Sometimes, older cats who have been well behaved for many years suddenly start doing things their people do not much like. Some such behaviors are merely annoying, but others are serious problems for cat and owner alike. It is important to understand, though, that some feline behaviors you do not like are normal and make perfect sense to your cat.

And to be fair, a lot of things you do must look very odd to your cat. In addition, an elderly cat may behave in certain ways because she is in pain or ill. It is your job to try to figure out what is going on and to do what you can to make it easier for your feline friend to do what you want her to do.

If your cat just does not seen to be her old self, or if she begins to behave in an unusual or undesirable way, begin by checking for an underlying medical cause. Give your veterinarian as much information as possible about what your cat does and when she does it, details can make a diagnosis easier.

If your vet finds no physical cause, and if he rules out nutritional problems, take a close look at your home from your cat's perspective. Sometimes a small change in the environment can make a big difference in behavior. A lot of age related behavior changes can be managed through veterinary intervention, environmental adjustments, or behavior modification techniques.

Other changes are not so welcome. Some of the health problems and physical changes that were discussed can affect your cat's personality, behavior, and sleep patterns in negative ways, and elderly cats are often less able to handle stress than they were when younger.

Pain, disease, nutritional deficiencies, food allergies and sensitivities, medications, and stress all can contribute to inappropriate elimination, aggression, fears and phobias, and other new undesirable behaviors.