Cats Behaving Badly? Think Again!

Is Mr. Fluffandstuff being naughty? Are your punishment techniques unsuccessful at getting
results? A new approach to “bad behavior” may help you change how you look at your cat and find solutions that work for both of you.

There are often times when we may find ourselves at wits end with our cat. However, most behaviors that cats are punished for are actually normal, they just may not be what we humans consider acceptable.



Unfortunately, there is a lot of outdated or just plain inaccurate information about punishing cats available. Whether you heard it from your veterinarian, your friend or the internet, we’re here to tell you that all types of physical punishment are not only detrimental to your relationship with your cat, but they JUST DON’T WORK. Physical punishment has many negative effects on your relationship with your cat. The first thing you may notice is that your cat starts to
cower whenever you approach it with your hands. For fearful cats, this will only reinforce their fear of humans.


The other thing that happens is that punishment can turn a sweet cat into an aggressive one. If you swat or spank your cat, he may feel that you are “escalating” the situation or provoking it to fight. Many cats respond to a nosetap with a bite or swat – not exactly the response you may have been expecting…especially if you were looking for guilt or remorse.


Cats have a fairly limited concept of punishment. Many people assume that their cat “knows” it is being bad, because it does something wrong, such as scratching the furniture, and then skulks away. In fact, the cat is just associating the presence of its owner with being yelled at. He is not recognizing that scratching the couch is bad – again, to your kitty, scratching is a normal
behavior (that also happens to feel good, and that may be reward enough to risk being yelled at).

Many cats engage in problematic behaviors out of boredom. Just as with children, they may see “negative” attention (such as being yelled at) better than no attention at all. Often, in the case of a very bored cat who isn’t getting enough mental stimulation, humans actually reward negative behaviors by shouting. In this situation, the cat is looking for some sort of response from the
human – that reaction is frequently enough of a reward that the cat will knock things off your dresser or scratch your furniture, even if he knows he may get in trouble for it.

So, do we just give up and let the cats do whatever they want? The answer is an unequivocal, no. But, there are ways to “correct” bad behavior that are much more effective than yelling or hitting your cat. Cats learn by trial and error. If they try something and have a good experience, they will do it again. If they try something and have a bad experience, the behavior is more likely to be extinguished – although not always immediately. Sometimes they will keep trying
in hopes that the good experience will return – just as humans will play the slot machines time and time again, hoping for the “big payoff” – before finally giving
up.




Here's an easy 4 step plan!



1. Prevention: Give your cat an appropriate outlet for “normal” feline behaviors


2. Use correction, but only when appropriate


3. Use Remote punishment to discourage undesirable behaviors


4. Reward to reinforce good behaviors



I have identified two of the most common reasons people will punish their cats below.

Scratching Furniture


The most common cause of furniture scratching is a lack of an appropriate
scratching post. Since the couch fulfills most of the cats scratching needs (tall,
sturdy, a material they like to scratch, and in an easily accessible location), it
seems like the best place to sharpen those claws.


To work with this behavior:


1. Give your cat an adequate scratching post. Scratching is a natural behavior, and necessary for all cats – it’s how they stretch, mark their territory, relieve stress and shed their claws.


2. Correction or punishment, such as yelling or squirting with a water bottle, is not appropriate in this case. Cats learn quickly that the punishment only happens when humans are around, and will just return to scratching furniture when you leave. They may also scratch furniture, anticipating some attention (remember, to a bored cat, negative attention may be better than no attention at all).


3. Make the furniture an unappealing place to scratch by using tin-foil, double sided tape, or a product called Sticky Paws. These are all unpleasant sensations for a kitty trying to scratch.


4. Encourage your cat to use the scratching post by using treats, toys or catnip to lure them into a natural stretching position. Praise them for using their post instead of the couch.
You can also read our “Paws and Claws” handout for more information on training cats to use a scratching post.

Climbing on Furniture/Knocking Over Items


Cats love to be up high. They also need lots of mental stimulation. When they don’t have outlets for these needs, they may start climbing up on your dresser, kitchen table or counters. In a playful mode, they may start batting at small objects, trying to knock them off. Not only does this provide them with some playful activity, but they may get a response from their human out of it, as well.

