Basic Training

    Listen to the audio version of this article Does this describe your home? You get up out of bed and start walking to the bathroom, only to have your ankles become the target of a cat attack. Does your cat hide under the bed until the moment when she sees your bare feet ...

  To some people, cats may all appear to be the same compared to the vast differences in dogs when it comes to size, shape and looks. The truth is that cats, although they all tend to fall within a smaller range when it comes to weight and size, can be very different, not only ...

  Listen to the audio version of this article I’m getting more and more calls from cat parents who are confused about why they’re getting bitten when petting their cats. Things start out just fine and then suddenly, without warning, the cat turns around and lashes out with teeth or claws. In many cases, the ...

  Early Learning When kittens are with their littermates they learn how to engage in social play. This is the time when each kitten learns how to use an inhibited bite so as not to cause injury. A kitten who bites too hard is either reprimanded by the queen or gets a very negative reaction ...

  Sometimes the reason a cat continues to display unwanted behavior is because we unknowingly actually reinforce it. Of course, we’re not doing it deliberately but the bottom line is the cat receives a message that says keep doing what you’re doing. These mistakes we make are actually very common and even the most experienced ...

  If you have a cat who meows for everything and you’re wondering how in the world you can train him to be quiet, you first have to look at whether you’ve actually reinforced the unwanted behavior. Have you been giving your cat attention in any form whenever he meows? If so, you’ve let your ...

  For many new cat parents, the decision to declaw the cat is made before any attempts at training are done and before gaining a thorough understanding of what this permanent procedure actually involves. Too many people look at the cat’s claws as simply objects of destruction and aggression, rather than understanding how important claws ...

  Cats love elevated locations, so incorporating more vertical territory into your environment can enhance your cat’s comfort, level of security, and increase the fun factor. The most common way to add vertical territory is by placing a cat tree in the home. Other ways include window perches, cat walks, cat shelves, or even just ...

  Cats usually love to play by hiding in things. Whether it’s an open paper bag or a box, your playful cat will find a way to make a game out of jumping in it, or will use it as an opportunity for an extra napping place. It’s an important part of environmental enrichment to ...

  Listen to the audio version of this article If you talk to people who don’t like cats or who aren’t familiar with them, they’ll probably be quick to tell you cats don’t show affection. They may praise the way dogs show affection but refer to cats as snobby or aloof. I think a big ...