Tag Archives: CatWise

Aggression can be scary – not only for the victim but also for the one displaying the behavior. Since cats prefer to avoid confrontation, engaging in an aggressive encounter usually means they feel backed into a corner. In order to avoid actual physical encounters, cats do lots of posturing and use their bodies to communicate ...

  Listen to the audio version of this article If you don’t want your cat scratching the furniture, you’ll need to provide an object more appealing. When I say appealing, I’m not referring to whether your cat likes the way it looks – I’m referring to whether it gets the job done or not. The only reason ...

I’m thrilled when people contact me BEFORE they bring home a new cat. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to help them figure out which cat is right for them, how to cat-proof the home, and set up the environment to be cat friendly. I can also help prepare them for how to do any ...

Has your cat ever jumped up into your lap, rubbed his face against you, purred, then turned around so his hindquarters were facing you? As if that’s not enough, he will raise his tail and it’s almost as if he’s actually presenting his backside to you. Do you feel insulted or disgusted? You shouldn’t. What ...

  When a cat likes the scratching post and uses it exclusively, chances are, it will eventually start looking a bit ragged. Better the post looks ragged than the furniture, right? Even at that, since the scratching post is probably not one of the more attractive pieces of cat equipment you have in your house ...

Your cat may diligently urinate in the box but what do you do if she decides she’d rather leave solid deposits somewhere else? It can be very confusing for a cat parent when the cat faithfully uses the box for one function but refuses to use it for the other. Rule Out Medical Issues Even ...

  There’s a type of aggression that occurs between cats in the same household after a veterinary visit that can be easily prevented with a little planning. This is the kind of non-recognition aggression you may see when one cat comes home from the veterinary clinic and is either hissed at or actually attacked. For ...

Catnip is a perennial herb and a member of the mint family. It is also known as catmint, catwort,  and field balm, as well as other names. The volatile oil that causes the “catnip reaction” is nepetalactone. Catnip was native to Europe but was imported to the United States and other areas and is now ...

Listen to the audio version of this article Interactive play is a very powerful tool you can use to help your cat in a variety of situations. It’s great for trust-building, helping two cats become friends, exercise, stress relief, and the list goes on. Even though your cat may be one who is so revved ...

Cats are Individuals Some cats prefer not to scratch on vertical objects. These are the cats who scratch on welcome mats, carpets, throw rugs, even sofa cushions. You may have a cat who exclusively scratches horizontally or maybe they enjoy the option of being able to engage in both horizontal and vertical scratching. If you ...