Cat Behavior
What Is This All About?
Cornell School of Veterinary Medicine Resource Guide
Last Updated January 7, 2007
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Cat Behavior |
THE BASICS:
(Litterbox Training Tips in separate section at the bottom of the page)Basic Training For Your Cat - Excellent article on setting the groundrules, and how NOT to deal with inappropriate behavior! From an Animal Behavioral Specialist
Feline Territorial Nature & Behavior - From Perfect Paws
The Cat's View of Territory - The Wisonsin Cat Club
Feline Social Nature & Behavior - From Perfect Paws
Feline Predatory Nature & Behavior - From Perfect Paws
Why Does My Cat Do This? - A GREAT article that explains many of your kitty's behaviors like kneading, chattering, drinking water out of the faucet, dunking toys in the water dish!
Socialization and Your Cat - PetStyle Training articles
Socialization - The importance of early socializtion
Feline Behavior Problems - From the Cornell School of Veterinary Medicine
Natural Cat Behavior - several articles from Cats International
Body Language - Learn to understand your cat's body posture, vocalization, tail movements & what they're telling you
Reading Your Cat's Body Language - ASPCA
Body Language - From Animal Planet
Feline Body Language - Arizona Humane Society NOTE:PDF file. Open in new window
Feline Behavior: Common Communication Problems - Pam Johnson-Bennett Feline Behaviorist
Cats and Punishment - No hitting!!! From the Humane Society
Behavior Manifestions of Stress - Inappropriate elimination (litterbox problems) Territorial marking behaviors, including spraying, Excessive grooming and self-mutilation, Immobility (depression), and hiding , Redirected aggression (toward people or other pets), Excessive vocalization, Loss of appetite and Restlessness
Overcoming Stress - Manifestations of stress & treatment
Displacement Behaviors - Compulsive Grooming, Sucking, Chewing and Eating Disorders - Wisconsin Cat Club
Excessive Vocalization
The Talkative Cat - From PAWS
Excessive Vocalization (Vocal Blackmail) - From Perfect Paws
Nocturnal Activity - Why is my cat racing around at night, and what can I do about it?
Alarm Clock Kitties - Wisconsin Cat Club
Excessive Nocturnal Activity in Cats - Amherst Small Animal Hospital
How To Get Your Cat To Love Your New "Love" - Good advice on introducing your new love to your cat!
AGGRESSION:
Understanding the Various Types of Aggressive Behaviors:Explaining Cat Aggression Towards People - Cat owners sometimes have difficulty understanding why their cats, who seem to be friendly and content one minute, may suddenly bite and scratch them the next. Understand that your cat is NOT mean! Explaining "Play Aggression" and "Don't Pet Me Anymore" aggression.
Managing Your Kitten's Rough Play - From the Denver Animal League
Understanding Aggression Towards Humans - From PAWS
Feline Aggression Towards People - From the ASPCA
Cat Aggression - Dr. Mike Richards, DVM
Aggression: Diagnosing & Treating - Understanding and Diagnosing various types of feline agression including Fear, Territorial aggression, play aggression, predatory aggression, pain induced aggression, re-directed, social status aggression and learned aggressive behavior
Understanding Feline Aggression - Tips on how to resolve it from a Behavioral Specialist.
Cat Aggression - by Toni Daughtry, Linda Gregory-Duty, and Chris Lacy
Understanding Different Type of Feline Aggression Towards Humans - Jennifer Hill, Behavior Help-Line Volunteer and Suzanne Hetts, Ph.D.,Certified Animal Behaviorist
When Cats Show Aggression Toward People - By Benjamin Hart, DVM, PhD, ACVB, Behavior Service Chief, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, UC Davis
Specific Aggressive Behaviors:
Fearful or Defensive Aggression
Play Aggression - Making a Nasty Cat Nice
Diagnosing Redirected Aggression - Kingstown Cat Clinic
Redirected Aggression: What is It?
Redirected Aggression - Don't Take it Personally!
AGGRESSION IN MULTI CAT HOUSEHOLDS
Explaining Aggression Between Family Cats - Causes and solutions for sudden aggression between family members
Aggression Between Cats in a Multi-Cat Household - Bob McKee
Feline Aggression To Other Cats - From the ASPCA
Aggression Between Cats - Dr. Mike Richards, DVM
Territorial Aggression - Bob McKee
Sharing The Turf - Cats International
Sharing The Turf - Scent Messages - Cats International
Social Aggression in a Multi Cat Household - Cats International
Aggression in Household Cats - By Victoria L. Voith, DVM, PhD, and Peter L. Borchelt, PhD
Feline Social Behavior & Aggressive Problems Between Family Cats - by Suzanne Hetts, Ph.D., Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist
Aggression Between Cats - From PAWS
When Best Friends Become Enemies - Reintroducing suddenly aggressive households cats
Two products that can be extremely helpful in dealing with aggression between cats and in introducing a new cat to a resident cat's territory are Feliway and Rescue Remedy. The links below will explain what each does and how it can help alleviate anxiety:
RESCUE REMEDY:
Rescue Remedy- A good link to understanding Rescue Remedy and the Bach Flower Essences. Rescue Remedy can be obtained at any Health Food Store. Use 4-8 drops twice a day mixed in food, food gravy, water or squirted directly into the mouth. This is homeopathic, so you can't overdose. Adjust upwards or down as necessary. It works well on anxious parents too! *grin*
Rescue Remedy - Dr. Jean Hovfre, DVM
Purchase Rescue Remedy On Line - from Drs. Foster & Smith
FELIWAY:
Feliway: A New Method to Discourage Spraying - A new product available from your vet. We've used it, and it really does seem to work. It lowers their anxiety level. I also spray some on a washcloth and put it inside the cat carrier when we go to the vet. It's available from this link or through your vet (about $34/bottle), but it's cheaper from Valley Vet Supply ($20/bottle)at 1-800-360-4838.