1. Start by giving your kitty its own cat condo or high-up places to hang out (you can clear off some shelves and put fleece pads on them to make them more appealing. More interactive playtime with toys such as the cat dancer or feather wand, in addition to solo play toys (ping pong balls, fuzzy mice) will provide more mental stimulation.


2. As in the case of other attention seeking behaviors, punishment is not effective for this behavior, and may just reinforce it.


3. Make counters and other surfaces unappealing – you can use cookie sheets or pieces of cardboard with tin foil or double sided tape attached to them. You can also “booby-trap” the area with empty soda cans with a few pennies taped inside – when the cat jumps up on the counter, the noise of the cans being knocked over will be a deterrent. Keep in mind,
this deterrent is not a good idea with shy cats or in multi-cat households where a non-guilty kitty may be scared off by the punishment.


4. Praise the kitty for using its cat tree, and make it a fun place to be – try placing some catnip, or solo play toys on the cat tree. Try incorporating the kitty condo into your interactive playtime – get your cat climbing or jumping on it to chase a toy.




So, with a little understanding, a watchful eye and maybe a little preventive re-arranging of your environment, your relationship with your furry roomates can stand the test of time!!

The Life and Hard Times of "Kitty Gaga", formerly Jennyanydots

By Daniel Quagliozzi

Wow, sometimes it just boggles the mind that a cat so great, and so full of personality and so young (3 years old), sits in a shelter, just waiting for the right person to come in and take her home. Is it just that the stars have not been aligned? Is it her name? Is there some cosmic reason a unique beauty with spunk, admirable energy and a zest for playing hard is just spending her days looking out the window, as if to say, " my life partner is out there somewhere!"

Kitty Gaga. formerly Jennyanydots is not your average cat by any means. She does require a little guidance along the road of feline/ human partnership. What does that mean, you ask? Well, this is a cat that pretty much owns the room when you are with her. She commands her space like a captain is in control of a huge navy vessel. She calls the shots and demands proper attention on her terms, not yours. Sometimes, she communicates her needs & dislikes with her mouth. " PAY ATTENTION TO ME!!" She's the perfect cat for someone who can give her the space to be herself, provide her with outlets, not only for play but also for visual stimulation and someone able to read her signals before she has to go to such extremes. Jennyanydots will be a much happier cat if she can get out of the confines of shelter life and on to some new adventures.

Cats like Kitty Gaga are challenging to place because we like to be completely honest about their needs and to some people, that can be a tall order. It's not impossible to work with a play aggressive cat. You just have to be consistent with training and give them alternatives to focus on. Our special kitty Gaga just wants to play by her own rules. There's no reason that you can't interject some of your own with a little finesse.

We hope that by posting this blog about her, we can finally get her out of the shelter she has called home for six months. Calling all cat lovers. This Rock star deserves your special home.

If you are interested in adopting this special cat, please call 415 522-3500 for more details. Act now before we change her name!

Cat Behavior: Don't take it personally!

By Daniel Quagliozzi

As a person who works not only with cats but also with their guardians, I often find myself counselling far beyond the scope of cat behavior. Human emotion is a huge factor in the way people perceive their cats actions. Can you blame us? We humans are so vested in each others feelings that it is very easy to equate the same perception to the way our cats view the world.

Did kitty suddenly pee on my pillow because he's mad at me? "My cat purposely knocks my hair brush into the toilet because he thinks I'm ignoring him and he knows how particular I am about my hair". "I was just sitting there minding my own business and my cat snuck up on me and bit my ankle! He HATES ME!!"

Believe it or not, cats care very little about how you feel, what you like, which shirt is your favorite and who you are dating. In fact, cats are quite selfish creatures. They almost always do things that are completely self serving. Ever find yourself getting up at 6 am to fill a food bowl or sitting on the edge of the couch where its less ideal because your cat prefers the middle? Cats are manipulators plain and simple and when they do things a little out of the ordinary (by human standards) they are not trying to hurt your feelings. They are however... trying to tell you that some things have to change!

