Types of behavior tools

• Remote correction - This must be used immediately.
  
  Examples include water guns a remotely activated device such as a hair dryer, a loud noise such as a shaker or air horn, or motion activated alarm. Other materials include bubble wrap, aluminum foil, contact paper or mousetraps place upside down. These will discourage cats from using certain areas of the house.
   
• Drug therapy

Marking Behavior

Before any behavior treatment a complete physical exam, urinalysis, urine culture, blood panel, x- ray and ultrasound should be performed.

Urine marking is a normal form of communication among cats. There are two types of marking: -standing posture with the cat's hind legs straight and tail up-spraying on a vertical surface

-squatting posture where small amounts of urine are deposited on a horizontal surface

Urine marking may be due to territorial behavior, sexual behavior, reactive behavior, or anxiety and stress.

Treatment:

• neuter males and spay females
  
• identify and remove trigger stimulus for marking (discontinue feeding stray cats in the territory)
  
• block view from windows
  
• change the function of the marked areas to a feeding or play area
  
• make soiled areas aversive
  
• treat the environment with a facial pheromone (Feliway by Abbott Labs)
  
• drug therapy
  

Inappropriate Elimination: Cats change their elimination areas to other parts of the house. The problem may involve both urine and feces. This may be caused by a variety of causes.

• medical problems
• any disease causing increased thirst and urination can cause this apparent behavior. Such diseases include diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, bladder infections, bladder stones, pancreatic disease etc. Geriatric cats with arthritis, thyroid disease, cardiac disease may have problems accessing a liter box.
• litter box aversion
• dirty liter boxes, changes in types or odors of the liter box
• anxiety

Treatment:

• complete medical work up to rule out pre- existing diseases
  
• clean soiled areas with enzymatic cleaners
  
• limit access to soiled areas by confinement
  
• make the litter box more attractive -offer different types of litter , multiple boxes
  
• make the soiled area more aversive
  
• if inappropriate elimination is in a specific location, place the box in those locations until the cat is using the box and move it gradually back to a more appropriate location
• drug therapy if indicated

Another suggestion from the Rocky Mountain Cat Alliance:

An important suggestion on inappropriate elimination: add a second box with several layers of newspaper flat on the bottom. Place two cups of litter to one side but don't spread it around. After the cat uses the box, simply throw away the top layer and add two more cups to the next. Also, try a puppy training pad cut to fit the bottom of a box (no litter).

Social Aggression: Problems can arise when two cats vie for the same position in the hierarchy. Multiple cat aggression.

Treatment:

• identify the aggressor and victim
• separate when not supervised
• aggressor should be confined to a less attractive space
• victim should have access to a more attractive space
• place a collar and bell on the aggressor
• rub the cats with a common towel multiple times daily to transfer scent to each other
• bring together for supervised periods
• use remote correction to interrupt aggressive behavior
• drug therapy

Petting-Induced Aggression-Cats will tolerate and appear to enjoy petting before turning and biting the hand that pets them. They will usually exhibit some changes in body posture just before the bite ( tail flicking, ears back, body tensing, dilatation of the pupils)

Treatment:

• rule out a medical disorder such as back pain or arthritis
• avoid physical restraint when interacting with the cat
• discontinue any interaction when changes in body postures are noted
• remote correction

Predatory Aggression-The behavior begins with a stalk, often with the head lowered and tail twitching. The cat will suddenly pounce on the target, which can be human hands or feet.

Treatment:

• Aggression to wildlife
  • restrict access
  • place a bell on the cat's collar
  • remote correction
  
   
• Aggression to Humans
  • avoid activities that encourage the cat to hunt hands or feet
  • remote correction
  • if infants are involved-segregate cat from the child
  • give the cat another cat to play with
  
  

Redirected Aggression-The cat becomes arouse or agitated by something in the environment and redirects the aggression to a closer target.

Treatment:

• avoid the agitated cat
• place the cat in social isolation
• attempt to remove the stimulus
• drug therapy

Territorial Aggression-In an attempt to ward off intruders cats may exhibit aggression.

Treatment:

• neuter intact cats
• desensitize and counter condition

Eating House Plants-Cats may eat houseplants as par or play or to satisfy a nutritional craving for fiber. Houseplants may be poisonous.

Treatments:

• prevent access
• provide cats with safe house plants (wheat grass, oats, lawn grass-can be purchased at pet stores)
• provide a high fiber diet
• remote punishment

Scratching-Scratching is a normal behavior.

Treatment:

• identify the cat's preferences for location, fabric, and orientation (horizontal or vertical)
• provide a scratching post and place in a prominent area
• remote punishment-cover object with plastic, bubble wrap etc.)
• remote correction-water gun
• declaw if all other options fail (this is a very traumatic procedure) THIS PROCEDURE SHOULD NOT PE PERFORMED ON CATS HAVING ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS

Vocalization-

Treatment:

• rule out medical conditions such as pain, female cats in heat, anxiety, and feline aggression
• attentions seeking behavior is rewarded by the owner for vocalization, therefore attempt to remove the reward
• breed related behavior-Siamese for example are vocal