Common Feline Behavior Issues - Possible Problem List
February 11, 2003 (published)
Courtesy of Lori Martindale, BS
Aggression

• Social Hierarchy/Status aggression -- target is another cat in the social group
• Petting-Induced Aggression - cat appears to tolerate, even like petting before biting the hand that pets them.
• Play-related Aggression - over-exuberant play behavior resulting in injury to another pet or person
• Predatory Aggression - innate hunting behavior
• Redirected Aggression - something in the environment agitates/arouses the cat, and aggressive behavior is redirected toward another object
• Territorial Aggression

Destructive Behaviors

• Chewing
• Eating Houseplants
• Scratching

House Soiling

• Marking Behavior -- can be due to territorial behavior, sexual behavior, reactive behavior, or anxiety/stress.
• Inappropriate Elimination -- can be due to medical problems, litter box aversion, substrate/location preference, or anxiety.

Nuisance Behaviors

• Vocalization - can be due to underlying medical conditions, sexual behavior, anxiety, aggression, attention-seeking, or breed-related
• Nighttime Activity - can be due to an underlying medical condition, related to play behavior, or attention-seeking behavior

---