Behavior problems in cats are common. In fact, they are one of the primary reasons that cats are euthanized or relinquished to shelters. If you’ve had to deal with fighting, destructiveness, biting, inappropriate urination or defecation in your home and other unwanted behaviors by your cat, you have also experienced the stress and frustration such behavior problems can bring.
Cat owners often don’t know where to turn and may be given conflicting or confusing information. A behavior consultation will help to clarify the reasons for your pet’s behavior, evaluate your pet’s medical health and help you to humanely manage the behavior. Ultimately, the safety and well-being of all family members – humans and pets – is our goal.
Some of the more frequently seen behavior issues in feline patients include:
- Elimination outside of the litterbox
- Urine Marking/Spraying
- Inter-Cat Aggression in a Multi-Cat household
- Petting Induced Aggression
- Redirected Aggression
- Scratching behavior
- Psychogenic Overgrooming
You may be asked to take videos of problem behaviors while they are occurring, as well. Consultations with the doctor generally last an hour, and involve a comprehensive physical examination and if indicated, appropriate laboratory testing. This allows an accurate diagnosis and development of a treatment plan.
We can also help you intervene with your young pet before an irritating behavior becomes a serious problem. Don’t hesitate to contact us with your concerns to see if we can help you. The sooner you intervene the more likely that we can reach a successful resolution of your cat’s problem.