Cats have been co-existing with humans for centuries. They are intelligent, smart, and beautiful creatures. These attributes have made them a popular pet choice for millions of humans. Just like any other living being, cats have their fair share of problems and behavior issues. In this article, we will discuss some of those and look at some specific issues to senior cats and kittens.
Common Cat Behavior Problems
Litter box issues
Cats, by nature, are clean animals and take their hygiene seriously. When a cat stops using the litter box for pooping and peeing, it is said to be suffering from litter box issues.
Causes
It has both physical and mental reasons. The physical reasons include ailments like diabetes, kidney issues, urinary tract infection, diarrhea, arthritis, constipation, pain in the paws, and dementia. The behavioral or mental reasons include separation anxiety, boredom, stress, size of the litter box, cleanliness, location, and quantity if you have more than one cat.
Symptoms
It is not pleasant noticing the symptoms of this cat behavior problem. You will see urine and feces outside the litter box. You will also notice urine marks and spraying on walls, carpet, furniture, objects, etc. Other symptoms include loss of appetite, vocalizing while in the litter box, spending much time there, high intake of water and other liquids, laziness, weight loss, and poor quality of fur.
Prevention
You can prevent his behavior in cats by getting to the root cause and fixing it. When you notice the symptoms in your cats, see the vet know the exact cause.
Breeds most likely to be affected
Cat experts believe that long-haired cats have this tendency more than their other counterparts.
Scratching
Scratching is a natural behavior of cats. They like to scratch things while playing, marking their territory, or while threatening or fighting with other cats. All this scratching can take a toll on your belongings. Sometimes, it becomes too much that we call destructive scratching, a cat behavior problem.
Causes
Cats scratch their claws to sharpen them, remove old and worn out claws and expose new ones. They also resort to it when they are excited, stressed, stretching, or marking their territory. They scratch their skin due to itching too. It’s their natural behavior and part of their grooming regimen.
Symptoms
Too much of scratching is a cause of concern which you should address. Also, over-grooming and too much chewing and nibbling can be problematic too. You can also notice marks of your cat’s claws on your furniture, carpet, and upholstery.
Prevention
Instead of telling them not to scratch, you should direct them to where to scratch and what to scratch. Introduce cats to scratching posts or boards made of different materials and textures. They can be of wood, cardboard, upholstery or carpet. Give them a variety of materials and sizes, so they don’t get bored. Keep your cat’s nails clipped, and you can also use plastic caps on them. Remove any objects that the cat will find worth-scratching from her range. These measures will help you deal with this cat behavior problem.
Breeds more likely to be affected
Scratching is a normal and even a healthy cat behavior. Nearly all cats do it so we cannot single out any particular breed.
Cat aggression
Aggression is among the common behavior issues in cats. It can be defined as acting dominantly and violently to intimidate others. Aggression in cats can be towards other cats, their owners, or strangers.
Causes
A cat’s aggression can have both medical and behavioral causes. The medical reasons include hyperthyroidism, central nervous system issues, osteoarthritis, and dental problems. Consult a vet to confirm. Behavior causes include fear, being territorial, playful aggression, petting-induced aggression, pain-induced aggression, etc.
Symptoms
The signs of a cat in an aggressive mood include the erect tail, arched back, flattened ears, and enlarged pupils. Some of these symptoms are shown by a scared cat as well. You have to closely observe your cat’s body language to know the cat’s exact condition and treat this cat behavior problem.
Prevention
If the aggression has medical reasons, then the vet will prescribe medicine, and your problem will be over. Suppose a cat has aggression because of behavior issues. In that case, you need to carefully study your cat and ascertain which type of aggression he is displaying and then go on to remedy that behavior.
Breeds more likely to be affected
Aggressive cat breeds include Sphynx, Siamese, Panthers, Cymric, Scottish Fold, Singapura and Bombay, etc.
Excessive night time activity
Cats have a better night time vision than us, which makes roaming around after dark easier for them. It is a normal cat behavior, but too much of it can be disturbing for the owners.
Causes
There can be different causes for this kind of issue in cats. Like in other behavior problems, you have to establish if your cat has some medical issues. If the vet does not recognize any medical problem, then you have to look into behavioral causes. Suppose a cat is your only companion and are away during the day. In that case, naturally, the cat will be asleep in the daytime and be more active at night. His feeding pattern could be compromised. He could be suffering from boredom and is not getting sufficient playtime during the day.