Ok...perfect example: The cat who peed on your pillow. Chances are there is something about that litterbox that your cat is unhappy with. Did you forget to clean it, change the litter suddenly, add more cats to your home, go on a long vacation, have a mobile toddler running amok in the apartment? A sudden poop mishap or wayward pee points to stress, change or something new that may be triggering it. Why my boyfriends pillow? He must not approve of the guys I'm dating! No, chances are the box was such a turn off that a soft pillow was very inviting. Once the habit forms, the pillow becomes part of the regiment. Focus on what may be triggering the behavior and make things simpler.

The constant conversationalist: "Whenever I'm on the phone, my cat won't stop meowing? He must want me to get off the phone." I highly doubt that your cat knows what a phone is. Maybe he thinks you're talking to him? Usually when you talk to him, he is rewarded in some way. A treat, petting session, maybe even some playtime, will usually follow a human-cat conversation. Talking on the phone is such a tease!

The over the counter-knocker-over: Cats get bored! Could it be that your cat is knocking your pencils off the counter each day because you're not engaging her in long enough play sessions? Does she wake you up at night by making noise? Do you get up, yell or turn on a light? Guess what? You just rewarded your cat! Even responses we think are negative can be perceived as positive from a cats point of view.

The "Out of the Blue" attack: Sudden aggression without stress as a trigger almost always points to deprivation. Some cats need constant stimuli, plain and simple. Sure, most cats sleep all day and sleep even more at night. Other cats will count on you to provide them with entertainment, no matter how long your work day was or how little sleep you got because he was standing on your head all night. A sudden bite on the leg is an extreme cry for attention. PAY ATTENTION TO ME! Dancing With the Stars can wait!

Bite the bullet folks. You may have been at school for nine hours feeding your brain, but kitty was home with nothing to do all day. When you walk in the door, it's GO TIME! Get those toys out and get your cat engaged in play.


So, you see... it's not all your fault...but really it is. Don't take it personally. Just remember whose house you live in and who your boss really is and you will do just fine.

I Love You, But Please Be Quiet!

Though cats communicate mostly by body language, some cats “talk” more than others. This is could be genetic (some breeds, such as the Siamese, are especially prone to this) and partly a learned behavior. It's even been said that cats have a Manipulative Meow!

Your cat may have learned that if she meows, people will talk to her, play with her, feed her, or even yell at her (trust me, I know this first hand). Remember for some cats negative attention is better than none at all. Some owners love to “talk” with their cats, back and forth, so if you have adopted your cat as an adult, it is possible that this behavior was encouraged by a prior owner. If you have brought Kitty up, then most likely you can think of things that have “rewarded” this behavior. Cats learn to communicate with us, just as we learn to communicate with them. Maybe when the litterbox is dirty, your cat draws your attention to it by walking around and meowing, and so you clean the box. This is how behavior patterns start.

Cats also meow to express discomfort or pain, agitation, and in some cases, territoriality. Unneutered (intact) male cats may yowl in conjunction with sexual behavior, and female cats in heat may meow excessively as well.

If you have a chatty cat, how can you stop or at least curb this habit?

Do Not Reward

This should be the backbone of your behavior modification plan. Pay attention to your kitty when she is being quiet, wait for a moment of silence before you feed her. Ignore her when she meows. If you are having trouble sleeping at night, you can try earplugs, or pulling the cover up over you head! Or you could close the door to your bedroom. Remember that if you break down and give your kitty attention, you will have to start all over again. For more information on how to prevent nighttime or early a.m. wakings, please ask for our handout on nocturnal kitties.

Make Sure Your Cat’s Needs Are Met!

Cats need attention and interaction, so make sure that somewhere in your daily schedule you allot times for play and petting. Cats like routine and will meow excessively if their routine is upset, so do try to do everything, especially if it’s cat related such as feeding and changing the litterbox, on a set schedule as much as you are able. Provide your cat with stimulation. Keeping your cats indoors is much safer, but they will need to be entertained and encouraged to exercise. Even indoor-outdoor cats need owner interaction and stimulation. New toys, bought or made, food cubes that make Kitty work to get her food, and the occasional catnip toy help keep her from getting bored. Interactive playtime is the best kind of playtime for cats- toys like fishing-pole toys that your cat can chase could be integrated into a daily routine. Make sure your cat has a clean litterbox, and fresh water at all times. Make sure her diet is adequate. .

