Behavior & Training

Even when cats are silent, they're always giving off signals of their current moods. Is your cat feeling playful? Does she want to be approached? Is she fearful? Relaxed? Understanding how your cat's non-verbal communication differs from that of people and dogs is a simple step you can take toward strengthening your bond. 

Friendly

A friendly cat's eyes will be alert and blinking, and her ears will be pointed forward while she holds her head up and fans out her whiskers. Aside from looking at her body language, you can also listen to a cat for signs of friendliness. If you hear meowing, she may be looking to interact. Keep in mind that how you interact should be based on the personality of the cat and the context of the situation. 

Fearful

You may have to look closely for indications of fear in your cat, because while her posture may appear calm, a closer look at her face and tail may show distress. A fearful cat may have dilated pupils and flattened ears, and her tail may be held downward, close to her body, while she flattens her whiskers and presses them against her face. Try to minimize sudden or rapid movements when your cat seems fearful, as they may amplify her discomfort.

Playful

When a cat is standing with her tail curled, rolling side-to-side or belly up, she's likely looking for contact and play. Her ears may be pointed forward, as well. Just make sure not to touch her on the stomach, as you would a dog, because this will elicit reflexive, defensive or predatory behaviors that might make her claw or bite your hand.

Relaxed

You can tell if your cat is relaxed by looking at a combination of cues. Make sure you examine her facial expression and body language, as a crouched, relaxed position can look similar to fear. Her ears will be pointed forward, and her tail will be visible, rather than tucked or curled, while her whiskers will remain slightly fanned out, rather than pulled back against her face.

Negative

When a cat is showing negative body language, she is most likely not open to contact. It's probably best not to try to approach or pick her up, especially if the cat is hissing or growling. Her pupils may be dilated, and her ears will be flattened against her head. She may arch her back, and the hair on both her back and her tail may be raised.

There are a few different ways to remedy bad behavior in cats. Keep in mind that some of the training techniques that work for dogs aren't always effective for cats.

Biting

Cats may bite when afraid or angry. This makes it especially important never to tease your cat, which can be frustrating and threatening. If your cat has a medical condition, she may bite because of the pain she's feeling. Whatever the reason, a cat often gives warning signs before she bites. If she is hissing, flattens hers ears or emits a low growl, it's time to back away.

If your cat is not acting out because of an injury or illness, it's time for some training. If you've been play-fighting with your cat, stop - it encourages aggressive behavior toward you. Let your cat play rough with a toy she can chase instead. If she nips at you during play or petting, stop and walk away. If you attempt to pet your cat and she rewards your affection with a bite, slowly take your hand away and respect her personal space. If your cat continues to exhibit aggressive behavior, consult with your veterinarian. 

Rejecting the Litter Box

If your cat starts to use an area other than the litter box as an indoor bathroom, there are ways to redirect her behavior. Some cats will refuse to use the litter box if it's not up to their cleanliness standards. Remove soiled litter once a day and wash the box each week with mild soap. Avoid using bleach. You can also try providing extra boxes - a good rule to follow is having one more litter box than you have cats. Then make sure the boxes are in an out-of-the-way spot that will ensure your cat's privacy.

If your cat still refuses to use the litter box, don't attempt to punish her, as increasing her stress may make the problem worse. Clean the affected area with a product that uses enzymes to break down the smell and stain. DON'T use an ammonia-based cleaner - it will smell similar to the cat's urine and will encourage her to return to the places it is applied.

It's possible that a health problem might be behind issues with litter box behavior. An older cat may not be physically able to climb into the litter box. Try switching to a pan that is shallower than the one you're currently using. You may need to change it more frequently, but that is a small trade-off for good litter box behavior.

If your cat strains to urinate or urinates more frequently than normal, she may have a urinary tract infection. Cats with kidney, thyroid or liver conditions often produce increased amounts of urine.  Refusal to use the litter box could be her way of telling you she doesn't feel well.  Consult your veterinarian. 

Aggression and Fighting

Sometimes, cats may hide and pounce on anything that moves, including you! Although your cat is only practicing capturing prey, he or she may become overly exuberant, using teeth and claws. The best way to curb this behavior is to provide a lot of activity that will allow the cat to focus its energy on appropriate objects - like play prey. Never play aggressively with your cat and never physically punish him or her for this behavior, as it will only serve to reinforce it. Instead, try giving your cat toys that are interactive: hanging toys your cat can bat or jingling balls to chase. 

