Posts tagged "cat behavior"

By Dr. Patty Khuly, via Vetstreet

If you lacked opposable thumbs and didn't have access to cleansers and disinfectants, you'd probably lick yourself clean after an injury, too.

That's what cat tongues and saliva are designed to do - in part, anyway.

SEE ALSO: 9 Things Your Cat Won't Tell You, But You Need to Know

A cat's tongue, which is gently barbed, is especially well suited to removing debris; canine tongues run a close second for their sheer surface area.

I've read that feline and canine saliva (ours, too!) also contains compounds that aid in healing:

The enzymes lysozyme and peroxidase help destroy the cell walls of gram-positive bacteria.
Lactoferrin, defensins and cystatins have antibacterial qualities.
Thrombospondin is considered antiviral.
A protease inhibitor in saliva has been shown to promote wound healing.
Nitrate compounds break down into nitric oxide upon contact with the skin, thus inhibiting bacterial growth.
Growth factors, such as epidermal growth factor, can promote healing.
Opiorphin is a pain reliever.
All of those wonderful things in spit! Who knew?

SEE ALSO: Why Does My Cat Meow at Me?

Of course, licking isn't always a good thing. In many cases, pets let their tongues get the better of them. In fact, beyond brushing off big particles of dirt and imparting the occasional dose of saliva on a wound, cats' tongues are better off where they belong - in their mouths.

That's because pets can get obsessed with licking to the detriment of healthy skin. There's also a lot of bad bacteria in pet mouths, so as with so many good things in life, licking is an activity best done in moderation.

Sometimes it's hard to tell whether licking is getting out of control or just a normal feline drive, so here's a simple rule: If there's evidence of a wound, hair loss or even thinning of the fur, continual licking of the area is considered excessive. It goes without saying that any of these signs also require that you seek help from a veterinarian.

Why Does My Cat Stare at Me?
by Dr. Patty Khuly via Vetstreet

It's difficult to ignore your kitty when she's got her unblinking eyes focused on you. Often, she's staring because she wants something to eat and believes that if she stares into your eyes she can somehow control your mind and force you to do her bidding. (OK, maybe the mind control part of that isn't true, but she may well be hungry.)

Sometimes a stare involves the sequential opening and closing of one peeping eye as she drifts in and out of slumber. Cats do this for several reasons, such as keeping an eye out for predators.

SEE ALSO: Is Aspirin Safe for Cats? No!

Take heart, though: However much a cat considers you a practical source of food, she's probably also staring at you because you're the center of her universe and she likes to see what you are up to - food related or otherwise.

Legends and myths sometimes arise out of a misunderstood truth, and kitty-correct four-paw landings are one such behavior. Yes, cats have an uncanny ability to fall safely from sometimes death-defying heights and land on their feet, which perhaps gave birth to the "nine lives" legend. But do cats always land on their feet? And how do they do it?

How Cats Land on Their Feet
Paw-perfect landings result from the cat's intricate balance sense. The vestibular organ deep inside s cat's ears keeps it informed about which way is up or down, even if you try to confuse and make him dizzy first. This specialized organ also allows the cat to instantly determine acceleration as she falls.

The vestibular organ contains tiny fluid filled tubes and structures called the semicircular canals, utricle and saccule, each lined with millions of microscopic hairs. Fluid in the utricle and saccule also contain tiny particles of chalk that float and move with every motion. Whenever the cat's head moves, the fluid and chalk moves against the hairs. The hair movement, like teeny kitty antennae, relay information to the brain about body position, and speed of movement.

The balance mechanism can't do it alone, though. Once partnered with the yoga-like muscle control of a Houdini master contortionist, the cat twists from side to side during a fall, to right itself.

Do Cats Ever Miss?
Ear infections can affect the cat's balance so she misjudges height or positioning. Tiny kittens can be injured in falls that might not hurt an adult cat, so kitten-proofing balconies and keeping baby cats "grounded" can help keep them safe.

Falls from short distances-like from a child's arms-may not allow enough time for the righting mechanism to work. Landing on its feet does not prevent a cat from sustaining serious injuries during falls.

High Rise Syndrome
High rise syndrome refers to cats who fall great distances out of windows, balconies or open doors. Often the cat lounges on a favorite windowsill, and accidentally pushes window screens out and falls.

Falls from the first through fourth floors are least dangerous because the cat can "right" itself and doesn't have time to reach top speed of 60 miles per hour-terminal velocity. She won't fall any faster, no matter the distance. This speed is reached during any fall from higher than the fifth floor.

