Tips for Cat Owners
Cat Behavior Problems
Destructive Behavior
 If you've ever come home from work to find your favorite sofa in shreds, you've experienced what a destructive kitty can do! Clawing and scratching must be addressed immediately before any further damage is done.
Cats claw and scratch in order to sharpen their claws. They may also scratch to mark their territory. You can lessen the damage by trimming your cat's nails or having your veterinarian do it for you.
To discourage your cat from scratching in inappropriate places, cover vulnerable spots with double-stick tape, tin foil, balloons, or contact paper to make them unattractive. Cover furniture with a sheet, blanket, or plastic slipcover until your cat learns where to scratch and where not to scratch. You may want to avoid fabrics such as raw silk, leather, or fabrics with thick and bumpy textures as they are very tempting to your cat. Smooth fabrics such as chintz or parachute cloth are less tempting.
 Encourage your cat to use a scratching post. A good scratching post will have loosely woven material such as hemp so the cat can hook his claws in the fabric. It will be sturdy enough that the cat can scratch and claw securely, and should be at least 3 feet tall.
You may also want to consider a carpeted climbing tree. Since cats often scratch soon after they wake, locate the scratching post near your kitty's preferred sleeping place. You might want an additional post near the front door, because cats also like to scratch after greeting you when you come home.
If your cat needs to be retrained not to scratch, put a sturdy scratching post next to his favorite inappropriate scratching place (couch, rug, etc.) and coax your cat to use it by pretending to use it yourself or by dragging his favorite toy across it.
You can also "spike" the post with catnip or tuna juice a few times a month. Praise your cat whenever you catch him using the new post. You can gradually move the post close to where your kitty sleeps,
A sure way to stop your kitty from scratching in the wrong place is to spray him with a water bottle whenever you catch him in the act. Try to avoid letting your cat know that you are the source of the mystic misting or you could end up with a cat that is afraid of you or worse, one that becomes aggressive.
If you can't get your kitty to stop the destructive clawing, talk to your veterinarian about the application of vinyl nail caps. Declawing or tendonectomy should only be considered a last resort.
 Certain breeds of cats, such as Siamese and Burmese, are more likely to chew or suck on wool or other fabric. Sometimes kittens that were bottle fed or removed from the litter too early pick up this habit, too.
To deal with this problem:
Provide your kitty with a high-fiber diet, safe plants to chew on or eat, and strips of tough meat to give him something else to gnaw.
Cats usually like to chew wool, but in the absence of wool the cat will choose other materials including upholstery. Large holes can be produced in a matter of minutes! Treat the fabric he's chewing on with cologne (not one you use) and hot pepper sauce so the cat will learn not to chew fabric. It is important to choose cologne different from what you or family members wear!
 Because most cats eat grass, it's no wonder that cats sometimes eat houseplants. However, this may have serious consequences to the cat - some houseplants are poisonous. Try to avoid purchasing poisonous houseplants. For a list of toxic and non-toxic houseplants, visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at www.aspca.org
To keep your cat from eating houseplants, move them out of reach, remembering that most cats can climb or leap with great ease.
If this is not possible or desirable, you can spray the leaves with a hot pepper solution or startle the cat using a water gun or loud noise, but be sure the cat does not learn to associate this action with you or you may cause the cat to become afraid of you or aggressive. There are also products available at your local pet store that may help.
Click on the appropriate category below:
Visit the links below for more tips on cat behavior
www.aspca.org
www.about.com/pets/cats
www.metrokc.gov/lars/animal/
www.ddfl.org/behavior/pica.htm
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