Although your cat has behaved well in the past, it has recently begun peeing in one corner of the bedroom closet. It seems that your cat may be compulsively preening itself, as it has licked some spots on its fur so much that there is now no fur left there to lick. It has gotten so bad that some friends have asked if the cat has feline leukemia, assuming, no doubt, that the hair loss is a result of chemotherapy.

You can curb or cure your cats behavior by employing some very effective and gentle behavior modifying techniques. You should use such techniques along with praise and petting. This will ensure that your life with your furry feline easier and stress free.

There are many good cat training books available as well as magazine publications that offer advice on putting an end to undesirable cat actions. There are web sites dedicated to cats and cat psychology where one can find many articles on how to correct your cats behavior. You can find advice on all of the common misbehaviors and some uncommon one as well.

One common misbehavior is scratching on furniture and drapes. The suggested response when you see your cat scratch an object that's off limits is to squirt a little water from a water gun and give a sharp, "No!" However, scratching is instinctive and helps keep your cat's claws conditioned as well as being an enjoyable source of exercise.

To stop you cat from scratching you couch, provide him with an alternative. It is easy to buy a ready made scratching post or even to make your own. Rub some catnip on the post to attract your cat, and he'll scratch the post instead of your furniture as long as he can smell the herb. Give it a few days and he'll soon form a habit of scratching the post rather than your furniture.

Another behavior that may annoy a cat owner is if their kitty keeps them up at night with rambunctious, wild antics. Cats are nocturnal and their instinct is telling them the best hunting time is night time. Some cat owners make the mistake of getting up and playing with their cat, thinking that if they wear him out, kitty will go to sleep. This doesn't work as it is training the cat to wake his owner up every night for a nighttime frolic.

If you try to play with your cat as soon as possible when you get back to home in the evening, it will probably trigger in the cat's routine to begin playtime early. You will then be able to sleep peacefully at night and not be disturbed by the cat.

Some people believe that a cat's behavior cannot be changed in some way like one can do for a dog. It is true that the cat will not learn to understand your commands like bringing a brewsky from the fridge. However if you devote some time, you can change your cat's naughty habits which will make your life less stressful and pleasant.

If your cats behavior is worsening, it really pays to understand a little cat psychology in order to modify that behaviour. If you see your cat scratch the furniture or pee on the bed, then it is time to consult one of the many books, magazines or websites on the subject. The provision of a scratch post can help save your furniture, while playing with your cat during the day will help teach him that nighttime is for sleeping. Praise and extra attention also go along way to curbing some of your cat's less desirable personality traits.