Food Fight

Problem: Your cat tongue-tosses her food out of the bowl and all over the kitchen floor.

Why It Happens: Kitty might be implying she doesn’t like her bowl. “If it’s made of plastic, she’s right,” says Szabo. “Plastic harbors bacteria and imparts an off-putting taste to food and water.” Or she may just be playing with her food — it’s a game.

What to Do: “Upgrade to a stainless-steel or china bowl,” says pet columnist Julia Szabo. If that doesn’t work, try different food or a deeper bowl. For a cat who plans to make the kibble toss an official feline Olympic sport, have a play session before mealtime.

Cat-Scratch Fever

Problem: Your cat can’t keep his claws off your bed’s box spring, the sofa, or some other pricey possession.

Why It Happens: “Cats scratch to mark territory and to shed the outer layer of their claws,” says pet-adoption director Stephanie Shain.

What to Do: If your cat is a mattress miner, temporarily limit his access to furniture and find him the scratching post of his dreams, suggests Shain. “Some cats like sisal or carpeted posts — even cheap cardboard posts work for many,” she says. “Also, different cats scratch differently. Some want something flat on the ground. Others like to stretch up.” The key is to put the post right next to the piece of furniture he’s ruining until he learns what is OK to scratch and what isn’t. (Consider the Corner Saver, which fits over the corner of a couch; $99, www.cataround.com.) Once he has adapted to the post, move it to a place that’s less intrusive to your design scheme.

Meowing All Through the Night

Problem: Just when you’re sinking into a deep sleep, Mr. Katz starts howling his head off.

Why It Happens: “If this is an older cat, a vet should check the thyroid. Nighttime vocalization is one sign of hyperthyroidism,” says veterinarian Patti Iampietro. An aging pet may lose certain cognitive abilities, says veterinarian Edward Moser. “Older animals become less restful at night,” he says. Other causes could be something provoking the cat, a change in her routine or environment, or boredom. And if your cat hasn’t been spayed or neutered, these night howls could be mating calls. Even another cat hanging around outside at night can evoke vocalization, says Iampietro.

What to Do: If mating is the motive, promptly “fix” your pet to fix the problem. If not, try testing the cat for hyperthyroidism with a simple blood test. Treatment options are surgery, daily medication, or radioactive-iodine therapy. A change in diet may also help. “Antioxidants from fruits and vegetables and vitamins E and C may reverse brain-aging changes,” says Moser. Once you rule out medical issues and outside disturbances, you’re probably dealing with a cat who just wants attention at 3 a.m. Shain suggests giving the cat some nighttime-only toys before you hit the sack. “It’s a test of will, so steel your nerves and ignore her,” she says.

Fur, Fur Everywhere

Problem: Shed hair has turned your plain upholstery into a shag sofa.

Why It Happens: Fish gotta swim; birds gotta fly; cats and dogs gotta shed. Excessive shedding, though, may be due to dry skin, a poor diet, or stress.

What to Do: The first line of defense is to groom your pet for five minutes a day — which is also an excellent bonding opportunity. To reduce shedding, try moisturizing your pet’s skin and hair through his diet. “Dry skin sheds more hair. Dry hairs drop off animals like the needles off a Christmas tree,” says Szabo. She recommends adding a few drops of olive or flaxseed oil to your cat’s or dog’s kibble. Your veterinarian might suggest a dietary supplement such as Derm Caps, which include fish and safflower oils and vitamin E, to improve coat condition. When it comes to cleanup, Szabo swears by the Dyson DC17 Animal ($550, www.dyson.com), a vacuum designed for a hairy home, and StickySheets ($20 for 12, www.stickysheets.com), which provide the fuzz-lifting action of a lint roller for a larger surface area.