How Can I Get Help With My Cat's Behavior Issues?

However much you love your cat, human-feline relationships are sometimes tricky. When your cat has a behavior issue, it is hard for the people in the home and is often a sign that something is not quite right in the cat’s life, whether medical, environmental, or something else.

Common behavior issues in cats include toileting in places we don’t approve of, scratching (again in places we don’t approve of), not getting on with other pets, and aggressive behavior (such as biting when petted). If your cat has a behavior issue, here are some steps to take to resolve it.

See Your Veterinarian

Make an appointment to see your veterinarian if you notice a sudden change in your cat’s behavior. Medical issues can contribute to or even cause behavior issues. Your vet will run any necessary tests to check for medical issues (such as an infection that might be linked to toileting outside the box).

Pain is associated with a number of behavior changes in cats. For example, suppose a cat has joint pain due to arthritis. In that case, it’s easy to understand that stepping over the edge of a litter box to get into it may be painful or difficult, which might mean they learn to associate the box with pain and start toileting elsewhere. Other signs of pain in cats include not jumping to high-up places like they used to, changing their routine or interactions with you, sleeping more, and claws becoming too long (Ray et al. 2021).

If your cat is a senior, don’t assume that behavior changes are due to age. Get your cat checked for medical issues such as arthritis and cognitive dysfunction.

Think About Your Cat’s Environment

When cats are stressed, they can exhibit changes in behavior, including reduced activity levels and play and increased vocalization and hiding behavior (Amat et al. 2016). In fact, many cats have a poor home environment that results in them developing behavior issues, which experts consider a big welfare concern (Rioja-Lang et al. 2019). Making changes to your cat’s environment is a great way to reduce their stress levels.

Luckily, there is some guidance in the five pillars of a healthy feline environment (Ellis et al 2013).

1. These guidelines tell us cats should have a safe place to go whenever they want, such as a private space at the top of a cat condo.
2. They tell us that cats need to have multiple resources (food, water bowl, litter box, bed, toys).
3. These resources should be in different locations (especially in a home with other cats).
4. They tell us to pay attention to our cat’s sense of smell and to ensure they have plenty of opportunities to play (see below).
5. And it’s also important that our cats have predictable, positive interactions with us on a regular basis.

It’s worth taking the time to learn more about cats because a better understanding of what your pet cat needs helps prevent and resolve behavior issues (Todd, 2022). Some changes are easy ways to make your cat happier, while others require more commitment from you.

Think About Normal Behaviors

Some of the things people find problematic in their cats are normal behaviors—and it’s our job, as pet guardians, to provide ways for our cats to do those things. In fact, engaging in normal behavior for the species is an important aspect of good welfare for all animals. As far as cats are concerned, there are several behaviors we need to think of, including scratching, playing, and sniffing.

Scratching is a normal behavior for cats that helps to keep their claws in good condition. This means that cats need good scratching posts—nice sturdy ones that give them the opportunity to get a good stre-e-etch when they scratch.

When playing, cats chase their toys in just the same way they would chase a mouse, so if you make time to play with a wand toy every day, your cat will use behaviors from its predatory sequence.

The scent is important because when cats rub their heads or bodies on things (or you), they deposit pheromones. Some of those pheromones help your cat feel safe. So let them do that, and avoid using strong scents that your cat won’t like, especially near their litter box.

Of course, every cat is an individual, so you need to consider its preferences. Maybe it prefers a horizontal scratching surface over a vertical one, for example.

See a Cat Behavior Professional

Once any medical issues are ruled out or resolved, you can consult a cat behavior professional if you need additional help. Your veterinarian may be able to make a recommendation. In some cases, they will refer you to a veterinary behaviorist, a veterinarian who has taken significant additional training in animal behavior to become a board-certified Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (DACVB). There are only around 80 veterinary behaviorists.

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You can also consult cat behaviorists who are not veterinarians. Animal behavior is not a regulated field, so before hiring someone, be sure to check their credentials and education to ensure you are getting someone with appropriate expertise. Some of the designations to look for are Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB), Associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (ACAAB), or Certified Cat Behavior Consultant (CCBC).

Prompt Help With Your Cat's Behavior

If your cat develops a behavior issue, it’s better to seek help sooner rather than later. This means that any underlying medical issues are resolved sooner, and the behavior issue will be resolved faster. If you need to consult with a veterinary behaviorist or a non-vet cat behavior consultant, you may find that you have to wait to get an appointment.

Best of luck with your cat.