The Purrfect Guide to Thinking Like a Cat Read online

  388.LITTLE AND OFTEN

  Cats use food to refuel and to get ready for their next activities. Piling too much food can put them off. You may worry your cats aren’t hungry or don’t like the food being offered. Be patient, and feed smaller amounts more frequently.

  389.SELF-REGULATED FEEDING

  Ideally, cats learn to eat when they are hungry and to not overfeed themselves. If they have highly palatable food at set times, they can often overeat and gain weight! Switch gradually to smaller, more frequent meals.

  390.WHY DOES YOUR CAT PREFER BIRDS OR MICE?

  Even with the most delicious cat food available, your cat always makes personal choices as to what is most enjoyed. A cat loves to hunt, which is why freshly chased, played with, and crunched-up mice may always be a temptation.

  391.WATER

  A cat’s natural food sources are high in water content, including mice or birds! If you are feeding dried foods to your pet, you will also need to offer a source of water, and one the cat actually likes, too. Free access to drinking water prevents lower urinary tract issues.

  392.WATER BOWLS

  A solid, non-slip bowl is best. Your cat may prefer ceramic, plastic, or metal, so try out different types if you can.

  393.FREE-FLOWING AND FRESH

  Providing water in special cat fountains or running taps is better than in a stagnant bowl. Always provide one free-flowing water source per cat, plus an extra water source. Some cats enjoy a simple drink of rainwater!

  BEHAVIOR AND TRAINING

  BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

  394.CAT BEHAVIORISTS

  A cat behaviorist analyzes learned behaviors in order to modify problems your cat may be having in daily life. Always employ a properly registered clinical animal behaviorist—usually someone your vet will refer you to.

  395.HIDDEN SUFFERING

  Even if your cat is not giving signs of unhappiness, take time to note daily routines and any situations the cat avoids. A cat does not readily show signs of stress, so learn all about your own cat’s behavior.

  396.UNDERSTANDING YOUR CAT’S NEEDS

  This is all about learning what cats like to do. Cats need to have a choice whether or not to interact and do not show their discomfort readily. Make sure your cats are happy by designing their care around their behavioral needs.

  397.BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

  The health needs of cats extend beyond the physical. Their mental health is dependent on social interaction and on being able to express themselves freely. Cats do not give many signals, and so we may be completely unaware of the cats’ stress until they become ill as a result.

  398.THE OWNER’S JOB

  A cat’s behavior is the responsibility of the owner, who may push human expectations onto the unfortunate feline. This can interfere with the cat’s free expression of behavior. Allow a cat to behave as it wishes, such as by hunting. This may not suit all humans but is best for the cat’s own welfare.

  399.MIXING

  Kittens naturally play as if they are chasing small prey, but cannot always judge whether it is a toy they are grabbing or your hand! Let them chase toys rather than fingers.

  400.HUMAN FAMILIES

  Owners can find kitten behaviors problematic as they can be a little rough and may damage furnishings or clothing. Never play rough with your kitten; confine it to a few, safer rooms at first.

  401.INSTINCTS

  Hunting, roaming, and exploring territory are normal cat behaviors, allowing the cat to engage its instincts. If suppressed, a cat can become distressed and will usually suffer unnoticed, leading to stress-related diseases. Remember that a cat can hunt for toys to spare wildlife!

  402.BE KIND

  Training methods, such as spraying water, shouting, or clapping your hands at a cat to stop it from doing things, are unnecessary and very stressful. The cat will learn not to trust people!

  403.HEARING

  Cats have sensitive hearing and must become used to everyday noises that may unsettle them. This means making time to familiarize them with sounds such as car engines, vacuum cleaners, and different types of music.

  404.SCENT

  Cats interpret scent in great detail, leaving humans uncertain why they may be reacting when nothing visible is apparent. Cats often indicate their scent response by rubbing their cheeks and sides along favored people and surfaces, as well as by scratching.

  405.FREEDOM TO ROAM

  Cats need plenty of roaming exercise, and this should be allowed as much as possible. Ideally, cats can explore the outdoor environment freely, enjoying everything in their local habitats.

  406.NOT ENOUGH EXERCISE

  Indoor cats may not be allowed to roam and may become overweight and stressed. Provide plenty of climbing surfaces at all heights, and encourage the cats to play as a means of encouraging fitness.

  407.TRAIN YOUR CAT!

  It is easy to teach cats some simple behaviors, such as climbing down from trees or getting inside before dusk, by calling their names and gently shaking a pot of treats and giving treats regularly. Your cats will learn to come to you whenever they hear the sounds.

  HOW TRAINING WORKS

  408.YOU CAN TRAIN YOUR CAT!

  Training is a means of directing your cat’s behavior. It allows both you and the cat to meet a common goal, and it gives your cat an understanding of how to earn tasty food or attention without needing to paw at you.

  409.POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT

  Training based on positive reinforcement uses items or events to reinforce, or reward, desired behavior. If an outcome is rewarding, the cat will repeat the required behavior. If the outcome is unrewarding, it is less likely to repeat the behavior.

