House Cat Behavior Problems:

"Avoiding Feline Behavior Problems in House Cats"

Use These Easy Tips to Prevent
Cat Behavioral Problems Before They Begin.

Cat Behavioral Problem Prevention:

We all love our cats and want them to be happy, healthy and well adjusted. Below are some great ideas to prevent behavior problems in our feline friends.

Learn as much information as you can.

Read as many cat books and magazines as you can to learn all the basics. Today there are so many wonderful resources available to learn how a cat thinks, how to select the best cat for your lifestyle and personality, cat care, health and behavior. You can check out your local bookstore, library, or view the bestselling books online. The most popular cat magazines are Cat Fancy, Cats & Kittens, and I Love Cats.


Never abuse your cat mentally or physically.

Abuse is the number one cause of house cat behavioral problems.

Never yell, hit or kick your cat or kitten. Felines are very sensitive and easily become stressed. Not only can the stress lead to all sorts of house cat behavior problems, it will ruin the relationship between you and your pet.


Annual checkups.

Take your cat to the vet once a year for their annual check up and vaccinations. Not only will it help catch a potential health problem early, it will allow your vet to become familiar with your pet. This familiarity will help the vet diagnose any changes.


Go to the same veterinarian.

Select a good veterinarian and always to the same one (unless a problem arises and you need to change vets). If your vet is familiar with your kitty cat, the veterinarian will be able to spot any changes in your pet's disposition, weight, coat and other signs of potential health or cat behavioral problems.


Entertain your cat.

It is very important, both physically and mentally, to play with your cat. Try to play with your cat for at least ten minutes each day. Not only will this add excitement to your cat's life and keep them in good shape, it will strengthen your bond tremendously.

When you are not playing with your cat, ensure there are lots of cat toys lying around. Ensure to include different varieties such as balls, catnip toys, shoeboxes, and scratching posts. If you have a large home, place a scratching post on each floor, or in several different rooms. For health reasons, a cat must have a place to scratch their nails and remove the outer dead sheath of the nail. If you can afford it, purchase a "kitty condo" type of scratching post (one that has multi-tiers and ramps), in addition to the basic post. I like to have two basic posts that I replace when they wear out, and then I have one "kitty condo" which I never replace (I just keep it for my cat to play and sleep on). View cat furniture, scratching posts and beds.


Change cat kitty litter regularly.

This is one of the biggest sources of house cat behavior problems (cat abuse is the largest contributor). Cats are very clean animals and prefer not to use a dirty, smelly kitty litter box. And some cats will flat out refuse. This leads to the cat finding cleaner areas to use such as a plant, a shoe, the floor, the stove burners (which is SO dangerous), and so forth. If your cat is not using their litter box, try changing it more often. The frequency will vary depending on how many cats you have, how often they use it, and how large the box is. I have one cat, the largest kitty box I could purchase, and I change her litter every three days.


Minimize change.

Cats are jittery little creatures that do not handle change and stress well -- they are truly creatures of habit. When they become stressed, they are more likely to act out in undesirable ways, and develop feline behavioral problems. Things such as changing the brand of cat food or kitty litter, changing your/their routine, adjusting your working hours, purchasing new furniture, having a child, and adopting a new pet, can all upset your cat.

If you must change something, try to do so gradually. For instance, if you change their food, start by only giving them a small portion of the new food every other day, and then increase it gradually over the next couple of weeks.


Neuter your cat.

Neutering and spaying are simple, inexpensive surgeries that can quickly improve the cat’s demeanor. Since it removes the urge for your cat to mate and stake their territory, spraying, fecal marking, fighting, roaming and dominance issues will all be dramatically reduced or ended. You will be left with a happier, calmer and more personable pet.


Keep your cat calm.

To calm your cat and comfort them in stressful situations such as moving to a new house, traveling or having houseguests, try Feliway. It is a wonderful product that releases synthetic "feel good" pheromones to reassure your cat. Feliway emulates the pheromones that a cat produces and leaves on objects when they rub their face or spray to mark their territory. When they do this, it actually leaves behind a "positive" pheromone, that helps to comfort and reassure the cat whenever they smell it again. Additionally, cats will not use urine to "mark" a place where they've deposited these pheromones.

So Feliway Behavior Modification Spray or Feliway Comfort Zone Plug-In Cat Odor Reducer diffuser is used to naturally control urine marking and scratching, calm cats in transport, and reduce stress in cats. Spray directly onto indoor urine marks, places the cat should not scratch, and areas like walls, doors, and furniture to control unwanted behavior. Spray pet carrier, bedding, and new furniture to calm cats and reduce stress. Do not spray on animals. View cat spray repellants.


Love Your Cat.

But the best way to prevent house cat behavior problems is simply to love your cat with all your heart.

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