If your feline friend has begun pottying outside of the litter box, being destructive, or biting things (or people) they shouldn't, you might be dealing with a behavioral problem. Behavioral problems can cause household stress and may worsen over time, so pet parents must address these problems when they first arise.

Pet parents encounter 5 main behavioral problems when raising a kitten: house soiling, aggression, excessive vocalizations, destructive chewing, and clawing furniture. We'll address the symptoms and potential causes of these problem behaviors and give you tips to help your cat overcome them.

Almost every cat parent experiences a period of house soiling during the first few weeks with their kitten. However, once the kitten understands the concept of using the litter box, this problem resolves. Continuing to potty outside of the litter box after successful litter box training could signal a bigger behavioral problem.

Since house soiling sometimes occurs due to medical conditions, it's a good idea to have a vet evaluate your kitten if they stop using the litter box. Most vets will perform a full workup, including blood and urine samples to rule out conditions such as diabetes and urinary tract infections, which can cause inappropriate elimination.

The appropriate treatment for your kitten will depend on the cause(s) of the behavior. Below are some methods to prevent house soiling.

If you're wondering why your cat is suddenly biting or scratching you, you're not alone. Many kittens attempt to instigate playtime by biting or scratching their playmates. Although these behaviors might have playful intentions, they aren't fun for the person or pet on the other end.

Not all feline aggression is playful in nature, though. Resource guarding, territorial tendencies, fear, and inter-species aggression can all cause a cat to lash out against their household members. Aggression may also be due to pain or neurological conditions, so it’s a good idea to have your kitten see a vet if their aggression comes out of nowhere or suddenly worsens.

There are many reasons cats bite and scratch, and most of them fit into one or more of the following aggression types: 

Seeking early treatment for your kitten's aggressive tendencies is key to minimizing the behavior. These are the standard procedures behavioral specialists recommend for aggressive felines:

Of all the personality traits you want in a fur-baby, a tendency to scratch furniture probably doesn't make your shortlist. Not only is it frustrating, but claw damage can also be costly to fix and may even make renters lose their security deposit.  

The primary reason cats scratch objects is to help them maintain sharp and healthy claws. When outdoors, cats will typically sharpen their nails on tree bark. However, indoor cats often resort to furniture or walls to achieve the same result. Scratching hard surfaces help cats shed the outer, worn layer of their claws to expose the new growth underneath. 

Cats also scratch to "claim" household objects. When cats scratch, they emit pheromones from glands in their paws, leaving behind their signature scent to tell other pets, "This is mine." 

Lastly, some cats find "sharpening their claws" to be a relaxing pastime. If you notice your cat stretching or yawning while clawing your furniture, it's a good indicator that they're just looking to relieve some stress.

 

Here are a few things you can try to stop your cat from clawing furniture. 

A lot of kittens display excessive vocalizations when they first join a new household. Yowling or meowing is pretty normal when cats are adjusting to a new place, but persistent vocalizations may indicate behavioral or medical problems.

Though annoying, excessive vocalizations are usually nothing to worry about. However, there are instances where excessive vocalizations can signal underlying health problems. Here are some reasons a cat may be chattier than usual:  

Grief and separation anxiety are prevalent after kittens are taken from their littermates and brought to a new home.

While you likely won't be able to stop vocalizations entirely, you can curb excessive vocalizations by trying the following:

Chewing is a common behavioral problem in cats of all ages. Bored or stressed kittens may find relief in chewing household belongings or even their own skin. 

Both skin and destructive chewing can cause health problems in cats. Most obviously, chewing the skin can create abrasions on the skin and introduce bacteria, which can cause the skin to become painful and infected. Chewing household belongings can put cats at risk for chemical poisoning, internal blockages, choking, and electrocution (if the cat chews electrical cords).

Chewing can be a dangerous pastime for cats, so it's essential that pet parents take steps to prevent it. Here are a few things you can do to discourage chewing and prevent chewing-related injuries. 

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