Common Bad Habits in Cats (and How to Fix Them)

1 Common Cat Habits Owners Struggle With

1. The midnight zoomies. Strictly speaking this isn’t a ‘bad’ habit—cats are nocturnal and most active from night to early morning, sleeping by day—but it wrecks the sleep of working owners. Align the cat’s clock with yours by draining its energy: play hard with it before bed, and for especially energetic cats, buy a few motorized toys to tire them out hands-free.

2. The ‘antisocial’ cat. Most cats know their name; when they ignore you, they may just not want to engage. Repeat the name at feeding time, and for food-motivated cats try small training sessions with timely praise—cats need a sense of achievement too. If a cat refuses, don’t force it.

3. Pouncing and biting. For cats with attack behavior, never back down—scold firmly, in the moment. Avoid using your hands and feet as toys, and these steps usually reduce the ‘antisocial’ behavior.

4. Scratching. Scratching is a completely normal daily instinct, but sofas, walls, and curtains pay the price. A scratching post is essential; beyond regular nail trims, wrap table legs in coarse rope to spare the sofa.

5. Oversleeping. Some cats sleep day and night; a cat that never exercises risks obesity and poor health over time. Walk it outdoors if you can. If a cat suddenly stops moving, check for illness.

2 Why Early Correction Matters

Correct bad habits promptly—otherwise your furniture and even you can get hurt, and the behavior may also signal that the cat is unwell.