Destructive behaviour caused by any cat in the home can be frustrating and challenging for their caregivers. If a cat is causing damage to the home, the caregiver needs to understand why this behaviour is occurring and how to address it effectively. Education is key to understanding why a cat might be causing this damage and how your client can help them lead a happier, more enriched and harmonious life.
What counts as destructive behaviour?
Destructive behaviour in cats can manifest in various ways, and it’s crucial to identify what specific actions fall under this category. Understanding what counts as destructive behaviour will help a client address it more proactively.
Scratching furniture or wallpapered walls
Cats naturally scratch to mark territory and maintain their claws. As they scratch they leave their natural pheromones from the interdigital glands between their toes. A full relaxing body stretch also eases muscular tension, but this can become destructive when it targets furniture, walls or carpets.
Chewing on cords and plants
Chewing behaviour can harm a cat and any belongings. Many plants in the home can be toxic to cats and, of course, electric cables can cause a fatal shock to the cat if they chew through them.
Knocking over objects
Cats often knock over items out of curiosity, attention-seeking or boredom, which can lead to broken or damaged belongings.
Urinating outside the litter box
Poor husbandry or lack of welfare needs being met, anxiety and stress, medical issues such as urinary tract infection or idiopathic cystitis, musculoskeletal pain or territorial marking are just a few of the triggers that can lead to inappropriate urination.
Excessive digging on carpets, litter boxes or plant pots
Digging can create a mess and damage plants or furnishings, leaving a caregiver frustrated. This is normally caused by boredom or curiosity.
Causes of destructive behaviour
Understanding the underlying causes of destructive cat behaviour is the first step towards addressing it.
Boredom
Cats are intelligent and curious predatory animals that need mental and physical stimulation. Without enough enrichment, and if their welfare needs are not being fulfilled, they may resort to destructive behaviours to entertain themselves.
Stress or anxiety
Any changes in the household routine that upsets a cat’s status quo, such as moving, new pets, visitors or a new baby, can cause alterations in their predictable routine. These factors can easily cause stress in cats. This stress or anxiety can manifest as destructive behaviour within the home and should be a red flag to owners and vets that something is wrong.
Medical issues
Pain or discomfort from medical conditions, such as dental problems and urinary tract infections, or musculoskeletal conditions, such as arthritis or inflammation, can lead to many unwanted behaviours. This includes excessive chewing, quitting food or inappropriate urination outside of their tray, and is a call to action to visit the veterinary clinic as soon as possible to rule out any medical issues as a cause.
Territorial marking
Cats may scratch, urinate or exhibit other destructive behaviours to mark their territory, especially in multi-cat households or when a neighbouring cat is challenging them. This could even be through a window or in their garden and there need not be any actual contact for this to occur. Sometimes just the sight of another cat in their perceived territory can trigger this reaction.
Lack of welfare facilities
Behaviour issues can occur if cats don’t have appropriate outlets to encourage them to behave naturally. Failing to provide for their welfare, such as tall robust scratching posts, high perches and resting places and plentiful clean toileting facilities with an appropriate substrate, means that they may turn to furniture and belongings.
How to address destructive behaviour
Handling destructive cat behaviour involves addressing the primary factor causing the issues and then ensuring appropriate outlets for the cat’s needs.
Provide enrichment
Make sure the cat has plenty of toys that are rotated daily. Tall and sturdy scratching posts and climbing walls and structures not only provide an outlet for pheromone marking, but can offer quiet, safe resting places.
Provide interactive toys and regular playtime sessions that mimic their prey (allowing them to win now and then to prevent frustration). Playing before food offers a great way to tap into that innate predatory drive and their reward for fulfilling this drive is “food time”. Even cat TV can help keep a cat mentally and physically stimulated!
Create a safe environment
Reduce stress by maintaining a stable environment. Introduce changes gradually and provide safe spaces where the cat can retreat and feel secure. Predictability and routine are what cats need to feel safe – don’t forget they are prey too!
Use preventive measures
To protect furniture and belongings, use deterrents like furniture covers. Placing a scratching facility in the area alongside a forage mat can help to re-associate the area with a food resource.
Using an enzymatic cleaner followed by isopropyl alcohol spray can remove the pheromone scent (always patch test an inconspicuous area first in case of any discoloration on fabrics).
Plastic cable covers can prevent chewing on cords. Consider hanging any plants in the area, thus removing the risk to a cat – but also consider growing cat grass or spider plants, which are safe for cats to chew and thus can be beneficial.
Provide appropriate scratching options
Ensure a cat has access to scratching posts or pads – both vertical and horizontal – and encourage them to use these by spraying cat attractants such as valerian or cat nip (Nepeta cataria). They can be encouraged to use these by initially placing the posts or pads near areas where the cat likes to scratch and then slowly moving them to a more desired area. Placing them by a window next to a bird feeder allows the cat to have visual stimulation at the same time.
Address medical issues
If you suspect the cat’s behaviour may be due to a medical problem then a veterinarian’s opinion should be sought. Many underlying health issues can co-exist alongside or present as behavioural issues.
Litter box management
Ensure the provision of adequate-sized litter boxes for the size of the cat and remove any flaps that are fitted to the box to help the cat feel it has an escape route and is not trapped. Providing a ratio of one tray per cat plus one extra is desired for optimum welfare standards. Keeping the litter box clean and in a quiet, accessible location with a loose soft substrate will facilitate innate digging. If the cat is urinating outside the box, advise these protocols first in any husbandry strategy.
Training and positive reinforcement
Use positive reinforcement to encourage good behaviour. Never shout or scold a cat as they are only reinforced by positive reward and not negative actions. Reward the cat with gentle praise, treats or affection when they use appropriate scratching posts, litter boxes or toys.
