It is difficult to find a person who has never encountered a cat. These pets live in almost every family. They are affectionate and calm, not demanding of attention and do not require complex care. But cats are also famous for their wayward behavior. Sometimes their disobedience can become a serious problem for their owners. Often, it is people who are to blame for the fact that their pet becomes nervous and aggressive. Below we will tell you about 10 common mistakes made by cat lovers and how they can be corrected.
If your cat scratches and damages furniture, you can stop her from this habit
All cats need to sharpen their claws from time to time. And they do this on furniture, wall corners, door frames and thresholds. Of course, things are greatly damaged by their claws. Therefore, owners often buy special scratching posts and entire playhouses for their cats. But pets often ignore them and continue to damage the furniture.
Typically, people blame this on the cat's willful nature, which is difficult to train. But as practice shows, this may be the owner’s mistake. If the scratching post is poorly secured and wobbly, cats will simply ignore it. They don't like it when the surface starts to move. That's why they choose furniture that is almost impossible to move.
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Veterinarians advise choosing stable nail sharpening posts made of heavy materials. Before purchasing, check to see if the scratching post is wobbly. You can also choose a horizontal post that is simply placed on the floor. Pay attention to accessories with pheromones - they will attract the cat.
It is also worth thinking about retraining your pet. Scold him when he sharpens furniture and praise him when the cat uses a scratching post.
How to Stop Your Cat from Scratching Your Furniture
Frustrated with their pet, some owners resort to declawing their cat. However, declawing is an inhumane practice that is banned in most countries. Declawing is not only painful, but also disruptive for your cat. According to the Humane Society, cutting off a cat's claws is comparable to cutting off the last joint of a human finger.
Luckily, there are simpler but more effective solutions to this problem. These include:
- Buying a scratching post for cats . Cat scratching posts, as the name suggests, are a tool designed specifically for cat scratching. This way, it provides your cat with a scratching surface that feels natural to her. However, the quality of these toys can vary significantly. So do your research first to find the best scratching post for your cat.
- Use anti-scratch tape . Scratch tape is very annoying for cats. Simply stick strips of this tape onto furniture and your cat will start looking for something else to scratch.
- Use vinyl fencing . Vinyl is not a good scratch surface, so installing clear vinyl panels on your furniture would be a great idea.
Brush your cat more often if she frequently vomits hair.
Cats constantly lick themselves, and, as a rule, they do not spit out the fur, but swallow it. Their stomach cannot digest it, so it accumulates in clumps. In turn, they come out along with vomiting. Sometimes a cat vomits almost every day, which, of course, cannot but worry the owner. The situation gets worse during molting.
How to prevent hair vomiting in cats? It's simple: try to comb it more often. Daily brushing is recommended for furry pets. Use special slicker brushes during shedding to remove the bottom layer of fur.
If brushing doesn't help, you can have your cat trimmed by a veterinarian. But remember that frequent vomiting can also be a sign of health problems.
"Mark" of the territory
Among other things, scratching is a kind of “territory mark” for a cat. On the pet’s paws, between the toes, there are special glands that secrete an odorous secretion, and after scratching, a specific smell remains on the object, indicating that the territory is occupied. If there is more than one animal in the house, then the cat will scratch objects with redoubled force in order to block the smell of “competitors”. The problem can be solved with the help of special sprays sold in pet stores or veterinary pharmacies. Such products have a smell that pets perceive as native and their need for a “tag” is reduced.
If your cat wakes you up at night, you can adjust its daily routine
Cats are natural hunters who catch their prey at dawn. Therefore, even pets often wake up at night and wake up their owners. You can try to correct your cat's behavior by monitoring his activity. For example, before going to bed, you can tire him out with games so that he sleeps more soundly until the morning. Cats may also scream at night due to hunger. Make sure your pet's bowl is not left empty in the evenings.
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Sometimes nighttime activity can also be caused by health problems. Cats sleep poorly due to arthritis and thyroid disease. Contact your veterinarian to rule out these pathologies if your cat is overly active.
If the cat refuses to go to the litter box, it needs to be replaced.
Keeping a cat in an apartment requires installing a litter tray. But sometimes the animal refuses to go into it, shitting on the floor or even on the furniture. Again, owners blame the wayward nature of their pets. But veterinarians do not advise drawing hasty conclusions. Perhaps you just picked the wrong tray.
