9 Sep 2016

Cats behaving badly

From Afternoons, 3:27 pm on 9 September 2016

Cats that scrap, a cat who attacks its owner’s feet and the cat who won’t eat her food - what can be done to curtail this feline delinquency?

Massey University veterinarian Kevin Stafford answers your questions.

Jazz is a fighting cat, but he doesn’t always win and is costing his owners dearly in vet bills. Kevin suggests keeping him out of harm’s way at certain times.

Fatty bullies Hoody; he stalks her, attacks her and the fur flies. What’s behind this aggressive behaviour - territory or boredom?

Luka attacks his owner’s feet when they’re exposed, sometimes drawing blood. This, Kevin says, is no laughing matter and suggests immediate intervention. Luka has to learn who’s the boss.

Possum likes to collect and arrange objects in patterns. Is it an attempt to communicate; or just a random act of cat weirdness?

And Maia’s off her raw food diet. Does she need more culinary variety?