Being protective of resources is a natural instinct for all animals but it can become an issue when it creates stress, triggers aggression, and impacts the relationship of the companion animals in your home. Resource guarding can be triggered by a concern for the availability of food, favorite resting areas, toys, the litter box, and ...
Read More »Cat Training Mixed Messages
Surprisingly, you may be sending a mixed message to your cat when attempting to train or correct behavior issues. We’ve all done it at some point – we’ve unintentionally rewarded the cat for the very behavior we didn’t want displayed. How does this happen? It’s an easy and common mistake. Communication Confusion and Your ...
Read More »Finding Qualified, Professional Help for Your Cat’s Behavior Problem
So many people claim to be cat whisperers and have the special talent that enables them to figure out an animal’s mind. True professionals in this field though, make their living based on a sound knowledge of the science of animal behavior. The problem is that in this unregulated field anyone can claim ...
Read More »Why Your Cat Needs to Climb
Chances are, if you’re looking for your cat somewhere in your house she’s probably in an elevated location. When it comes to napping or just chilling out, cats often prefer being above ground level. Being able to safely climb is an important aspect of your cat’s daily life. Climbing to an elevated spot enable ...
Read More »Thunderstorm Fear in Cats
Thunderstorms can be very unsettling. Typically, when it comes to our pets, we think of dogs as the ones who end up shaking, crying, or hiding when Mother Nature displays a sound and light show, but many cats also become nervous. If thunderstorms cause anxiety to your cat, here are nine tips to help ...
Read More »How to Safely Use Topical Flea and Tick Preventives
Fleas and ticks. Ewww, we don’t even want to think about them but it’s important to stay on top of this to prevent your cat from becoming a blood meal for parasites. Even indoor cats can get fleas and ticks, especially if you have a dog who could be bringing the little blood suckers inside. If ...
Read More »How to Change Brands of Litter
Cats take comfort in predictability and routine and if you want to avoid creating unnecessary stress, it’s important to keep that in mind when you’re planning on introducing anything unfamiliar. You may think I’m only referring to major changes, but for many cats, even a minor change can be upsetting. The type of litter ...
Read More »Why You Shouldn’t Pet Your Cat’s Belly
Listen to the audio version of this article With a dog, a popular position for petting is often the belly rub. To most dogs, nothing feels as enjoyable as when you endlessly scratch and rub that tender tummy. Try that with a cat, however, and you’ll most likely end up with a scratched hand. Why ...
Read More »Redirected Aggression in Cats
This common type of aggression is the result of a cat becoming aroused or agitated by something he can’t get to and then lashing out at the nearest human, cat, or dog within reach. Redirected aggression is sometimes misdiagnosed as idiopathic aggression because the cat can stay aroused for quite a while, and by the ...
Read More »Ringworm in Cats
What is Ringworm? Although it’s called ringworm it’s not actually a worm. Ringworm is a fungus. It gets its descriptive name from how it appears on the skin as a raised, round ring, although not all infections look ring-like. The medical name for ringworm is dermatophytosis. This highly contagious fungal infection affects both pets and ...
Read More »