Cats do not like to use small litter boxes with low sides. They feel vulnerable in them. Try purchasing an accessory with high walls, behind which the cat can retire. Do not place the litter box in a crowded place, as this may scare your pet away. A cat will ignore a litter box if it is located close to noisy things, such as a washing machine, oven or microwave.
Also remember that each cat needs a separate container. Dominant animals can frighten weaker ones with their smell, so they will go to the toilet in the wrong place.
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If a cat goes to the toilet past the litter box, this may also indicate a disease of the genitourinary system. As a rule, in such cases, urination becomes frequent and painful for the animal.
Radical weaning methods
This was a list of the most effective and proven devices and methods, but if even after using them the problem remains, you should use more radical ones:
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- Silicone claw pads. They are attached with special glue and do not create discomfort for the animal, but will last no more than 2 months, then they need to be replaced;
- Thick furniture covers;
- Special materials and coating can stop a cat from scratching doors, wallpaper and furniture. To do this, you can completely or partially cover the area accessible to the furry one with tiles, plastic panels, paint, plaster, fiberglass wallpaper;
- Close the door to the room with your “favorite” place.
If it so happens that you are a resident of an apartment, and not a private house, in which your tailed companion has the opportunity to walk around the yard and perform manicure procedures on trees and other surfaces, without damaging the interior, then learn to understand the mood, feelings and needs of the pet, without use of physical force and punishment.
A cat is a domestic animal with a fairly high level of intelligence, and perhaps it simply lacks the attention and care of its owner.
If your cat hunts wild animals, do not let her stay outside for long periods of time.
Hunting rodents and birds is normal behavior for a cat. Their instinct cannot be suppressed, so pets often bring dead animals to their owners. This is how they try to express their love to you. Of course, people are unlikely to appreciate such a gift. But is it possible to stop a cat from hunting?
Unfortunately no. Veterinarians have not yet found a way to help with this. The only way out is to prohibit the cat from walking outside. Then she simply will have nowhere to catch mice and birds.
Sharpening claws
In natural conditions, a cat's claws are sharpened naturally, during hunting, climbing trees and fighting with a fellow tribesman. This becomes difficult within an apartment, so the animal has to take care of its claws in other ways.
If this is not done, too much keratinized tissue will grow on the claws, after which they begin to break and injure the cat.
Under no circumstances scold the cat for scratching, because he is trying to satisfy his physiological needs in the conditions that you presented to him. The solution to the problem is a regular scratching post, which can be bought at any pet store.
If your cat scratches and bites, you should consider retraining her.
Some cats get too carried away while playing, starting to scratch and bite their owners' hands. People themselves are largely to blame for this, because they unknowingly encourage such behavior. Veterinarians advise changing your play style to stop your cat from scratching and biting.
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Do not use your fingers, hands or feet to play with them. Scream loudly if the cat grabs your skin. This will scare the pet and it will retreat.
How to stop a cat from biting and scratching?
If you want to stop your cat from biting and scratching, you need to follow the mandatory rules, be patient, attentive and not demand instant results from your pet. Here are some tips to help stop your cat from biting and scratching people:
- When playing with your pet, do not allow him to bite or scratch your hands. It is best to use special toys;
- Every member of your family should know how to tease and irritate a cat;
- You should not wave your arms sharply in front of the cat, as the animal may perceive this as prey that needs to be grabbed;
- If your pet grabs your leg and doesn’t let go, you need to squeeze its head tightly in your hands;
- Loud sounds, various rattles, and pillows can help you break bad habits. That is, if your pet tries to attack you, you need to turn on the sound or throw a pillow at him.
Do not forget that the use of sound and pillows should follow immediately after the cat attacked or began to bite you. Repetition will develop a reflex and unpleasant associations in the animal, so over time it will stop scratching.
Experts recommend weaning an animal from biting even when it is small, up to one year of age. Yes, at the beginning of the cat's game of scratching and biting your hands, his sudden attacks from around the corner may be funny, but this will develop a bad habit in him. And getting rid of it in adulthood is much more difficult.
