Cat Behavior Myths and Truths

Join Alyssa Cary, LVT, Elite FFCP, LSHC-S, CFVP, Fear Free Practice Certification Consultant as she discussed Cat Behavior Myths and Truths

Debunking Myths about Cats

By Nikki Phillips

Alyssa Cary, LVT, Elite FFCP, LSHC-S, CFVP, and Fear Free Practice Certification Consultant held a zoom session to clear up cat myths. Her depth of knowledge and passion for cats is vast and she impressively trained her cat to pee on the toilet. Cats like their environment to be predictable and when a change is perceived, the erratic behavior may begin.

After ruling a medical cause for the behavior shift, evaluate these aspects:

Note what is happening before the behavior.
Observe the actual behavior.
Track the consequence, what happens that leads to repeat/reinforce the behavior?

Myth 1: Purring means happy

Yes, but…

Cat owners should pay attention to collection of cues their pet is sending, not just the purring. Is the sound paired with cuddling, nuzzling, and/or a relaxed posture? Then the cat is likely happy and comfortable.

However, if the purring is accompanied by crouching posture, closed eyes, and lack of attention, then the cat could be signaling pain or stress.

The key is context. Check out what else is going on in the cat’s vicinity. If you are at the vet, the cue may be obvious. Sometimes stress purring is caused by something extremely subtle, so you will need to dig a little deeper to find the root cause.

Pro Tip: Cary reminds owners to first ensure there is not a medical issue.

Myth 2: Cats are solitary / not social

Cats have preferences, some may want to be the only cat, or they may not like other, specific animals.

When cats are socialized early, they seem to be better at being around other animals. Similar to people, cats develop communities and connections with others and prefer this group over others.

Pro Tip: If you are adopting a cat, consider bringing home two who seem to already have a bond to help keep them social.

If you already have a cat and bring a new one home, both cats may be stressed, and they may not bond.

Cary provided some resources to help with this process in the video.

Myth 3: Cats are spiteful

Animals look for and thrive on routine and predictability. An action may seem spiteful, but the cause- and-effect reaction is simply humans trying to put reason to the situation. To truly discover the motivation behind an action that may seem like cat-spite, look what else is going on around your cat and the time of the behavior. Reflect on your energy, were stressed and the cat is reacting to you? Did their environment change suddenly?

Pro Tip: Extensive research shows cats cannot feel spite.

Myth 4: Cats cannot be trained

Cats, and nearly all mammals follow the same principles of behavior- we are trainable if the right reinforcer is used. What matters is the value the cat places on the positive reinforcement tool. If the cat does not value the reward, you will not see the desired results.

Cary touches on the different goals of operant (purposeful action) training verse classical (reflect-based, almost involuntary). Instead of obedience training commands (sit, stay, lay down) to produce behaviors the owner wants the pet to do, aim for teaching useful skills such as targeting, touch stationing, or attention (eyes on me). This shift will provide skills that can be used to help curb undesired behavior.

Give your cat 10 to 20 repetitions to try out the new skill. If it is not clicking, Cary suggests a few corrections.

Review how you are presenting the request. Are you clear?
Look at the timing of the reward, giving it too early or late acknowledges the wrong action. Click training can help with timing.
Try setting up a camera to video yourself training your pet to observe your nonverbal cues the cat is picking up on that may be confusing.

Pro Tip: Science indicates positive reinforcement is more effective, faster, and humane than negative reinforcement.

Want to stop a behavior? You must completely STOP reinforcing or rewarding the behavior. If there is even a chance for an award the cat will continue the behavior.

Either way, patience is key.

Myth 5: Cats only need to see a vet if they are acting sick

Cats tend to hide their weakness (sickness), so look for subtleties in movement and routine. Regular, well check vet visits can be helpful too. When the vet gets to know your cat, they will be able to identify and properly address issues more accurately and the cat will become more used to the routine.

Tips

If you are moving or traveling with a cat, get in touch with your vet. There are medications they can provide to your cat to reduce anxiety. If you need to make a long trip, consider flying your cat(s) instead of trying to get them through a long car ride. In addition to medication, Cary suggests calming pheromone wipes/sprays for the carrier and items inside the carrier. She suggesting trying anything you plan on using, prior to the trip so you can observe effectiveness, reactions, and reassess if needed.
When you get to the new place, your cat may be stressed out at first. Continue using the meds and pheromone wipes/spray in the new place in a smaller space. As they get comfortable, you can expand their exposure in the new place little by little.
Cats can be challenging pill takers, Cary suggests a few tricks. First try a pill pocket, mixing the pills or liquids in with wet food or tuna juice, or place the meds in a tiny bit of butter or cream cheese. Put this in their bowl and walk away so they can approach it on their own terms. Cary’s general rules is to have a few options to keep the cat guessing and interested enough to take the meds. Then reward them for taking the meds, the award should be more valued than the lure.

Suggested Sources

Decoding Your Cat

Fear Free Happy Homes

AAFP Cat Friendly Home