Although each situation presents its own set of circumstances, our experts offer these remedies:

Catty Behavior No. 1: Avoiding the Litterbox
If your cat suddenly sidesteps the litterbox and defecates on your favorite Persian rug or takes aim at the living room wall, get it to the veterinarian's office for a medical checkup. It may be allergic to the litter or have a urinary blockage.

If no medical problems are detected, your cat may be acting like a little stinker because the litterbox stinks. Scoop out the contents daily. If the behavior continues, switch litters and boxes. And, don't overfill the pan. Keep the litter no more than 2 inches deep.

"Some cats hate those enclosed litterboxes because the urine smell gets trapped inside and they are vulnerable to other household pets that stalk them while they are going to the bathroom," says Roger Valentine, DVM, who specializes in cats at The Pet Allergy Center Veterinary House Calls practice in Santa Monica, Calif.

Other tips: switch locations and for easy scooping, spray the bottom of the litter pan with a no-stick kitchen spray before pouring in fresh litter for easy scooping, Dr. Valentine says.

Cats that spray walls and dampen carpets are marking their territory. They may feel threatened by a new cat in the family, a taunting outdoor feline trespasser or heightened household stress. If you can't pinpoint the cause, put your cat in a large crate with enough room for food, water, blanket and a small litterbox while you are away from the house, Dr. Milani says.

Clean up messes promptly. Stay away from cleaning products that contain ammonia because urine contains ammonia compounds that attract cats and encourage them to return and repeat a mess. Finally, place the cat's food and water bowls near the targeted spots because cats typically don't like to eliminate where they eat.

If you catch your cat backing up against a wall with a quivering tail, calmly walk over, push the tail down at the base with your finger and distract it with a play activity, says John C. Wright, Ph.D., a certified applied animal behaviorist in Macon, Ga.

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