Symptoms
The symptoms of this cat behavior problem include playfully biting the owner’s toes or ears, jumping on his bed, walking around the home or in the owner’s room, playing, and nighttime vocalization.
Prevention
Assuming there are no medical reasons, you must adjust your cat’s lifestyle. Give your cat enough activities to do in the daytime so that it is tired enough to sleep at night. You should also ensure to feed him small meals throughout the day and one big one in the evening. There should be enough toys and fun activities for the cat in the day. Also, the owner should be there for his cat and give it enough time and attention during the day to not pounce on it when it is asleep.
Breeds most likely to be affected
Nocturnal cat breeds like Siamese are more likely to have this cat issue.
Play-induced biting and scratching
Play-induced biting and scratching are among the topmost common cat behavior problems. It can be cute when a kitten does it, but when an adult cat does it, the results are cute. It can be very painful and infectious too.
Causes
Assuming there are no medical issues, it’s likely to be a behavior problem. It usually happens during a petting session. A cat can get annoyed with prolonged petting, biting, and scratching to tell you to stop. Look for any signs of aggression in your cat while petting and stop immediately when you notice any. Sometimes a cat will become aggressive after seeing another cat and will indulge in biting and scratching.
Symptoms
Its symptoms are usually the same, which a cat will display when he is in an aggressive mood. These include an erect tail, flattened ears, arched back, and enlarged eyes.
Prevention
To fix this cat issue, first, do not present your hands and toes as toys to the cats. Start from when your cat is young so that it knows these are not playing objects. When the cat does it or about to do, it redirects its attention. Distract your cat with a toy or some other fun activity. You can also try trimming the claws of your cat to minimize any potential harm. Train your cat that it’s bad behavior and firmly say “NO” when it happens. As a last resort, grab your cat by the scruff if you think it will inflict serious injury. Usually, mother cats grab their unruly kittens like this, so it should get the message across.
Breeds most likely to be affected
This type of cat behavior is quite common in Siamese cats.
Spraying/Urine-marking
This peculiar cat behavior problem is also quite common and has its roots in cats’ wild ancestry. Spraying means urinating against a vertical space with a quivering tail. Urine marking is when a cat uses its urine to mark an area as its territory.
Causes
Cats like to leave their scent in the areas where they live. They do this by touching, rubbing paws, and urinating. It is their way of telling other cats to beware. Another reason for this cat behavior includes stress. There could be medical reasons, too, like urinary tract infection, especially among male cats. An unneutered cat is also more likely to do this, especially the need to find a mate.
Symptoms
You will see the vertical marking of urine on the walls and notice their pungent smell.
Prevention
You can fix this issue in cats in several ways. If you have an intact adult cat, get it neutered right away. Do it when your cat is five months old to prevent this problem from occurring. Keep your cat’s litterbox in an easily accessible location. Make sure it is clean and big enough to accommodate your cat or cats. If you have only one cat, keep him away from where he cannot see other cats. If you have more than one cat and one of them is spraying, isolate him, and see if it improves.
Breeds most likely to be affected
It is a normal cat behavior. Any breed of cat can do it. You will have to train them not to do it.
Hyperesthesia
It is a strange disorder that can afflict a cat of any age. A cat suffering from Hyperesthesia may resort to one particular behavior before leaving it halfway and doing another, then returning to the first one and doing it more aggressively. It is a sort of a compulsive disorder where the cat is in a perpetual state of conflict.
Causes
Its exact causes are unknown. Scientists are still studying it to get to know about its causes. It could be genetic. Thankfully it is not among the common issues in cats.
Symptoms
The symptoms of this cat behavior problem include excessive and frantic grooming, scratching or biting or obsessively licking the back or tail, running around the house, rolling of the skin around the back, uncontrollable urination, salivation, and too much vocalization.
Prevention
Since we do not know its exact causes so we cannot prevent its onset, we can manage or treat it. There are medications for stabilizing the mood and anxiety in cats. Your vet will prescribe them. You can ensure that your cat is getting a good diet at a scheduled time, is getting enough playtime and exercise, and getting enough sleep. These will help in treating this behavior issue.
