Problematic behavioral problems in companion animals are one of the most frustrating and emotionally draining challenges for their owners. Resolving these problems can often be extremely difficult; especially for animals who are hard to handle, aggressive and/or destructive. In these cases owners may become frightened of their pet and truly believe that the only two solutions for their dilemma are to either surrender the pet or have it euthanized. As far as this writer is concerned, there are no “bad” pets; they are simply companion animals whose behavior is misunderstood.
For those of us who deeply love animals, it’s a priority to learn what we can do to help a troubled pet. In fact, just the thought of making the decision to euthanize a companion animal due to serious behavioral issues is shocking and highly disturbing.
Unfortunately, behavioral issues are a common reason given by owners who have made that decision. But have these owners fully explored what they may be contributing to the situation and fully willing to do whatever it takes to rectify it?
We make a huge commitment to the pet we adopt. We promise to provide our companion animal with a permanent loving home and to take responsibility for all aspects of our pet’s life. Not only does this include feeding or learning how to best provide our pet with a species appropriate diet, regular veterinary care, interactive play and exercise, but also to ensure that their emotional needs are fully met.
Pets cannot verbalize their feelings. The only way they can communicate that something is amiss is through their behavior. There is always a reason for a pet to start acting out aggressively or becoming destructive. It’s up to the guardian to “listen” to what they are “saying.”
And even though these types of behavior are often frustrating and alarming; in my opinion it’s critical for owners to quickly get to the root of the problem in order for it to be successfully resolved. In fact in the majority of cases, this negative behavior can be positively changed but only if the owner is willing to examine the ways they are interacting with their pet, or to explore if the pet has a physical problem or if they have neglected to provide something that the pet is truly missing.
I can’t tell you how many times I have anguished over messages left on pet sites where irate members are complaining that their pet’s aggressive or destructive behavior has “driven them up the wall”. As a result of their pet’s exasperating behavior, some of them are even planning to either relinquish, or have the pet euthanized. And in spite of the many excellent suggestions given them by folks who have a great deal of insight into animal behavior, these owners are unwilling to go the extra mile to keep their commitments.
With the sizable advances in behavior therapy made over the years, I believe that euthanizing an animal is never warranted. Even if the owner has totally given up and has made this decision, after euthanizing the animal owners often experience overwhelming guilt. Additionally, relinquishing or rehoming the animal only results in more problems for the pet making rehabilitation even more difficult.
Today there is an abundance of resources available to pet owners living with companion animals with serious behavioral problems. As an example, Jackson Galaxy’s TV show, “My Cat from Hell” has demonstrated that the behavior of cats creating havoc in the lives of their owners can be positively transformed when the owners become savvier about feline nature and the ways in which their interactions can affect their cats. Over the years, he has saved countless cats and has restored harmony in their homes. Also, of course, this website has a plethora of pages on cat behavior.
Do you believe that euthanizing a pet who is exhibiting serious behavioral problems is ever justified? Please share your views in a comment.
Famously violent cat ‘Lux’ may have been systematically abused by man living in the home
P.S. Very rarely there are cats in homes who’ve been mentally damaged. And they even beat experts like Jackson Galaxy. One such cat was Lux.
Video of caged cat at shelter tells us how desparate he is to get out
Update August 10, 2022: this is an update by Michael. Jo Singer very usefully discusses domestic cats in homes on April 23rd, 2015. I would like briefly to mention shelter cats. Very often their lives depend upon their behaviour. And their behaviour in shelters can often depend upon the size of the cage in which they are placed and whether the interior of the cage is enriched to a certain extent. And of course, some shelters place their cats with foster parents. Both optimising cage space and placing cats with fosterers helps them to behave naturally and express their true character which almost always enhances the prospects of them being adopted.
Optimising cage space of shelter cats increases likelihood of adoption
I believe, as others do, that perfectly adoptable and well-mannered cats in shelters can end up behaving in a way which gives the impression to potential adopters that they are unadoptable because of the stresses of the circumstances under which they find themselves such as, for example cage space, the noise and the unfamiliarity of the surroundings. It is very difficult to ensure that cats are relaxed in shelters. And I’m sure that every shelter manager is thinking about how to successfully overcome this challenge.
Below are some more pages on ‘bad cat behavior’. Reminder: bad cat behavior is feline behavior which is always explicable and natural but it is a form of behavior which is disliked by some humans.
She is beautiful!
In my opinion nearly all cat behavioural issues can be put down to people who, for example, don’t want to accept certain aspects of cat behaviour. Even inappropriate elimination can often be put down to the environment created by the owner.
Animals and people can develop behavior problems from all kinds of issues evolving from a lack of understanding their basic needs, and being a guardian who may also have mental, emotional or “behavior” challenges themselves.
We know that there are many, many people who aren’t equipped to raise children, let alone domestic animals. They won’t be the ones looking for intelligent solutions, but “quick” solutions. Even educated people can be in this category. If they’re financially able, they can hire someone like Jackson Galaxy or Cesar Milan to help with the problem.
It’s my hope that there will be more willingness to explore humane/compassionate solutions to behavior problems, especially those involving dangerous aggression issues in pets and children, including those who torture animals as we see so often on Facebook.
When one of my cats developed cancer, I knew she had to be euthanized, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it, so I asked a friend. I was very close to this 13 year old cat, who always wanted to be on my lap. I had even thought of buying a baby sling, so I could get up without disturbing her. She was the love of my life, and I haven’t been as close to a cat, since.
My present cat, Mitzy was a semi-feral, and has a very different personality, after living on the street for over a year. It took awhile for her to get over being afraid of everyone. And, she’s still evolving into more of a cuddler, which is due to my willingness to show her the benefits of being held and stroked, and talked to. There’s always something new with her behavior, in addition to all the routine things.
Now, she’s developed a kind of soft “growl-meow” when I’m holding her, while my attention is on the computer. It’s as though she’s saying “Hey, pay attention to me!” She’s also become very talkative, like my other cat was. So, I wonder how much my behavior is influencing this? I do talk to her quite a bit.
” Do you believe that euthanizing a pet who is exhibiting serious behavioral problems is ever justified? ”
Absolutely not,I have had moggies with behavioral issues such as going outside the litter box,over self grooming and being aggressive towards my other moggies but with time,patience and persistence all issues were resolved!
A lot of relinquishments are related to cat behavior that the owner does not like.
Euthanasia because of so called cat behavioural problems is never right. There are lots of reason why it is never right but the main one is because it is often the fault of the owners.
Two times in my life I have been the person that ended up taking an animal to it’s death. Both times I was devastated. The first time my uncle asked me to take his beautiful German Shepherd to the vet for an appointment. The vet was aware of what was going on and took the dog in the back room and asked me to wait out in the sitting area. He came back later and told me everything was OK and handed me the dog’s collar and leas. When I asked where the dog was he explained that my uncle couldn’t handle ringing the dog over to be euthanized so he had asked me to do it. I was heart broken. The dog had bitten my aunt. That was her only crime.
When my mom died my step father fell in love with a no-animal lover. He called “MY” vet and made arrangements for the cat to be euthanized. With no way around the issue, I held and loved on this cat and cried as he left this world. I loved that cat even though he had aggression issues.
I feel that surrender or euthanizing an animal is never the solution. A through vet check and modifying the animals lifestyle is the ONLY answer.
Our cat, Dweezel had touch issues. While petting he would lash out. Easily enough, we learned how much he enjoyed and how much was to much. Simple. It is all about loving an animal enough to give him or her the help they need to be happy.