Adopt a Pet | Find Your New Best Friend

Cats are natural predators, and domestic cats retain this instinct to a certain extent. At times, a cat that’s acting crazy may actually be exhibiting hunting behaviors, fighting maneuvers, or escape techniques. Despite getting all the food they need from their pet parents, cats are innate hunters and have a predatory instinct. Sometimes it may seem as if your cat is chasing nothing, when, more than likely, they’re pursuing imaginary prey.

For instance, learning to read your cat’s body language can strengthen your bond with it and allow you to become more effective at responding appropriately to its needs. Sometimes a cat acts crazy and looks as if something is biting it sporadically because it has fleas. Particularly when meowing is involved, your cat could be hypersensitive to flea bites or simply have an itch in a place it can’t reach.

Vet’s controversial opinion on popular cat breed: ‘People are too accepting of the health problems they have’ – 9Honey

Vet’s controversial opinion on popular cat breed: ‘People are too accepting of the health problems they have’.

Rarely, some cats may continue to act aggressively even after once-painful parts of their body have healed, presumably to avoid the pain they experienced previously. When a cat is excited by a stimulus but cannot respond directly, the cat may redirect his aggression toward a human or another cat. Common stimuli that trigger redirected aggression include loud noises, seeing an outdoor or stray cat through a window, or an altercation with another cat in the house. Sometimes, aggression may be redirected toward a human after an aggressive interaction between indoor cats.

How to stop a cat from running off

The following are general categories of feline aggression and how they can each be addressed. The first step in managing an aggressive cat is to ensure that there is no medical reason for aggressive behavior. Ideally, try to schedule your appointment for a quieter time of the day if possible. If your cat is really nervous, you may want to check in with the staff on your arrival to see if you can bring the cat directly into an examination room rather than waiting in the reception area.

Ideally, owners should prevent physical contact between small children and a cat with a history of petting-induced aggression. Rewarding a cat with a food treat for allowing brief, light stroking without signs of aggression may also be helpful. Over time, owners can gradually increase the duration of stroking, but with any sign of aggression, the owner should stop the petting and begin a cooling down period with no physical contact. To intervene in play aggression, first determine if there is a pattern to when and where aggressive behavior occurs. If so, preempt the aggression by distracting the cat with play or denying access to places that encourage the behavior, such as under the bed if the cat hides there before pouncing. A bell on a breakaway collar may be helpful in signaling a cat’s whereabouts prior to and during aggressive behavior.

They could catch the feline flu, for example, or become an easy target for a local predator. If your cat is on the verge of dying, they may wonder off in search of solitude and not be able to make it home again. Also, neighboring cats may try to claim their territory in your backyard, which could easily cause your own kitty to try and find another safer yard.

Like any other surgical procedure, declawing carries the risk of anesthetic complications, infection, bleeding, and, in rare cases, more long-term problems. Declawing will not curb your cat’s desire to scratch, but will prevent the damage resulting from the behavior. Declawed cats should never be allowed outside, as they are less able to climb trees or to defend themselves.

Alternatively, the “tower of cups” booby trap placed around the pot can startle your cat when she begins to chew. The only way to guarantee protection for both your houseplants and your cat is to block access to the plants. If your cat craves vegetable matter in her diet, you can provide alternatives, such as oat grass, catnip, and catmint, although she may still continue to snack on houseplants. You can also try adding lettuce or parsley to her food bowl, or switching to a cat food with a higher fiber content. Because scratching has a scent-marking component, cats are more likely to re-scratch areas that already have their scent. To help break this cycle, try using an odor neutralizer to deodorize these areas.

If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your pet, know the pet’s health history, and can make the best recommendations for your pet. When it comes to cats, meows and tail waves can mean a number of different things, depending on the situation.

Just tap the LIVE button in the app and see where your cat is anytime. Afraid that a tracking collar will create trouble to your curious feline? With the breakaway mechanism of the Tractive GPS Cat Tracker, the collar will immediately “break” apart in case of pressure and it can then be easily re-attached to your feline. Find out where your cat goes with a GPS cat tracker, and if you find that your cat has a second home, politely ask your neighbors to not feed your kitty .

