Cat Training and Solving Common Feline Behaviour Problems

Posted by Jennifer Copley Jan 10, 2009

The most common behavioural problems in cats are inappropriate elimination, furniture scratching, destruction of plants, aggression, and over-grooming and fur pulling. For information on what causes these problems and how to solve them, see the following articles.

Inappropriate Elimination

One of the more difficult problems to deal with is cats urinating or defecating in places other than their litter boxes. For causes of and cures for inappropriate elimination, see:

• Solving Litter Box Problems
• Psychological Litter Box Problems
• Training a Kitten to Use the Litter Box

Furniture Scratching

Scratching is a natural behaviour, and owners should not expect to eliminate it. However, they can train their cats to use scratch posts and avoid forbidden surfaces:

• Cats and Furniture Scratching
• Keep Cats off Counters and Furniture

Destruction of Plants

For information on preventing cats from snacking on houseplants and digging up gardens, see:

• How to Keep Cats Out of Gardens
• How to Stop Cats Eating Plants

Aggression and Anxiety

Aggression and anxiety go hand-in-hand because anxiety or fear is often the cause of aggression and other problem behaviours in cats:

• Types of Cat Aggression
• Why Cats Hiss
• Treating Aggression in Cats
• Natural Anxiety Remedies for Cats and Dogs
• Fabric and Wool Sucking in Cats

Hunting Behaviours

Cats have an instinct to hunt, but there are ways to spare the lives of birds, mice, and other potential prey:

• How to Stop Cats Catching Birds
• Why Cats Play with Their Prey

Over-Grooming and Fur Pulling

Over-grooming and fur pulling can be caused by medical problems, allergies, or psychological conditions such as Psychogenic Alopecia:

• Why Cats Pull Out Their Fur
• Hypoallergenic Diets for Pets

Preventing Problems Between Pets

The best strategy for preventing problems between a newly adopted pet and a resident cat or dog is to handle the introductions correctly:

• Introducing a New Cat to a Resident Cat
• Introducing a New Dog to Your Cat