Since the early 1980s when I first started working with clients on their cats’ behavior problems, a big part of my consultations covered the importance of creating an environment that allows the cat to engage in natural behaviors, provides security and strengthens the cat/human bond. The umbrella term for these things is commonly referred ...
Read More »Helpful Facts About Catnip
Catnip is something many cat parents still don’t understand. I’ve seen some people overdo when offering to cats and others who never give their cats the chance to enjoy this fun experience. Here’s a list of some interesting facts about catnip: Appearance Catnip is a perennial belonging to the mint family. It’s a plant ...
Read More »10 Tips When Bringing Home a New Cat
This is an exciting time for you and your family. You’re about to bring home a new furry family member. Regardless of where the cat is coming from (shelter, rescue, breeder), here are some basic tips to help make the transition a bit easier for everyone. It’s important to not rush the process in order ...
Read More »Cats Can Have Toy Preferences
Playtime is a very important part of your cat’s daily life. No matter how old, your cat benefits from having frequent opportunities to stalk, chase, pounce, and capture. In an outdoor environment a cat would typically engage in about 12-20 hunting attempts. That doesn’t mean he’d successfully capture 20 mice, but he’d give it a ...
Read More »7 Things to do Before You Bring Your New Cat Home
This is an exciting time. You’re about to bring home your very first cat. To get started on the right foot, here’s a list of 7 things you should do BEFORE you even bring the cat into the house. You are about to enter into a relationship that will hopefully last for many, many years ...
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 »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 »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 »10 Tips for Maintaining Your Cat’s Mental Fitness
You’ve heard the saying “a mind is a terrible thing to waste” and that applies to your Feline Einstein as well. Your cat has a remarkable brain and it needs to be challenged, stimulated, and exercised to help maintain good mental fitness. Here are 10 tips to help get you started: 1. Play ...
Read More »Teach Your Kitten to Enjoy Being Touched
Listen to the audio version of this article You’ve just brought a new kitten home to the family. Although it’s loads of fun to watch this revved up little character run, tumble, and explore everything, you need to start the training process right away. Many cat parents are good at kitten-proofing the home, teaching ...
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