Be Patient!

It takes time for cats to learn behaviors, and often takes even more time to unlearn them. In order to make a change in your cat’s meowing, you need to be very consistent and give your cat time to adjust.

Recognize When A Behavior Is Not Likely To Change:

You may be able to reduce the amount of attention-getting meowing or feeding-time meowing by ignoring, and feeding and playing at set times, but this will not cure a hard-core talker such as some Siamese or Siamese mix breeds are. These behaviors are characteristic of some breeds, and are not likely to go away in their entirety.


THESE SITUATIONS REQUIRE A DIFFERENT RESPONSE

If Your Cat Is Grieving:

If your cat has recently lost a companion, feline or human or even canine, he may walk around the house and meow, perhaps in search of them or just reacting to the change. While you don’t want to reward the meowing, it is important to give your cat extra reassurance in these cases, spending quality time, preferably on a schedule, until he adjusts to his loss.

If You Have Just Moved To A New Home, Or Have Just Brought A Cat Into Your Home:

It is normal, especially for an adult cat, to be disoriented and unsure in a new environment. Introducing your cat to the house gradually may help prevent some agitation (see our handout on introducing a cat to a new home.) Again, don’t reward the meowing, but be a little understanding in these instances. This behavior usually takes a few weeks to wind down.

If Your Normally Quiet Cat Has Become Very Vocal:

Make sure there is nothing medically wrong with her; schedule a check-up with your vet. Pay attention to environmental changes to see if something could be bothering her, such as a new stray cat coming by your back door.

In or Out? How to make up your mind

When people think of the ultimate living situation for a cat, several ideal scenarios may come to mind. Some may think that keeping their cat(s) indoors is safer, while others do not want to take away the quality of life that an outside animal has, justifying their cats need to go outside as more natural or instinctual. Does an indoor cat miss anything by never going out? Does an outside cat have a better life because it can choose it's own territory and lay in the grass?

A major risk for outdoor cats, and one we hear about all too often, is being hit by a car. Cats can also get stuck in many compromising situations, under houses or crawl spaces where they can become dehydrated or starve. Encounters with other cats can expose your cat to diseases, some of which cannot be vaccinated against, like FIV & FELV. Finally, there are people who simply do not want cats in their yard. These disgruntled neighbors may trap your outdoor cat and take him or her to the animal control center or far far worse punishments. Yikes, I shudder to think about it sometimes.

Fortunately, there are many ways to help your feline friend to have a happy, fulfilled life indoors or to allow your cat a safe outdoor experience.

Making The Outdoors Safe

If your backyard has a fence around it, consider installing a Cat Fence .This netting system prevents your cat from leaving the yard, so you know where he or she is at all times. It can also be used to keep other cats out of your yard.

Build an enclosure outside. This allows the cat to have an outdoor experience while remaining safe. Check cat magazines for ideas and plans.

If you have a younger cat, train him or her to accept a leash and harness. This way, you can take the cat on monitored outdoor excursions. While a few brave cats may enjoy walks around the neighborhood, the majority will prefer sticking close to home—the front or back yard.

Transitioning A Cat To Indoors Only

This isn't going to happen overnight folks. Hang in there and make some adjustments to your home and maybe even to your lifestyle. You will have to make Small compromises to make your cat happy

Put screens on your windows and get a kitty window seat.

Play with your cat more. Get him running around, chasing a string or other toy several times a day. A little catnip makes it even more fun!

Add vertical space to the cat’s territory. Cat trees, cat condos, shelves, and other climbing apparatus give your cat more places to climb, play, and call her own.

Provide scratching posts. Try posts made of different materials—corrugated cardboard, wood, carpet, or sisal rope. You can get freestanding scratching posts, floor level, or door hanging varieties.

