The "cat problem"

You brought your kitten home. He is soft, playful, and oh so adorable. He follows you everywhere, nestling in your lap and purring contentedly. You are convinced that you have the cutest kitten in the world and a companion for life.

Then, one day you come home from work to discover that your houseplants have been mauled. Dirt and mangled leaves are everywhere. Perhaps, you think, my kitten was just bored. The next day you come home to find your magazines have been shredded. And the following day you discover everything from the bathroom counter laying on the floor, amidst shards of glass and toothpaste. You conclude that your kitten is not so cute after all, but Satan in disguise. His behavior is completely unacceptable.

I have had this experience. I love cats. Most of my cats have been well-behaved and quickly learned what behaviors would be tolerated and which would result in a raised voice. But my most recent kitten exhibited all of the traits of the devil himself, digging in houseplants, ripping the leaves to shreds, destroying window blinds, and generally behaving as if he could do anything he pleased.

I spent many hours pondering the "cat problem". I read books on cat behavior and cat training. I tried cat repellents and other products to change my cat's behavior. Nothing could encourage him to stop chewing on the houseplants, clearing the counter tops, and generally misbehaving. And he grew increasingly aggressive.

Where he used to enjoy laying in my lap and being gently petted, he now took a fancy to biting my hand. While he never broke the skin, he applied enough pressure to get my attention. I was at my wit's end. If only I had known about Cat Behavior Secrets Revealed. Life would have been much easier (and less painful).

What I've realized is that if we want to change a cat's behavior, we must "think like a cat". Or perhaps more accurately, understand what a cat's behavior is actually telling us. That persistent gnawing on my hand wasn't a bad vampire imitation, but a message that the cat did not like my behavior.

Fortunately my cat outgrew his behavior problems. But I now have a better understanding of his actions and what he is trying to tell me. Often, the "cat problem" is really a communication problem.