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BEHAVIOUR PROBLEMS: VOLUME IV - (Our Last Installment in this series)
A summary as taken from PETs Magazine: Written by Berney Pukay, D.V.M.

Is your cat displaying unwanted behaviours that are affecting your bond with your pet? Typically cat owners generally don't address the issue effectively and quickly therefore, leaving them only four choices:

drug induced behaviour modification adoption to another home euthanasia or expensive therapy

AGRESSION

Generally speaking, cats do not show agression towards their owners. On the odd occasion when they do, its usually for good reason or instinctual to do so.

Here is a short list of some typical reasons why cats may choose to sample their owners by biting:

TOO MUCH AFFECTION IS POSSIBLE:
Often a cat will drink up all the loving it can get. However, on occasion, even the most lovable cat will say gently but firmly, "I think I've had enough attention today" and bestow a 'love' bite on their human friend.

PUT ON THE DEFENSIVE:
If a cat is frightened or feels trapped, they will retaliate in some fashion to get their message across that they are feeling threatened in some way. One must keep an open mind when experiencing biting behaviour from their cat. On occasion, reduced tolerance to affection or touching may be indicate a medical condition that requires treatment by a veterinarian.

IT'S PLAY TIME!:
The most common reason cats display aggression is throw playfulness. Most aggressive cats are younger cats with a healthy appetite for play and they are generally indoor cats. For instance, when my Furball was a kitten, he used to hide under the dining room table, wait for me to hit the bottom of the stairs and then pounce on my feet and bite my ankles! This behaviour shouldn't be confused with real aggression. Typically, when cats are playing, there is no vocalization used. With real aggression, hissing and or growling may occur and their bites are real and very hard!

HOW DO I MINIMIZE THIS BEHAVIOUR?:
Here are some general do's and don'ts to think about:

DO NOT run, push your cat away or hit it. This will encourage the behaviour since these actions are interpreted by the cat to be reciprocal behaviours; DO redirect the behaviour towards objects rather than people. i.e. Toys on strings etc.; DO deflect the aggressive behaviour whenever it seems imminent by using a toy to distract them and get them to refocus. Punishments may take the form of loud noises to discourage the behaviour; DO let your cat outdoors to burn off some steam, use trees for sratching posts and play with other outdoor critters they encounter. Adding a second cat to the household may sometimes prove helpful.

We wish to remind our readers to please consult with your veterinarian professional before taking any action. All information on this page is provided for information purposes only and Northumberland Hills Woodworking accepts no liability or responsibilty, real or implied, by presenting this information to the general public.

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