Play videos. Many cats enjoy watching videos of cats, birds, fish, insects and nature scenes. Check your local pet supply and video stores.

Grow kitty grass. Available at many pet supply stores, it is safe and tasty for your cat to nibble.

If your cat is an “only child”, consider adopting another to keep him company. That would make The SF/SPCA, You and your cat very happy!

Remember: even indoor cats should always wear an elastic or breakaway collar and an identification tag. In an earthquake, fire, burglary, or other mishap, a cat can easily become lost outside, and identification is her best bet for getting home.

Velcro Kitties: Pointers for 9 to 5 guardians and their over-attached cats

By Daniel Quagliozzi

For those of us lucky enough to be working these days, a nine to five gig is a blessing, but for our housebound feline room mates, this time of the day can be downright traumatic. The consequence of forming a tight and routine bond with our animals can often be displayed as anxiety when we leave the inner sanctum and decide to leave for the day.

Cats are solitary by nature. They can get along just fine without the company of another cat, although there are many exceptions to the rule. While maintaining a life of independence, they tend to bond strongly with their human caretakers, even when they are paired off. After all, we are EVERYTHING to them! Humans are the providers of love, conversation, physical comfort, food, water and interactive play. Another cat simply can not provide this.


How do you know if your cat is stuck to you like Velcro? My guess is.... you won't even have to ask this question!

Signs Of Feline Separation Anxiety

• Over-attachment to the owner such as following the person to every room of the house (heal chasing).
  

• 
  
  Distress as the owner prepares to depart: This can take many forms, but some of the more common reactions are meowing, sulking, apparent depression, slinking away and hiding. (No, seriously it's true!)
  
  




• Vocalization (crying, yowling, meowing) right after the owner has left or even when you are sleeping.
  




• Anorexia – the affected cat is often too anxious to eat when left alone.
  
  




• Inappropriate elimination – often in the form of urine marking. Deposits of urine or feces are often near to the door from which the owner has departed or are on that person’s clothing, bed sheets, or places like bath mats, rugs and behind or under furniture.
  
  









• 
  
  Excessive self-grooming. This starts as a displacement behavior but can progress to compulsive self-grooming if unchecked. See: Don't Lose Any Hair Over It
  
  




• Destructive behavior – rare, but some cats may claw and scratch door edges presumably in an attempt to escape their solitude. This can also happen while you are sleeping to get you to wake up and give them attention.
  
  
  


• Exuberant greeting behavior – as if greeting you after you left on a long vacation. ( Where have you been ?!?!?!)

Here come the solutions!

Enriching the cat’s "home alone" environment is the key to success! This can be achieved by means of:

Giving the cat a view of the outside world! Add climbing structures, cat trees, open windows with screens.

Strategically position bird feeders near the windows with a view.

Leave toys all over the house and change it up every now and again. The same defeated mouse that your cat played with two days ago is no longer a challenge. Hide toys in creative places like the peek-a-boo box above.

Putting the day’s ration of dry food in a puzzle toy will keep your cat focused on eating instead of your absence. Although cats with separation anxiety tend not to eat when left alone, hunger is a great motivator when other sources (YOU) are no longer available. Some caveats apply if cats refuse to eat for more than a day or so. Consult your local vet if this turns out to be the case and try to work out some kind of compromise. It can get tricky.

Leave the radio on. The "white noise" effect of the radio drowns out the otherwise perturbing sound of silence. We find that classical music has positive effects on loneliness.

If behavior modification by independence training and environmental enrichment do not work it may be necessary to resort to anti-anxiety medication for the cat for a while. Consult with a veterinarian about the use of drugs like Prozac to help calm an anxious kitty.

Ok, Now go to work and rest assured that kitty is not making long distance calls, ordering pizza or rearranging your apartment while you are away.

BREAKING NEWS: 5/20/09

Let The SF/SPCA Cat Behavior Team trim those daggers for you!

Our bi-monthly Cat Claw Clipping Clinic is happening Wednesday, May 20Th 2009 at 6pm to 7pm

Each month, we offer a Cat Claw Clipping Clinic for guardians who need regular assistance keeping kitty’s claws clipped. (Try saying that three times fast.)

