Experiencing Cat Behavior Problems? Take a Look At These Solutions

Most cats have few behavioral glitches to tarnish the relationship with their human companions. Some of the behaviors that cat owners find irksome, such as furniture scratching and urine spraying, are in fact perfectly normal feline activities. Fortunately, most feline behavior can be resolved, or better yet, avoided altogether.

It is wisest and easiest to prevent cat behavior problems from developing in the first place. Correcting undesirable behavior once it is established is much more difficult. The longer of behavior persists, the harder it is to correct. Just as it is much easier for kittens then for more mature cats to accept grooming procedures, it is also simpler to train younger cats to use scratching posts and a litter box. Teach and reinforce good habits early.

Seeking professional attention as soon as a behavior problem develops is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure a timely and successful resolution. Not only can your veterinarian look for any underlying physical abnormalities that may be causing or contributing to the problem, if necessary he can also refer you to a behavior consultant who can design behavior modification strategies.

In some instances, your veterinarian may prescribe behavior modifying medication (such as antidepressants, anxiety reducers, or mood stabilizers) to assist in the process. Though rarely successful by themselves, these drugs can sometimes be beneficial when integrated with other behavior modifying strategies.

Never hit your cat. Physical punishment is not a positive solution to any cat behavior problem. Striking can make your cat more aggressive, and the cat will usually associate the punishment with you, making him careful of you, or teaching him to avoid you altogether.

Gentle remote methods are kinder and more effective. To interrupt destructive behaviors, spray the cat with a squirt gun or a can of compressed air. To keep the cat off of kitchen counters or certain pieces of furniture, put down some aluminum foil or double-sided masking tape on cardboard, which cats dislike walking on. Some cats will avoid areas containing lemon-scented air fresheners.

Mary has been writing articles for over 5 years. Please visit her latest website about cats at Cat Health Care [http://www.cathealthcare.net], with information on Cat Behavior [http://www.cathealthcare.net/cat-behavior.html] and other feline-related discussions that anyone with a pet cat will be interested in.