Behavior Changes in Cats

Cats can be loyal, loving, intelligent and independent companions to humans. Although cats are known as being animals who have certain routine behaviors, as cats get older some of these behaviors start to change. If you are a cat owner who has noticed behavioral changes in your cat, you should have an understanding as to what might be causing these changes.

Not Using the Litter Box

Spraying in certain areas of the house, as well as eliminating outside of the litter box, are two of the more common behavioral changes that a cat might undergo. It is important to note that sometimes, this behavior is caused as a side effect of a medical condition. Conditions such as hyperthyroidism, arthritis, feline lower urinary tract disease, liver disease, or kidney disease can all contribute to a cat suddenly not using the litter box.

Stress

Stress is a common cause of a cat eliminating in places other than their litter box, suddenly becoming shy around people that they known, and not eating much, if at all. Usually, a cat becomes stressed when their routine has suddenly been changed. If you have just moved to a new place, if a new person has moved in, or if a person the cat loves has moved out, then these are all possible causes of this change in the behavior of the cat. In such a situation, the cat needs to slowly be introduced to the surroundings or the new person, while constantly receiving assurance in the form of affection.

Aggression

Aggression can often be caused by a medical condition that is causing the cat pain, such as arthritis, or a disease that is affecting its nervous system. Additionally, if the cat is experiencing difficulty in hearing or seeing, that frustration can manifest itself in aggression.

New Pets

A cat might also become aggressive if another animal is brought into the house, especially if that other animal happens to be another cat or a small animal. If this is thought to be the source of the aggression, the new animal must be introduced into the household slowly while always being supervised. As time goes on, the new cat and the old cat need to establish boundaries on their own terms if possible.

Medical Treatment for Behavioral Changes

The cat should be taken to the veterinarian in order to ascertain if any underlying diseases are the cause of the changes in behavior. If the cat is found to have a medical condition, then usually treating the condition will result in an improvement in behavior.

References

• Behavior Changes & Problems in Older (Senior, Geriatric) Cats

Resources

• Understanding Feline Behavior