I’ve written so much about ways to train your cat, so I thought it was time to turn the tables. Let’s talk about things you could learn from your cat. He’s really a marvelous teacher!

1.     Have fun. Life can get so serious and you can easily find yourself running from one thing to the next without taking time to enjoy life. Cats truly know how to have fun, and they don’t need lots of expensive toys to do it. Playtime is important to a cat’s mental and physical well-being. Take time out of your busy schedule to have some fun yourself.

2.     Share. If you have a multicat household, watch how they time-share spaces. The cat who claims a particular chair during certain hours often allows another cat to have that chair during other times. Cats also learn to share litter boxes, food sources, toys, beds, etc. Considering that in most cases, cats didn’t pick their fellow companions, it’s amazing how generous they can be with each other.

3.     Communicate. How many times have you been accused of not communicating well, or have been the recipient of poor communication? Cats are masters of communication. They use vocalization, scent, and body language. They also use repetitive signaling to make sure a point is made. Now, I’m not suggesting you start meowing or scent-marking, but take a cue from how cats ensure that they have communicated accurately. Think of this when trying to solve a cat behavior problem as well. Keep in mind that the very undesirable behavior you’re witnessing may be your cat’s attempt to clearly communicate to you that something is wrong.

For more information, refer to the book Think Like a Cat.

© 2009 Cat Behavior Associates, LLC