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  4. Cats
  5. Behaviour

Behaviour

My cat is being aggressive towards my other cat, what should I do?

Aggressive behaviour (a threat, challenge, or attack) may include scratching, biting, and visual (e. g. , changes in posture, erect fur), vocal (e. g. , growling, hissing) and scent-based signals (e. g. , urine spraying).

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  • Animal behaviour
  • Animals living together
  • Problem behaviours
sleepy cat dog thumb

How should I introduce my new dog or puppy to my existing cat?

Introducing a new canine member to the family is a special and exciting time, but it can be a little overwhelming for all concerned – especially if you already have a cat! However, this can be managed with planning to help keep everyone safe and to minimise stress.

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  • Adopting an animal
  • Animal behaviour
  • Animals living together
  • New pets
  • Pet care
  • Pet owner basics
ginger cat outside grass

How do I stop a neighbour’s cat from entering and toileting in my yard?

RSPCA Australia encourages owners to contain of cats within their property boundaries to help protect cats from disease and injury, avoid them becoming lost, reduce the impact on wildlife, and prevent disturbance to neighbours. Welfare check First, assess if the cat is owned (e. g.

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  • Animal behaviour
  • Contained cats
  • Problem behaviours
cat scratch enclosed

Why does my cat scratch the furniture?

Cats naturally perform scratching behaviour for a variety of reasons, such as to maintain their claws, mark territory (cats deposit scent when they scratch as they have scent glands around their paw pads), and as an emotional outlet (e. g. , frustration, anxiety, excitement).

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  • Animal behaviour
  • Contained cats
  • Problem behaviours
cat carpet

Why is my cat urinating inappropriately?

Feline inappropriate urination (urinating in the wrong place) can be quite common. It often involves the cat urinating outside their litter box in an inappropriate area or on an inappropriate object. The causes are generally medical or behavioural.

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  • Animal behaviour
  • Contained cats
  • Problem behaviours

Should I hug my dog or cat?

It is best to avoid hugging your dog or cat because, although a tight hug is often a sign of affection between people, it can feel threatening to a dog or a cat.

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  • Animal behaviour
  • Pets and kids

What does my cat’s body language mean?

A cat’s body language can be subtle, so it’s not always easy to accurately read how they’re feeling. To understand your cat’s psychology, look at his or her eyes, tail, mouth and posture and use this guide to help you recognise important body language signals.

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  • Animal behaviour
  • Pet owner basics

My cat is very active at night and keeps waking me up, what should I do?

Some cats are active at night, or are awake and ‘raring to go’ very early in the morning.

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  • Animal behaviour
  • Contained cats
  • Problem behaviours
cats lying in sun

What do I need to know about multi-cat households?

With approximately half of cat-owning households caring for two or more cats , it is crucial to recognise that keeping multiple cats, while fundamentally similar to keeping a singular cat, requires a good understanding of cats’ social needs and behaviour.

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  • Adopting an animal
  • Animal behaviour
  • Animals living together
  • Behavioural needs
  • Contained cats
  • New pets

How should I introduce my new cat or kitten to the family dog?

First consider if it would be safe and appropriate to have both a dog and cat as part of your family. While dogs and cats can live together in harmony and even become friends, in some cases individual dogs may not be compatible with cats.

  • Tagged
  • Adopting an animal
  • Animal behaviour
  • Animals living together
  • New pets
  • Pet care
  • Pet owner basics
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