Cat-cat aggression may occur in multi-cats homes.  It's important to provide each cat with its own personal space. Provide one-on-one attention with the cats in their particular favorite resting spot in the house. Separate litter pans and feeding areas may also be necessary.

Still, territorial disputes can be common - and can become very aggressive. If they do, the cats may need to be kept in separate rooms with closed doors and then slowly reintroduced to each other. After complete separation for a period of weeks, the door is opened slightly so that the cats can investigate each other. Switch the cats' rooms several times during this period so that each cat can become acclimated to the other's scent. Switch their bedding and food bowls as well. A common toy that is placed beneath the door may help the cats begin to play together. This may need to be a very slow process - give your cats the time they need to learn to live together peacefully.

Scratching Furniture

Scratching is a normal behavior for your cat that helps her keep her claws in good condition. That means that you can't really blame her for clawing the furniture unless you have provided her with an alternative like a scratching post. If your cat has already started scratching something, cover the item with plastic and she will likely turn to the post instead. When you catch your cat scratching furniture, try squirting her with water from a squirt bottle and saying "no" in a firm voice. When she scratches her scratching post, reward her with praise.

Spraying

Both males and females spray urine to mark their territory, although the behavior is much more common in males. One way to address this is to spay or neuter your cat. Generally cats will exhibit this type of behavior when they feel their territory is threatened, such as when a new cat is introduced to the household. Consult with your veterinarian about possible health problems that may be causing this behavior. 

Sometimes cats do things that we, as humans, have a hard time understanding. The underlying cause for these behaviors is often related to instincts leftover from their wild ancestors. 

Sitting in or on Boxes

Cats seem to love to sit on or in boxes, no matter where they are. When cats explore, one thing they are looking for is a potential hiding space. The experience of jumping and sliding into a box may resonate with their instinct to find protected spaces out in the wild where they are able to see their environment without being seen. Providing boxes and other similar spaces for your cat to climb into is an inexpensive way to enrich your home environment. Try hiding toys in these spaces, and always make sure that the environment is safe for your cat and that your cat can easily retrieve the toys from the box. 

Sitting on Electronic Equipment

Cats may sit on or near electronics, like computers and TVs, because they're warm and have stimulating images on their screens. It's not likely that a cat can see exactly what we see, but the movement on the screen may engage a cat's natural curiosity. Another reason your cat is sitting on your TV may be that she wants interaction and attention, and is trying to disrupt the attention you are giving to the device. A good way to test this is to see if she spends as much time with a device when you are not engaging with it. 

Running Around in the Middle of the Night

Since cats are nocturnal, it's natural that they will be more active at night. Since we're often not home during the day, they spend a lot of that time sleeping. You can help increase your cat's activity level during the day by providing her with engaging feeding toys or by establishing a playtime routine before you leave the house and after you return. Before you go to bed, play with your cats to help them expend energy, so they can get more rest at night. A feeding routine that supplies cats with more energy during the day instead of at night might also help.

Stealing

Some cats steal almost any object they can get their paws on. If your cat receives attention from you for stealing things - even if it's negative attention - it may teach her to continue doing it. Another possibility is that it's a form of play. If you think this is the case, try providing something else for your cat to do, like feeding puzzles, toys to play with, or, even better, establish a playtime routine. This might alleviate any boredom that causes her to get into trouble.

Stealing may also be related to texture. Your cat may enjoy the mouthfeel of different textures, and be looking for stimulation in an environment that doesn't provide enough enrichment.

Another possibility is that your cat is experiencing stress and is stealing things that help her calm down. Behaviors like wool-sucking, for example, have been observed in some cats and are suspected to calm them down.

If your cat is taking things and moving them around - like socks - it could be a predatory instinct, and the sock is being used as a replacement for prey that has been killed and brought back. If you believe that this behavior is a compulsion for your cat you should seek the help of a cat behaviorist or a veterinarian.  

Attraction to Water

Many cats love water, although they don't respond to it the same way dogs do. Cats prefer to approach water on their own terms, and often dislike having it imposed on them. When it comes to drinking water, cats are often more attracted to running water or droplets of water because that's one way they interact with it in nature. Still water in a bowl is less likely to gain their attention since they can't smell it or see it as well. If you're worried about your cat being properly hydrated, try experimenting with ways to give her access to running or dripping water.