Common Behavior Problem

Why does my kitten bite me? Kittens often bite while they're playing and may become overexcited. This behavior is natural in kittens and is typically not a sign of hostility or fear. However, if left unchecked, it can become a serious problem.

Cats have a reputation for knocking things off counters and shelves. In fact, a quick search online will bring up many a video and comicstrip about cats breaking things by doing exactly this. This can be frustrating for any cat owner. Why do cats insist on breaking our knickknacks? Well, as with most pet behaviors, there are several different reasons your cat likes knocking things over.

Cats may eat litter and other non-food items for various reasons. This behavior is called pica.

Cats aren't usually as noisy as dogs, but that doesn't mean they don't vocalize. Cats will meow, scream, yowl, cry, and make other noises. Sometimes these noises are during the day in response to various stimuli, but many times they are at night when you are trying to sleep.

Like humans, cats experience fear, pleasure, hunger, anxiety, frustration, and many other emotions that may affect their behavior. Several common kitty behaviors are seen as undesirable and can affect the quality of life for both owners and their pets. Fortunately, many of these behaviors can be corrected.

Feral cats, or homeless cats that have lived their entire lives outside, are born in the wild and have had minimal contact with humans. Many animal lovers who encounter a feral cat wonder if these cats can be domesticated, trained, and eventually welcomed into their home as a pet, especially if the cat is living outdoors in cold weather or a dangerous environment.

Cat lovers who want their cats to enjoy fresh air, sunshine, and the ambiance of trees, bushes, and plants, often feel guilt by confining their cats to the indoors. This was the mindset in previous generations: that cats were free and independent creatures and should not be confined. That they cannot be healthy, happy, and active, if not allowed to experience all the glories of the outdoors.

Cats don't scratch carpets out of spite or a desire to destroy; scratching is a natural behavior for them. They scratch to care for their claws, mark surfaces, invite play, or get attention. Most cats prefer surfaces they can sink their claws into, like carpet, drapery, and upholstery much to the dismay of cat owners.

Cats are aware of their beauty, but their reactions to their reflection in the mirror vary greatly. Some cats completely ignore the reflected feline, while others are curious, possibly wondering why this other cat lacks a unique scent. Other cats may show aggression or fearful behavior when they see their reflection. If your cat shows a negative reaction, there are ways you can help.

While not all cats are drawn to sucking on soft fabrics like wool, it can become an obsession for some. This behavior often develops in kittens separated from their mothers too early. Mature cats may also adopt this habit when feeling anxious or stressed, seeking comfort by sucking wool.

Does your cat sometimes make a weird sneering face? Cats lift their lips after a particularly long sniff and hold the mouth slightly open to sniff cat pheromones. Flehmen—a German word that means "lip curl"—might be mistaken for an aggressive snarl but is a perfectly normal and peaceful cat behavior.

Different cats display various behaviors. Some are very cuddly and affectionate, while others alternate between seeking affection and ignoring it. Some cats may appear downright mean, avoiding touch and being held. Mean cats might often hiss, scratch, or bite, and there could be an underlying reason for this behavior. Learning why and how to address it can help. Depending on your cat, these techniques could offer a quick solution or require more time and effort to yield results.

One common form of cat aggression happens between cats that live together but are briefly separated. This aggression can be distressing for the victim cat and the cats' owners. Often, the unexpected attack stems from redirected aggression, where the aggressor targets a surrogate because the actual target is inaccessible.

Cats naturally urinate in a litter box, but if they have a reason to avoid it, they often choose the bathtub as an alternative. The reasons why there may be litter box avoidance can vary from a simple lack of cleanliness to a life-threatening condition. Due to the serious reasons for this problem, it's important for cat owners to know why their cat is peeing in the bathtub.

Veterinary visits are a vital part to our cat’s care. Many cats find traveling and carriers to be an unpleasant experience. Most cats don’t have much experience with traveling, and when they do, it isn’t positive, so it makes sense why many cats are not fans of traveling. Although travel can be stressful, there is a lot you can do to make traveling and carriers less stressful and even enjoyable for your cat(s)!

Feline communication is a complex system of sign language, some vocalization, and even scent cues people can’t detect. Signals help define and reinforce the cat’s social position and smooth cat-to-cat, cat-to-people, and cat-to-dog relationships.

Cats can have all different kinds of personalities. Some are outgoing, dominant, cuddly, or attention-seeking, while others are nervous, shy, and sometimes even scared of people. For cats who are scared of people, daily visitors to their home can cause extreme stress, but thankfully, this is something that can be overcome.

What is your cat trying to tell you when it rubs against your legs? While the behavior can have various meanings, it's generally a sign of the cat's love and devotion. However, there are specific reasons why your cat might continue this behavior.

