BEHAVIOR

[From Tufts March 2011 Issue] In spite of their reputation for tolerating only dry land, a surprising number of domesticated cats not only tolerate but love pawing water or swimming. Some like to play in standing water; others are fascinated by running water and prefer to drink from a faucet rather than a bowl. …

We have two wonderful 14-year-old cats who are sisters. In November, our veterinarian cleaned their teeth and discovered that the one named Julie had a bladder infection that was treated with an oral medication for two weeks. She lives a comfortable life, napping in a bed buddy located under our dining room table. She regularly uses the litter box located about 12 feet away.

In a free-roaming environment, a cats area is divided up into different sections. These divisions are clearly defined from a cats point of view. The outermost area where the cat roams and patrols for food is referred to as the home range, and may overlap other cats areas as well. Adult males tend to have a larger home range than females, and during mating season, an intact males home range will increase temporarily as he…

If you live with several cats, there's a pretty good chance that you've had at least one four A.M. wake-up call. Whether he wants food, a place on your pillow, or just a bit of playtime, a cat can be mighty persistent.

If you've been getting up to put food in his dish when he sits on your chest at four or five A.M., then you're reinforcing his behavior. Even if you try to hold out as long as possible before you simply can't stand it anymore, every time you get up lets him know his method worked.

Maybe your cat doesn't want food - he merely wants your attention. Out of frustration you may have resorted to locking him out of the bedroom. Although it may work with some cats, in other cases you may end up with having to listen to the endless sound of a cat scratching and pawing at the door or scratching at the carpet.

Cats tend to become more active after dusk. Just as you're winding down from the day, a cat is revving up. After engaging in several catnaps during the day, a cat is ready for play when the sun goes down. You also have to keep in mind that you've been gone all day, so when you come home at night, your cats are stimulated by your presence.

Fortunately, there's an effective and fun method for curbing nocturnal activity base on natural cat behavior.

One can hope that the newcomers aggression is merely play and that the others cope with it during his remaining kittenhood by removing themselves from his reach. To facilitate their ability to take care of themselves, you should provide plenty of places for them to run to, hide in, or escape to - including boxes, cardboard tunnels, and/or an elaborate cat condo/cat tree). In time, things may work out for them all. We certainly hope so!

Stress in cats is a contributing factor to illness, including Feline Idiopathic Cystitis. Studies show that many cat owners dont recognize the signs of stress or conflict between cats. Take this intercat relationship quiz to see if your cats get along as friends or merely tolerate each other at best.

- Do your cats sleep together?

- Do your cats comfortably eat together, sharing the same bowl at the same time?

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Regardless of age, breed or gender, any cat can develop a serious anxiety disorder. This is an affliction in which a cat is seriously and persistently disturbed by phenomena or situations which a normal cat would ignore or soon learn to disregard.Unfortunately, this upsetting condition is one of the more frequently observed among all feline behavioral syndromes. In some cases, the perceived threat may actually be something about which a cat could be justifiably anxious…

Cats scratch your furniture not because they are being malicious but because they have an innate need to sharpen their claws. When they scratch, they leave their scent behind, which brings them back to the same spot again and again.

Thwart your cat by spraying a neutralizing solution to remove the odor. Then apply double-sided sticky tape, heavy plastic, or aluminum foil to the arms of the furniture or drape a big towel or blanket over the arms.

Thats Part 1. Part 2 calls for you to redirect your feline friend to practice cat scratch fever on a scratching post instead.Thwart your cat by spraying a neutralizing solution to remove the odor. Then apply double-sided sticky tape, heavy plastic, or aluminum foil to the arms of the furniture or drape a big towel or blanket…

As cuddly cute as kittens are, they must be taught how to socialize. As soon as you bring your young feline home, you can begin instilling good manners, self-confidence, and trust in your newest addition to the family.

Expose your impressionable kitten to young people, old people, tall people, short people, people with accents and people wearing hats and other funny clothes that make them look different.

If possible, your kitten should meet other cats and yes, …

Whether or not your cat is allowed outdoors, you certainly dont want him charging past you as youre opening the door.

You should never greet or pet your cat right at the front door (or whatever door you use to enter and exit). If you call your kitty the moment you walk in the door, he may begin to wait there as the time of your arrival grows closer. The sound of your key in the lock could be his cue to slip through as you open the door. Instead of greeting your cat right at the door, walk over to a spot a few feet inside the entrance and make that the official greeting area. Ignore…

When a cat rolls over on his back, exposing his tummy, it looks like an invitation. Many cats like having their tummies stroked - right up until the second they dont. Many owners are shocked when their cat, who had just been purring in enjoyment, is suddenly gripping their forearm with needle-sharp claws, or even sinking in teeth. This can be confusing, not to mention painful.

The most common victims of cat bites are women, the elderly and children. Almost all cat bites occur when a cat is trapped, cornered, startled or restrained. 75 percent of cat bites involve the face, hands or arms. (Kids tend to get facial bites.) However, even with estimates ranging from 400,000-750,000 bites per year, cat bites account for only a small fraction of all mammalian bites in the US. …