For repeating behaviors such as barking or indoor soiling, asking whether the count is rising is easier to work with than asking how severe it is. Pick one behavior, enter how many times it happened in each of the last four weeks, and this tool shows the weekly average, the four-week trend slope, and how many weeks went over the limit you set yourself.
The average is the arithmetic mean of the four weekly counts. The trend is the least squares slope with the weeks numbered 1 through 4, and a slope within 0.01 per week is treated as no change. Behavior changes sometimes start with a physical problem such as pain or an endocrine disorder, so AAHA and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) recommend a physical exam before behavior counseling. Guidance current as of October 2026.
There is no recognized reference table that separates a normal frequency from an abnormal one. This tool therefore does not name conditions such as separation anxiety or compulsive disorder, and it does not score a symptom checklist. The result is a plain extension of the numbers you entered, not a forecast. This tool is for reference only and does not replace veterinary care. Contact your veterinarian right away if you notice symptoms or suspect a problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Logging day by day and adding up the week is the easiest approach. For a week you had to estimate, keep the estimate but count all four weeks the same way so the trend still means something.
No. It only means the count went up across the four weeks you entered. Temporary triggers such as construction noise or visitors can raise it, and so can physical causes such as pain.
There is no official cutoff. Use the level you and your neighbors can tolerate, or a target you agreed on with your veterinarian or trainer.