Finding Solutions to Cat Behavior Problems

First we have to define what we mean by "excessive." A meow or two now and then, even if your cat doesn't have the most pleasant voice in the world, is not excessive. And some breeds of cats, Siamese cats for example, seem to do more meowing than other breeds. Most cats, however, meow because they are trying to communicate something to their owners.

If a cat, especially one in which such behavior is a recent development, suddenly starts meowing for long periods of time, check the cat thoroughly, by feeling all over its body to make sure there are no sore spots or injuries that may have brought on the meowing. Cats can get infections in their bodies just like their owners do, so watch to see if the cat seems to have discomfort. Are his eyes runny or does the cat squint with one eye or the other? Does the cat paw at one of his ears. Is he or she less lively acting than usual? Listless?

Is there any sign of vomiting or choking? Hopefully, after examining your pet, you can rule out any physical ailment as the cause of his excessive meowing.

Sometimes a meow can mean, "I'm lonely and just want a little attention." The cure for this is obvious---just spend a few minutes scratching behind your little buddy's ears, or holding him or her on your lap. It won't be long before the cat has had enough and is on its way to investigate something new.

If you have been paying close attention to your pet, you probably already recognize a meow that means, "I'm hungry," or "I'm thirsty and need fresh water in my bowl." A meow less likely to be recognized is the one that lets you know that the litter box needs cleaning.

Occasionally, even when all the above problems are taken care of, a cat will continue to meow for seemingly no reason at all. Since most cats are social beings, banishing a mewing cat to a spare room or garage for an hour or so will often take care of the problem.

Cats are intelligent creatures and as soon as they realize that constant mewing brings isolation, they will change their behavior to avoid being deprived of the companionship they crave.

Among cat owners I have met, a major complaint seems to be that all too often, their cat decides to relieve itself in places other than the litter box. A linen cupboard, behind the sofa, in the children's toy box, and inside any closet left ajar were convenient places for these cats to choose---and, in some cases, who could blame them?

An acquaintance of ours got rid of three cats in succession because each cat, after a short time in the household, started shunning the litter box At the risk of ruining an otherwise good friendship, I pointed out that a human being would avoid using a litter box piled high with former deposits, so why should they expect a fastidious cat to use one with no room left to bury their new deposits ? I could have also pointed out, but didn't, that even though the occupants had grown used to the odor caused by untidy litter boxes, we who stopped by for a visit immediately noticed that the litter box was full.

There are more reasons why cats may refuse to use a litter box than the one described above. Your cat may not like the location of the litter box. Try moving it around to different areas in the house to see if that helps.

Perhaps your cat does not like the type of litter you are using. Buy another type. There has been a big swing to the "clumping" type of litter lately. If you have changed brands, your cat may not be happy with the change so you may want to go back to the old brand.

It is possible that using the litter box is painful to your cat. A urinary infection may be irritated by the litter. Watch for signs of discomfort in your cat and if you see any evidence of an illness, check it out with a vet as soon as possible.

Make sure the litter box is not too small for your cat. If he or she feels crowded in the box or doesn't have sufficient room to move around to bury the deposited material, your cat may search for a more comfortable place to do its business.

Check to see that nothing unusual has happened to make your cat anxious or upset if the change about not using the litter box has come about suddenly. It is possible that he associates an unpleasant change with the litter box and thus wishes to avoid it.

Even if you find that one of the above causes is responsible for your cat's behavior problem concerning litter box use, and correct it, you may find it takes a while to get your cat to return to his original litter box behavior so be patient. Praise and reward him when he does choose the proper place to relieve himself and before long, the problem should disappear.

Clawing furniture is another very common reason people give for getting rid of a cat. Usually the cat has literally destroyed a number of items before the decision is made that the cat must go.

There are several reasons cats claw furniture. Cats are born with claws for a reason-mainly protection from its enemies. Cats also need to exercise and the scratching, stretching, and pulling develop their muscles and help keep them in shape. It is not the cat's fault that he or she as a domesticated cat, no longer has to contend with ferocious enemies. The claws are there, and it is instinctive for a cat to keep them honed and ready for a serious encounter.

Furniture, especially some types of furniture, is upholstered in fabrics that lend themselves well to the cat's instinctive need to sharpen and test the readiness of its claws periodically.

To save your furniture, invest in one or more good quality scratching posts-posts tall enough that your cat can stretch out to full length as he scratches. If he is hesitant to try the new posts, rub catnip onto them or hang a favorite toy on the post. A good alternative to commercial scratching posts are inexpensive squares of old carpet reversed to provide an excellent place for kitty paws to be honed. Anchor the pieces to a board or even to an upright post so they don't slide around as they are being used.

Some people give up and have their cats declawed, but most experts agree that this should only be done as a last resort. Articles abound online against declawing, but there are good points to consider on the other side, too. For an interesting article on the benefits of declawing, check out Kris McLeod's article, The Benefits of Declawing Your Cat for a different perspective on the subject.

1. Orange Maine Coon Kitty photo by Harald Wehner
2. Toilet Trained Cat photo by Reward
3. Home-made Scratching Post photo by Jesse
4. Meowing Cat photo by Clavecin