Has Your Cat Gone Mad?

Humans may try to dominate the cat in the family but it never works, cats will always win in the end. Humans and dogs love a pecking order in the family but cats don’t see it, though they do become bonded to family members. Human and dogs are social animals but cats are not. When kittens are born they develop an attachment to their mother and this attachment is transferred to their territory when they become older. Cats can develop bonds with humans and other animals and can also be affectionate. Cats seem to form attachments with other animals easier when they don’t feel threatened or are competing for attention.

All cats can be both prey and predator. Being a predator they can hunt for mice, other small animals or insects and as prey, be hunted by dogs and other larger animals. Cats have wide range of behaviors due to being both predator and prey and can adapt easily dependent on the situation. This why cats can change rapidly from being affectionate and playful to fearful and aggressive in a flash, which confuses most cat owners.

Cat behavior is mostly territorial in nature. In their territory there will be both shared and private areas. Cats can mark their territory by rubbing their face on something or someone which leaves their scent. Early weaning before 6 weeks of age make cats more frightened and aggressive than other cats that are weaned at 8 weeks old.

Behavioral disorders in cats are driven by inhibition. Fearful, aggressive and anxiety-ridden behavior upset cat owners. Progesterone and corticoid therapies prescribed by your vet can cause this type of behavior. When you bring your cat to the veterinarian for a behavioral problem the first thing he will investigate is for a physical cause for the behavior. Insomnia, diabetes, dermatitis, polyphagia and cystitis are all diseases that can cause behavioral problems.

During times of a major change such as moving to a new home, divorce, new family member, new pet or during natural disaster, cats can misbehave or “act out”. A veterinarian that has been examining the cat regularly can notice that the cat is behaving differently but the cat owner is the one that brings the cat in for an evaluation and is usually the first one to witness the different behavior.

When a cat has “gone mad” it is usually due to something in their immediate environment. Sometimes all that is needed, is investigating if it could be normal cat behavior, merely behavior you have never seen before. A veterinarian can examine the cat for underlying physical issues that might be causing the behavior. This is true of pregnancy which can cause dramatic shifts in personality and catch the owner unaware. An aging cat is less tolerant to changes in its environment and towards other family members. Totally bizarre behavior in a cat can be due to pain and illness. Other resource available to understand your cat’s behavior are your veterinarian, a cat club that you belong or can join, online forums and if you have a purebred cat, a cat breeder.

From the book: No Bad Cats!