Living with a cat that seems intent on making your life a misery can be very hard. Having a cat that is scratching carpets or furnishings can become very expensive in replacing all those damaged items. Having a cat that refuses to use its litter box can make for a smelly house. Having a cat that is aggressive towards visitors or even other members of the household can be very embarrassing. Don’t despair; even the worst cat behaviour problems can be cured turning your fur ball into the perfect pet cat.

Cats are not spiteful and will not punish you for doing something to them, if they are behaving badly then there is a reason for it. The way to solve cat behaviour problems is by discovering the underlying cause first and then fixing it. There are many possible underlying causes of cat behaviour problems and I am going to discuss a few of the more common ones here.

Possible Cause 1 – Medical Reason

If your cats behaviour has changed suddenly from the perfect pet cat into a psycho cat then it could be because of a medical reason. The most common change in behaviour is the avoidance of their litter box. This could be due to a urinary tract infection which makes it painful to pass urine. Your cat will then associate its litter box with pain and will avoid using it and instead find elsewhere. If a cat is in pain then it may also become aggressive and temperamental due to the pain that it is in. If you suspect a medical problem seek medical advice from a veterinarian.

Possible Cause 2 – Environmental Changes

If your cats behaviour has suddenly changed and it is not medical then it could be down to some environment changes. These can be things like moving house, getting another cat, the birth of a new baby. Even a new cat in the neighbourhood can cause cat behaviour problems. The most common change in behaviour for these types of causes are spraying indoors and scratching furnishings. This is a cat’s way of letting the new cats (or baby!) know that this is their territory.

Possible Cause 3 – You Cat is simply the boss!

If your cat has always behaved this way then it is because he feels like your home is his territory and he is the boss of it. This will mean that your cat will be aggressive to anyone that dares to trespass on their territory. Also as he is boss of his territory he can do as he feels within it which includes scratching and toilet areas.

So how do you solve such problems I hear you ask! Well, it’s not necessarily as hard as you may imagine. If you think that the change in behaviour may be due to a medical reason take your cat to the vet and tell them your concerns. In many cases once a cat has had treatment then its behaviour improves almost instantly. If you think that your cat is behaving badly following an environmental change then it’s simply a matter of reassurance and simple retraining techniques. However, if your cat is just ruling the roost then some serious retraining is required to get your cat under control and you back in control of your home.