Are You Enabling the Very Behavior You Dislike in Your Animal?
Have you ever complained about a behavior you see in your animal, only to realize that you may be enabling the very behavior you dislike?
Many pet parents experience this. We become frustrated with certain behaviors, but we don't always realize that something in our environment or the way we interact with our animals may be encouraging those behaviors.
One case that comes to mind involved a pet parent who was frustrated because her cat spent a lot of time hiding. She expressed how much she disliked her cat hiding so often.
For starters, her house was like a cave. There were plenty of places for a cat to hide within the cluttered environment.
This isn't meant to judge how she chose to have her home. However, the environment was unintentionally enabling the very behavior she disliked.
A cluttered environment can create a cave for a shy cat. As feline behaviorist Jackson Galaxy describes it, you want to create a cocoon for your cat, not a cave.
In the same way a cocoon serves a purpose for a butterfly, we want to create an environment that nurtures our cats. With that nurturing environment, your cat can gradually blossom into a more confident cat.
The goal isn't to take away your cat's safe hiding spaces. Instead, it's about making those spaces more purposeful and convenient while also encouraging confidence.
And there's another reason to consider the type of hiding spaces your cat has. A difficult-to-access hiding place can become a safety concern. If your cat becomes injured or sick, you want to be able to reach them.
By decluttering her space and providing nice little hiding areas throughout the room, this pet mom allowed her cat to keep his safe spaces while also creating a "cocoon" where he could grow more confident.
It's also very important to respect your cat's hiding space.
This cat mom was able to use play to encourage her shy kitty to come out. Even if her kitty didn't engage in play at first, he had the opportunity to look outside of his hiding space and watch the exciting wand-toy play.
What cat can resist an exciting wand toy?
When Our Fingers Become the Toy
Another example is using your fingers and toes as play objects.
This was something I had to learn very early in my journey of understanding cats. Because our fingers are the easiest things to reach for when we're playing with our cats, sometimes we can't resist using them as toys.
I know you've heard it many times: Don't use your fingers and toes as play objects.
But it's hard, right?
The problem is that cats can begin to associate our fingers and toes with play or even prey. Eventually, they may begin to attack them.
Then you find yourself asking, "Why is my cat attacking my toes in the middle of the night? Why is my cat attacking my fingers while I'm trying to sleep?"
From your cat's perspective, they don't understand that your fingers and toes aren't prey. If something is moving, it can become a very tempting target.
Once again, having wand toys throughout your home can be very handy. Good enrichment and interactive playtime can work wonders.
I could go on and on about the many things we do—including things I have done myself—that can enable the very behaviors we dislike in our cats.
So the next time your cat is doing something you don't understand or don't like, stop and ask yourself:
"Did I enable this behavior?"
I have to ask myself that question quiet offering
Visit www.totallyfeline.com for more Totally Feline™.
Disclaimer
The information and product recommendations provided by Totally Feline™ are for educational purposes only and are not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Always consult your veterinarian regarding your pet’s care.
Copyright
© 2026 Totally Feline™ Totally Feline CC ™ . All rights reserved. Content, images, and materials may not be reproduced, distributed, or used without written permission.