Nuisance Behaviors in Cats
Cats can exhibit many behaviors that are quite annoying. Some of the behaviors are detrimental to them, such as chewing or swallowing objects, and some affect the owner, such as scratching or vocalizing.
If you find your cat chewing on unwanted items, simply restricting her may be all that is needed. However, if that is impossible, then making those objects aversive can be helpful. For example, if you find her chewing, you can spray her with water or shake a can full of pennies to startle her. While this may seem cruel to some, it is better than her swallowing an object that will need to be surgically removed or getting electrocuted from an electrical cord. Spraying the objects with commercially available deterrents (i.e. Bitter Orange) can be helpful, but most cats begin to become immune to the taste.
If your pet is chewing on your houseplants, providing him with wheat grass or other safe substrates can help. You can find these at any large pet health store. Also try a high-fiber diet even though there is no direct proof that cats eat grass because of a nutritional deficiency. Remember that some houseplants are toxic to cats.
If your cat is scratching your furniture, declawing is a viable option ONLY if she is an indoor animal. For cats that do go outdoors, providing a scratching post is important. Realize that cats have preferences for location, fabric, and orientation. Some cats prefer to scratch on horizontal rather than vertical objects. Most cats also want a scratching outlet near their bed. Place scratching posts near the objects you don’t want the cat to scratch. You can also cover inappropriate scratching objects with foil or plastic.
You may also have a cat that vocalizes loudly, sometimes at night. First, make sure your pet does not have an underlying condition such as hyperthyroidism, cognitive dysfunction, or urinary issues. Visit your veterinarian to rule out any illnesses immediately. Female cats that have not been spayed will vocalize loudly when they are in heat. These cats need to be spayed as soon as possible.
Siamese cats are known for their vocalization. The above corrections (spraying with water, startling) will generally eliminate this behavior.
Tags: cats, chewing, clawing, hissing, scratching