When a Cat’s Behavior Is Actually a Message

Listening instead of fixing can change everything

Hey Golden Whiskers family,

There’s a moment most cat parents recognize.

You notice something small at first.
The litter box looks different.
The food bowl stays full a little longer than usual.
Your cat chooses a spot they don’t normally choose.

Nothing dramatic.
Just enough to make you pause.

And once you notice it, it’s hard to unsee.

For a long time, I thought these moments meant I needed to do something fast—fix something, change something, stop something. Behavior felt like a problem to solve.

Over time, and through a lot of conversations with people who understand cats far better than I ever could on my own, that perspective shifted.

What we often call a “behavior issue” is usually something else entirely.

It’s information.

🎧 This Week’s Episode: Your Cat’s Behavior Is Trying To Tell You Something

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💛 Why This Episode Matters

Because behavior is often the first signal that something isn’t right.

Sometimes it’s medical, and that always deserves to be ruled out first.
Sometimes it’s environmental.
Sometimes it’s emotional.
Sometimes it’s a response to change—ours or theirs.

When we stop asking “Why is my cat doing this?”
and start asking “What is my cat responding to?”
the whole dynamic changes.

This episode is about that shift.

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📘 Episode Snapshot

In this week’s Golden Whiskers Podcast, I’m sharing two short moments from previous conversations that changed how I understand feline behavior.

🐾 Dr. Rachel Geller explains why litter box issues are so often about safety—not stubbornness or spite. When a cat chooses an elevated place like a bed or couch, they may be solving a problem the litter box isn’t meeting.

🐾 Melissa Sherman adds another layer, reminding us that cats are deeply sensitive to stress, transitions, grief, and the emotional tone of the home—including what we bring into it ourselves.

Together, these perspectives point to the same truth:

Behavior isn’t misbehavior.
It’s communication.

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🐾 Expert Recommendations for Cat Parents

A few grounded takeaways from this episode:

• Any sudden or new behavior change should always prompt a medical check first

• Look at your cat’s environment through their eyes, especially during vulnerable moments like using the litter box

• Open, uncovered litter boxes with clear sightlines often feel safer to many cats

• Consider recent changes in routine, stress, or energy in the household

• Approach behavior with curiosity rather than frustration—small adjustments can go a long way

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😺 What I’m Trying With Niko and Milo

This episode reminded me to slow down and pay closer attention.

With Niko and Milo, I’ve been watching where they settle when the house is quiet, how their energy shifts after play, and how my own mood shows up at the end of the day.

I’ve also been more intentional about how I come home—pausing before walking in, letting the day drop, and meeting them where they are instead of rushing past them.

Nothing elaborate.
Just awareness.

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🐾 This Week’s Cattitude Prompt

Take a few quiet minutes this week and reflect on this:

Is there a behavior I’ve been labeling as a problem that might actually be information?

No fixing required.
Just noticing.

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🎧 Listen to This Week’s Episode

🎙️ Your Cat’s Behavior Is Trying to Tell You Something

A short Friday episode with two insights that may change how you interpret what your cat is doing—and why.

👉 Listen here.

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With gratitude,
Scott 🐾