Falls from the fifth through ninth floor are the most dangerous and result in the worst injuries. The cat falls with legs braced in front of him, and lands rigid. His legs hit first, then his head, and both can suffer terrible bone-shattering injury.

Cats survive falls from higher than nine stories with fewer injuries. Falls from these heights apparently allow the cat time to relax, empty the bladder and "parachute" the legs outward so that the wind catches the loose skin in the thighs and armpits and slows the fall. Landing spread-eagle allows the chest and abdomen to absorb most of the shock, rather than the head and legs.

Keep open windows and balconies off limits to cats. Remember that screens are designed to keep bugs out, not keep cats inside. So protect your cats and windows with secured screens or pet-safe barriers.

Amy D. Shojai is a certified animal behavior consultant and the award-winning author of 23 pet care books, including Complete Kitten Care and Complete Care for Your Aging Cat. Amy also appears on Animal Planet's CATS-101 and DOGS-101, writes for puppies.About.com and cats.About.com, and lives in North Texas with a senior citizen Siamese and smart-aleck German shepherd. Read her blog on Red Room.

Cats become pests with their determination to stay above it all. They cruise kitchen countertops, lounge atop doors and leap to refrigerator tops to ambush treats.

The urge to be the top cat seems a universal cat vice. By understanding why cats scale the heights, cat owners can provide legal outlets that keep both their cats happy and out of the butter dish.

Why Cats Love Heights
Cats come pre-programmed to seek elevated lounging spots. Think about it: cats in the wild want to see enemies (and potentially munchable critters) while remaining invisible. A cat quite literally believes it "owns" the space it can see.

Cats also control each other's interactions--or even the dog's movements--with pointed stares. This packs even more punch from an elevated perch, giving the cat ownership and control over even more territory. The cat that commands the highest perch is the high-cat-on-the-totem-pole in that particular room.

Award-winning author Darlene Arden is a Certified Animal Behavior Consultant. Her newest book is "The Complete Cat's Meow."

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Cats aren't exactly as mysterious as they are purported to be, but there is enough that isn't widely known about them to make that seem true. Your cat really wouldn't mind you knowing more about felines, and would welcome the extra interest.

Here are 10 more facts about your cat that you may not know.

1. Generally, a cat's purr is healing, not just for the cat but for anyone the cat is near--which means it's helping you as well.

2. On the flip side, purring doesn't always mean something good; it can mean that the cat is in pain or is terrified of something or someone.

3. A cat has more bones than a human. A human has 206 bones, while a cat has either 230, 240, or 245 (though some fuse together as the cat ages). The number is different for each cat because it depends upon how many bones are in a cat's tail.

Amy D. Shojai is a certified animal behavior consultant and the award-winning author of 23 pet care books, including "Complete Kitten Care" and "Complete Care for Your Aging Cat."

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We love our cats but don't always understand their seemingly bizarre behaviors. Sure, some things our cats do are unique to them but other actions are shared by felines the world over. Here are seven weird cat behaviors, and what they mean.

Head bonks. The first three months I had my cat, her head turned pink from head-bonking my lipstick. Rubbing behavior, which includes the forehead, cheeks, and full-body slams, is called bunting, and it transfers the cat's signature smell onto objects to mark territory. That means head bonks are kitty compliments declaring you to be so important, he's marked you as his personal property.

Feliway is a veterinary drug used to treat stress in cats. As part of a Paw Nation series providing background about the medical problems your pet may suffer, we spoke to Dr. Ashley Morgan, veterinarian at Valley Animal Hospital in Tucson, Ariz., to get some insights about the drug. You should always consult your veterinarian before giving medicine or supplements to your pet.

What is Feliway?
Feliway is a synthetic product intended to mimic feline pheromones.

Is Feliway a prescription or over-the-counter drug?
Feliway is an over-the-counter product.

Award-winning author Darlene Arden is a Certified Animal Behavior Consultant. Her newest book is "The Complete Cat's Meow."

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After spending years with your cat, you may think you know everything there is to know about her. But here are 10 things that your favorite feline may not have gotten around to sharing with you.

1. A domestic cat can run about 31 mph. Running fast is something usually attributed to wild cats, gazelles and greyhounds, but your house kitty is pretty speedy.

2. It is possible for every kitten in a litter to have a different father. Hopefully, she is spayed so there's no risk of an unexpected pregnancy.

