Additional Common Behaviour Problems in Cats Flashcards
What causes excessive noise in cats
Medical problems
Environment (hunger, loneliness, pain, dirty litter box)
What cats yowl
Females in heat
Do all cats chew plastic wrappers? Why would they?
No, preference of some
Some like the smell, texture, sound, temperature
Two problem feeding behaviours in cats
Food aversions (garcia effect)
Not eating
Why would a cat not be eating
Built up hairball = depressed appetite
Febrile or disease response
Anosmia
What is anosmia
Related to upper respiratory illness
Is hunting behaviour related to hunger in cats
Not always, it is an innate behaviour
Which cats tend to be stronger hunters
Those with prior experience when young (taught by mom)
How can you avoid hunting behaviours
Select for kittens with low hunting drive?
Keep indoors
Attach bell
No bird feeder
When does teeth chattering occur
When they see bird, rodent or small prey but cannot hunt it (excitement/frustration)
Maternal behaviour issues in cats?
Maternal neglect
Cannibalism
Dangers of neglectful queen?
Risk of hypothermia; fetal membranes not removed, kittens not dried
Why would a queen be cannibalistic? Who else is cannibalistic?
Litter larger than usual, second litter in a year, kittens are sick
Domestic tomcats who are not the sire
Siamese and burmese cats hate a tendency to…
chew fabrics
How do we resolve fabric chewing
Prevent access
Remote punishment of target item
Meet behavioural needs (attention, perching)
Grass garden
Food dispensing toys = more time spent eating
Meds
