When shopping for a carrier for your cat, you may be tempted to think bigger is better. You might feel it would be far more comfortable for your cat to be able to stretch out during travel. Larger Isn’t Necessarily Better When it Comes to Cat Carriers Actually, it’s not a comforting feeling for ...
Read More »Author Archives: Pam Johnson-Bennett
Bunting Behavior in Cats
You’re sitting in a chair and your cat jumps up onto your lap and starts purring. He moves closer to your face and then literally butts his forehead against your cheek or chin. Sometimes it’s a gentle nudge and then at other times it’s almost a head-to-head bone-crusher. There are also times when kitty ...
Read More »Are You Misunderstanding Your Cat’s Behavior?
It still surprises so many people — even cat lovers themselves — that cats are trainable and behavior problems can often be resolved. Where we fail in tackling behavior problems is we assume the cat’s motivation is spite, anger, or stupidity. I promise you, your cat isn’t off in a corner plotting to do ...
Read More »Pica in Cats
Pica is the term used for the behavior of eating or sucking non-food material. The most common material associated with pica is usually wool such as blankets, socks, shirts, or jackets. Pica is also sometimes referred to as wool eating. Some cats will nibble on just about anything though, such as paper, plastic, litter, ...
Read More »Moving to a New Home With Your Cat
Cats don’t like change. Cats take comfort in predictability, familiarity, and routine. They’re also territorial so imagine how they must feel when they suddenly find themselves in a new location. Moving is stressful for humans so you can certainly understand how unhappy the whole thing makes the family cat. Everyone in the family except ...
Read More »Are Litter Box Liners a Good Idea?
In theory, litter box liners may seem like a convenient way to keep the litter box cleaner and make changing the litter a breeze. Unfortunately though, liners can create problems for the cats who use the litter box as well as the humans who try to clean it. A Less Than Perfect Fit for a ...
Read More »Why Do Cats Bury Food?
Not all cats do this, but if yours does, the behavior may have been puzzling to you. It’s a relatively common behavior and not one you need to worry about. The behavior typically looks the same as if the cat is trying to bury waste. You may notice your cat scraping her front paw ...
Read More »How to Trim Your Cat’s Nails
If your cat becomes Houdini and magically vanishes whenever you even think about trimming his nails, part of the problem might be he has learned to associate the procedure with restraint, discomfort, fear, or even pain. Even if you do manage to accomplish the nail trimming procedure, if you’ve had to wrap your cat ...
Read More »Why You Should Spay or Neuter Your Cat
The decision to spay or neuter your cat will be one of the biggest decisions you make regarding your cat’s health and welfare as well as the welfare of other cats. The pet overpopulation problem is devastatingly serious and animals are being put to death every day because shelters simply don’t have the room. ...
Read More »Hyperesthesia Syndrome in Cats
This is also referred to as rolling skin disease, and in fact, the skin does ripple and twitch. It’s a condition that typically affects younger cats. The cause of hyperesthesia syndrome is unknown but some experts describe it as a neurotransmitter malfunction in the brain during periods of anxiety. It’s also believed by some to ...
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