This is why it is recommended to use special toys, rattles and rustling toys when playing with a kitten. Then there will be some distance between the human body and the cat. If your pet suddenly starts lunging at you and biting you, immediately distract him with a toy.
Don't give your cat food from the table unless you want her to constantly beg.
It’s unlikely that anyone would like to dine next to a annoying pet who is constantly begging. This is usually encouraged by the owners themselves. They treat cats with their food from time to time, and then are surprised when they begin to demand it.
Veterinarians do not recommend feeding cats from the table. Human food will not benefit your pet, especially if he eats quality food. Fill the bowl before you eat. Then the cat will be busy with his food and will not bother you. If your pet is too stubborn, you can lock him in a separate room during lunch.
What to do if your cat scratches
To stop a cat from scratching, you can use the tips we gave above or try these:
- To stop the kitten from rushing and scratching, you can use its natural fear - throw a towel or light pillow over it. The sudden onset of darkness will sober up the child who is playing up, and an association will form in his head: if I scratch, it’s dark. Be patient, raising a kitten is a long process.
- If a kitten or adult animal scratches while playing, distract its attention. Take your hands off. Invite him to play with a toy or teaser. Be adamant and stop all attempts by children and guests to play with the animal with their hands.
- Try to stop your kitten from scratching using noise. Every time the animal releases its claws, stop the raging “aggressor” with a loud sound. You can clap your hands sharply, hit the pan with a spoon, or drop something on the floor. The cat is sobered by sharp loud sounds. If you repeat “sound punishment” constantly, the cat will learn a lesson, and it will be possible to prevent an attack on a person with this sound.
- If you use the words “no” or “teeth” to discourage biting, do not use them when your cat scratches you. Choose another conditional punishment word. For example, “claws” or “paws”. You need to say the punishment word in a loud, calm voice every time the animal tries to use its claws on you, your household or guests.
If none of the above helped you, remember how a mother cat teaches kittens. Gently grab the “furry aggressor” by the scruff of the neck – in this position he will immediately calm down and become quiet!
If your cat is acting aggressively, you should seek help from a veterinarian.
Sometimes cats can be aggressive towards people and other pets. Their bad upbringing is not always to blame. Aggression can be caused by health problems. Thus, cats often attack people when they suffer from anxiety and severe pain. Therefore, you should definitely go for an examination to a veterinarian to find out the cause of the aggression.
First appearance in the house
So, you brought home a tiny fluffy (or smooth-haired) bundle with huge, curious eyes. They put him on the floor. The kitten is scared and confused - everything around is foreign and unfamiliar, and most importantly, it doesn’t smell like mom at all. You reach out your hands to him, and unexpectedly for you he begins to fiercely gnaw on your finger. You are not in pain yet, and you watch with emotion as the small predator torments your finger. Why does the kitten bite? In this situation, a natural instinct is triggered - he defends himself from an unfamiliar creature that has alienated him from his mother. At this moment, it makes no sense to scold him, much less punish him. Remember, you can achieve results in raising an animal only with kindness. Let the baby look around in the new home, leave him alone for a while.
Constant itching is a sign of an allergy
All cats love to wash themselves. But they don't do this all the time. If a cat nervously licks itself for 1-2 hours, it may suffer from itching. This is also indicated by the habit of scratching the skin to the point of wounds.
Severe itching is often caused by parasites: fleas or ticks. You can find them by running a comb through the fur. Black dirt in the ears is a sure sign of mites.
Often itching is caused by allergies. It can appear due to poor nutrition, the use of aggressive shampoo, or serious illnesses.
When we get a pet like a cat, we, of course, dream that it will be affectionate, fluffy and playful, and that our life together will be long, happy, devoid of conflicts and worries. Most often, this is exactly what happens, which is why people keep domestic cats. But in some cases, disappointment sets in: the animal makes a scandal, spoils the owner’s nerves and mood, “shakes his rights” and proves that he is right with the help of teeth and claws. What will your pet's personality be like? Will you be “lucky” with him or “unlucky”?
Cats are definitely bright individuals, everyone has a different character, and there may be some degree of luck when choosing a pet. Genetic and breed predisposition is also significant. But besides the above, the owner’s correct behavior in communicating and raising his cat is important! The more we know about the psychology of a pet, the better we understand it, the easier it is for us to raise it, accustoming it to behavior in which life together will be as comfortable as possible.
