Cats can be ill tempered and mean at their worst, but even the most annoying problems have a remedy. Listed below are six of the most common behavioral problems in cats along with some relevant solutions for them.

1. Clawing your furnishings and carpet

Just like rodents need to gnaw, cats need to sharpen their claws. Cat’s claws never stop growing, and what they are actually doing when they sharpen their claws is removing the outer layer of the claw. Some people do choose to de-claw their cats when having this problem, even though this is not theoretically correct. It is possible that an indoor living cat could venture into the outside world one day, and if it has no claws, it has no form of defense.

Before considering having your cat de-clawed, purchase a scratching post. If your cat has a favourite member of the family, then you can hang an old sock of that person on the scratching post to make it smell familiar. You can also sprinkle catnip on the post. This is to attract the cat to the scratching post in order to scratch it.

Meanwhile, make the cats favourite scratching areas less attractive. Sprinkle fresh lemon juice over them, wrap them or cover them with aluminum foil, and clean them well to eradicate any cat odour. If possible, close doors to secure the particular places that you do not want your cat to enter.

2. Clawing people

Cats tend to claw people when they are afraid of them. This is not always the fault of the cat. If your cat is generically afraid of children, it is important to rectify the situation. Try introducing the cat to young children slowly, a few minutes at a time, until the cat is calmer about the child. In any case, do not leave the child with the cat. It is important to also teach the child not to irritate the cat. It is a good idea to sit the child down close to you and allow the child to feed the cat with small treats. This will get both the cat and the child used to each other.

Not all cats are afraid. Some can be just bad tempered towards certain people, especially guests. If a cat begins to claw or growl, it is necessary to remove it and place it in another room, until your guest has left. If the cat is hostile towards a family member, then it is important to try the cat treats as with a child.

3. Eliminating outside the litter tray

Many cats will not use a litter tray that is too dirty. If necessary, then clean out the litter tray as often as possible. It is also necessary to clean the areas where the cat visits frequently, spraying the areas well with Lysol or a similar disinfectant with a pleasant strong smell. You can also try putting the litter tray in a more attractive place to the cat; the bathroom, for instance. If you cat has gone to the toilet in a different place to the litter tray, them place the litter tray next to that particular place, and show it to your cat.

4. Caterwauling

This is a natural thing for Siamese cats to do, and it is not always possible to make them stop doing it. However, other cats do it because they are hungry, tired, sick or to let you know that it has done something good. Unfortunately, there are limited ways in which to deal with this. If you think it is hunger, then feed her more promptly, but refuse to feed the cat when it caterwauls; it won't fully understand what you're doing, but it will almost certainly stop after it realizes that it does not receive attention. If it caterwauls when in season, then it might be worth thinking about having a visit to the vet. For other caterwauling problems, try to ignore the cat, and keep it as far away from you as possible.

5. Running outside

Cats are normally very curious about the outside world. Ensure that you do not leave open a door in order for the cat to escape. It is possible to get the cat accustomed to the outdoors by purchasing a cat leash and walking with it, or even carrying it when you venture outside. Once it understands what is outside, then it may be less likely to want to escape again, especially if there are bad weather conditions.

6. Spraying

Male cats spray in order to mark their territory. The usually do it when they feel threatened by dogs or small children, or when other male cats are present in the vicinity. There is little to be done about spraying apart from having your cat neutered. It is important to remember not to punish the cat for spraying, it is normal practice and the cat will not understand.

Copyright 2007 by Joan Masterson

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