There is a classification of the main reasons that create problems in the coexistence of man and his cat:
– Stress or frustration.
– Development and socialization problems.
– Health and / or genetic problems.
Stress is usually due to a change in environment or routine
Stress is the main cause of bad behavior in felines. To reel it we would need a few articles dedicated to feline ethology and education but, for the moment, we are going to give key points for knowledge and prevention.
Changes in the cat’s environment, the arrival of new living beings at home (this includes animals but also babies and human visits) can affect a kitten but not always, and not all. Each feline has its sensitivity, that is, like humans, some of us have more capacity for, let’s say, patience in certain circumstances. Many seem to have the ability to isolate themselves from the world when a problem arises and others are more sensitive, so (speaking of cats) they will show problems in the face of even low intensity stimuli.
Stress and frustration can manifest itself in multiple ways , with one or several symptoms (excitement or depression, inappropriate elimination of urine and / or feces, loss of hair …), clinical evidence that must be evaluated and diagnosed by a animal health professional. This will decide how to control the problem: improving the environments, using pheromones and specific foods, drugs if necessary …
Among the main development and socialization problems that cause behavioral problems are those due to an inadequate feeding of the animal during its development and an insufficient relationship with its mother and siblings. It is evident that the absence or poor “quality” of the points discussed are the trigger for multiple problems.
It is very common in veterinary clinics to hear owners saying: “The cat is ‘weird’, it does not eat, it behaves differently, it does not want to play, it snorts at me when I want to touch it, it does not relieve itself on the tray …” . Before thinking about pure behavior problems, the organic component should always be ruled out.
In the case of genetic problems, we can say that cases with this origin are anecdotal. Felines have fewer behavioral alterations due to genetics than dogs for the following reasons:
· Less than 10% of the cats that live with man are purebred. This allows genetic variability to lead to “problem containment.”
· The genetic selection of cat breeds has focused more on aesthetics than on behavior, so that only certain “more endogamous” breeds (those that are crossed exclusively between specimens of the breed itself) are those that can more frequently present agitation, nervousness …
Reasons you relieve yourself off the tray
No owner likes that his feline uses to carry out his stools, solid or liquid, any other place than the absorbent bed tray designed for this purpose.
This behavior of the animal is the main cause of conflict, abandonment and even euthanasia. The sad reality is that an owner can do it if they find a vet who will accept it. The legislation of Spain allows, even today, that these measures are legal.
When a cat does its business outside the tray, it is never, ever, as a form of attack, revenge or similar behaviors unique to humans.
There are two options, clear and very different from “mistakes” when using the tray for cats.
On the one hand, the cat, following its instinct to leave a mark and communicate, can pee outside the tray as a result of territorial marking.
And the other option, not at all voluntary, resulting from physical, behavioral problems is improper disposal.
