Whether you've just adopted a dog or cat, or lived with one for
years, there may come a day when your beloved pet starts
exhibiting some strange new behaviours that leave you baffled.
To help demystify your pet's behaviours and understand what
actions you can take, ask yourself these four questions. - Has
there been a change in the environment? Any change in the
environment may contribute to new behaviours or behaviour
problems. For example, the weeks or months following an adoption
can be stressful for your pet as she adjusts to her new home. As
well, the addition of a new pet or family member (spouse, baby),
loss of a pet or family member, moving, and schedule changes can
have a dramatic impact on behaviour. - Is there an underlying
medical problem? Often new behaviours are really the result of a
health issue or prescribed medication. For example, bladder
infections or kidney disease may cause your cat to eliminate
outside his litter box if he comes to associate the box with
painful urination, or if he has