Understanding Cat Behaviour: Needs, Communication and Reward-Based Training

By Dr Duncan Houston

A cat scratching a chair, hiding from visitors or chasing moving feet is doing something with a purpose. The useful question is what need the behaviour meets and how to offer a better way to meet it.

Understanding ordinary behaviour also helps you notice a change. A new problem should not automatically be labelled stubbornness or boredom.

Quick Answer

Cats need opportunities to scratch, explore, rest, play and choose how they interact. Support those needs with suitable resources and teach useful alternatives through rewards. Watch the whole situation, and seek veterinary advice for new or persistent changes in eating, toileting, activity or behaviour.

Start with the environment

Before trying to train a behaviour away, look at what the cat can actually access. A scratching post in a room they avoid is not a useful alternative to the sofa. A litter tray beyond a dog or another cat may be technically available but difficult to reach.

Walk through the home from the cat's point of view. Identify resting areas, hiding places, routes between resources and spots where an interaction is forced. Small changes in location can matter more than buying more equipment.

Understand common activities

Scratching and rubbing

Scratching is part of normal feline behaviour. Provide stable surfaces that allow the cat to stretch and use the texture and orientation they prefer. Place an alternative where scratching already happens rather than expecting the cat to search for it elsewhere.

Cheek rubbing also helps make places familiar. It can be a social interaction, but it does not mean the cat wants to be picked up.

Resting and hiding

Cats benefit from undisturbed resting places and somewhere to withdraw. Let a hiding place remain a retreat. Repeatedly reaching inside to check or cuddle the cat removes its value.

Notice changes relative to your cat's usual pattern rather than judging them against a single sleep-hour target.

Stalking and pouncing

Play often contains movements used in hunting. Direct those movements toward suitable toys, not hands or feet. A moving toy at a comfortable distance gives the cat a clear target while keeping people out of the game.

Put stringed or easily damaged toys away after supervised use. Inspect familiar toys as well as new ones.

Read the response before continuing

Watch body tension, ear position, tail movement and whether the cat approaches or moves away. No single signal tells the whole story. A cat can be interested in a toy without wanting touch, or accept a brief stroke and then want a pause.

Give the cat a choice to end contact. If they turn away, stiffen or retreat, stop rather than asking them to tolerate one more interaction.

Teach one useful behaviour at a time

1. Choose a clear action, such as stepping onto a mat or approaching an open carrier.
2. Arrange an easy starting situation with few distractions.
3. Notice and immediately reward a small step toward the action.
4. Repeat while the cat remains interested, then finish.
5. Add difficulty gradually once the current step is comfortable.

A reward is something the individual cat wants at that moment. Food, play or another valued activity may work. If you use food, include it in the existing feeding plan rather than continually adding extras.

A clicker or short marker word can identify the action you liked, but the sound needs to be followed by the reward. Repeating a cue louder does not explain an unfamiliar task.

What if the unwanted behaviour continues?

Separate management from teaching. Protect the chair while making the scratching alternative useful; prevent access to an unsafe area while teaching a different place to settle.

Simply ignoring everything is not a complete plan. Check unmet needs, access to resources, what the cat gains from the behaviour and whether a health change could be involved. Do not punish by shouting, spraying water or forcing contact.

Keep litter care practical

Provide clean, accessible trays in suitable locations. Observe the cat's preferences instead of assuming every cat wants the same tray style.

A human toilet is not a necessary training goal. A usable litter setup lets the cat perform their normal toileting behaviour and lets caregivers notice changes. If litter habits change, involve the vet rather than repeatedly changing litter or disciplining the cat.

When to get help

• A routine preference: improve the setup and offer a suitable alternative.
• Repeated fear, conflict or unsafe interactions: seek qualified behaviour support with veterinary input.
• A new change in eating, grooming, toileting or activity: discuss it with the veterinary team instead of assuming a training problem.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using hands as toys and then punishing biting.
• Putting all resources in one crowded place.
• Removing every hiding place to make the cat sociable.
• Teaching several difficult steps at once.
• Expecting enrichment to explain or fix every behaviour change.

Frequently asked questions

Can cats learn cues?

Yes. Reward a clear action in small steps and practise while the cat is engaged.

Is scratching a sign of bad behaviour?

No. It is a normal activity that needs suitable outlets and thoughtful placement.

Should I ignore every unwanted behaviour?

No. Meet the relevant need, manage hazards and teach an alternative. Health-related changes need veterinary attention.

Why does my cat stop participating?

The task may be too difficult, the reward may not appeal or the cat may simply want to stop. Make the next attempt easier rather than forcing it.

Build a home that makes sense to your cat

Look for the reason behind an action, make useful choices available and reward progress you can see. The aim is a workable daily routine, not constant obedience.

Further reading

Read the RSPCA's cat behaviour guidance and Cats Protection's advice on appropriate cat play.

The ASK A VET™ app can help organise observations you want to share with your cat's veterinary team.