Kitten To Cat

About Cat Behaviour

Toys for cats

In the wild cats will hunt up to 20 times each day. It is important for their mental health to have the equivalent stimulus in the home, this means actively playing with them. We therefore strongly recommend that cats that spend any time indoors to have a range of toys. Make sure you find toys that emulate the hunting experience. Our staff love to help advising on toys so please ask us for help.

Don‘t be tempted to use your hands or feet for kittens to pounce on as this can lead to difficult behavioural problems later on in their life.

All of our toys have been selected by our vets and most have been tested on our own animals. Each cat is different so we recommend you try a few different toys: some cats like ping pong balls, some like catnip mice and some just like to play in boxes.

Multiple cat households

Having a friend for your cat can be rewarding and enriching for both you and your cats. However, it is important to remember that cats are not naturally social animals. Having a friend at home can lead to stress and cause behaviour problems.

Here are some points to remember:

• Cats are territorial and like to have their own places in your house. If you block off a room or change the layout of your house be on the lookout for any change in behaviour.
• Make sure you have one more litter tray than you do cats. In other words if you have 2 cats you need 3 litter trays.
• Leave multiple food bowls around the house. Cats do not like eating in the same area as another cat.

Our nurses can help you address behavioural problems and reduce stress for your cats in the home.

Unwanted or misdirected toilet stops

This could be a sign of a medical problem eg arthritis making it painful to urinate in the litter tray or a behavioural problem eg marking territory and is usually able to be treated. When you book a consultation make sure you bring a plan of your house showing location of food bowls, litter trays and the location of where your cat is going to the toilet.