Marlene, Jessica, and Dustin live with their two-year-old cat, Monkey, who they adopted at a month of age when found in a bush in their driveway. Monkey was born to a feral neighborhood cat. She gets along great with the dogs Diesel and Pangea, is okay with Kali, a one-year-old sister cat, and is adjusting to the new 10-week-old kitten.

If you have more than one cat living under your roof, you may be familiar with catfights. But how do you know if it's play aggression between cats, when to worry, and what to do about the fighting? When cats are fighting frequently, it can be frustrating for pet owners and potentially dangerous to cats, sometimes even drawing blood. It's not a good idea to allow cats to "fight it out" because this rarely settles conflicts and usually makes matters worse. Learn the types of behaviors and how to stop aggression between cats so your household can stay at peace.

Cat humping is fairly common, even in neutered male cats. They may hump other cats or inanimate objects due to urinary tract infections, stress, or various health and behavioral issues. This behavior can cause stress for both you and the other cat, who may not appreciate being stalked and mounted.

Does your cat's behavior confuse and frustrate you, making you think you are the only cat owner experiencing this? You are not the only one, and surprisingly your cat might be considered completely normal. Learn about 22 weird cat behaviors, why cats do them, and how you can learn to live with them—or even enjoy your quirky kitty's antics.

Pet loss and grief can be difficult and heartbreaking for people, but it can be an even greater challenge to help the surviving pets deal with pet loss. Cats do, indeed, grieve.

For a long time, cats have held a reputation for being solitary, and while they certainly aren't as social and gregarious as dogs are, cats can live in the same home and do well together. They can even become bonded to one another. One behavior you may see from time to time if you live in a multicat home is one cat slapping another cat. Why do cats do this? Are they fighting with one another? Or is something else going on?

A cat urinating outside the box can be marking behavior, where a cat feels the need to mark its territory. But there are some underlying health conditions which may cause a cat to urinate outside the litter box and some environmental causes as well.

While it's normal for cats to chew on everything even things that aren't meant to be chewed sometimes, the behavior can get out of hand. It can be dangerous for the cat and damaging to your belongings.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is often discussed in humans, but did you know cats can exhibit similar behaviors? These obsessive-compulsive behaviors may indicate that your cat has OCD, although they can also be secondary to other health or behavioral issues.

When a cat's normal behavior changes subtly or dramatically, a conscientious owner can't help but feel concerned. Knowing what is "normal" for your cat will make it easier to recognize behavioral problems that arise. Some changes can indicate underlying health or social issues, while others are simply personality quirks that arise as your cat grows older. Learn the differences—for both your cat's well-being and your peace of mind.

Some cats are a lot like puppies and enjoy chewing on objects. Plastic items are some of those objects that many cats take a liking to, but why? And is it dangerous if a cat chews on or eats plastic?

Any cat lovers know that cats, just like dogs, can have some interesting behaviors. Chin biting is definitely one of these. Truly, though, most chin bites can be more accurately described as mouthing as they rarely break the skin.

As you probably already know, cats make a variety of noises. Some breeds, such as Siamese cats, are known to be naturally noisy, but any cat can meow loudly for a number of reasons.

The typical anxious cat hides, urinates inappropriately, increases scratching, and/or vocalizes excessively.1 Some cats are naturally anxious while others can suddenly feel anxiety due to an underlying cause.

Cats communicate differently than humans, and their behaviors often convey messages to us. Urine spraying is one such behavior, but it is not enjoyable for any cat owner to witness or clean up. Understanding why your cat may be spraying and how to address it can reduce stress and frustration for both you and your pet.

You may have noticed that before or after your kitten or cat eats or drinks, it paws, scratches, or kneads the floor as if digging or burying something. This behavior is common, and rest assured there’s nothing wrong with your cat. Your pet is demonstrating an instinct it shares with big wild cats, and it’s a positive sign that it feels at home in your house.

There are several basic kinds of aggression-based biting and scratching behaviors in cats, and some of them are traceable to behavior they learned from their owners or interactions with their owners. Kittens learn to bite and scratch as a normal part of development, and if not trained early, they won't know when using their claws and teeth is not appropriate.

Petting aggression occurs when a cat lashes out in response to being touched, usually moments after they seem content with the touch. Of the several types of cat aggression, none confuses, frustrates, and frightens most owners as much as petting aggression, also called status-related aggression. The cat begs for attention and loves the petting, but then bites you after only a few strokes.

Kittens, much like children, learn how to behave appropriately from a young age and during this process, they may often misbehave. They are constantly exploring the world and understanding acceptable behavior through positive and negative reinforcement. When training your kitten to stop misbehaving, it's important to address and correct bad behaviors with clear guidance and discipline.

Cats will wrestle and play with each other and sometimes even get a little rough, but that can be normal cat behavior. Cats who live together and normally get along will exhibit non-painful ear biting, grabbing, and chasing as a part of their playful activities.

