Why Does My Cat Do This?

Behaviour is communication, not naughtiness

Cats do nothing out of spite. Peeing next to the box, spraying, calling at night, scratching the sofa or lashing out while being stroked are all ways of telling you something: there is pain, there is tension, something is missing, or you missed a boundary. That is why this guide works in two steps. First we check for a medical red flag — because a cat that strains without being able to urinate doesn’t have a behaviour problem but an emergency. Only then come the behavioural explanations, with a plan you can start today. If your cat is in the cat passport, the advice takes age, sex, indoor or outdoor life and the number of cats in the house into account.

Frequently asked questions about cat behaviour

Why is my cat peeing outside the litter box?

First the dangerous scenario: if your cat is straining without producing anything, the urethra may be blocked — that is life-threatening within a day and you call your vet or the emergency practice immediately. If that isn’t the case, a bladder problem remains the first suspect, especially when it started suddenly. Only once your vet has ruled that out do you look at the box: one box per cat plus one extra, scooped daily, large and open, in a quiet spot and not next to the food. Your cat never pees out of spite — there is always a reason. More on the set-up in the litter box advice.

Why does my cat meow at night?

In a cat over ten a medical cause is likely: an overactive thyroid, kidney disease, high blood pressure, pain or cognitive decline. Ask specifically for blood work and a blood pressure measurement. If your cat is healthy, night-time calling is usually learned behaviour — because it works: you get up — or a matter of too much energy and too little to do. Consistently stop responding at night, play energetically for ten to fifteen minutes in the evening and follow it with the last meal. Expect a few nights where it gets worse first.

When should I see a vet about my cat’s behaviour?

Always for straining without result, blood in the urine, almost a day without eating, bald patches or wounds, and for behaviour that changes suddenly — cats hide pain, so a change in behaviour is often the first sign of illness you get to see. Lashing out when the same spot is touched belongs at the vet too: that points at pain. If the behaviour persists after a medical check, a cat behaviourist is the logical next step.

What this guide is based on

The medical red flags follow the advice of veterinary practices (a blocked urethra as an emergency, the rule that almost a day without eating belongs at the vet), and the behavioural explanations follow what pet information centres and cat behaviourists describe, including the well-known rule of one litter box per cat plus one extra. This guide does not diagnose and does not replace veterinary advice: it helps you tell apart what you can tackle yourself and what needs professional help.