Surprisingly, the behavior of domestic cats has not been studied so well, and there is no consensus on the classification of deviant (undesirable) behavior in cats. Among the most common reasons that cause cats to scratch or otherwise express themselves in ways that are undesirable for people are the following: fear, aggression, improper maintenance and care, and health problems.
It should be noted that scratching can be a manifestation of normal defensive behavior. Cats scratch and bite when something bothers or bothers them, and such an animal’s reaction does not necessarily indicate any abnormalities. The kindest and calmest cat has every right to show her indignation if she is stepped on! For the same reason, cats can scratch and bite if children - without adult supervision - play too roughly with them, pull their fur, etc. A defensive reaction can occur when it is necessary to examine the animal. A situation is possible when the owner does not even suspect that the pet has a sore spot or some kind of disease, so you must first make sure that the cat does not have physical health problems, and only a veterinary specialist can make such a conclusion, and in some cases they may additional research will be needed.
For a cat kept in the house, you need to create the necessary conditions, provide items important for its life, such as timely filled bowls for food and water, a place to rest, a toilet and a scratching post. The cat should have opportunities for prolonged rest and sleep, and not be stressed by the behavior (or perhaps just the presence!) of other pets or people. Cats that don't get enough sleep and are prone to stress will definitely have a bad temperament.
It is important that your cat's claws and paws are always in good order. A scratching post will allow your pet to remove dead horny plates independently and in a timely manner, massage the base of the claw, and stretch its paws. Domestic cats most often willingly use it because they feel a physical need for such a procedure, but some will have to be specially trained. If this is not done, furniture, wallpaper will be used...
In addition to the need to “get a manicure,” cats dig their claws into the scratching post or objects that replace it in order to leave the contents of the sweat glands located on the fingers, thus marking their territory. If you need to specially train a cat to use a scratching post or, conversely, wean it off its adherence to some home furnishings, you need to create a situation so that the scratching post is as pleasant as possible, and other items - on the contrary. For these purposes, special attractant aerosols sold in pet stores are used, the smell of which attracts, and others that have the opposite effect. Sometimes it is necessary to use temporary measures to block an object in order to wean the cat from using it; in this case, the surface of such a “fence” should be as unpleasant as possible for contact. A textile, fiber, or leather surface will make the cat want to dig its claws into it, but a metal sheet will certainly not. It may be worth placing several convenient scratching posts in the apartment, treating them with “catnip” or other attractants, maybe covering those items that need to be weaned off with smooth sheets, and placing the scratching posts in front of them, and then gradually moving them to others, more convenient places for owners.
Monitoring the length of growing claws is also important, primarily because the longer and sharper the claws, the more severe the injuries will be if it ever comes to that. But in addition, in some cases, in domestic cats that do not go outside, the claws grow, bend and injure the pad, and this will cause discomfort in the pet, its irritation, inappropriate reactions, and, possibly, subsequent traumatization of the owner. To trim nails, you can contact a veterinarian, but you can also master this procedure at home yourself. At the same time, some animals willingly undergo such manipulation, while others need to be accustomed gradually. To do this, you will need a cat nail clipper, which can be purchased at a pet store. The animal is carefully held in a position that is comfortable both for it and for the procedure. Immediately after one or two claws are carefully trimmed, the cat should be praised and rewarded with its favorite treat. Then, depending on the animal’s reaction, release it until the next time or continue slowly. It is important to do everything gently and carefully, not to create situations that the animal could regard as threatening to itself, to fix it carefully, to remove only the dead part of the claw, which does not cause pain, and to accustom it gradually. And, of course, the sooner you start training for such a procedure, the less effort will be required, and the greater the chance that throughout the rest of your pet’s life, maintaining your pet’s claws in perfect order will be as pleasant as possible for both of you.
Thus, the very first step to prevent unwanted, including aggressive behavior of your cat, is to create comfortable living conditions for her and proper hygienic care. If the animal does scratch or exhibit other types of aggression, it is important to understand the reason for this behavior. When considering cat aggression, it is usually divided into self-defense and its opposite active form of aggression. Among the defensive types of aggression, a defensive-aggressive reaction to a threat or aggressive behavior on the part of both another animal and a person is known; an antisocial reaction, when a cat behaves aggressively, trying to prevent unwanted social contact with another animal or person; in cases of redirected aggression, a cat may attack its owner when he disturbed it during a skirmish with another animal.
