When bad behavior is actually a cry for help.
Your dog chews the couch while you’re out. You come home to stuffing scattered like fresh snow.
Your cat pees on your bed. An unexpected smell greets you, and frustration builds when you see the wet spot.
Your once-easygoing pet is growling at your child’s friends, leaving you worried for everyone’s safety.
It’s easy to label this as bad behavior. But what looks like a problem to us is actually communication from them. Our pets are family members, and like any family member, they deserve to be heard and understood.
Animals don’t misbehave to be difficult or spiteful. When something changes in their behavior, it’s because something has changed inside or around them. They’re trying to tell you something.
Behavior Is a Language
Think of your pet’s behavior as a conversation. Each action communicates their feelings: fear, discomfort, stress, or an unmet need.
When behaviors escalate to “misbehaving”—destructive chewing, biting, aggression or house soiling—it’s often their last resort because their quieter signals weren’t received.
Common “Problem Behaviors” and What They Mean
- Chewing, scratching, or destroying things often signals stress, anxiety, or pent-up energy—your pet trying to release tension.
- Excessive barking or vocalizing can indicate fear, frustration, or loneliness—a way of saying, “Something doesn’t feel right.”
- House soiling or litter box changes are usually linked to stress, routine changes, or physical discomfort—rarely defiance.
- Clinginess or withdrawal both signal insecurity or feeling unwell. Whether your pet won’t leave your side or hides under the bed, both are communication.
- Aggression or reactivity is most often fear-based. A growl or snap is an early warning saying, “I don’t feel safe.” If warnings aren’t heeded, a bite is the next step.
What Changed?
Important: Always consult your veterinarian first. Sudden behavior changes can signal medical issues like UTIs, pain, or illness.
Once medical causes are ruled out, ask yourself:
- Has their routine changed?
- Has there been stress in the household?
- Has something changed like the loss of a pet or a child going off to college?
Our pets are extremely sensitive to their environment and to our emotional state. As family members living in our homes, they experience everything we do. When we’re anxious or stretched thin, they feel it too.
Why Punishment Doesn’t Address the Issue
Punishment tends to suppress an unwanted behavior temporarily, but it doesn’t address the root cause. If your pet is scared, in pain, or overwhelmed, punishment only adds stress—making it harder for them to communicate clearly.
When you take time to understand what your pet is trying to tell you—whether through observation, professional help, or animal communication—you create safety. And when your pet feels safe and understood, the need to “act out” often disappears.
Your pet knows why they’re acting this way. The key is recognizing and understanding their perspective.
Get Answers Directly from Your Pet
Once you’ve ruled out medical causes, an animal communication session can be a game changer. It gives your pet a voice so you can get answers to your questions directly from them. When you understand the reasons behind their unwanted behaviors, you can work in partnership with your pet to resolve them.
Most animals know exactly what’s driving their behavior. Through animal communication, you can ask them directly: What changed? What do they need? How are they experiencing the household?
When your pet tells you they’re peeing on the bed because they’re stressed about the new dog or baby, or that they’re chewing the couch because they feel abandoned when you leave—you finally know what to address. Once that root cause is addressed, the behavior often resolves naturally.
When you ask your pet what’s going on, two things happen: You get real answers, and they feel truly heard. That act of listening—of respecting their viewpoint—often shifts the dynamic immediately.
When pets feel heard, their nervous systems soften. When we feel informed, our worry eases. When you involve your pet in the solution, they tend to be more than willing to stop misbehaving.
If your pet’s behavior has you puzzled or concerned, I invite you to schedule an Animal Communication session.
Together, we can ask your pet your questions and receive answers directly from them so you can find solutions to their unwanted behavior.
Got questions? Email: cathy@animalmuse.com
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