Every day, thousands of people seek advice because their cat has started to do something that is considered a problem… peeing behind the TV, scratching the new settee, showing signs of aggression, climbing the curtains or pooping in your shoes! (I could go on but you get the picture!)
None of these behaviours are desirable to humans and they often lead to upset and frustration in the home. At this point, many people (my previous self-included) often make huge, completely honest mistakes which can have lasting consequences…
Viewing the world through our human eyes doesn’t equip us to understand why little Bertie has peed behind the television five times this week, or why old Mr Whiskers has pooped in your shoes…. again! We tend to ‘assume’ that we know the cause and we usually make judgements based on human reasoning for example: he or she is attention seeking, naughty, lazy or dirty!
These reasons are NEVER the cause of problem behaviour in cats – and that is a guarantee. They are in fact reasons that resonate only with humans! Cat’s brains are very different to ours and they do not make associations in the same ways that we do i.e. I’m cross so I’ll do something naughty.
If your cat starts to behave differently it is always worth discussing the changes with your vet (even if the behaviour is something that you are willing to tolerate). Many illnesses and injuries can lead to changes in behaviour and such causes should always be eliminated before choosing to accept the behaviour or seek support from a feline behaviourist. It’s worth noting that some changes in behaviour may seem insignificant to humans and a decline in the cat’s emotional state is at risk of being overlooked.
If your vet concludes that the behaviour is unrelated to a medical condition you may be referred to a feline behaviourist (depending on the severity of the situation) who will work with you and your cat/s in your home. Alternatively you may be advised to research particular topics to learn more about your cat’s emotions and needs. You will find lots of useful information about cat behaviour by visiting our Blog as well as many top tips for helping your cat/s to feel their best.
Cats are incredibly sensitive and problem behaviours (if not linked to illness or injury) are usually a manifestation of unmet emotional needs which we owners are often shocked and upset to discover! To determine the cause, you must be prepared to look at your cat’s home environment through their eyes. You will need lots of patience to support your cat and you may need to educate others in your home about how to help and support their journey to recovery.
Some problems can be resolved quickly and easily, others will take more time. Sometimes a problem might be unintentionally caused by us humans! But fear not… to really love your cat is to understand your cat & by following More Purrs you have already started to do just that!
One thing that cats do have in common with humans is that no two are the same! Every cat is completely unique, has had different experiences, lives with different emotions and resides in a unique household. Likewise, when you support a human that is experiencing emotional stress; love and kindness is always an essential ingredient.
Prevention is always better than cure!
The greater your understanding about how your cat views their home environment, the more you can do to prevent problem behaviours manifesting. A great place to start is here, with this article about recognising the different emotions that your cat experiences