Defensive reactions have already been mentioned above; it is worth dwelling on this type of antisocial behavior when the owner strokes his animal, and it unexpectedly hits him with its paw and scratches him. In fact, most often there is no surprise in this act: most cats, before hitting, show in advance through “body language” their dissatisfaction and readiness to “repel the troublemaker.” Well, cats, like people, are more or less sociable in nature, can be in different moods and are often inclined to defend the right to their “comfortable space”. And the owner needs to learn to sensitively read and understand all the body signs that the pet sends to him. And in this case, of course, you need to leave the cat alone until she wants to communicate. Another case is if the animal itself comes to you to cuddle, caresses and purrs, and then, again unexpectedly, digs its claws into your leg. And although the nature of this phenomenon is most likely such that the cat is trying to “mark” you, as well as other “territory” that it considers its own, such behavior must be politely, but firmly and persistently suppressed.
Of course, there are types of idiopathic aggression, the causes of which are unknown and the manifestations of which cannot be eliminated, but most often an analysis of the situation and fairly simple actions can correct everything. For example, it is known that two cats live in a house; they do not particularly get along with each other, and one of the cats regularly hits its owner with its paw, scratches it, and hisses at him. As the details are clarified, it turns out that the cats are offered only one bowl for food, and they are constantly forced to compete around it. And the owner gets scratched when he gets involved in this situation. Thus, it can be assumed that there is, firstly, competition, and secondly, redirected aggression. Cats are generally peaceful creatures who do their best to avoid open conflicts, and in the described situation it is very likely that installing additional bowls of food in different places will reduce tension between cats, the cats will calm down, and the owner will communicate with them only when they themselves will be ready for this - and everyone will be happy.
In life, problems are not always solved as easily and quickly, but in many cases they can be prevented by creating the right conditions for the life of pets. How to do this is described in detail in other articles on our website.
Now let's look at the situation of active aggression, when a cat rushes at a person during play or begins to hunt under other circumstances. Young animals are more often susceptible to this; patience and persistent training will allow them to be quickly retrained. If you receive an adult cat with such characteristics, then it is possible that the struggle will be more difficult.
First of all, this behavior must be persistently stopped, and done correctly, in accordance with the psychophysical characteristics of your cat. Prohibition and punishment must be strict, but adequate! Punishment must follow immediately, within 1-2 seconds after the offense. The punishment should be severe enough so that the cat does not perceive it as, on the contrary, encouragement. For example, an attacking cat can be strongly scolded, or sprayed with water from a spray bottle or water pistol, or frightened with a loud sound such as a sharp clap of hands, a whistle, etc. The stimulus should be strong enough to immediately stop the unwanted action, but not so strong that to cause intense fear. In some cases, it is possible to prevent an attack by throwing a distracting toy to the cat at the moment when she is just preparing for it, but if you throw the toy late, then this situation will be perceived by the cat as encouragement. Indeed, in many cases, the reason for incorrect behavior is that the cat in this way attracts attention to itself or seeks something specific from you!
Never, under any circumstances, allow your cat to play with your hands! Use toys that you can always buy at a pet store.
If the animal hunts at night, scratching parts of the body of sleeping people protruding from under the blanket, and the above measures of influence within 1-2 seconds are hardly applicable, then at night you will have to keep the animal outside the door of the room where people sleep. The most important thing here is patience! A cat kicked out of the bedroom will most likely persistently ask to return, screaming and scratching under the door. Never give up! Keep quiet and calm. Most likely, after a few days the noise will stop and the cat will get used to it.
In general, to prevent or reduce these types of unwanted behavior, it is necessary to provide your pet with sufficient attention, physical activity, games and toys.
First of all, think and analyze the situation with your pet yourself. If you still can’t wean off deviant behavior, then it makes sense to contact a specialist in animal ethology, who will figure it out and help you establish a relationship with your cat.
Often the behavior and character of cats changes, for example, after sterilization, if the operation is performed during a non-recommended period. Let us remind you that the optimal age for sterilizing a cat is considered to be 7-10 months.
