Cat behavior problems can range in veracity from scratching on furniture to acting inappropriate towards a new baby. When you are having behavioral problems with your cat, it can leave you feeling at a loss as to how to reconcile it. However, there is no need to call in a training specialist. Most cat behavioral problems can be treated with simple home training solutions.
Conflict with a New Baby
The main cause of interaction problems between your cat and a new baby is jealousy. Although cats are considered to be independent animals, they still need to feel like members of the family. Sometimes the introduction of a new baby can make them feel like they have been replaced.
Your cat can have a variety of reactions to this new situation; including withdrawal, defecating outside of the litter box and hissing at the baby. If you see any of these issues in your cat, it is time to intervene.
Make sure that your cat knows that he is still an important part of the family. Although it can be difficult with a new baby in the house, be sure to dedicate some special time to your cat. He needs a lot of extra petting, soothing and playing so that he feels included. Scratching on Furniture
Scratching is an innate behavior in cats and is not something that can be eliminated in its entirety. The goal is to redirect your cat's urge to scratch to an approved location within your home.
There are several scratching posts that are made especially for cats to use. These are great tools when trying to teach your cat where they are allowed to scratch. However, the task is teaching your cat that this is an approved place to scratch.
In order to teach appropriate scratching behavior, you have to make their current scratching places undesirable. Try using a bitter apple spray, designed specifically for cats, and spray it on the places your cat likes to scratch. The spray is not harmful to cats, but it is not a taste that they like. They will get a good taste of it when they groom their paws.
If you can spray down all of the places that your cat scratches, but keep the scratching post clean of bitter apple spray, they will natural use the scratching post after they realize that it has no such taste.
Spraying and Marking
The behavior of spraying and marking is by far more common in male cats. This behavior displays their natural desire to mark their territory. The behavior is designed to let other male cats know that they are not welcome where another male cat resides. However, the behavior has no place for an indoor cat.
The best way to prevent or treat this problem is to have your male cat neutered. Once a male cat is neutered, the natural desire to mark his territory is lost.
It is likely that, after being neutered, your male cat will have no desire for a female that is in heat. However, if he does, he can begin marking again. In order to avoid this, it is best to keep females in heat away from your male cat.