3. Cats walk on their toes, which probably accounts for their graceful movements. In ballet there is a step called pas de chat -- the cat step. It's a little jump to the side, but in truth nearly every move your cat makes is lovely.

Amy D. Shojai is a certified animal behavior consultant and the award-winning author of 23 pet care books, including "PETiQuette; Solving Behavior Problems in Your Multipet Household" and "Complete Care for Your Aging Dog."

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Nothing beats kitten fun. But more goes into proper care than plopping food in a bowl and setting up a litter box. Before you adopt, review these 10 do's and don'ts to ensure your kitten love lasts a lifetime.

1. Don't adopt too early. Kittens adopted too young bite and claw more than those corrected by Mom and siblings. They also may be fearful or less tolerant of other cats because they don't understand proper feline etiquette. Cat babies should stay with siblings and Mom for at least 12 to 16 weeks. That's not always possible, though, and if you find yourself in that situation, it means you must be "cat-mom" and teach Junior claw, potty and other manners. It can help enormously to adopt two kittens at once, so they teach each other bite limits and target each other in play instead of your ankles.

2. Do see a vet ASAP. Kittens seem indestructible but get sick easily. A vet's early diagnosis improves the chances of a speedy recovery. Screening tests and preventive care -- vaccinations, flea prevention, worm medications -- save lives and ensure your kitten grows to healthy adulthood.

3. Don't bathe a kitten until it is at least 4 weeks old (12 to 16 weeks is better). Very young kittens can't regulate body temperature and can become chilled from a bath. When you do bathe the kitten, use only kitten-safe products -- adult cat or dog products can be toxic. Introduce combs and brushes immediately to longhair kittens to prevent grooming problems later on.

Amy D. Shojai is a certified animal behavior consultant and the award-winning author of 23 pet care books, including "Complete Kitten Care" and "Complete Care for Your Aging Cat."

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We love our cats but still complain about their annoying behavior problems. Why do they scratch furniture and caterwaul all night when we are perfect parents?

The problem is that while we are worrying about their behavior issues, we might be better off focusing on our behavior instead. Here are eight common things owners do to "hiss off" the cat.

1. Underappreciating the Need to Claw: Cats claw to mark territory, to exercise and relieve stress. Owners annoy cats by not providing the right claw object in the right location or by replacing a favorite scratching post. A nasty-clawed-ugly-old-post with scratch graffiti is like a child's favorite binky and can't be easily replaced with a spanking-new post.

2. Surprising Him With the Cat Carrier and a Trip to the Vet: Being stuffed into an unfamiliar cat carrier and then grabbed, poked and probed by scary-smelling strangers (vet alert!) makes cats hit the panic button. Savvy kitties teach owners a lesson by disappearing each time we reach for the carrier. Acclimate your cat to its bag by first making the cat carrier part of the furniture in the room. Then add catnip toys or fuzzy bedding to make it more soothing and appealing.

Amy D. Shojai is a certified animal behavior consultant and the award-winning author of 23 pet care books, including "Complete Kitten Care" and "Complete Care for Your Aging Cat."

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We love our cats but don't always understand cat communication. Our feline friends use a combination of vocalizations, body language and smells to talk with each other and their special people. Here are 12 ways cats communicate.

1. Meows: These are rarely aimed at other cats. Instead meows are requests pointed at humans. For example, cats meow to be petted, for you to open the door or for you to wake up and fill their bowls. The more demanding Kitty becomes, the lower the pitch of the meow.

2. Purrs: These vocalizations signal nonthreat. A cat's purr has been described as a feline smile, and cats purr in the presence of other pets and humans. Purrs often express happiness.

3. Hisses: Keep your distance if you hear a hiss. Cats hiss at other pets and people. Hisses can be defensive or offensive, and arise from frightened or hostile felines.

Amy D. Shojai is a certified animal behavior consultant and the award-winning author of 23 pet care books, including "PETiQuette: Solving Behavior Problems in Your Multipet Household."

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When a snuggle-puss turns into a snarling ball of claws, owners are at a loss to understand or deal with kitty aggression. Besides hurt feelings, cat aggression can cause injuries or cause the cat to lose a loving home.

Aggression can be the result of health issues, including pain or hyperthyroidism, so any sudden personality change demands a veterinary exam. But cats don't aggress because they're mean -- they always have a good reason, whether it makes sense to humans or not. Recognizing the four common types of aggression will help you learn to keep the peace.

