Destructive Behavior In Cats: What Do You Need To Know About It?

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It is common for cats to scratch things. They tend to do this to sharpen their claws, as well as exercise their feet. Further, it is also normal for cats to spend time licking themselves, as this is their way of cleaning themselves. When the cats lick of scratch the wrong things and don’t respond to the discouragement, they’re identified as having a destructive behavior problem. However, not all of the destructive behavior in cats is the same.

When a cat scratches the wrong things but doesn’t have any other symptoms, this is commonly a main destructive behavior. Contrariwise, cats, which spend too much time scratching or licking at things, likely have a secondary destructive behavior. Both of the types of destructive behavior may lead to various problems with some other organs, just like the intestines and stomach, especially when left without any treatment.

Destructive Behavior in Cats: What is this?

It is quite frustrating for cat owners when their cat engages in behaviors that destroys or damages property. These destructive behavior in cats include urinating on ceding and clothing, scratching carpet and furniture, as well as chewing on houseplants. Some might have mistakenly concluded that these particular behaviors are normal for the cat and that they‘re are just the cat’s way of getting revenge or acting out against the owner. However, the truth is that these behaviors are distinctive behaviors, which are part of the cat’s natural sense of curiosity, as well as a desire to play. Luckily, these destructive behaviors in cats may be controlled.

Causes of Cat’s Destructive Behavior

The destructive behaviors in cats develop due to a mental, physical, as well as emotional discomfort or trauma. Some of the causes of the destructive behavior in cats include the following:

Emotional Trauma

In the similar way that emotional trauma that affects the human behavior, it affects cats. Cats, which were maltreated by the previous owners may become shy, or they might develop an obsessive-compulsive behavior, just like pulling or licking their fur. The similar conditions may be caused by anxiety and stress in cats.

Curiosity and Boredom

When a cat is simply curious or bored, it’ll start on chewing on whatever is around him or her. The destructive chewing may also be due to a nutritional deficit.

Poor Training

Violence in cats is often something they learn as kittens. Humans may play with them in a rough way and when the kitten bites them, they tend to ignore it due to how small and cute they are. Unluckily, cute scratching and biting from the kitten may also become so painful as the kitten grows and become adult.

Disease

Cats, which have feline hyperesthesia or rippling skin disorder, might howl at night. Cats with the bowel infections or urinary tract infections might not have the essential control over their own bladder and may urinate in various locations.

Symptoms of Cat’s Destructive Behavior

The symptoms of destructive behavior in cats might be seen when they show the following behaviors:

  • Cat urine problems
  • Shyness
  • OCD
  • Destructive chewing
  • Aggression towards other animals
  • Seeking attention

Prognosis of Cat’s Destructive Behavior

The cat owners are commonly the first ones to identify the destructive behavior in their cat. Vets may work with the owner by way of monitoring whatever changes in the cat’s behavior. Additionally, an assessment on the behavior of the cat must be included in each visit to the vet. Throughout the assessment, the cat owner may be encouraged in voicing out any concerns they have regarding the cat’s behavior.

Moreover, vets must make a standardized behavioral history form, as well as include this in the cat’s medical record. This is what will allow them in tracking any behavioral changes accurately, as well as address any problems in the earlier stages of development. Furthermore, the vet must take special note of how the kittens react during the initial examination. Research will show that if the cat shows an abnormal level of fear during a medical examination at eight weeks old. Also, they will have the same fear at their 18th month. Pathological fear isn’t grown up.

In addition, one part of the prognosis process includes the vet understanding when the cat’s behavior deviates from the norm. As well as identifying cats, which are at risk for the development of the abnormal behaviors.

Treatment for Cat’s Destructive Behavior

Due to the fact that the cause for each of the destructive behavior in cats is dissimilar, there is actually no treat-one-treat-all remedy. Vets may look with the cat owners, in order to identify the environmental issues, which lead to stress, depression, anxiety, as well as subsequent destructive behaviors. The successful treatment depends on the correction of the bad behaviors soon after the onset of the condition, most especially when these happen during the kittenhood. Aside from the implementation of the behavior modifying techniques, a vet might prove pharmacologic intervention in the reduction of anxiety or to address a condition.

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