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THE FELINE BEHAVIOR SERIES
Paul D. Pion DVM, DipACVIM (Cardiology) and Gina Spadafori
VeterinaryPartner.com
Why does your cat do the things he does? Why does he scratch the furniture, urinate outside the litter box, fight with another cat, cruise counters, destroy the trash? And perhaps more importantly, what can you do change and shape your feline family member's behavior when needed? Authors Gina Spadafori and Paul D. Pion, DVM, DACVIM, share the secrets of feline behavior from their best-selling book Cats for Dummies, recipient of the Cat Writers' Association awards for Best Work on Feline Behavior, Best Work on Feline Nutrition and Best Work on Responsible Cat Care, in VeterinaryPartner.com's Feline Behavior Series!
An Introduction to Cat Behavior Cats are among the easiest of animals to live with as pets, which in part accounts for their massive and ever-growing appeal. Cats are naturally quiet, clean, affectionate, and largely self-sufficient, capable of adapting to any kind of dwelling, any definition of family. But when things go wrong . . . they go very, very wrong from the human point of view. Biting & Aggression You need to do a little detective work and figure out what's causing your cat to bite or claw you. Aggression takes many forms, and the solution depends on the cause. Can Your Cat Learn a Trick or Two? Some people point to the dog's ability to learn obedience commands and tricks as proof that dogs are smarter than cats. Others point to the same as proof that cats are smarter than dogs. Cats For Dummies Cats For Dummies is the second pet book in the best-selling "... For Dummies" series of computer and general interest books. Following the lead of the award-winning Dogs For Dummies, Cats for Dummies won three prestigous awards in the Cat Writers Association's annual media competion: Best Work on Feline Behavior, Best Work on Feline Nutrition, and Best Work on Responsible Cat Care. Changing Behavior Unlike dogs, cats don't have a built-in mechanism for working with a family. Your cat loves you and enjoys your company, but if you want to convince him to do things your way, you must answer the quintessential cat question: What's in it for me? Clawing A good scratching post or cat tree is a good place to start, but there are lots of other tips and tricks to deal with cat clawing problems! Cleanliness is Next to Catliness Cats are fastidious animals, and if the litter box is dirty, they look elsewhere for a place to go. So how clean is the litter box? Is it something you "get around to" every few days, or maybe just on the weekend? Counter-cruising Use your squirt bottle, air horn, or other deterrent to discipline your cat if you see him on countertops and tables. As much as possible, try to stay out of sight so that your cat associates the annoyance with the table or counter. Declawing If any one topic is sure to produce a discussion among cat- lovers, it's declawing. The procedure is widely performed to end scratching and is just as widely vilified. Some breeders and humane societies refuse to place a cat or kitten with any adopter who doesn't promise not to declaw. Even Paul and Gina don't agree on the subject. Defining the Litter Box Problem Many times people see inappropriate elimination as one problem, when in fact it's potentially several problems, some of which may be related - or not. The most basic behaviors are those intended to mark territory and those that express dissatisfaction or discomfort with using a litter box. Your must first observe, exactly ,what your cat is doing - marking territory or avoiding the box - before you can figure out what to do about it. Discouraging Litter Box Misbehavior The trick to keeping your cat away from inappropriate elimination spots is to make those areas smell unappealing and even revolting. How do you do that? Through the use of smell, touch, and even some basic cat knowledge. Fairness and Consistency You need to make sure that what you're expecting from your cat is fair in two ways: Are you being reasonable? Are you being consistent? Finding Help With Behavior Problems Many people are reluctant to seek help if faced with a pet-behavior problem, either because they think the idea of a "pet shrink" is crazy or because they don't think the money would be well spent. Inappropriate Elimination House-training problems - called inappropriate elimination - are the number one cause of behavior-related complaints from cat lovers - and with good reason. Myths Debunked: Cats Purr Whenever They're Happy Purring is one of the most special elements of a cat, as far as most humans are concerned. But careful observers of the cat know that purring isn't just a sound of contentment. Cats also purr if they're injured, while giving birth - even when dying. Noisiness Some cats are chattier than others; indeed, "talkativeness" is an adored breed trait in the Siamese and other Orientals. Preventing Spraying Urine-marking is called spraying, and the strategies for addressing it are different from those that you use in getting a cat to use a litter box. Sense of Smell The cat's sense of smell is many times more powerful than a human's (and a dog's is more powerful still). Are you surprised now that the litter box you think is "tolerable" is offensive to your cat? The Root of Unwanted Behavior You're asking a lot of a cat whenever you bring her into your home, and the fact that, in most cases, the situation works as well as it does says a lot about the strength of the love between cats and people. The Trash-Cruiser You can foil the cat who gets into wastebaskets by using a single, marvelous innovation - a can with a lid. Understanding "Bad" Behavior Here's an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon and learn a lot about your cat at the same time: Go to your video store and rent a documentary on tigers. You're certain to be astonished at how much the cat purring in your lap reminds you of this stunning wild cat. When Aggression Can't be Fixed We feel you must never forget that the combination of agility, climbing acumen, sharp claws and teeth, and a stubborn streak larger than any one person could ever possess combine to make most any cat someone you don't want to get on the wrong side of.