Petting Aggression: Your cat begs for attention, but then he bites you! Some cats simply can't tolerate more than two or three strokes and use the leave-me-alone bite to stop the petting. The bite does stop the owner's touch, which trains the cat that biting works, so he repeats the behavior. Instead, confine petting to the back of kitty's neck instead of the whole-body strokes that some cats find offensive. Also, stop petting before he asks -- his ears will probably turn sideways or flatten, and the tail gets active right before he nails you. If this happens, don't touch him, just stand up and dump the cat off your lap.

Play Aggression: Kittens don't know how to inhibit teeth and claws during play and will target humans in painful play-attacks. Luckily, kittens are so cute we usually forgive them -- and most outgrow the behavior by 6 to 9 months. But if it is a concern for you, play aggression is one of the few behavior problems that can be fixed by adding another kitten to the household. That way, the babies play-attack each other and learn to pull their punches on their own kind.

Amy D. Shojai is a certified animal behavior consultant and the award-winning author of 23 pet care books, including "Complete Care for Your Aging Cat" and "Complete Care for Your Aging Dog."

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For centuries, people created fanciful stories to explain puzzling animal antics. Many of these myth-understandings about cat and dog behaviors linger on, even though modern veterinary and behavior experts have uncovered scientific explanations for these issues. Here we lay 12 common myths to rest.

Myth 1: Dogs and cats enjoy being hugged. People are by nature touchy-feely creatures. Dogs and cats on the other hand, grab and hold prey, and "hug" during mating or fighting. Pets may enjoy nuzzling and getting affection akin to hugging, or there may be a reason why they should be sensitized to being hugged, but it is good to remember that your pet may also confuse a hug with aggression.

Myth 2: Cats seek out people who hate cats. It can seem that way. A cat lover's admiring stares and "kitty, kitty, kitty" calls can be off-putting. So in a crowded room, a cat often seeks the only person ignoring her. Besides, cat lovers may already smell like strange cats, so she'll be more attracted to the cat-free-zone human.

Myth 3: Dogs that are aggressive are showing dominance. Actually, it is fearful dogs that most often aggress to make a scary situation go away. A top dog rarely aggresses because other dogs accept he's the boss. You do however see pushy dogs learn to use snarls to get their way, or clueless adolescent dogs act up because they've gotten too big for their furry britches and want to challenge the real boss.

We know you love your cat. But sometimes understanding his or her behavior can be a big challenge.

That's we we've asked cat expert Cyndee Gause, a sphynx breeder and passionate cat person, to answer your questions about taking care of your cat. Gause has been a cat lover all her life, and began actively showing cats in 2004. She has several national and regional winning cats, and runs a small sphynx cattery in Atlanta, Ga. Cyndee is an active member of several CFA Clubs, as well as a member of the CFA Sphynx Breed Council. She also recently participated at Meet the Breeds in New York.

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How do I keep my cat from howling and racing around in the middle of the night? She wakes me up every time!

Meowing and restlessness from cats can be caused by many different factors. If this is a new behavior, my advice is to have the cat checked by a vet to rule out any possibility of a medical problem. If the cat is given a clear bill of health, then it's more likely a behavioral problem.

Cats are very demanding creatures; they often meow to get our attention, whether it's for food, play or tummy rubs. Of course, getting them to do this on your terms is not always easy.

We know you love your cat. But sometimes understanding its behavior can be a big challenge. That's we we've asked cat expert Cyndee Gause, a sphynx breeder and passionate cat person, to answer your questions about taking care of your cat. Gause has been a cat lover all her life, and began actively showing cats in 2004. She has several national and regional winning cats, and runs a small sphynx cattery in Atlanta, Ga. Gause is an active member of several CFA Clubs, as well as a member of the CFA Sphynx Breed Council.

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Q: For the next few months I'm going to be working crazy long hours, how do I keep my cats happy and not feeling neglected?

A: While most cats are very independent, they still love to interact with their human families. You can help make your cat happy while you're gone by making some simple changes in your home.

- Purchase a video designed to entertain your feline. Pet AVision Inc. has a series of videos called "Video Cat Nip" that has been known to entertain cats for hours.

- Provide your cat(s) with lots of different types of toys. An empty paper bag or box can tempt the finickiest of cats. Some toys have added catnip to make them attractive to your cat. Watch the catnip, though, as different cats will have different reactions to it.