Cats are much more attention-needy than most people think. They can become bored and depressed if they are ignored. Some develop "negative attention syndrome"--they misbehave just to get their owners to notice them. If the only time the owner talks to kitty is when he scratches the sofa or strolls down the kitchen counter, then you can bet that he will perform these feats when the owner is near, but not acknowledging him. (Cats and small children have a lot in common!). When you get home from work, take the first 10 minutes to visit with your cat. Forget about...

While we may pride ourselves on how we pamper our pets with the best of everything, we may be denying them what they need most--the companionship of one of their own species. Most feline behaviorists agree that cats generally lead healthier, happier lives if there is another feline in the household. Even if the cats never become bosom buddies, just sharing the house with another living creature while you are away helps to break the monotony and loneliness. Of course, if they become playmates, there is the added benefit of exercise and entertainment that is especially needed by kittens and...

If you have an adult female who has been an "only" cat for some time, it is best to get a younger female. Males, even friendly ones, can over-power and frighten females. Male kittens, while more easily dominated by the female, still grow up to be rambunctious teenagers that engage in a style of play that involves pounce and wrestle (not a female's idea of fun). If a young, active male is your family pet, he would really enjoy having a male buddy who shares his enthusiasm for vigorous play. A laid-back, older (neutered) male cat may enjoy "mothering" a...

Planning to add a cat to your household? The introduction process is all-important. First impressions can be lasting impressions for felines. In the wild cats take great care to prevent chance encounters with other cats through scent-marking behaviors. By "reading" the marked areas, cats can tell who was there last and at what time he visited the spot. The territory can then be used by different cats at different times of the day--the feline version of time-sharing. In order to get your cat used to the idea of sharing the home turf with another feline, a gradual introduction is essential....

If we define intelligence as "the ability to acquire information, retain it, and utilize it to solve problems," the cat is clearly the winner of all our companion animals. Try putting an adult cat in a room in which he has never been before and watch how every nook and cranny is carefully examined. This need to do "basic research" as one behaviorist puts it provides the cat with valuable, even life-saving, information about his surroundings. Actually, curiosity didn't kill the cat, it gave him a reputation for having 9 lives! We know that the ability of cats to investigate...

Cats can be trained! Contrary to popular opinion, our feline companions can be taught to perform on cue. All successful training is accomplished through praise and food rewards. While direct correction is employed in canine training, it only confuses, frightens, and alienates felines. (Dogs, being pack animals, are used to being dominated by a higher ranking member of the pack; while cats, being solitary predators, avoid or attack those who show hostility toward them.) The key is to discover the food treat that is most appealing to your cat and to present it to him immediately each time he responds...

Direct correction or punishment of felines only results in owner-absent behavior, so put away the squirt gun. It's time to come up with more creative solutions, strategies that will work when you are asleep or at work as well as when you are monitoring Kitty's activities. Let the environment, not you, convince Kitty of what he does and doesn't want to do. Booby traps, also known as remote corrections, are the secret to keeping Kitty from forbidden areas when you are at home or away. They allow you to be the "good guy" which is very important for Kitty's mental...

While there is some concern that giving your cat a taste of the great outdoors will turn him into a demanding puss who sits by the door meowing incessantly to go out, many feline experts believe that the greater danger lies in providing a living environment for the cat that is unchanging and unstimulating -- just plain boring. The stress of boredom can be a contributing factor in a number of destructive behavior problems (eg., furniture scratching) as well as in some physical and psychological problems (eg., obesity, over-grooming, feline depression). While much can be done to make the home...

Fluffy may have been a contented couch-potato-kitty all winter long, but now spring breezes are wafting through the open windows and bringing with them the allurements of the great outdoors. Lately Fluffy has been positioning herself next to the front door, ready to make The Great Escape. How can you enter and exit without seeing a blur of fur rushing past you? Try carrying a shaker can (an empty soda can with seven pennies in it) and give it a hardy shake as you approach the door. If you are coming in, shake it as you are entering the home....

What can be done with an uncooperative cat when you need to give medication, trim nails, or brush out dead hair? Ask your veterinarian to describe to you or to show you techniques for giving your cat a pill, a liquid medication, and ear or eye drops. Be patient, gentle and firm when giving medications. While working with the cat to condition it to accept various types of handling, be sensitive to the cat's reactions and DON'T try to hold onto a cat that is becoming irritated (tense body, flattened ears, twitching tail). Let an annoyed cat have his way...