I’ll start off by saying I believe cats are safest indoors unless in a well-constructed enclosure, commonly referred to as a catio. I know many cat parents do allow their cats outside though. If the cat isn’t in a catio-type enclosure, I hope the outdoor exposure is done by being carefully walked with a ...
Read More »The Squirt Bottle Controversy
Listen to the audio version of this article It looks innocent enough. It’s a little plastic squirt bottle sitting on the kitchen counter. In that plastic bottle is plain tap water. That little plastic bottle, as innocent as it looks, has become the tool that is destroying the bond you share with your cat. The ...
Read More »Cats Need the Option of Saying “No”
I’m obviously not referring to how a human being would say no, but rather, how your cat says it through body language and physical positioning. It’s important for your cat to be able to have the choice to say yes or no in many aspects of his life. It’s about consent, choice and control. ...
Read More »Litter Box Problems in a Multicat Home: How to Identify the Right Cat
When it comes to a litter box problem in a multicat household, the first, and often most difficult step is to identify which cat is exhibiting the unwanted behavior. You may think you know which cat peed on the carpet but if you’re wrong, you could create major setbacks in the behavior plan. So ...
Read More »Why Cats Hiss
It’s a sound everyone has heard at some point. Even if your cat is the sweetest little cat on the planet, if he has ever felt threatened or needed to send a warning to someone (feline, canine, or human), he has probably hissed at some point. Hissing may seem like a comical sound for ...
Read More »Help Your Cat Become Comfortable With Visitors
Does your cat dive under the bed whenever the doorbell rings? Or maybe your cat stands her ground and hisses whenever company comes to visit? Maybe you even have a cat who offers a pre-emptive strike and attempts to immediately sink a few teeth into the flesh of anyone who dares enter your home. ...
Read More »Resource Guarding Behavior in Cats
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 ...
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