Breeds most likely to be affected
Asian breeds like Siamese, Burmese, Persian, and Abyssinian are more at risk of getting this cat behavior.
Compulsive Behavior
Obsessive-compulsive disorder or compulsive behavior is an issue in cats where a cat will do something repetitively, aggressively and in a heightened way with no apparent reason or meaning.
Causes
Its causes lie in genetic disposition to physical ailments like food allergies, neurological disorders, skin problems, and other such painful afflictions. There can be behavior issues like anxiety, stress, boredom, etc. at play. Consult your vet to determine the exact cause.
Symptoms
This cat behavior problem can manifest itself in ways like overzealous personal grooming, self-mutilation, self-harm, pouncing on invisible preys, running and jumping, self-directed aggression, paw shaking, excessive vocalization, Hyperesthesia, etc.
Prevention
Its prevention lies in first diagnosing the exact cause and then treating it accordingly. Get in touch with your vet. There are anti-anxiety medicines and supplements to calm your cat’s nerves. You, on your part, must take care of your cat’s needs and requirements. Give him a healthy diet regularly. Take out time for him and indulge in playful activities with him. Keep him engaged cheerfully.
Breeds most likely to be affected
Siamese and other oriental breeds have these behavior issues.
Fear
Fear is a natural reaction against an external stimulus that seems dangerous or threatening. It is prevalent in all living beings; cats are no exceptions. It is among the common cat behavior issues.
Causes
There can be multiple causes of fear in cats. It can be a result of some injury or ailment, anxiety, trauma, thunderous sound, change in residence, bullying from people or other animals, environment, loneliness, lack of social interaction, etc.
Symptoms
The common signs of fear in cats are; excessive grooming and vocalization, abnormal weight loss or gain, change in appetite, laziness, social withdrawal, trembling, house soiling, etc.
Prevention
Its prevention lies in mitigating the factors that lead to fear. Always keep a lookout on your cat’s body language and see what it is trying to say to you. If something is bothering it, try finding and removing that cause. Socialize your cat from an early age so that it is not afraid of people or situations. If the fear is a result of some illness, seek medical attention. The treatment can be a combination of lifestyle adjustments and medication for this cat behavior problem.
Breeds most likely to be affected
There isn’t any particular breed that is predisposed to develop this cat issue. We can say circumstances can make any cat fearful.
Getting lost or confused easily
Among the cat behavior issues, this is usually seen in senior cats. As the cats’ age, they begin to lose their normal brain functions. It is also referred to as cognitive dysfunction syndrome.
Causes
Old age is the usual cause here. But there can be other reasons too. These may include neurological disorder, renal failure, hyperthyroidism, injury, accident, stress, separation anxiety, boredom, etc.
Symptoms
Its signs include getting lost in familiar surroundings, aimless wandering, staring in space, or at some object, finding hard to go through obstacles, social withdrawal, clingy behavior, etc.
Prevention
You can probably not prevent it completely, but you can delay the cat behavior problem’s arrival. The key is to provide your kitty a healthy, happy, and wholesome life. Take care of its needs and requirements. A balanced and nutritious diet is very important. Keep him mentally and physically stimulated. There are medications too, which you can take as per your vet’s advice.
Breeds most likely to be affected
Nearly all breeds of cats are at risk here. As the cats become older, they are likely to develop this syndrome.
Becoming more anxious and irritable
Cats can suffer from bouts of anxiety and irritation, just like we humans do. This cat behavior is more pronounced in senior cats, but young ones can be affected too.
Causes
The reasons for this type of behavior issue are varied and diverse. A cat could be suffering from some illness that has affected its nervous system. Other medical conditions may include arthritis, kidney issues, or some other infection, etc. Psychologically, a cat can have Anxiety and irritable behavior due to some trauma, dementia, aging brain, less socialization, a feeling of neglect, etc. Something as insignificant as a new piece of furniture can also trigger this behavior and a new member in the family or a new home altogether.
Symptoms
Look for signs like social withdrawal and hiding, trembling, not using the litter box, aggression, diarrhea, lethargy, over-grooming, etc. These are the signs that your cat is a victim of Anxiety and irritability.
