Harmful cat? Here is what it’s essential know

One of many causes I counsel adopting an grownup or senior cat is that younger cats could be a handful. Should you, like this reader, have a kitty who likes to knock issues off cabinets, scratch the furnishings, and extra, listed here are Mikkel’s and my ideas on what is going to assist restore peace and serenity to the household.

Q: My cat lives to tear up my stuff. She’s all the time scratching the furnishings, consuming houseplants and knocking issues off cabinets. She’s 2 years previous and has numerous toys. Assist!

A: With their sharp claws and enamel and energetic curiosity, cats — particularly younger ones — have the potential to be harmful. They train paws and claws on outstanding items of furnishings; taste-test vegetation (after which upchuck the greens); and bat a paw at that knickknack your Aunt Ruby gave you simply to see what is going to occur. Generally cats are simply being cats, however typically a little bit sleuthing will assist you determine why they behave in harmful methods.

Think about organising a “cat cam” to see what goes on whenever you’re not at house. It will probably assist decide what time of day your cat is most energetic or if one thing’s happening that triggers her harmful conduct. You might uncover that one other pet chases or teases her, inflicting her to leap up the place these breakables are, or soothe her injured emotions by scratching the couch or nibbling on a plant.

She could not discover her toys entertaining sufficient. Provide new ones with brainteaser capabilities. A window perch with a view of squirrels and birds open air is an alternative choice. Institute 3 to five minutes of playtime together with her a few instances a day. She’ll benefit from the consideration in addition to the bodily and psychological train. Place a tall cat tree subsequent to the merchandise she enjoys scratching, and reward her with treats and reward for utilizing it.

A veterinary examination may be so as. Cats who eat vegetation or lick or chew cloth or carpet could have a gastrointestinal dysfunction. If she will get a clear invoice of well being, you might simply have to provide her time to outgrow her youthful enthusiasm.

There’s extra in Pet Connection, the weekly nationally syndicated pet function I co-write with Kim Campbell Thornton and my daughter, coach Mikkel Becker.