1
My cat is 1 and he is just starting to suck on our carpet. While he is doing that he is purring very loud and rubbing his paws against the carpet. Is this natural?
2
Why do cats put their paws in their water before they drink it?
3
What is psychogenic barbering and what is the usual treatment of choice? What behavior modifications can be utilized to relieve the cat's anxiety?
4
Do cats cry?
5
I have a cat that is about 1 year old, and he almost never stops meowing, unless he is asleep or eating. Frankly he is about to drive the whole family crazy. What do I do?
6
When is a kitten considered an adult cat? Also my cat does so many amazing things, I wonder if he is highly intelligent. He listens to me and seems to understand what I'm saying to him. He also will play fetch with me and raises his paw when he wants to be picked up. When we recently went for his one year vaccination he climbed up to hide under my hair, but didn't even put his claws out. It was then I realized he never scratches me. Is this unique?
7
I have 3 girls and 2 boys (cats) all about the same age (3yrs). One little girl is very shy and stays mostly in my bedroom/under the bed. She does like to come out and walk around but the 2 boys always end up stalking and chasing her. They are declawed she isn't - but she won't defend herself. She just cowers and cries. I've tried putting the "boys" in the bathroom to give her some freedom - any other suggestions? So far I haven't had any litter box/eating problems but she does throw up alot since she gobbles her food.
8
What is the best way to discipline my cat for the bad things she does?
9
My cat has been acting strange for the past 3 days. She's meowing but it sounds like she's growling. She also is constantly licking herself around her butt. My dog keeps following her around and sniffing everywhere she lays. Any suggestions?
10
When my cat lays on my lap, his tail is wagging. What does that mean? I heard that when an animal wags their tail they are mad. Is that true?
11
Do cats urinate outside of the litter box due to separation anxiety?
12
My cat is just over a year old and is quite a successful hunter. She has started to bring in small wild rabbits; they are all brought in alive and unhurt, leaving me to release them back to the wild. How can I stop this? She wears a collar with a bell, which doesn't seem to work. My house is turning into a rabbit home!
13
My male, Maine Coon, gets in a lot of cat fights. Is this common, for their breed, their nature? I had a Burmese for ten years, and she never was in a fight!
1
My cat is 1 and he is just starting to suck on our carpet. While he is doing that he is purring very loud and rubbing his paws against the carpet. Is this natural?
Some cats like to suck and chew on certain fabrics, especially wool. This is known as "wool-chewing" or "wool-sucking". Originally behaviorists thought that this destructive habit may have been a problem in cats that were weaned too young. The new thinking is that this tendency is genetic and may be more prevalent in some breeds or mixed-breeds such as Siamese, Burmese, or Oriental cats. Not only can this habit be annoying, it could also present problems for your cat's digestive tract if too much fabric is swallowed. There are several ways to try to modify this behavior. When you catch him in the act, try slyly squirting him with a squirt bottle or making a loud noise. This works best when the water or noise comes "out of nowhere" as far as your cat is concerned. If it's a case of boredom or too much energy, regular play sessions may relieve him of his excess energy.
back to top
2
Why do cats put their paws in their water before they drink it?
Cats are very picky about the water they "drink". Often they will turn their nose up at stale or dirty water. Cats rely on their sense of smell to recognize any possible threatening odors and for appetite stimulation. Because cats have fewer taste buds than humans, the sense of smell plays a very important role in determining the desirability of food and water. There are special receptor cells lining the nasal cavity that analyze molecules of air that form odors thereby allowing the cat to decide whether the water is safe to consume. A cat’s sense of touch will also provide additional information about whatever object it touches. All of these factors combined help to give us an idea as to why we often see cats “playing” in their water.
back to top
3
What is psychogenic barbering and what is the usual treatment of choice? What behavior modifications can be utilized to relieve the cat's anxiety?
Psychogenic barbering or psychogenic dermatitis is a disorder that involves intense licking of a local area of skin to the point of hair loss and even sores. Most cats with hair loss have an underlying skin disorder such as fleas, fleabite sensitivity, food or inhalant allergies, parasites, or dysfunction of the endocrine system. When these disorders are ruled out, the diagnosis of psychogenic dermatitis may be made. Psychogenic dermatitis is frequently due to anxiety brought about by a change in the cat′s environment, such as the introduction of a new pet or baby, new surroundings, loss of a companion pet or a family member, or the feeling of being threatened in some way.Reducing stress or decreasing the source of conflict is the first step.Be sure his environment provides sufficient stimulation.Increasing environmental stimulation (play centers, chew toys, catnip toys) can be tried, particularly if the behavior tends to take place when you are not home. In some cases, barriers to licking, such as obstructing(Elizabethan) collars, are beneficial. If behavioral therapy alone is not successful, drug therapy is often initiated.Your veterinarian may prescribe certain drugs to decrease your pet′s anxiety level.
back to top
4
Do cats cry?
Cats do not experience emotional tearing. That is, they do not cry as people do. An increase in tear production by itself is not a disease, but most often a symptom. Some cats may be born with or acquire, due to disease, a blockage in their tear ducts. This causes normal tear production to flow over the corner of the eye. In some cats, the tears will turn a brown-red color as enzymes in the tears oxidize. Most cases are caused by a poor outflow of tears occurring after a cat has had a herpesvirus infection, due to bulging eyes as the Persian breeds are prone to have, or from having no opening to the tear ducts, which is a genetic defect.
