Prevention is the best medicine, and this goes for behavior problems too. Each appointment at the Cat Care Clinic focuses on both medical and behavior concerns. We spend time at wellness appointments to prevent behavior problems.

Here are just a few tips to prevent behavior problems in your cat:

• Never punish your cat – cats don’t understand punishment, and may become fearful of you. And they may continue the behavior you dislike to continue to get your attention. Best is to ignore the behavior you don’t like and reward the behavior you do like.
• Rewards can be verbal praise, treats, toys – and attention.
• If you cannot ignore the behavior you don’t like, distract or redirect your kitty to a behavior you like. For example, throw a ball in another direction.
• Have places to scratch where you prefer that your cat scratch, such as scratching posts.
• Cats love high places so that they can see their environment – cat trees and cat perches are favorites for cats.
• Make sure litter boxes are cleaned at least once daily, and have at least one litter box per cat plus one.
• Play with your cat at least 10-15 minutes once or twice daily so that being bored doesn’t lead to getting into places or things that you don’t want.

THE BEST TIME TO TREAT A BEHAVIOR PROBLEM IS EARLY ON. IF YOU SEE A BEHAVIOR YOU DON’T LIKE, PLEASE CALL.

DO YOU EVER WONDER WHY YOUR CATS DO WHAT THEY DO? PLEASE ASK!