There are several reasons why your cat might suddenly stop using its litter box and start pooping in the shower, bathtub, or sink. This can be a frustrating and unpleasant experience. Luckily, if your cat is healthy, you can likely stop this behavior by adjusting your bathroom setup and making the litter box more appealing.

Cats meowing so much can often be misconstrued as a "behavior problem" when it's often completely normal. Cats often just want to talk, though a quiet cat suddenly vocalizing—or vice versa—could mean a trip to the vet.

Cats and kittens are known for disliking water. Most will avoid getting wet, but some enjoy playing with water bowls or finding other water sources in their environment. The question is whether this behavior stems from curiosity or an underlying health problem causing excessive drinking. If your kitten or cat is splashing in the water bowl rather than drinking, a health issue might be affecting their natural need for hydration.

Do cats get jealous? Not exactly. Cats, like people, have different personality traits. What may appear as jealousy is often just anxious behavior. Hissing, swatting, scratching, or spraying are ways cats try to control their environment. These behaviors are usually symptoms of anxiety rather than genuine jealousy, even though they may seem similar.

Indoor cats sometimes try to escape from the house, which can be particularly frightening for their owners. Most house cats are not prepared to handle the sensory overload of the outdoors and usually return quickly. However, if your house cat gets outside, they face significant risks of injury from other cats, people, or vehicles.

Some cats have a habit of eating or chewing on paper. Cats sometimes exhibit odd behaviors for various reasons, leaving their owners puzzled.

Litter-trained cats typically use the litter box, but if your cat is pooping outside the box and on your rug, it signals inappropriate elimination. Litter box problems are common behavioral issues for cat owners and can be challenging to manage.

Your cat may overgroom due to medical or behavioral reasons, such as nursing a wound or feeling stressed. By addressing the source of stress and incorporating stress-relieving activities and pheromones into your cat's routine, you can help stop overgrooming.

Kittens can be aggressive out of fear or playfulness, though both behaviors may look identical. You may feel as though your kitten is trying to attack you, jumping out at you from behind the couch, scratching at your hands, or randomly biting your shoes. It's unlikely that a scratch or bite from a house cat will be fatal, but such injuries can be painful and run the risk of infection. There are ways to address a kitten's aggressive behavior, most of which require just a little extra attention from its owner. Here's what you should know if your kitten is showing aggressive behavior.

For several years Feliway has been available at pet stores, vet hospitals, and online retailers. You may know it has something to do with cat behavior, but you might not know much more than that. It may surprise you to know that Feliway is actually a formulated cat pheromone product.

Keeping your cat off the kitchen counters isn't just a way to prevent spills—it could also help prevent injury for your cat and maintain an overall safer environment in the home. Cats who frequently jump on kitchen counters can inadvertently create a number of problems, like injuring themselves while walking on a hot stove or ingesting foods that are toxic to animals.

A cat acting crazy may run around the house or get a nightly burst of energy, complete with a chorus of meows. A "crazy" cat can be entertaining to watch, but the behavior could veer into destructiveness, with the cat inadvertently knocking things over, and an increased likelihood that someone gets bitten.

Does your cat constantly wake you up at night by playing on the bed, lobbying to be fed, or soliciting cuddle time when all you want to do is sleep? Your cat is most likely seeking attention, leading to a disturbance in your sleep cycle.

Cats sometimes have accidents, leaving urine on your clothes or bedding, which can have a very strong odor, especially once it dries. Fortunately, cat urine and its odors can be removed from any washable fabric, and these methods work for other types of urine too. After addressing the immediate issue, consider if there are underlying behavioral or health problems causing your cat to urinate on laundry.

Why do cats bite you? Cats may bite during play, to seek attention, or if they feel stressed or threatened. Kittens will bite, mouth, and paw at objects to explore their world. These natural behaviors can continue into adulthood.

If you've ever been abruptly woken from a peaceful sleep by a cat sitting on your chest and breathing in your face, you're not alone. A common behavior among cats is staring at humans while they sleep, which can be both puzzling and occasionally annoying.

Cats have a reputation of being aloof and more introverted than dogs. However, that doesn’t mean cats can’t be and aren’t affectionate, especially towards their caregivers. In fact, some cat owners would argue their cats are borderline clingy, following them around the home. Why would a cat follow their owner around so much?

Cats are known for their diverse and entertaining vocalizations, with chattering being one of the most intriguing. This behavior involves rapid teeth clicking and jaw shuddering, often accompanied by short, soft, or high-pitched tweets and chirps. Cats typically chatter when observing prey animals, like birds or rodents, from a window.

When you travel, you know exactly where you're headed, but if your cat is traveling with you, they probably don't, and that can be stressful for them. If your favorite feline gets anxious when they travel, it may be a good idea to talk to your veterinarian about sedative options.