Most cats are fairly confident creatures. Once accustomed to their people and their territory, you can expect them to strut around as if they owned the place, calm and fearless. Most new things and people will be met with inquisitive sniffs and stares, and unless the cat distinctly recognizes a threat (such as a strange
Behaviour
You and your cat are enjoying some fun one-on-one interaction. You’re petting her and she purrs in return and maybe head butts against your hand. At some point, while still purring, she grabs your hand with her teeth. She seems to hardly apply any pressure, holding your hand with her teeth, while still purring away
Do you have your heart set on being the proud owner of both a cat and a dog? Cats and dogs can and do happily share their lives together in the same household, but establishing a safe environment for both can be a challenge. There is something inherently appealing about interspecies friendship. The thought of
Expecting a new baby? Congratulations! If you’re a first-time parent and a cat owner you probably have a few questions about cats and babies and how to make sure yours get along. The good news is that in almost all cases, cats and babies mix very well, with the felines being wonderful “older siblings”. Still,
When they consider adopting a cat, most people fantasize about a friendly, outgoing and confident one. Reality is often different. If your cat is the kind that shies away from human contact and spends more time hiding under the bed than in your lap, then you’re probably wondering how you can help him or her
Does napping seem to be your cat’s favorite sport? Does he or she spend most of the time keeping an immobile vigil on everyone around? We have some ideas for you on how to make your cat more active. Exercise should be part of your cat’s life, and fortunately, there are ways in which you
Some cat owners believe squirting water from a handheld bottle can be an effective and harmless way to teach a cat to avoid certain behaviors. The truth is that using the water bottle as a tool for disciplining cats is not a good idea. Yes, in some cases it may teach a cat to avoid
You would expect drinking to involve only your cat’s mouth, wouldn’t you? Well, for some cats, drinking water can involve their paws as well. Members sometimes ask in the cat behavior forums about “weird” cat behaviors associated with drinking water, so let’s take a look at some of these quirks, why they’re happening and what
Cats are so insanely adorable, it’s no wonder most owners just can’t take their hands off their beloved kitty. However, what you consider an expression of love isn’t necessarily seen that way by your cat. Here are a few common things that owners do and some cats absolutely hate. Your cat probably hates when you
Everyone knows dogs will chew on pretty much anything. Shoes, stuffed toys, your eyeglasses, everything is fair game to an untrained pup. But what about cats? With most kittens inappropriate chewing can indeed be a problem. In some cases, chewing turns into a stress-relieving habit and carries on into adulthood. Cats have smaller mouths compared
It’s a story we often hear on the cat forums. Two cats that used to get along suddenly turn into enemies. The trigger? One of the cats had spent some time outside the home. Upon its return, the other cat sees him or her as a threatening stranger. The term for this kind of behavior
Does your cat wake you up at night? Does he or she meow loudly seeking your attention? Or maybe Kitty jumps on your bed and bats your face with a curious paw? You’re not alone. Many owners come to this site with a similar complaint, asking how they can keep Kitty from waking them up
Some say the cat is the most popular household pet in the world. At the very least, it certainly is a contender for the title, side by side with the dog. That in itself tells us that cats are well suited for living with human beings. Their behavioral patterns are well matched to ours, so
Cat owners sometimes wonder if their cat’s strange – often hostile – behavior towards another cat, dog or even baby means the cat is jealous. Let’s take a closer look at jealousy of the feline kind and see if this is really jealousy, and if so, what should be done about it. What is jealousy
What Is My Cat Trying To Tell Me? In doing the research for this article, I was amazed to learn that there really is not a lot of information out there about this fascinating but mysterious behavior in cats known as The Silent Meow. If we have been observant, we may have been fortunate enough
Why You Should Never Punish Your Cat The words discipline and cats should never be used in the same sentence. A cat does not respond to discipline in a positive learning fashion. Rubbing a cat’s nose in a recent urine stain on your carpet is liable to get you either bit or scratched or start
Cats have a whole range of vocal sounds that most owners learn to appreciate. Cat chat can be very meaningful, even though cats also use a variety of other communications media, other than sounds, such as body posture and scent marking. Getting To Know The Feline Repertoire Almost all cats use some form of vocal
What is Spraying? Some cat owners are familiar with this scene: the cat backs up toward a vertical surface, holds up its tail and sprays urine in several short bursts. That cat is not simply urinating outside his litter box, but rather marking territory with urine. The difference between regular urination and spraying is in
It must be a serious question, because it comes up in our forums often enough. Cat owners misunderstanding cat behavior, wanting to know if something is wrong with their cats will declare that they are plagued with “stupid cats!” If you think about it, your cat was smart enough to land in your home, where
“Can someone please help me? My cat is driving me crazy! She won’t let me sleep!” This type of message appears frequently in our behavior forum as cat owners nerves quickly unravel as their cat/kitten draws them nightly into sleep deprivation. You can just feel their frustration as they discuss the options they are using;
Stress is a part of life, and pretty much everything and anything can stress some cats. Events, situations and ongoing conditions can all create some amount of stress. The reaction to stress varies greatly from one cat to another, with some felines being far more sensitive than others. However, extended exposure to significant stressors can
Does your cat have behavioral or health problems? Could they be due to stress? Litterbox issues, aggression, skin disease and bowel conditions – as well as many other health and behavior problems – can all be triggered or exacerbated by stress. As cat owners, we should always be aware of the potential causes of stress
One of the reasons cats make such great indoor pets is their natural way of using litter to cover their urine and feces. When they go outside the box, it’s a very frustrating experience for owners who literally have to deal with the mess. So, why do cats go outside the box? And what can
Owners of new kittens can be easily identified all too often – all you have to do is look at their hands. Kittens are notorious for attacking hands during playtime, and those tiny teeth and claws can and do leave marks on delicate human skin. Some owners take pleasure in this form of play, at
Many owners wonder sometimes if it’s at all possible to have a cat and nice furniture at the same house. When cats cause damage to furniture some owners can get so frustrated they turn to declawing the cat or even getting rid of her. These drastic measures can be avoided. Understanding the cat’s needs may