Clinics are the first Sunday of each month from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m., and on the third Wednesday of each month from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Clinics are conducted at The SF/SPCA Spay Neuter Clinic located in the Leanne B. Roberts Animal Care Center, 201 Alabama St.

No appointment is necessary, but you must confine cats in carriers.
The cost is $10.00 for the front claws and $15.00 for all four feet.

* Mention "Litter Did You Know" and get $5 off your total! *

*Black Cat Bonanza*

SCARLETT

Can you believe it? At just 5 years old, our black beauty Scarlett has been waiting for a special person to come along and give her a home since February 19, 2009. She's a very unique cat, despite her everyday black cat cuteness. Scarlett likes to call the shots when it comes to petting and playtime, but doesn't let that stop her from totally owning you! She has this magnetism that kind of catches you off guard. This flirtatious feline also has FIV, which limits her availability to homes without cats or those that already have FIV playmates.

What is FIV? See our blog on FIV AWARENESS.

MISS OTIS

Oh, Miss Otis! We all know someone who has a cat like this. She`s a 10 year old who knows exactly what she wants and can be a little "persnickety" at times. For some, this is no biggie, almost not worth mentioning. Miss Otis is looking for those very people who understand her limitations. She has been in our care since February 02, 2009

Here`s her deal: She`s very affectionate, wants to be near you and enjoys petting but doesn't want you to go overboard or anything This is your dance space, this is her dance space right? Honestly to know her is to love her. She rolls and shows you her over-developed belly. Her purr has a cute squeak and she has one giant long white whisker. How can you resist?

RAVEN

Raven entered our shelter on February 15, 2009. At just 3 year of age, like most black cats in shelters, Raven has been overlooked for the very things that make her stand out from the rest. The love she shares with her human companion is immeasurable along with a chirpy purr and a penchant for chasing a fake mouse like it's a the most valuable object ever to cross her path. Raven needs a special person to take her away from the boring shelter routines and give her adventures to occupy her attention and time.

My Cat Made Me Do It

By Daniel Quagliozzi

One of the things that I find truly fascinating about cats is there keen ability to train human beings to do their bidding, no matter how inconvenient the task may be. We go to all sorts of lengths to keep our cats happy, eating, drinking and using their litter boxes, even if it means displacing ourselves in our own homes.

Cats are quirky animals. They could even be described as eccentric in their methods. Sure, human beings are particular about things too, but cats seem to boggle the mind when it comes to their likes, dislikes and habits. No one ever said that living with a cat would be easy. As long as you are trainable, a cat will have no worries at all.

Let's use my very own Matilda for example. As a product of her old age and experience, Matilda has decided that there are certain conditions that she must have in order to get through the day. Most of these conditions happen at the our expense.

1. Matilda must have very cold water presented to her in a drinking glass, located on the night stand next to our bed. (We found this out the hard way when my wife set a glass out for herself in case she got thirsty during the night)

2. Matilda must sleep under the covers and on top of my chest... the moment I lay down for bed each night. This requires me to lift my comforter up so that she can spin around several times on my chest and get comfortable. Other times, she prefers to be tucked in like a human.

3. In the absence of a blanket, Matilda will attempt to crawl under my bathrobe. As you can see, this is only partly successful as there is only so much bathrobe to go around and I am wearing most of it.

4. Matilda asks that her wet food be served exactly at 7:00 Am and 9:30 PM and will resort to trampling all over me (See: My Alarm Clock is Hungry blog) until I finally give in to her cries for attention and her standing on my wind pipe. Her night time demands are more subtle but still effective.

5. Once the food is served, Matilda will have three or four bites of the food, walk away and make herself comfortable in the now empty master bed. She will remain in our bed until roughly 7 pm when we return home.

6. For her daily work out session, Matilda requires that a shoe lace attached to a stick be forever dangling from the same night stand she perches on for water. She has decided that she does not need us for this activity. I guess we can't be counted on.

