Cat Behaviors To Watch Out For

When you bring home your new kitten, you will need to watch out for behaviors they may exhibit. As your kitten grows into an adult cat, you will observe behaviors which you can train to eliminate and get to know more about your cat’s instinct. Cat behaviors to watch out for will provide you with five behaviors and they are: training your cat to stay away from other pets, marking their territory, stop using my houseplants as litter boxes, how to tell if your cat is playing or fighting and give your cat a taste of the outdoors.

How To Train Your Cat To Stay Away From Other Pets

If you notice that your cat is brothering other pets in the house such as birds, small rodents, or small dogs, it’s probably because of her natural instincts. Teaching your cat to overcome these instincts will be very challenging. Here are some tips to help you.

Teach your cat to stay out of the room where your bird or hamster lives. Modify the environment to keep pets apart. Use a baby gate to separate the cat and dog and make sure that you do not place conflicting pets’ food, water and beds next to each other.

If you notice your cat bothering another pet, to discourage this behavior by spraying her face with cool water from a spray bottle. The sensation may be just unpleasant enough for your cat to shape up. You can ask other pet owners or your veterinarian for more tips if these do not work.

How Do Cats Mark Their Territory?

Cats are by nature solitary and they stake out their territory in a number of ways. Scratching is a common behavior in domestic cats. When you see a cat rubbing its cheek on its owner’s leg, there is usually more than affection going on. This behavior is known as bunting, and it serves as a form of communication to other animals. When a cat rubs it’s staking out its territory with pheromones – chemicals secreted by glands in the animal’s cheeks, paws, rump, and shoulder area.

]]>

Spraying urine is another common behavior in wild cats. In domestic cats, particularly un-neutered males, urine spraying may also be associated with sexual activity. Spaying or neutering your pet may solve this problem. 

How Can I Stop My Cat Using My Houseplants As Litter Boxes

If your cat lived outdoors, she would naturally use dirt to urinate or defecate. So if you see her urinating in your plants, it’s because dirt is her natural toilet. So, how can I stop this behavior?

Be sure that the cats litter box is clean and a dirty litter box is not the cause of this behavior. Cats do not like a dirty litter box. You may have to clean her litter box more regularly. You will need to repot your plants. Once a cat urinates in a plant, her smell is there and she is likely to go back to that plant again. So you will need to replace the soil. Then place some type of pet repellant on the plant. You can purchase these repellants in any pet store.

How Do I Know If My Cat Is Playing or Fighting?

This is a very good question and here is the answer. You see your cat stalking a sibling through the thicket of the living room carpet. He pounces, and the two turn into a tumbling ball of ferocious fur. Are they playing or fighting?

Cats play is quiet. You won’t hear the loud wailing of serious combat. During play, the offensive and defensive roles will shift back and forth. Cats usually will not get injured in these battles, and afterward neither seems afraid of the other. Feline playmates also display friendly behaviors between their skirmishes.

But if your kitten’ tiff involves howling, flattened ears, dilated pupils, raised hackles, arched backs, and puffy hair, you will need to step in. Make a loud noise or spray them with cool water. Then separate the cats.

How Can I Give My Indoor Cat A Taste of the Outdoors?

Before taking your cat outdoors, you will need to train her to walk with a leash. Use a harness instead of a collar and get a leash that’s 4 to 6 feet long. Get your pet used to the harness. If she should resist, leave it around where she can smell it for a few days.

When she is ready, let your cat drag the leash, but keep an eye on her. Then hold the leash and follow her for short indoor walks. Eventually try taking her outside. When she does things that are pleasing, praise her and give her a treat. Never pull. If your cat won’t go where you want, pick her up and carry her to the spot. Be patient. This will take some time. Before long, she will be looking forward to the walks with you.

These are some great tips on cat behaviors to watch out for. By knowing these behaviors, will help you become a better cat owner.