Prevention
It’s always a good idea to visit your vet regularly. He can identify any problem in your pet long before it becomes a big problem. In this case, too, a vet should diagnose this behavior and its underlying causes. If some physical sickness causes it, then he will treat it accordingly. If it is a behavioral issue, then it requires a different set of treatments. There are anti-anxiety drugs as well as lifestyle changes that can make your cat relaxed.
Breeds more likely to be affected
Oriental cat breeds are more susceptible to these cat behavior problems.
Senior Cat Problems
Learning and Memory Confusion
As the cats become old, their brains slow down. This slowing down is manifested in a different set of cat behaviors. Learning and memory confusion is one of them. It is one of the senior cat behavior problems. A vet will prescribe medication and lifestyle changes for this kind of cat issue.
Spatial disorientation
Spatial disorientation is also linked to the slowing down of brain functions. This behavior is part of what we collectively call cognitive dysfunction syndrome. A cat will behave lost in familiar settings. It will have a hard time finding its way. You can delay the onset of such behaviors with a healthy diet and engaging activities for your cat.
Apathetic Anxiety
Apathetic Anxiety is a kind of depression induced behavior in a cat. It can happen in young cats too, but senior cats are prone to it. If you have been a loving companion of your cat and used to give him time, care, and attention, you can save your cat from this behavior in later years.
Increased irritability
Increased irritability is another senior cat behavior issue. A cat can get cranky due to old age, as old age brings with itself a host of other behavior and medical issues. All this can be a little too much for the cat to handle. Cats need emotional support and loving care from their owners at this crucial time. It will help them go through it.
Sleep-wake cycles
A cat’s normal sleep-wake pattern will change in the old age. It will sleep restlessly or sleepless. Some drugs can help, consult your vet in this regard. You can engage your cat is healthy, playful activities that give him enough mental and physical stimulation. It can help your cat sleep better.
Reversed Day-Night schedule
A cat will likely stay awake longer in the night when he is old. He can also vocalize more a night. Reversed Day-Night schedule is a normal behavior in old cats. Feed your cat a healthy and balanced diet and take care of his needs. Keep him entertained with toys and physical activities during the daytime. It will put him to a sound sleep at night.
Social behavior
An old cat will be less interested in the activities he previously used to enjoy. It could be frustrating for the owner to see their loving pet becoming a recluse. Your cat needs you most at such times. Do not leave him alone. Your emotional nurturing will help him pass this time comfortably.
Decreased activity
As your cat gets old, he will eat less, groom himself less, and be less roaming and playing around. He will not be a bundle of energy he once was. Do not forget your cat these days. Take good care of his nutritional needs. Feed him a healthy diet according to a fixed schedule. Reinforce in his mind that you are there for him.
Behavior issues in kittens
Jumping on counters
Kittens love to jump around and explore things. They do it instinctively. You can curb this behavior by training them not to jump. Commands like ‘No’ and ‘Sit’ should help. Reward them if they listen to you and stop jumping and get down. It will encourage them not to do it again.
Furniture scratching
Scratching is a natural behavior in cats. You will have to train your kitten not to do it from an early age. Provide your cat with scratching boards and posts instead. Teach it to scratch there. Again, give it a treat if they obey you. It could be as simple as a loving petting. These steps will help your kitten get over his scratching.
Psychogenic alopecia
Cats are fastidious creatures. They learn to groom themselves from an early age. But when it gets to the point of obsession, then it is a problem. Give your kitten toys to play with. Do other fun stuff with him. Distract him whenever he is overgrooming. It should help him change this habit.
Hoarding behavior
Cats collect toys and other stuff and hoard them in their nest. Experts have different theories regarding this behavior. Remove any such tempting objects from your kitten’s range. Teach him not to indulge in such behavior.
Feeding compulsion
Feeding compulsion is when a kitten eats too much and eats all the time. It can have both psychological and physical reasons. See a vet, ascertain the exact cause, and the vet will prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Noisiness
Too much of meowing is amongst the common kitten behavior problems. Take your kitten to the vet and get him checked. It could be due to some pain or illness. There can be mental issues, too, like seeking attention, etc. Listen to your kitten. Try to understand what he is communicating to you.
Conclusion
In this article, we have covered here all the major behavior problems in cats. We have also highlighted some common behavior problems in senior cats and kittens. As cat owners, we should be vigilant towards our cat behaviors and not skip routine medical checkups. It will ensure a long, happy, and healthy life for our feline friends.
