consider and discuss some of the health and behavioural problems which may affect the domestic cat

Behaviors of Domestic Cats

Cats have been kept as domestic pets since ancient times . They are known as loyal , finicky and independent creatures . Their behaviors can tell us whether they have a physical ailment , are upset or worried or are happy and contented (Catsinfo .com

When a cat rubs up against someone , they are showing ownership of that person and marking them as such . Cats can be quite finicky as to who they like and can even choose to ignore someone if they decide they do not like them (Budiansky , 2002 p

A cat is naturally inclined to claw things such as furniture drapes or rugs . Many people have their cats declawed to prevent damage to these objects . While this was commonplace for many years , it is now becoming something of a controversy . Animal rights activists and many cat owners are comparing the procedure to amputation and vehemently oppose the practice . With time and effort , cats can be trained to use a scratching post

One problem for cat owners is the hazard that most house plants present to the cats . In the wild , cats eat grass to help with fur in their stomach . Many common house plants can be poisonous to cats if ingested . Hanging plants are not always safe since cats will climb furniture to reach them . Some owners have found that growning a small patch of grass in a container will keep the cats happy enough to leave the other plants alone

Many indoor cats use a litter box instead of the outdoors . In the wild , cats bury their feces to keep predators from scenting them . This behavior continues indoors as well . Cats are naturally clean animals and like the litter box to be clean as well . One of the main issues for cat owners is urination in an area other than the litter box . There can be many causes for this behavior and it is trial and error until the problem is resolved . Finding the right litter box and type of litter can also be trial and error as some cats prefer one thing , some another

One reason for a cat to refuse to use the litter box is that it is not clean . If the litter box is clean , it may be a physical ailment such as a bladder infection or urinary tract infection . Any ailments should be treated by a veterinarian

A cat may show it is upset by urination outside the litter box as well . Cats can be upset by any number of things such as changes in habitat , additions of new pets to the family or other changes

Watching a cat 's tail can be a good indication of the cat 's mood . A tail that is erect and held high indicates a friendly mood . A tail that is laying down and twitching usually indicates the cat is pensive or irritable . A tail held high and fluffed out is a good indicator that the cat will attack if provoked (xmission , 2007

Cats show affection...