Feline Advisory Service
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Common Canine Problems
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Urination and/or defecation around the home Aggression towards owners Aggression within multi-cat households Fearful behaviour towards people or other pets Introducing another pet to home Compulsive behaviours such as over-grooming or pica Excessive marking behaviours including scenting and scratching . Always ask yourself if your cat's lifestyle is satisfactory. Does it have adequate access and opportunity to express normal feline instincts? Our living arrangements often make this difficult to obtain. We often live near busy roads so wish to keep our pets safe as house-cats. This can bring other problems and frustration and lack of stimulation may cause undesirable behaviours to occur. When cats do have access outside they can also run into problems. The number of cats in a neighbourhood is out of your control and this may mean that many cats have to share the same territories. This can cause extreme stress responses, especially when there is a lack of hiding places or when all the cats are put out at the same time. Big Brother type scenario. We are by now, all familiar with the results of placing several strangers together in a confined space with little to do. Millions of us have witnessed the fighting and the tears, the avoidance behaviour and the desire to leave; and these are people who CHOSE to be part of this short term project. Imagine now the events when we recreate this scenario in our own homes with feline individuals. Social relationships are important and you simply cannot force together mismatched characters without some problems. Often, we develop such a love for cats that we obtain several of them, perhaps of the same breed but often simply due to a desire to help rescue cats from shelters. By doing so, often we bring together individuals who would normally never live within the same area. This can lead to anxiety and aggression. Spraying problems are more common in multi-cat households and the home itself may not provide ample space for the cats to live happily together. Introducing new cats can be difficult but by thinking it through and considering the age, sex, the number of cats already present, the personality types present, and the space available, you can make an informed decision. Punishment. Punishing cats is never advisable. They do not take kindly to it and it normally only results in a distrust of you or people in general. Normally punishment is inappropriate anyway as many behavioural problems are caused by anxiety or aversion. If your cat is toileting or spraying around your home don't go on believing he is doing so to annoy you; it is likely that something has caused him to be afraid to go outdoors or that something is not right with the litter box arrangement. These can be dealt with. Since he is probably doing these things due to feeling upset in the first place, it is not going to improve matters to scream, yell and smack. If the situation is causing you stress then call to discuss as soon as possible. If you would like to discuss your cat's problem please e-mail or call now on 0845 260 0364. |
As with all behavioural problems, you should always seek veterinary advice
before contacting a behaviourist. Many forms of feline behaviour problem are
actually related to physical disorders. Once treated, many of these will
disappear or at least be reduced, allowing behaviour work to be successful.