Your cat marks, bites or yowls — it is sending you a signal

It is a warning nobody noticed. A few strokes are enough for a cat; after that touch becomes unpleasant, especially on the belly and at the base of the tail. Seconds before a bite she twitches her tail, flattens her ears and a ripple runs along her back. Stop at the first signal, and there will be fewer bites. If a cat has suddenly started biting, pain has to be ruled out first.

With marking a cat calms herself and claims her territory when she feels threatened: a strange cat outside the window or a new one at home, a move, renovation, guests, conflict over the litter box. A spayed cat can mark too. Scolding does not help: the cause has to be found and removed, and the spots cleaned with an enzyme cleaner, without bleach or vinegar.

Most often for two reasons: pain when urinating (cystitis, stones) or a litter box the cat does not accept. The bed smells of her owner, and she feels calmer there. First a urinalysis rules out cystitis, then the litter boxes are reviewed: how many, what size, which litter and where they stand.

In a young unspayed cat it is most often heat. In others it is boredom and energy not spent during the day, or a habit of getting food in response to yowling. In an older cat yowling at night can be a sign of illness: high blood pressure, hyperthyroidism, age-related changes in the brain. Such a cat needs her blood pressure, thyroid hormones and blood work checked.

One more than the number of cats: two for one cat, three for two, four for three. Put them in different places: two boxes side by side are one big box to a cat. Scoop once or twice a day, more often with several cats.

More water: wet food, water bowls in several places and away from food. One more litter box than cats, all clean. A normal weight and activity. Less stress: in many cats flares coincide with a move, renovation or a new animal. If stones have already formed, the food is chosen for their type — your veterinarian decides this from a urinalysis.

A behaviorist works with behavior. A Cat Friendly veterinarian sees both behavior and health: a cat often “misbehaves” because of pain — cystitis, arthritis, bad teeth — and behavior training will not fix that. The veterinarian sees where a test is needed and where it is enough to change something at home.

For behavior questions it is even better. At home a cat behaves as usual, and a video from your home shows the veterinarian more than a visit at which she freezes with fear. You fill in the questionnaire without rushing, attach photos and video and receive a plan you can come back to.

Yes. Attach the urinalysis, blood work or ultrasound in the questionnaire after payment, at no extra cost, and the veterinarian takes them into account in the plan.

Written consultations are answered in order of the queue, within 24 hours of submitting the questionnaire. The veterinarian looks at every case individually, so please describe everything that worries you about your cat. Right after payment you get access to the questionnaire, where you can tell the whole story in detail. Complex cases are sometimes discussed with colleagues before the reply.

An individual consultation is paid: the veterinarian studies the questionnaire, photos and video and writes a plan for your cat and your home. For free, you can read the VetGO articles about behavior, litter boxes and stress in cats — the links are at the bottom of the page.