Everypaw Pet Insurance and Vetstream have carried out research and compiled a guide to understanding cat behaviour to help people recognise normal and abnormal patterns.
It comes as online searches for ‘why is my female cat spraying all of sudden’ have risen by 200% YoY, while searches for ‘older cat behaviour changes’ have increased by 200% in the last 3 months.
What’s Normal or Abnormal Cat Behaviour?
Cats are wild! They spend a large amount of their time stalking and chasing prey, hunting is a natural instinct for them, so they will continue to hunt and kill even when they’re fed regularly. You can’t stop them hunting but a bell on their collar may reduce the number of birds and rodents that they manage to catch! If cats have little or no opportunity to put their hunting skills to use, they may ‘misbehave’.
What you consider ‘abnormal’ cat behaviour may just be normal behaviour for your cat but a sign that all’s not well in their feline world.
Undesirable Cat Behaviours Explained
If you suddenly have a strange cat showing unwanted behaviour, don’t immediately punish them as there may be a good reason why they’re behaving that way. By understanding the cause of the behaviour and trying to treat the issue that’s bothering them, you may be able reduce the unwanted behavioural issues.
Aggressive Cat Behaviour
Cats may become aggressive if they’re scared, or they’ve learnt an inappropriate way of interacting with their owner. Kittens should be socialised when they’re 2-8 weeks old, so they learn not to fear new situations, noises or people. Cats can also become aggressive through frustration or re-directed aggression (when they take out their aggression on the nearest person instead of the cat prowling in the garden).
Destructive Cats
Outdoor cats can spend around 8 hours hunting. Those kept indoors won’t be able to get the same amount of mental and physical stimulation that hunting outdoors provides. They can become inactive, depressed and show their frustration through destructive behaviour. Provide them with interactive feeding bowls, toys they can chase, cat trees they can climb, scratching posts and make time to play together.
If your cat’s behavioural problems persist, ask your vet for advice. The chances of resolving any unwanted behaviours are better when dealt with at an early stage. Your vet may also refer you to a behaviour specialist.
Why Does My Cat Scratch Furniture?
Cats use their claws for hunting, climbing and fighting so they need to keep them in good condition. Scratching at your furniture is just a way of keeping their claws sharp. Scratching may also be a way of marking their territory. Make sure they have their own scratching post to use instead!
Cat Spraying and Toileting
Another common cat behaviour is using urine and faeces to mark their territory. If your cat has stopped using their litter box, try changing the type of litter or moving the litter tray to another area of the house that’s quieter and away from their feeding or sleeping area. Cats can be fussy about their toileting habits. They require at least one litter box per cat and these should always be kept clean.
It can be very frustrating if your cat sprays indoors. Spraying (from a standing position) is different from urinating. Your cat may be doing this because they’re feeling anxious or unsettled due to a new cat in the area that they find threatening, or a new arrival to the family (baby or new pet). To make your cat feel secure again, shut off the cat flap and keep the litter tray, food, water bowls and bed in a room where your cat feels good.
Once the problem has been controlled, you can gradually allow your cat into other rooms.
Understanding Your Cat’s Mood
Cats communicate with each other and with us using visual, tactile and vocal signals. Changes in position or movement of their eyes, ears, whiskers, mouth and tail are all used to convey different moods or intentions. If you learn to recognise your cat’s body language, facial expressions and pick up on the signals that they’re sending, you’ll be able to understand your cat a bit better and improve your relationship.
Here are a few signs that can indicate your cat’s mood:
What’s My Cat’s Tail Language Telling Me?
Your cat’s tail language can tell you what mood they’re in, and can alert you to the type of mood they’re in.
When the cat’s tail is up, sometimes with the tip curled to one side, this is usually a signal of friendly intent. A defensive cat may thump or thrash their tail while crouching down or lying on their side.
What’s My Cat’s Tail Language Telling Me?
Cats also use touch to communicate. They have scent glands, with a cat rub of their face, body or tail against another cat or human, there’s an exchange of scent. Nose touching can also occur as a friendly greeting.
Why Does My Cat Keep Meowing?
Cats produce sounds such as purrs, trills and chirrups with their mouth closed. Kittens purr when nursing and this behaviour is retained as they become adults, reinforced by their owner’s attention. A relaxed cat purr is a signal of contentment while trilling and chirruping are used in friendly social interactions. A purr that occurs at a higher frequency can indicate pain.
Meows are made by opening and closing the mouth. Cats meow in greeting or to gain access to something like food or to be let outdoors. Cat growls, yowls, snarls, hisses, spits, and pain shrieks are associated with offensive and defensive aggression. Yowls can be used when a female cat is in heat.
Look for Changes in Behaviour
Any change in a cat’s behaviour may indicate that your cat is stressed or unwell. Moving house, a new addition to the family or a new cat in the neighbourhood can all affect your cat’s behaviour.
Older domestic cats can also be affected by Feline Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome. Forgetting to use the litter tray or toileting outside the box are signs, along with decreased activity and attention, disorientation, changes in sleep cycles and withdrawing from interacting with family members. Some can even become aggressive. But don’t assume that your elderly cat has this as they could also have a urinary tract infection or another illness that may need treatment.
If your cat has any behavioural issues or you notice any change in their behaviour, ask your vet for advice. Your cat could be stressed, in pain or be ill and need medical treatment.
The main content for this article was originally written by Vetstream for Everypaw Pet Insurance, the specialist pet insurance healthcare provider for dogs, cats and rabbits: Getting Inside the Head of Cat Behaviour.