Cat guardians across the country can relate to Matilda's story. Her needs, although not that outlandish... are still her own. Some cats have color preferences, while others may like the way something feels when they lay on it. Ever wonder why a cat will choose to sit on a magazine when there are so many other places to sit? Freedom of choice is a cats prime directive. They do what they want, when they want and there's nothing you can do about it.


Have an interesting and unique story about your cat and its eccentricities? Email it to catbehavior@sfspca.org and we will post it in our upcoming blog!!

And now, a word from a guest blogger:

YOUR CAT WOULD LIKE A WORD WITH YOU

by Rod Kilpatrick
SF/SPCA Cat Volunteer

We've all said it. "Oohh, who's a pretty kitty? You're a pretty kittty! Oh, yes yes yes!"
My own cats, Gary and Sponge, finally divulged to me a closely-held feline secret: They find this kind of talk rather condescending. They'll tolerate it, if it eventually results in a treat or a belly rub. After all, cats are nothing if not realistic. They tell us what they want, what they need, what they love and what they're afraid of, and if we're smart enough to understand, they'll get what they're asking for.

Of course, cat communication is far more subtle than that. If we pay attention to their tone of voice, their body language, their ears and their eyes, we can learn a lot more about what they have to say.

But here's what's really interesting: it's a two-way street. Cats don't speak human any better than we speak cat, so they pick up the very same kinds of non-verbal cues from us that we pick up from them.

Want proof? Well, if you're lucky enough to be owned by a cat, try this. The next time you have a good day, or a bad day, or any kind of day, sit down and talk to your cat about it. Not in some kind of made-up cat language, but in your own language, whether it's English or Espanol or Francais. Exactly the way you'd say it to a human friend.

Your cat may at first look at you as if you're crazy. But keep at it. Eventually, your voice, your face and your body will automatically communicate to your cat in ways that transcend spoken language. And while you might not find answers, I guarantee you'll find at least two sympathetic ears.

So try it. Have a chat with your cat. They always get the last word anyway.

My Cat Ate My Snuggie™

By Daniel Quagliozzi

Has this ever happened to you? You're getting ready for another day at work and you decide to wear your favorite blouse...the very same blouse that has been sitting on the back of your chair for a week because you were too lazy to put it away after you got it back from the cleaners. As you put your arm through the sleeve, you notice there is a soggy hole in the side. Your cat has chewed another chunk out of your wardrobe. What the @*%!?!?! Guess what? Your cat has PICA!

What Is Pica?

Pica is the term for the repeated ingestion of non-food objects. Accidents will happen, this is true. Sometimes cats will unintentionally eat an object like yarn, string or even a plastic cord. It probably looked like a snake to them? Can you blame them?

Pica is quite different and happens when cats deliberately chew and swallow inedible materials. Common targets include wool blankets, plastic coated wires, rubber, plastic bags, even thumbtacks, hair ties & spare change . Often, individual cats will have different preferences- so the cat that eats wool may not eat rubber, or the cat that tries to eat your bobby pins may frown upon your hipster sweater. Some cats have a broad range of preferences. Though it might seem amusing to some people, it could result in a lethal ingestion for your cat. Yarn can get wound up in the digestive system and plastic can obstruct major organs. Luckily, most of the time, PICA is more annoying then it is deadly. No one wants to come home to find a huge soggy hole in their favorite shirt.

No one really knows for sure what causes this kind of eating disorder. Some veterinarians attribute it to a lack of fiber in the diet while behaviorist's may claim that it is caused by boredom or anxiety.

To rule out medical causes, a veterinarian should examine all cats displaying pica. Once your veterinarian gives your cat a clean bill of health, discuss with them what steps you can take to modify your cat's behavior. These may include the following:

1. Remove targeted items - Placing clothing, blankets, plastics and electric cords out of the reach of your cat is often the easiest solution. Storage containers, electric cord guards, and other useful items are available at most home supply stores. The upside of all of this is that your house or apartment is going to be super clean! NO MORE CLUTTER! I wish my cat had PICA. It would be great incentive for my wife to stop collecting shoes.