THE FELINE BEHAVIOR SERIES
Paul D. Pion DVM, DipACVIM (Cardiology) and Gina Spadafori
VeterinaryPartner.com
Why does your cat do the things he does? Why does he scratch the furniture, urinate outside the litter box, fight with another cat, cruise counters, destroy the trash? And perhaps more importantly, what can you do change and shape your feline family member's behavior when needed? Authors Gina Spadafori and Paul D. Pion, DVM, DACVIM, share the secrets of feline behavior from their best-selling book Cats for Dummies, recipient of the Cat Writers' Association awards for Best Work on Feline Behavior, Best Work on Feline Nutrition and Best Work on Responsible Cat Care, in VeterinaryPartner.com's Feline Behavior Series!
An Introduction to Cat Behavior Cats are among the easiest of animals to live with as pets, which in part accounts for their massive and ever-growing appeal. Cats are naturally quiet, clean, affectionate, and largely self-sufficient, capable of adapting to any kind of dwelling, any definition of family. But when things go wrong . . . they go very, very wrong from the human point of view. Biting & Aggression You need to do a little detective work and figure out what's causing your cat to bite or claw you. Aggression takes many forms, and the solution depends on the cause. Can Your Cat Learn a Trick or Two? Some people point to the dog's ability to learn obedience commands and tricks as proof that dogs are smarter than cats. Others point to the same as proof that cats are smarter than dogs. Cats For Dummies Cats For Dummies is the second pet book in the best-selling "... For Dummies" series of computer and general interest books. Following the lead of the award-winning Dogs For Dummies, Cats for Dummies won three prestigous awards in the Cat Writers Association's annual media competion: Best Work on Feline Behavior, Best Work on Feline Nutrition, and Best Work on Responsible Cat Care. Changing Behavior Unlike dogs, cats don't have a built-in mechanism for working with a family. Your cat loves you and enjoys your company, but if you want to convince him to do things your way, you must answer the quintessential cat question: What's in it for me? Clawing A good scratching post or cat tree is a good place to start, but there are lots of other tips and tricks to deal with cat clawing problems! Cleanliness is Next to Catliness Cats are fastidious animals, and if the litter box is dirty, they look elsewhere for a place to go. So how clean is the litter box? Is it something you "get around to" every few days, or maybe just on the weekend? Counter-cruising Use your squirt bottle, air horn, or other deterrent to discipline your cat if you see him on countertops and tables. As much as possible, try to stay out of sight so that your cat associates the annoyance with the table or counter. Declawing If any one topic is sure to produce a discussion among cat- lovers, it's declawing. The procedure is widely performed to end scratching and is just as widely vilified. Some breeders and humane societies refuse to place a cat or kitten with any adopter who doesn't promise not to declaw. Even Paul and Gina don't agree on the subject. Defining the Litter Box Problem Many times people see inappropriate elimination as one problem, when in fact it's potentially several problems, some of which may be related - or not. The most basic behaviors are those intended to mark territory and those that express dissatisfaction or discomfort with using a litter box. Your must first observe, exactly ,what your cat is doing - marking territory or avoiding the box - before you can figure out what to do about it. Discouraging Litter Box Misbehavior The trick to keeping your cat away from inappropriate elimination spots is to make those areas smell unappealing and even revolting. How do you do that? Through the use of smell, touch, and even some basic cat knowledge. Fairness and Consistency You need to make sure that what you're expecting from your cat is fair in two ways: Are you being reasonable? Are you being consistent? Finding Help With Behavior Problems Many people are reluctant to seek help if faced with a pet-behavior problem, either because they think the idea of a "pet shrink" is crazy or because they don't think the money would be well spent. Inappropriate Elimination House-training problems - called inappropriate elimination - are the number one cause of behavior-related complaints from cat lovers - and with good reason. Myths Debunked: Cats Purr Whenever They're Happy Purring is one of the most special elements of a cat, as far as most humans are concerned. But careful observers of the cat know that purring isn't just a sound of contentment. Cats also purr if they're injured, while giving birth - even when dying. Noisiness Some cats are chattier than others; indeed, "talkativeness" is an adored breed trait in the Siamese and other Orientals. Preventing Spraying Urine-marking is called spraying, and the strategies for addressing it are different from those that you use in getting a cat to use a litter box. Sense of Smell The cat's sense of smell is many times more powerful than a human's (and a dog's is more powerful still). Are you surprised now that the litter box you think is "tolerable" is offensive to your cat? The Root of Unwanted Behavior You're asking a lot of a cat whenever you bring her into your home, and the fact that, in most cases, the situation works as well as it does says a lot about the strength of the love between cats and people. The Trash-Cruiser You can foil the cat who gets into wastebaskets by using a single, marvelous innovation - a can with a lid. Understanding "Bad" Behavior Here's an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon and learn a lot about your cat at the same time: Go to your video store and rent a documentary on tigers. You're certain to be astonished at how much the cat purring in your lap reminds you of this stunning wild cat. When Aggression Can't be Fixed We feel you must never forget that the combination of agility, climbing acumen, sharp claws and teeth, and a stubborn streak larger than any one person could ever possess combine to make most any cat someone you don't want to get on the wrong side of.
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