While cats bring us some joy, they can also exhibit some bad behaviors. For example, when stimulated or emotionally disturbed, they may scratch furniture, chew plastic, jump onto counters, or urinate everywhere. Cat owners often complain about these and feel frustrated. But with training, you'll be surprised to find these behaviors can be easily corrected. If a cat has a very bad temper, the owner needs to not only face it but also find ways to adjust the cat’s mood to make it gentler and more peaceful.

　　When your own cat has a bad temper, owners might consider finding a cat companion for it. This way, when bored or angry, it has a partner to play with, temporarily forgetting inner unhappiness, which can help calm its bad temper.

　　To cope with a cat’s bad temper, the owner should first maintain a calm attitude and establish a friendly impression with the cat. Or, when the cat looks moody, try playing some soothing and gentle music for it, helping the tense cat relax, reducing its aggressiveness, calming its irritable heart, and stabilizing its emotions so it no longer treats other pets and owners with anger.

　　So, what good solutions do we have for some specific bad behaviors caused by cat mood swings?

　　1. Yowling at Night

　　This is a very serious problem! Many ask us: "How can I get my cat to sleep at night?" or "Why does my cat always wake me up at night?" For this, we can only suggest buying them lots of toys. The sleep-wake cycle of cats is incompatible with ours because it is based on their natural hunting instincts. Cats are most active at dusk and dawn. But remember, crying at night might also be a sign of anxiety, dementia, or confusion. If your cat is healthy, you need to do the following. If your cat sleeps all day, it’s no surprise it has energy at night. So, during the day, you can simulate hunting with it, play, or take walks. Another tip: After it wakes you, don’t give it too much attention. The more attention you give, the more it yowls. The best way is to ignore it.

　　2. Jumping on Tables and Cabinets

　　Although we do not mind this behavior much, and some even like their cats exploring the kitchen, even if hygiene isn’t considered, you should worry about cats accidentally eating harmful food.

　　So what should cat owners do? Climbing everywhere and exploring high places is a cat’s nature. You need to use something more suitable and attractive for climbing instead of cabinets. Buy a cat climbing frame or a cat hammock for the windowsill, place interesting toys on it, or put it where birds can be seen from the window. These are more attractive than boring cabinets.

　　3. Scratching Furniture

　　Is your sofa often full of scratches from your cat? Scratching is how cats stretch muscles, mark territory, or sharpen claws. The solution is similar to the above: you don’t need to stop them but divert their behavior. Tape double-sided tape on furniture and get your cat interesting horizontal or vertical scratching posts. More importantly, praise and reward them at the right time.

　　4. Urinating Outside the Litter Box

　　Some bad habits can be corrected by training, but some require a vet. Does your cat urinate on furniture and beds? If this keeps happening, you need to take it to the vet. Friends might tell you your cat is “malicious” toward you, but that's not true; things may be more serious. Many physical issues cause cats to urinate outside the litter box, including kidney failure, bladder infections, diabetes, arthritis, etc. Your responsibility is to honestly tell the vet what happened and let them check.

　　5. Scratching and Biting During Play

　　Getting scratched or bitten by your cat isn’t fun. But I say, if you are a bit responsible, this wouldn’t happen. When you play with it and make sudden moves, cats get very excited and unintentionally show their teeth and claws. This is common. Many people flinch or quickly hit the cat to stop the behavior. Actually, this strengthens their reaction. The solution is simple: stop using your hands and use feathers or toys to attract their attention. This is natural for cats, non-aggressive, and your hands won’t get scarred. If they keep attacking, contact the vet.

　　6. Chewing Plastic and Other Weird Things

　　You may think chewing plastic or carpets is just a weird cat habit, but in fact, it’s a disorder. Chewing non-food items is called pica, which can cause dental disease, gastrointestinal problems, and anxiety. If your cat has this habit, call the vet.

　　Additionally, when calming cats, pay attention to:

　　1. Do Not Use Violence

　　Many people already know this clearly—no animal wants to be beaten or scolded, and violence is especially hated. If abused, they will develop serious psychological shadows, possibly impacting their whole life and losing trust in humans.

　　2. Cats Don’t Like Being Controlled

　　Cats are very independent; they usually prefer to live quietly like elderly people, valuing freedom. So do not force cats to do things they dislike. If you restrict their freedom or confine them in a cage, they may become excessively sad and depressed, potentially leading to unhappiness until death.