2. Provide alternative items to chew or eat - Food-dispensing toys, durable cat toys, or pieces of rawhide can be used to redirect your cat's chewing behavior to more appropriate and safe items. For cats attracted to houseplants, small flowerpots of grass or catnip can be planted and kept indoors.

3. Provide lots of structured play - Many cats chew on household items out of boredom. Provide interactive toys and set aside time each day to play with your cat. As mentioned in many blogs prior, exercise, play and environmental enrichment provide stimulation that will cure most miss-behaviors. A bored cat has more time to focus it's energy on misbehaving while an active and distracted cat will not have the time of day to devote to such foolish activities.

4. Increase dietary fiber - It may help to increase the amount of fiber in your cat's diet. High fiber foods usually contain fewer calories. Your cat may be able to satisfy their craving to eat more while still maintaining their weight. Consult with your veterinarian before making any changes to your cat's diet.

5. Make targeted items aversive - Occasionally, applying aversive substances (e.g. hot sauce, Bitter Apple®, Bandguard®) to an item may deter a cat from chewing it. If this is not possible, spraying strong smelling substances (e.g. citrus air freshener, potpourri) or using physical deterrents (e.g. upside down carpet runner, Ssscat®, Snappy Trainers®) around an object may prevent cats from approaching. Eventually, your cat will get tired and stop heading for the same places of obsession.

6. Consult with a veterinary behaviorist - If your cat continues to ingest non-food items, referral to a veterinary behaviorist is recommended. Further environmental and behavior modification plans, specifically tailored to your pet, may be needed. In some cases, medication may be helpful. Anti-anxiety medications can lower stress levels and help to subdue the ingestion of non-food items.

Hopefully, with the right guidance and a little bit of tidying up, your cat will no longer bite off anything bigger than they can chew! Buy more cat toys!!!!

Don't Lose Any Hair Over It!

By Daniel Quagliozzi

Personal hygiene is very important to our feline friends. Some cats will spend hours licking themselves clean so they look just right for you when you get home. You'd be just as concerned about your appearance if you had to sit in a sand box and do your dirty work! There's no way that you're going to exit that situation unscathed.

With cleanliness being high on the priority list, cats can launch themselves into an obsessive chain of over-grooming when times of stress take over the day's normal and predictable routine. A sudden move, new addition to the home like another cat, infant, dog or even furniture can upset a cat so much that they lick themselves bald from the intrusion. Why is this?

It is thought that feline "Psychogenic Alopecia" may be a displacement activity resulting from anxiety or frustration, which in time might become compulsive. Nervousness, lack of stimulation and the desire for human contact can result in excessive grooming as well. Changes in the owner’s schedule and inappropriate punishment will only add to the anxiety!

So what can you about this? First you will need to rule out any underlying medical cause that may be prompting them to lick themselves. Itching, burning or skin disorders caused from flea bites, food allergies or household cleansers may be a factor. If the skin feels icky, your cat will lick the area clean to alleviate the discomfort.

Next, be observant of how long your cat is grooming and when it seems to be most prevalent. If there is no skin irritation noted and your cat seems to be stressed out or anxious, you may have an over-groomer on your hands.

There are a number of approaches to this kind of problem, both medical and behavioral. We always recommend that you consult a veterinarian before you try any behavior modification on your own.

Sometimes, an Elizabethan or E collar can be helpful to stop a cat from being able to lick areas while you treat them with medications to stop the itching or in extreme cases, to calm you cat down. Common medications, such as Prozac & Buspar have been very effective in eliminating the anxiety which may be the root of the cause.

Increase the attention that you give your cat each day! You would be surprised how valuable a few moments of love can be. A little goes a long way in the average day of cats life. Afterall, you are their whole world.

Happy distractions are the key to stealing the focus away from the over-grooming. Play with your cat!!! Activity and enrichment are essential to your cats quality of life. Boredom can lead to obsession. Get your cat focused on fun and you will be surprised how quickly they will forget to keep on licking the same spot!

Don't change your routine. Predictability is the one thing can make a cat worry less. No worries equal no anxiety. Keep the furniture moving, strange visitors and partying to a minimum. Your cat will thank you by licking you instead of licking themselves bald!