room at the same time. Or, confine your begging cat to an enclosed room far from the dining room until the dishes are cleared from the table, Dr. Milani says. The best advice: Never start feeding your cat table scraps in the first place. It won't know what it's missing, Dr. Lachman says.
Catty Behavior No. 8: Bolting Outside
Whenever you enter or leave the house, your cat emerges from nowhere and bolts for the door before you can block its path. What makes an indoor cat feel the need to prowl outside?
"The cat smells and hears other cats, especially during the breeding seasons, or it may be just curious," Dr. Lachman says.
Startle the cat with water from a spray bottle, a shake of a can with coins, and say "back" as you prepare to depart. Or toss your cat a treat or toy before you exit to distract it. Also, if your home has a front and back door, randomly choose different doors to enter and leave.
"A cat can't lay in wait at three different exits," Dr. Wright says.
Catty Behavior No. 9: Chewing on Electric Cords
By thinking like a parent and child-proofing your home, you can reduce the chance of frayed electric cords from chew-happy cats.
Consider placing conduit devices over the cords to stop the chewing. Coat the cords with smells cats detest: hair spray, cayenne pepper or citrus-smelling agents.
Often, cord chewing is a symptom of separation anxiety. Your cat loves and needs you too much. So, don't make a big deal out of your arrivals or departures, Dr. Lachman says.
"Ignore your cat for 15 minutes before you leave and 15 minutes after you return. Provide your cat with a food cube filled with freeze-dried liver treats or copious amounts of catnip to keep it occupied. Leave a piece of your clothing and a tape recording playing your voice to give your cat some comfort," Dr. Lachman says.
Catty Behavior No. 10: Jumping on Tables
By nature, cats like perching on high places. You can satisfy your cat's instinctive behavior and maintain control of your household by identifying which high places are off-limits.
To break your cat of the habit of leaping on the dining room table or kitchen counters, block off all but a tempting empty space with objects. On the clear space, place double-sided tape.
"Cats rely on their feet to mark their territories, so they like to keep them impeccably clean. When a cat jumps on a counter and sticks to the tape, it hates it and decides to get down and search for friendlier high spots," Dr. Milani says.
This strategy is especially effective because it works 24 hours a day, even when you're gone. And the cat won't connect you with the tape.
Arden Moore is a freelance writer in Southern California.
|
