By admin 
By:
Mieshelle Nagelschneider, Cat Behaviourist, host of the TV show My Cat From Hell, and author of the cat behaviour science book, The Cat Whisperer
Last Updated:
Read Caption
Illustration by Michelle Simpson
As the founder of one of the first cat-exclusive behaviour practices, working with thousands of cats over three decades, I’ve found that most feline behaviour issues are entirely solvable. Cat behaviour issues often stem from a mismatch between the cat’s evolved needs and their environment; internal or external stress factors; underlying physical conditions; or a combination of these influences.
Cat behaviour issues often stem from a mismatch between the cat’s evolved needs and their environment.
Many cat owners who come to us believe they’ve tried everything to resolve their cat’s behaviour issues. However, they often haven’t addressed the root cause. After working with our clinic, they gain a deeper understanding of why their cat behaves a certain way. Beyond simply solving their cat’s issue, they also come to appreciate their cat’s wild instincts which improves the human animal bond. Let’s take a look at three cat behaviour cases we successfully solved.
Cat Case Studies: 3 Real-life Cat Behavioral Issues & Their Fixes!
CASE STUDY #1: Rival Cats & Spraying (aka Urine Marking)
Marzipan, a five-year-old tabby, was caught in the act—vertically spray-marking walls near windows and doors like he was tagging his territory where an intruder might enter. His owner was mortified and immediately called us. What could have caused Marzipan to suddenly start marking his territory?
Marzipan, a five-year-old tabby, was caught in the act—vertically spray-marking walls near windows and doors.
The answer came during a Zoom video appointment. From his new favourite window perch, Marzipan now had a front-row seat to a stray cat who occasionally wandered into the front yard or hung out across the street in the neighbour’s driveway. Even brief sightings of this outside cat were enough to cause Marzipan to mark several times a day.
From his new favourite window perch, Marzipan now had a front-row seat to a stray cat who occasionally wandered into the front yard.
The Behavior Solution
To solve the issue, we suggested a two-pronged approach: outdoor motion-activated cat deterrents to keep the stray cat out of the front yard and frosted window clings to block Marzipan’s view of the cat when it was across the street. We also had the owner clean all past urine-marked areas with a special urine cleaner—we recommend Zero Odor Multi-Purpose Odor Eliminator—to erase the scent and advised her to discontinue using any cleaners in the home that contained ammonia.
The Result
Within two weeks, Marzipan retired from his spray-marking career. He just needed to believe that his home was safe from any outside cat competition.
There are only a few reasons a cat will vertically urine-mark, and most of the cases we see are simply due to outside cats.
Lesson learned: Marzipan didn’t tolerate competition, even when it was all the way across the street. Protect your cat’s territory, and you’ll protect your walls. Vertical urine spray-marking is a very black and white behaviour issue when it comes to cat behaviour. There are only a few reasons a cat will vertically urine-mark, and most of the cases we see are simply due to outside cats. Once this instigating factor is addressed, urine-marking can be one of the easiest behaviour issues to solve.
CASE STUDY #2: Pica or Just Hangry? Cat Eating Non-Food Items
Meet Luna, a two-year-old domestic shorthair with a curious appetite for… upholstery, socks, plastic, and the occasional fleece blanket. Her owner was horrified to find Luna chewing and then ingesting bits of the couch and feared she had a rare case of pica, a behavioural disorder where cats eat non-food items such as fabric, plastic, or paper. Was Luna doomed to a life of fabric buffets? Not quite.
When Luna arrived at The Cat Behavior Clinic, we noticed something: she was leaner than her owner realized. A quick dietary analysis revealed that Luna was being fed fewer calories than she needed for her current weight. She also needed to gain two pounds. Essentially, she wasn’t eating the couch because she loved modern furniture design—she was hungry and had been slowly losing weight over time, and the owner had not realized it.
Turns out, most “pica” cases we see aren’t true pica but cats trying to tell their owners, “I’m starving over here!”
The Behavior Solution & The Result
We advised Luna’s owner to increase her food portions to meet her caloric needs. Within several days, the couch was safe, and Luna was happily munching on her food instead. Turns out, most “pica” cases we see aren’t true pica but cats trying to tell their owners, “I’m starving over here!”
The takeaway? Before assuming your cat has an exotic condition, double-check their diet and weight. Sometimes the answer is as simple as feeding your feline the proper amount of food.
Even if your cat doesn’t have pica, we recommend all cat owners visit our clinic nutrition section and use the veterinary nutrition calculator provided to see if their cats are being fed the correct amount of cat food.
CASE STUDY #3: Litter Box Deterrents. Cat Suddenly Peeing Outside of the Litter Box
Oliver, a three-year-old tabby, had a reputation for being perfectly litter box trained since he was a kitten—until one day he wasn’t. He had decided that urinating occasionally outside his litter box was the new vibe. His owner was mystified. What had changed?
For Oliver, this setup was less “spa retreat” and more “dark alley.”
Enter the litter box investigation. Turns out, the owner had recently changed Oliver’s litter boxes from uncovered to litter boxes with hoods because she had read cats preferred privacy. She also tucked one litter box behind a bathroom door, and the other one inside a cabinet in the laundry room. The owner had also recently placed cat-sized entrances on each door leading to the litter boxes. For Oliver, this setup was less “spa retreat” and more “dark alley.” Cats like to feel safe when they do their business, and Oliver’s private, enclosed setup made him feel like he was about to be ambushed by a predator—or a rival cat. The litter boxes also simply became less accessible.
The Behavior Solution & The Result
We suggested removing the box lids and relocating the boxes to more open spaces where he didn’t have to enter through a small cat door. Oliver didn’t just appreciate the changes—he made a beeline for the new setup and never looked back.
The cat must be able to see their surroundings and not feel trapped or cornered while in the litter box.
CAT BEHAVIOURIST TIP: Litter boxes can be in private or low-traffic areas, but the cat must be able to see their surroundings and not feel trapped or cornered while in the litter box. Out in nature, cats do not urinate in hollowed-out logs or hide behind a tree to do their business. Cats are survivors and come with evolved behaviour traits that help ensure they have a good escape potential and won’t get trapped by a predator or competitor cat.
*Mieshelle Nagelschneider is a pioneer of the cat behaviourist specialty, a cat science author, and host of My Cat from Hell, the most watched cat behaviour show in the world with over one billion viewers. She has spent over three decades helping cat owners understand and improve their cats’ behaviour. Her expertise is widely recognized in the field of animal behaviour and her cat behaviour science book is used to certify other cat experts you see today. For more information and advice on cat behaviour, visit Mieshelle Nagelschneider’s website thecatbehaviorclinic.com.
This article originally appeared in the award-winning Modern Cat magazine. Subscribe today!