What Is Feliway? What it does, and how to use it. You can also order on-line through this site.
Purchase Feliway On-Line - from Drs. Foster & Smith. $19.99 a bottle
Feliway FAQ's - Good article from Catfaeries On Line
Lisaviolet's Comments on Feliway
BITING AND SCRATCHING:
Why Do Cats Scratch? - great article from PAWS
Biting Cat - animal behavioral specialist Dr. Speigel, VMD
Teaching Your Cat Not To Bite or Scratch - From Little Shelter
Tooth & Nail - More tips on overcoming Biting & Scratching.
How Can I Stop My Cat From Biting Me? - from feline behavior expert Pam Johnson-Bennett
Biting & Scratching - Understanding this behavior and ways to correct it
When Purrs Become Bites - Cats International
Body Parts Are Not Toys! - from the SPCA
Why Cats Bite - Animal Behavioral Specialists
Ankle Biting - Dr. Mike Richards, DVM
Making a Furniture Friendly Cat - From Little Shelter
Destructive Sratching - From the Denver Animal League
Scratching - How to channel a natural function away from your furniture
Cat Aversives - Aversion techniques to redirect scratching
Training Your Cat to Use a Scratching Post - Great article with quotes from Pam Bennett-Johnson
Clawing Your Way to Success! - From PAWS
Dealing With Destructive Cat Behavior
Sticky Paws! - double sided clear tape to prevent furniture scratching.TIP: You can also apply clear contact paper sticky side up around the corners of your furniture. Secure with pins or upholstery screws. Leave in place until the behavior has been altered and then remove
Lisaviolet's Comments on Feliway - Spraying Feliway on favorite scratching sites might eliminate the need to continue scratching the area
Trimming Your Cat's Claws - A step by step guide on how to trim your cat's claws!
Clipping Those Claws - With excellent step by step photos! From the Washington State Veterinary School
Soft Paws - An Alternative to Claw Clipping. Nail Caps that prevent scratchingA Personal Note about Declawing: If you are discouraged about scratching and claw clipping and feel like giving up and sucumbing to declawing your cat, please check this link and reconsider: Declawing: What You Need To Know
THE FEARFUL CAT:
Stress Behaviors - Fight, Flight, Freeze, Appeasement Behavior
Treating The Stressed Cat - Fear Desensitization and Counterconditioning
Working With a Fearful Cat - Cats International
The Untouchable Cat - Good suggestions on dealing with a shy cat
Handling & Gentling A Fearful Cat - pdf file from the SPCA
The Fearful or Shy Cat - Kingston Animal Clinic
The Fearful Cat - Pam Johnson-Bennett
The Fearful Cat - From the Denver Animal League
The Fearful Cat - From PAWS
AVOIDING LITTERBOX PROBLEMS:
Note: If your cat has already developed Litterbox problems such as urinating or defecating outside the box, or Spraying, please refer to Litterbox Problem Help for specific suggestions on how to deal with this problem.
9 Steps To Prevent Litterbox Problems Before They Start - From PAWS
Starting Out Right With the Litterbox - From PAWS
Litterbox Problem Prevention - Starting out right with your new cat and the litterbox.
LitterBox Training: Avoiding Potential Problems - From Perfect Paws
CATS AND BABIES:
Babies and Pets - Excellent article by Victoria Voith, DVM
Kids and Pets - Another excellent site from HomeVet
Kids and Pets - Excellent site with more links. Deals with dog introductions.
Preparing Your Pets for Baby's Arrival - From the Denver Animal League
Cats & Kids - From The Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
Pets & Babies - Reprinted from American Baby, "Will our Pet Like the Baby?", by Cathi Edler, March, 1994
Bringing Home Baby - Cats International
Cats and Kids - Good tips for peaceful co-existance!
RECOMMENDED READING:
The Cat Who Cried For Help Attitudes, Emotions and the Psychology of Cats by Nicholas Dodman
Twisted Whiskers - Solving Your Cat's Behavioral Problems by Pam Johnson-Bennett
Psycho Kitty? - Understanding your cat's behavior by Pam Johnson-Bennett
Is Your Cat Crazy? - Solutions from the Case Book of a Cat Therapist - John C. Wright, Judi Wright Lashnits, Judy Wright Lashnits
Catwatching - Why cats purr and everything else you wanted to know by Desmond Morris