  410.REPETITION

  Cats are well aware of what benefits them. Trainers use repetition to ensure that cats have plenty of practice producing desired behaviors. Repetition must be consistent to avoid confusion. Training follows this format: The cat’s attention leads to a cue or instruction from the trainer. When a desired behavior appears, the trainers provide markers. Next comes the reward.

  411.ENCOURAGEMENT

  With your guidance, all cats, even tiny kittens, can learn the right way to do things. If your cat is behaving unacceptably, think of something you can encourage them to do instead, such as scratching a post rather than furniture.

  412.CLICKER TRAINING

  A clicker is a small device that makes a clicking sound when the owner presses the button. A clicker signals to the cat that a correct choice was made, and the click is always followed with a tasty treat.

  413.WHAT CAN WE TEACH?

  A cat, especially an indoor one, needs plenty of enrichment activities. You can train your cat to touch a target to push a door open, or to come to you when you call. There is no limit to the useful things a cat can learn through training.

  414.TIMING

  Accurate timing in training is essential, so that the cat can link what the owner is trying to teach to the rewards. If the trainer is too slow, the cat cannot learn that a behavior is getting paid, so to speak, with food. The cat may not link the cue or signal with the desired behavior.

  415.FRUSTRATION

  Cats often have low frustration tolerance, so training must be made simple by using very small steps toward the training goal. Cats also do not like having treats removed at the end of a session. It’s a good idea to finish off any training by offering the cats their dinners. That way, they can wind down gradually.

  416.ESSENTIAL FOR WELFARE

  Professionals agree that training is fundamental for your cat’s well-being. This includes essential husbandry behavior, such as training to allow examination of the teeth. A cat will always be busy learning, and by training yours, you are simply adding extra quality to your pet’s daily living.

  417.STILL THINK YOU ARE IN CHARGE?

  Ask yourself, how do you know your cat wants to go out? How does your cat tell you that it wants some affection? Do you know your cat has arrived because you hear meows
calling you over? It’s probable your cat is an excellent trainer!

  HUNTING AND PREDATION

  418.NATURAL HUNTERS

  In some cats, this instinct drives them to look for multiple opportunities to behave as the predators they are. They can decimate local wildlife populations, which not all humans appreciate. Cats love to catch prey!

  419.PREDATORY TARGETS

  Cats don’t only aim to catch vermin, such as mice or rats. They will capture and kill birds—including chickens—and even baby rabbits, not always for consumption, but for the natural enjoyment and because of the instinct to hunt. Early socialization between kittens and other animals prevents this behavior, as the cats learn to see the other animals as members of the same species rather than prey.

  420.THRILL OF THE CHASE

  Seeking out potential prey, whether it’s birds, rabbits, or rodents, can be exhilarating. Even if the cat doesn’t catch a target, the hunt is rewarding. A cat may play with victims for long periods, until the creatures either escape or die.

  421.FETCH!

  Teaching cats to fetch means that even though they are allowed to chase after a moving object and hunt for it, they have been taught to return it to you. This is an enjoyable activity for both cats and owners in partnership.

  TERRITORY

  422.TERRITORIAL INSTINCT

  Cats value location very highly and often roam across a large area. This is a natural instinct and can often lead to fights between neighboring cats. Problems occur when cats are confronted and thus feel forced to defend a location. Indoor cats may not wish to share their space with others, resulting in fights.

  423.AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR

  A cat may choose to leave an area when a neighboring cat is around. However, a cat may defend the area, often silently at first, and then loudly yowling, growling, and eventually lashing out in an effort to chase the intruder away.

  FEARS AND PHOBIAS

  424.FEARFULNESS

  Fears are completely normal reactions designed to keep every cat safe from harm. Alarming or scary events create an impulse either to flee or stay and put up a defense. A cat may freeze in fear, but it is most likely to flee or behave aggressively when stressed.

  425.ANXIETIES

  Anxiety occurs when a cat predicts or recalls a previously fearful event, even if it is not currently present. This creates problems when the cat generalizes a past fear to a wide number of similar situations. The cat may show all the physical signs of fear, attempting some sort of defense or escape.

  426.PHOBIAS

  A phobia develops when a cat’s quality of life begins to be severely affected by fears and anxieties. Usually a phobia describes a specific stimulus, such as the presence of people, but as it progresses, it becomes impossible for the cat to function normally as a result.

  427.TYPES OF FEAR AND PHOBIA

  Cats may fear situations that have previously created pain or alarm. This includes sudden events that startled them, times when they were attacked by other cats, loud noises that hurt their ears, or times when they were left alone and panicked as a result of the sudden loss.

  428.FEAR DUE TO LACK OF EARLY SOCIALIZATION

  Commonly, cats originating from breeders or owners that did not socialize them develop fears and phobias. This is caused by their lack of experience at the crucial early socialization stage and is extremely difficult to resolve.

  EATING UNUSUAL ITEMS

  429.PLASTIC BAGS

  Some cats show unusual interest in licking and chewing plastic bags, and these can be dangerous. Keep plastic bags tucked safely away, and use canvas or other reusable ones for general daily shopping.

