BEHAVIOR

We know cats are sleek and graceful, but the way they move or even just hang out can look a little, well, odd. Here’s why they do it.

Your cat, normally so fastidious, has started lounging in her litter box. What’s going on? One possibility is that she has developed a condition that makes her feel the urge to relieve herself very frequently, so she’s trying to stay close to the “toilet,” so to speak. Illnesses that can increase the urge to urinate include a urinary tract infection, urinary crystals or stones, kidney disease, and diabetes. It’s important to rule out any of these diseases. Certainly if your cat is trying to urinate but not getting much out or seems to be in pain while “going,” she should be seen by the vet. Appropriate treatment should help solve the problem.

There are four main reasons cats will urinate outside the litterbox. The first is litterbox aversion, meaning that a cat finds her “toilet” unacceptable. Perhaps you only have one litterbox in the house when you should have two (three, if you have two cats). Or maybe you are not using unscented, finely grained litter — a cat’s preferred type. (They evolved in the desert so like to relieve themselves where it feels sandy.) Or maybe the litter is too shallow. All these impediments are easily fixed.

We often have it drummed into us that to remain safe and live as long as possible, our cats should remain entirely indoors at all times. The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) disagrees, saying that “indoor/outdoor living for cats in an environment that is safe is the best option.” The organization concedes that keeping a cat indoors for the entire length of its life increases the odds for the pet’s longevity. But, it says, “ a lifestyle choice made with the sole intention of increasing longevity – but in an impoverished or inadequate environment – is not in the cat’s best interest.”

The average number of cats in American homes with feline pets is 1.8, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. In other words, many people have two or more cats, which means one is going to die first and perhaps leave the remaining pet feeling bereft. Cats who mourn for a furry housemate can become more vocal as well as clingier and more needy for your reassurance with petting and close physical proximity. What should you do?

Keep Your Cat Away from the Cocoa Mulch!

When we think of stress, we tend to think of worry and anxiety. But stress can also arise from boredom. A lack of sufficient stimulation takes its toll and can lead to such feline behavior as urinating outside the box — not to get your goat but because your cat is at loose ends.   

Does your cat twitch here and there? If he has been doing it his whole life but has always checked out fine on his wellness visits, chances are you don’t have anything to worry about. A cat’s muscles may twitch in response to something he finds irritating or that arouses him emotionally, and that’s perfectly normal. A cat may also twitch while having intense dreams during the REM cycle of sleep. But if the twitching seems new — or has become more frequent or vigorous — there may be a medical reason.

Things that indicate your cat has been sent over the edge: hostile behavior toward another animal in the house that intends no harm; nervousness about being left alone for a few hours that leaves your pet meowing and miserable in your absence even though you come home every single time; thunder that has your pet diving for cover under a bed or couch. Cats, like people, develop all kinds of anxiety disorders that cause over-the-top, maladaptive reactions.

Your cat, older than 12 now and perhaps even older than 15, has started to urinate outside the litterbox and perhaps defecate on the floor sometimes as well. Why all of a sudden is she engaging in this undesirable behavior when she has known where to void her entire life?