Why Do Cats Run Away? 10 Reasons + How To Stop Your Cat Running Away

So if you have a stressful household, for example with dogs or children running around, don’t be surprised if your pregnant feline is nowhere to be found. Young cats and kittens that were not raised with littermates, or that lack opportunities to play most commonly show play aggression. Learning appropriate play is an important part of a cat’s socialization, and this normally occurs during time spent with littermates. Cats learn that they are biting or scratching too hard when their littermates stop playing or retaliate. Cats raised alone during their early lives may not learn this important lesson. Determining the cause of a cat’s aggressive behavior is important, as different types of aggression may be managed differently.

Similarly, if it is important to you to have them out of the crate , start in the waiting room – most vets have a weighing scale there. Use that thing to put your cat on and feed them some treats, or use the countertop of the receptionists desk, to get them to be comfortable leaving the crate. With time and careful observation, you’ll likely begin to piece together the triggers of your cat’s craziness in various situations. This will help you to understand what’s normal for your cat and when any unusual behavior could be a symptom of a medical issue worth investigating with your vet.

You may think that this happens only with cats who live outdoors or whose feral origins don’t lend to easy capture, but you’d be wrong. Plenty of otherwise mild-mannered housecats will pull out all the stops to stay out of the dreaded box. Chasing a cat around the house and grabbing them from under the bed, getting scratched and stuffing them into a frightening carrier? You’ve already lost the battle, my friend — because it shouldn’t be a battle. We make no pretense of being veterinarians and we don’t know anything about your specific cat’s health or behavior history.

If you must wait for your appointment, your cat may be happier with you in the car. Ask the staff to fetch you when they are ready for your visit. Medications from your vet for car sickness or anxiety are helpful for cats who need them. At least this time, you sigh, the vet staff can deal with extracting the cat from the box. You may look like the victim of a home invasion when all is said and done.

You’ll need a whole lot of patience, treats and the cooperation of your animal clinic – and the willingness to see it through. Franny Syufy is a cat expert with over two decades of experience writing about feline anatomy and medical conditions. She is a professional member of the Cat Writers’ Association, won the prestigious PurinaOne Health Award for her writing. Additionally, cats may go missing and never come back back in cases where predators, disease and injury, animal control, theft, intentional loss, or other accidents happened.

Owners can manage pain-induced aggression by refraining from touching painful parts of a cat’s body and by working with a veterinarian to establish an effective therapeutic plan for pain control. Cats that are about to engage in play aggression will often thrash their tails back and forth, have their ears pinned to the tip of their head, and have dilated pupils. They may stalk their target, whether animal or human, and will often pounce from a hiding place as the target passes by. In general, cats do not respond well to punishment because they see no link between the punishment and the “crime.” Punishment only teaches your cat to fear you. Yelling, squirting a water gun, or startling your cat with a loud noise when he scratches teaches him that your presence, rather than the act of scratching, brings punishment. If your cat is punished for scratching only when you are present, he will simply learn to scratch when you are not there.

Many cats enjoy cat teasers, playing fetch, or chasing a laser pointer. Even spending five minutes a day on these activities can go a long way in stimulating and tiring out your cat. As long as you believe that your cat’s needs are being met and you don’t suspect that your cat is experiencing a health issue, stress or anxiety, you can just let the zoomies run their course.

If you have questions or concerns, call your vet, who is best equipped to ensure the health and well-being of your pet. This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Many people have more than one cat, and a multiple-cat visit may be easier on the person bringing the cats in. Once at the vet, as you easily remove or open the top of the carrier, your fearful cat deserves the right to stay in the bottom portion of the carrier if necessary. Hard boxes with thousands of fasteners and a front port of entry are not cat-friendly.

You should also line it with newspaper to soak up urine, and always keep a clean towel inside. If your cat’s stress or fear is profound, AND she has no health concerns, your veterinarian may recommend giving some sort of prescription medication before the visit. However, most sedatives have side effects, and using them may not be in the best interests of your cat.

It may be wise to take along a spare blanket and a plastic bag for any soiled bedding, just in case. You’d think they would love a cat carrier, but not if you try to stuff them into an unfamiliar plastic container 2 seconds before leaving the house. First, 1–2 weeks before the vet visit, acclimate your cat to the carrier at home. Vets and their staff should be working constantly to better serve fearful cats and turn the vet’s office into a more cat-friendly practice. To get the most out of a cat’s visit to the vet, we have to try to lessen their fear or, at best, not make their instinctual fear of strange places and strange hands worse.