  430.WOOL SUCKING

  This appears to be a misdirected nursing behavior but can lead to the cat’s eating the wool or to ingesting long threads, which is very dangerous. It is common, especially in a younger cat, so be vigilant.

  431.DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES

  As you will have seen in the common poisons tips, cats may eat or drink some surprisingly horrible things for such fussy creatures! Always make sure you keep any household chemicals well away from your cat.

  OVER-GROOMING, PAWING, AND SCRATCHING

  432.BALD PATCHES

  Patches may appear because of skin problems and sore spots, but can also be a sign that your cat is unhappy and is grooming excessively. Ask your vet to check for any illness, and consider whether or not your cat is experiencing stress.

  433.PAWING FOR ATTENTION

  Paws are great tools to gain your attention, especially if a claw is hooked into your sleeve! The cat learns it is impossible to ignore the gesture and thus continues, or amplifies the effort, until you simply can’t say no to these demands.

  434.ATTENTION!

  If your cat is clawing at you for attention, or wanting to share your dinner, provide other games and activities suggested in this book to keep the cat busy at these times.

  435.OUCH!

  Did your cat scratch you? Maybe you stroked your cat for too long, or perhaps you scared it. Did you wake your pet up from a lovely sleep? Learn from our section on cat communication to make scratches less likely.

  436.KIND HANDS

  You will need to pick up your cat, groom, handle, and also play with it throughout its life. Make sure you are gentle when using your hands.

  437.MANAGEMENT MEASURES

  Keep your cat busy with toys, such as a fishing rod, to allow your friend to paw at something not closely connected to your hands. Rolling toys away from you for the cat to chase is another way of engaging in play without the risk of scratching.

  SELF-RELIANCE AND INDEPENDENCE

  438.SOLITARY CREATURES

  Cats evolved to live independently, without needing to rely on others for survival. This is an important difference between cats and the other popular domestic pet, the dog. Many cats simply do not need companionship to be happy.

  439.SELF-PROTECTION

  Such incredible safety skills depend on the cat’s judging when to explore or retreat. A cat is also superb at deciding where to sleep, even if this means occupying the couch while the dog ends up on the floor!

  440.HELPING THEMSELVES

  As with all pets, cats can be tempted by food left lying around at home, but remember that their incredible agility enables them to reach any leftovers with startling speed, even those you think were placed well out of the way.

  441.FREE SPIRITS

  Cats like to choose for themselves. You can cause your cats enormous stress by forcing them to do things they don’t want. Even trying to make cats friendly by stroking them could lead to their dislike and fear of your approach.

  442.CHOOSING TO WANDER

  You might complain that your cat prefers the house next door because the neighbor is putting out food. However, your cat is choosing to find an important resource, which you may not give up as freely at home. Ensure that your home environment is as cat-friendly as possible!

  LITTER BOX PROBLEMS

  443.NATURAL INSTINCTS

  Cats seek spaces away from their own garden or yard to relieve themselves, usually in loose or softer soil. They like to bury their eliminations and will seek a place to comfortably scoop and scratch an area to go, covering it over once finished.

  444.LITTER BOXES

  These are used as indoor toilets but are often too small, meaning that the cat misses its aim or simply avoids the box. Make sure you buy the largest litter box you can find, and consider a box with a cover so that your cat can feel secure while relieving itself, away from the prying eyes of other cats, or even of humans.

  445.LITTER SUBSTRATE

  The litter box must contain a layer of cat litter, but these vary in type and texture. Some are clumping, which means they form a lump around any moisture. Others are lightweight, or in pelleted form. Your cat will have a preference, but do avoid scented litters, which can be unpleasant for the cat’s delicate sense of smell.

  446.COVERED LITTER AREAS

  Some cats prefe
r not to be watched while relieving themselves, specifically by other cats in the neighborhood or in the home. Covered litter boxes allow for this. So does providing plenty of pots and other hiding places in the yard or garden, which can give cats additional privacy.

  447.KEEP IT CLEAN

  Some cats are fastidious about having an empty litter box and will not relieve themselves even if the faintest hint of a previous elimination lingers. Others simply don’t seem to mind. Keep the litter box hygienic, and clean it as frequently as you can, to keep your cat happy and your home free of odors.

  448.SEPARATE LITTER AREA

  Never place your cat’s litter box near a food or water source. Nobody wants to eat dinner next to the toilet! Keep the litter box somewhere quiet, in a place that is not near a main walkway.

  449.CLEANING AGENTS

  Avoid ammonia-based or other strong-smelling cleaners, as these quickly deter most cats and cause them to relieve themselves elsewhere. Even if the product says it is cat-safe, your cat may not enjoy the scent.

  450.EASY ACCESS

  Litter areas must be freely available because cats tend not to want to wait when they need to go. Providing more than one litter box resolves this issue by giving the cats more choice of location.

  451.URINATION

  Cats will often spray urine, not only as a marking of territory through scent, but also when they feel threatened. Ask your vet to refer you to a professional behaviorist for help with this.