Cats are more than our cute companions. They are a unique species that act as both predator and prey in a natural environment. This leads to a wide range of behaviors and needs. Cats are also learners, capable of adapting and using their behavior to get their needs and wants met.
Understanding cats as predators, prey, and learners will help you appreciate and support your cat in your home, giving them their best life possible. It will also help you shift their behavior when it conflicts with your own needs.
Cats as Predators
At their core, even our house cats remember their predator nature. They are tuned to respond to movement and to stalk, chase, grab, kick, and bite. Hunting requires keen senses and problem solving.
Cats who don’t have appropriate outlets for these behaviors may direct their “hunt” on people or other pets. They may be easily “overstimulated”, reacting with fear or aggression to small changes in their environment. Or they could simply become bored, leading to overeating or lack of engagement with the world around them.
Respecting Your Cat as a Predator
You don’t have to let your cat roam the neighborhood and kill anything they like to support their predatory needs. You also don’t have to accept being the target of these behaviors. Instead, give them consistent, appropriate outlets.
- Give Them a Hunt: Daily interactive play sessions should mimic a hunt, with stalking, pouncing, chasing, grabbing, etc. (Read more)
- Work Their Brain: Food puzzles, training, and other enrichment activities encourage problem solving. (Get ideas!)
- Engage Their Senses: Open (screened) windows, play cat TV, go on leashed walks, and offer things to sniff and chew.
- Incorporate Appropriate Novelty: Not all cats are comfortable with change, but you can swap out their favorite activities on a regular basis to keep things “new”.
Cats as Prey
Though they are hunters themselves, cats are small animals and, as such, can be at risk from larger ones. Even while we keep them safe inside our home, in an enclosed catio, or supervised outside, cats are primed to be alert to threats in their environment.
An environment needs to be safe, of course,, but it also must provide the cat with a sense of security. They can be safe but not feel safe. A cat that doesn’t feel safe may hide, avoid social contact, react aggressively when approached by people or other pets, or urinate outside their litter box.
Supporting Your Cat as Prey
To help your cat feel secure in their territory, you need to understand it from their point of view.
- Make Changes Slowly: Cats need to know that they can meet their needs safely, everyday. Make changes to their resources (food, water, litter box, sleeping spots) and routine gradually when you can.
- Increase Vertical Space: Being off the ground allows cats to observe their surroundings, which can increase security. Increased vertical space also allows for options to access resources while avoiding situations that make them uncomfortable. Learn more here.
- Spread Out Resources: Provide multiple options and spread out resources, particularly in a multi-pet home. Cats don’t naturally share food and nobody likes to wait in line for the bathroom.
- Let Them Hide: Observing while hidden lets a cat take in the situation with less risk and to come out and participate when they feel ready. Provide hiding places throughout your home; bonus points if they’re also off the ground.
- Build Positive Relationships: If there is conflict between household pets, take steps to repair those relationships. Professional support is recommended if there is aggression, but the steps above may help on their own.
- Manage Unfamiliar Cats: Outdoor cats can be a major source of stress for indoor cats. Imagine a strange human lingering in your yard at night, peeking through the windows! Take steps to deter these visitors and/or to limit your cat’s view of them.
Cats as Learners
All behavior serves a function for the individual (getting something they want, avoiding something they don’t like, feeling safe, etc). As needs and environments change, individuals adapt their behavior. This is learning.
Cats can learn patterns, gain trust, develop expectations, and acquire new skills. They can also establish negative associations, develop fears, and lose trust.
If you acknowledge that cats can learn, then it must be true that they can be taught. It’s just a matter of understanding how they see the world and what matters to them.
Guiding Your Cat as a Learner
Your cat won’t learn and adjust their behavior just because you want them too. It’s your role as teacher to ensure they understand what you want and why they should do it.
- Meet Their Needs First: It is very hard to learn anything when you are worried about your basic needs. Start with understanding and caring for your cat as a predator and prey species, before trying to teach them new behaviors.
- Provide A “Yes” For Every “No”: If your cat is doing a particular behavior to get something important to them, you will have a hard time eliminating that behavior completely. Read here about the importance of appropriate outlets.
- Motivate Them: Don’t expect your cat to do something just because you want them to or because you’ve declared it a house “rule”. Whether your cat is motivated by food, play, attention, or anything else, use that to work with them or you will both be frustrated. Learn more about motivation here.
- Have Patience: Teaching a cat a new skill requires lots of short sessions over time. You need to be consistent and practice a lot. Take your time and go at your cat’s pace.
A learner is only as good as their teacher, so be the best teacher possible for your cat. Not sure how? Look for a teacher of your own!
Many cat behavior problems can be linked back to a lack of understanding and support for their needs as a species. The whole family can be happier if you respect their predator nature, support their concerns as potential prey, and guide them to learning what you need them to know. Happy Tails!
If your cat has a behavior problem that you need help solving, consider scheduling a private behavior consultation.