Foreign objects and hair in the eyes, dust, and allergies can otherwise cause an increase in tear production. There are also rare cases where an eye increases its tear production. Elimination of the primary cause will generally solve the problem except in cases where tear ducts are damaged or closed. Surgery or flushing of the ducts may be needed and can be useful to re-establish tear flow.
back to top
5
I have a cat that is about 1 year old, and he almost never stops meowing, unless he is asleep or eating. Frankly he is about to drive the whole family crazy. What do I do?
A cat may vocalize for a variety of reasons. Cats may vocalize to signal a biological need such as hunger, thirst, to signal that they are ill, or to go outside. They may also vocalize for other things they want such as attention, play, or even to signal a dirty litter box. How you respond to the vocalization will often determine if it continues. When your cat vocalizes, first be sure all his biological needs are met (food, water, adequate play and interactive time and a clean litter box). Naturally you also will want to be certain he is not ill. If you have already done those things, try ignoring his crying. If you attend to him, it will tend to make the pattern of crying continue. At first he may increase his crying but once he realizes that you are not going to attend to him, the meowing should decrease. This will work faster if you also plan to pay attention to him when he is quiet. Soon he will learn that quiet behavior gets attention while loud vocalization does not.
back to top
6
When is a kitten considered an adult cat? Also my cat does so many amazing things, I wonder if he is highly intelligent. He listens to me and seems to understand what I'm saying to him. He also will play fetch with me and raises his paw when he wants to be picked up. When we recently went for his one year vaccination he climbed up to hide under my hair, but didn't even put his claws out. It was then I realized he never scratches me. Is this unique?
Many cats seem to read our thoughts and fit well into our daily lives. You are indeed lucky that your cat is so mild mannered and in tune with you. A cat will reach social maturity between 1-3 years of age. That is when they usually will begin to show adult patterns of behavior not only socially, but also in their actions toward other cats and territory. Usually however, their basic personality remains so that if he is friendly and outgoing he is likely to remain that way as he matures.
back to top
7
I have 3 girls and 2 boys (cats) all about the same age (3yrs). One little girl is very shy and stays mostly in my bedroom/under the bed. She does like to come out and walk around but the 2 boys always end up stalking and chasing her. They are declawed she isn't - but she won't defend herself. She just cowers and cries. I've tried putting the "boys" in the bathroom to give her some freedom - any other suggestions? So far I haven't had any litter box/eating problems but she does throw up alot since she gobbles her food.
You are seeing the cat social dynamics in action at your house. Not all cats get along and some will try to rule the territory. It would be helpful if she could have some time away from the boys so that she will feel safe and secure. It is also helpful to be sure that she has access to food, water and a litter box without being attacked. Another option would be to put a screen door on the doorway so that the cats could see one another and get used to each other without fighting.
back to top
8
What is the best way to discipline my cat for the bad things she does?
The most important aspect of discipline is not to hit your cat. This could make her afraid of you and create the possibility of a fearful aggression. If your cat is doing something that is inappropriate, the best way to discipline her is to distract her with a loud noise. Once she stops and leaves the area, be sure to praise her and redirect her to something else. If she is constantly getting into the same things, try to think how you can rearrange things or provide her with alternate activities so she stays away from that area.
back to top
9
My cat has been acting strange for the past 3 days. She's meowing but it sounds like she's growling. She also is constantly licking herself around her butt. My dog keeps following her around and sniffing everywhere she lays. Any suggestions?
If your cat has not been spayed it is possible that she is in heat. A female cat in heat will meow quite loudly to attract a mate and roll on the floor often at the same time. They also may have a discharge from the vaginal area. Although you may not see it, the odor may be apparent to your dog. Please keep your cat indoors while in heat to prevent unwanted pregnancies and kittens. If you have no plans to breed your cat, you may want to contact your veterinarian to set up an appointment to have her spayed.
back to top
10
When my cat lays on my lap, his tail is wagging. What does that mean? I heard that when an animal wags their tail they are mad. Is that true?
Unlike dogs, cats do not generally wag their tails as a sign of pleasure or an invitation to engage in activity. When a cat is agitated they may move their tail either in a twitching motion or quickly from side to side. In some cases they may only flip the very end of their tail. Usually this is a sign that the cat is aggravated and upset by the present circumstances. At these times it is best to leave the cat alone.
back to top
11
Do cats urinate outside of the litter box due to separation anxiety?
Some people feel that cats do suffer from separation anxiety when separated from the people they are attached to, while others disagree. If the urination only happens when people are gone, separation anxiety is a possibility. It would also be sensible to be sure that litter box issues such as cleanliness, placement, type of box and interactions with other cats are not the reasons for the non litter box use. Finally, urinary tract infections may also result in a cat not using the litter box so a veterinary visit may also be needed.
back to top
12
My cat is just over a year old and is quite a successful hunter. She has started to bring in small wild rabbits; they are all brought in alive and unhurt, leaving me to release them back to the wild. How can I stop this? She wears a collar with a bell, which doesn't seem to work. My house is turning into a rabbit home!
The best way to curb her hunting activities is to keep her indoors. Some cats are very avid hunters and since hunting is not only associated with hunger, even well fed cats will hunt. The other possibility is to get her a "jingle bell" collar, one with bells all around it, so she makes a great deal of noise when she moves. That should scare away all the rabbits.
back to top
13
My male, Maine Coon, gets in a lot of cat fights. Is this common, for their breed, their nature? I had a Burmese for ten years, and she never was in a fight!
Cats can be very territorial and when let outdoors they may get into fights to defend their territory. A cat that is not neutered is also more likely to get into fights. To help prevent fighting and roaming it is best to get a cat neutered. It is also better for cats to be indoors rather than outside. Not only can they get into fights, they can be injured by automobiles, dogs or get parasites or an infection.
back to top