Readers Respond: Have you had success solving a cat behavioral problem? Share your Tips Here!

Cat behavioral problems run the gamut, from aggression, to litter box accidents, to howling in the night. Some undesirable behaviors are only annoying, such as excessive attention-seeking, while others, such as chewing on electrical cords are downright dangerous. Still others, such as peeing outside the box, may be a sign of a physical problem. Curing a "bad" behavior problem requires thinking like a cat.

nibbling and biting

My 15yr tom cat Mogsey has decided that I taste better than his food,lol. He use to stay downstairs with the cat flap for him to go in and out. For some reason he started not going out (evening/night) but did in the day. He started to meow all night so we decided to keep him in with cat litter. He was fine at first but he kept scratching at my bedroom door all night,so we left the door open so he could come and go. He has now started to wake me up all through the night with him biting and nibbling at my face neck and hair. Please help as I need my sleep as I now have fibromyalgia and t1 diabetes, so I am so tired. Please help... FRANNY'S NOTE: Please continue to keep your cat inside. Shut your bedroom door and invest in a good set of ear plugs. Sleep tight.

—mrsjonno

Cat lick

I have a cat that is at least 75% British Shorthair. He has recently started licking himself (as if he is cleaning himself) whenever I scratch his back with in the area that is from the base of the neck down to just above his "elevator butt" spot. I was wondering what would make him do this in reaction to being scratched in this area?

—NormanWeaver

My cat is a jerk

Hi, ma cats name is kitan. Ive raised her since she gained eyesight. Shes already 7 months old now. I keep her inside the house and she stays here but lately shes been roaming around the neighborhood but i also let her do that she just comes home anyway. But this time she spends her day in our neighbors garage and doesnt come or maybe she does not know how to come home because shes shy and a scairdycat i bet she cant even climb trees yet. How do i solve this problem? Should i spay her? FRANNY'S NOTE: YES Alfred~ Please spay her ASAP, then keep her indoors at all times. Get her a scratching post and/or a cat tower for her scratching needs.

—Guest Alfred nolan diaz

Need to solve litter behavior

L.B. My Cat, use to use the litter box. Read an artical online to use wood chip instead of litter. Didnt work. Now she wont even use the litter box with the litter at all. Please help.

—Lynnpren

Rescue cat nightmare to lovely cat :)

I thought I would share my story in the hope it may create a positive attitude to anyone who right now may be struggling or even contemplating taking their cat back. It was Christmas and I got to pick a cat, I saw "Misty" (I have since called her Tilly) in the cage, she did look a bit playful but thought I'd give her a good home. The lady who owned it did admit she had been returned a number of times, had been "brought up" with dogs so behaviours similar and when I asked why she had been returned.. She said she wasn't sure.. ;) Well it was soon apparent why when Tilly was home. She attacked everything and everyone, my friends and I could be sitting in the lounge and she would run up and attack our feet, bags, and anything! I'd be in bed and she would run upstairs like a tiger and sprint towards me; I was getting down about her behaviour. I realised she had skin complaints - got that under control. Spoke sternly (like to a child)when she did negative actions Time&vets=amazing cat

—Guest Mandy D

inapproprite urination

We addopted Teddy 1 1/2 year old orange tabby from a shelter. He was among the general population in the shelter and not in a single cage. We discovered that he liked to urinate in piles of clothes. In the basket whether folded clean or piles of dirty. We took away those items as now I put things away as soon as folded, or no piles of dirty ones put in front of the washer. Once I did that, it stopped and he has turned out wonderful. A good find!!

—Guest Alison

Responding to 10 yr old cat that peed he

Make sure u separate the young cat that is attacking your poor older one please !! This will take a while before they can blend back together ,however you must not let the 10 yr old get any more stress.this is with love I say this,look up things and vets on the net for questions.

—Guest Angela

WHY DO CATS VOMIT SO MUCH?

I HAVE A MALE CAT WHO TENDS TO VOMIT ALOT, I HAVE TAKEN HIM TO THE VET, I WAS GIVEN REGLAN TO HELP HIS STOMACH BUT HE SOMETIMES VOMITS THE MEDICINE UP! I REALLY WANT TO KNOW IS IT POSSIBLE ITS ANXIETY? I REALLY WANT TO HELP MY LITTLE GUY BUT IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON DISORDER AMONG CAT OWNERS & AN ENDLESS SEARCH FOR ANSWERS!!!! PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!

—Guest CADDERS

Lost Found

My 3 year old female black w/ black stripes ( seen only in sun light) loved having her belly rubbed more then anything flopping crazy hard even upside down for the right potition never been outside she went missing for a week I found her on the other side of town and she has changed a bit ! Bites me and grabs me with her claws every time she flops into potition could it be pregnancy cuz she is so much bigger if I didnt kno better id think she wasnt mine?!

—ThyQueen2Me

niki

My molly is like a minder. Sadly she seems to be forgetting stuff.

—Guest niki

Trying To Befriend Unfriendly Cat

I have been taking care of a cat in her own home while the owner is gone. While petting her, I thought she was enjoying it, as she had her eyes closed and was rolling on her back. However, as she lay on her stomach and I was petting her back, she suddenly looked up at my hand and meowed and bit me. I yelled a very loud "OW!", the cat hid under the bed, and ever since she hides when I come in the house to feed her. She lets me sit next to her on the couch when she's lying there, and I don't try to touch her again, but as soon as I leave the room, she runs under the bed and won't come out. I don't know how to make friends with her again.

—Guest Karen

Worried Cat

I am really worried about my cat, he is always a happy cat but now he has stopped purring and sleeps a lot.I am wondering is he stressed but he has never been stressed before. Can anyone help me?

—Guest Kirsty

training cats

i have always beed told that you can not train a cat,i disagree my cat Jake is about 4 yrs old when he was small i trained him to shake hands for a treat,and to this day if he wants a treat he will walk up and give me his paw for a treat,he also on his own started sitting up and "clapping" his paws if he wanted a treat or to go into another room. he is my buddy

—Guest michael richardson

Cats not using litterbox

I have a suggestion for cats that will not use the litterbox or going outside the litterbox. This will only work if the reason is that the cats do not like litter. One hint that the cat doesn't like litter is they won't scratch in it. Put an extra litter box next to the regular one. Line it with newspaper, paper towels, or shredded newspaper. You may have to experiment a little with what they like.

—Guest Carie Waverka