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VetVine Client Care
Behavior Problems In Indoor Cats And Environmental Enrichment
Behavior
Behavior problems in cats can lead to their relinquishment from the home they live in. In fact, up to 28% of cats that wind up in shelters were given up due to a problem behavior. The more common problems reported include house soiling, inter-pet problems, and aggression to humans.
The home environment is somewhat static and unchanging compared to the natural (outdoor) environment of the feline species. Indoor cats often lack stimulation and lead a life of relative inactivity which results in stress. This stress can be manifested in these various problem behaviors. Focusing on environmental enrichment for the cat can make a difference in reducing unwanted behaviors.
Toys (type and numbers of toys) and activities / play time with humans were recently examined to see whether there was a relationship between them and behavior problems (various forms of aggression and inappropriate elimination) reported by cat owners. The average number of toys and activities reported by owners per cat was 7, and the most common toys/activities used by owners in this survey were furry mice (64%), catnip toys (62%), and balls with bells (62%). A total of 78% of the owners reported that they leave the cat's toy(s) available all the time. All owners reported playing with their cat, whereas most owners (64%) played with their cat more than 2 times per day and reported play bout durations of 5 (33%) or 10 minutes (25%). Owners who reported play bout time of 5 minutes or more reported fewer behavioral problems than those with play bouts of 1 minute (P < 0.05). A total of 61% of the owners reported that their cat engaged in 1 or more of the 6 selected behavior problem(s), but only 54% of the owners who reported behavior problems in their cats reported that they had talked to their veterinarian about the problem. The 2 most frequently reported behavior problems were aggression to the owners (36%) and periuria (24%). Female cats were 50% less likely to be reported to have 1 or more behavior problems than males despite an equal sex distribution in the survey population (P < 0.05). The relationship between individual behavior problems and individual toys and activities was evaluated by use of a logistic stepwise regression. These findings are discussed as they relate to the understanding of behavioral needs of indoor-housed cats and the potential role of environmental enrichment in the home setting.