The Cat Blog on TheCatSite.com

If you had to spend over a decade of your life with a foreigner who does not speak your language, wouldn’t you take the time to learn theirs?

Our cats can actually learn some of our language, whether actual words or our body language. By the same token, sooner or later most cat owners learn to understand their cat’s behavior and its meaning.

Unfortunately, some people tend to anthropomorphize their cats. They attribute human emotions and thoughts to an animal. I have often seen  people interpret feline behavior in terms of jealousy, vindictiveness or any other type of human emotion.

“My cat is peeing on my bed because he’s jealous of my new boyfriend.”

“She bites the other cats because she’s mean.”

The problem is you can never solve the problem without understanding the real reasons behind your cat’s behavior.

If I had to focus on one piece of advice this would be it -

Your cat is not a little person.

A cat experiences its surroundings in a different way then we do. It has a whole different set of needs too. Felines are semi-nocturnal predators, domesticated only several thousands of years ago. The old adage still holds true:

You can get the cat out of the jungle, but you can’t get the jungle out of the cat.

So what can you do?

The key here is learning. Take the time and read up on cat behavior. Try to see the world through feline eyes (and nose, and ears…) Educate yourself about feline needs and how to meet them in our modern homes.

You can start your research here: Cat Behavior for Beginners. Next, browse through our cat behavior articles for more information. Our huge forum archives hold thousands of cat behavior threads, so make sure you visit the cat behavior forum as well. It’s also a great place for posting your questions.

Last, but not least, I recommend reading Think Like a Cat by Pam Johnson-Bennett – a great guide both for general cat care and for understanding cats and their behavior.

Have you taken the time lately to learn more about feline behavior? Any insights you’d like to share? Add a comment here, or visit our forums!

You’re driving along a highway and notice a cat (or a dog) stranded in the middle. Thousands of cars buzzing by and the poor animal just stands there. You know it’s just a matter of time before thirst or hunger drives them into the road and you know there is no chance for them to make it to the other side.

So, what do you do?

Obviously, most people drive by. I am guessing most won’t even notice the cat.

Cynthia Long, from Vermont was one of those pet angels who actually notice and pull over to try and help. She was hit by a car and died instantly. In the following mayhem, as traffic stopped, the cat must have safely made it away from the scene. Some would call her “a crazy cat lady”, but to me she’s a hero.

May she rest in peace.

Source: http://www.reformer.com/localnews/ci_14307972

In case you missed it, the January edition of Kitty Bytes was released yesterday:

January edition of Kitty Bytes is where you can read all about the latest developments on TheCatSite.com and some more.

Speaking of news, allow me to introduce a new blog. Cat Pics Blog is where you can view beautiful cat pictures right on the blog’s main page. For a regular fix of feline visuals, just visit this blog at http://catpicsblog.com.

Shorter days mean less daylight and for many people this means: the blues.

An article on this very subject was published today in dark cold winter-time Canada by the aptly titled Toronto Sun. The report cites a recent study about the effect of cats on the winter blues:

Dr. June Nicholas, a psychologist at Haywards Heath in England, carried out a five-year study during during peak SAD time each January and February to evaluate whether cats have a soothing effect on physical and mental health.

Nicholas reports that cat lovers were less likely to get that down-in-the-dumps feeling than those who didn’t have a “Whiskers” sitting on their lap. Cat owners had 60% fewer headaches, were 21% less likely to catch a cold or flu, suffered less insomnia, impatience and tension.

Not surprising, considering other studies about the human-pet relationship and it’s effect on our mental health. Consider, for example, the report by Brad Kollus on the Power of Petting published here on our site, where studies reveal the mechanism by which petting our cat gets the brain to secret “happy” neurochemicals which help alleviate stress and anxiety.

The Toronto Sun’s piece is titled: Got the winter blues? Buy a cat.

To which I have three things to say -

1. Cats make you happy all year round.

2. Cats are not a seasonal remedy – they are a life long commitment and you should put the cat’s welfare and your ability to care for him/her first.

3. Why not adopt a cat from a shelter? Forget about pet shops and expensive breeders. Simply head out to your local shelter and find the love of your life.

’tis the time to be merry! Hannuka, Christmas or another holiday – most of us are celebrating this month, but what about our precious felines?

Going over the latest cat-related headlines, it’s clear that these are the holidays. Two themes come up over and over again.

Holiday Safety

New stuff around the house can put curious kitties in harm’s way. We have our own Cats and Christmas Safety Guide on the site, but you may also want to take a look at this recent article by Frank Bryce, the president of the Humane Society of Southern New Mexico discussing the dangers for cats during this time of year.

Kandi Stevens from the Valley Oak SPCA provides another good review here and the people at Purina issued a more specific warning in their recent news release here. They are concerned not just with the physical well-being of our pets during the holidays, but also with the effects of the mental stress.

Shelter Cats

The other major pet theme in the press around this time of year is animal shelters. With so many pets in need, the idea is to somehow harness the spirit of giving and caring towards helping animals. Of course, these days, hopefully we won’t see any “brilliant” suggestions of gifting a pet to someone else – no bow wrapped box containing a dog or a cat. The general idea is to consider adopting a cat or a dog yourself, or at least donate to a shelter. The Kelwona SPCA does suggest a pet gift voucher, where you pay for the recipient’s adoption fees but they have to come to the shelter after the holidays and find the right match for them. Read more about this initiative and other messages for the holidays right here. Make sure you read this article to, where the Berkley county Humane Society urges adopters to pick wisely.

On another holiday related note – our newsletter, Kitty Bytes, will not be released this month. Expect a fresh new issue in January 2010!

Our cats are our furbabies.  They are part of our family, cherished and loved. It’s no wonder then that the very thought of cats being raised as livestock instead of pets is so distressing for us. It was enough for insensitive trolls to set up an entire hoax website about kitty beef.

While that site is indeed fake (read this post to see why), cats (and dogs too) are indeed raised for food in some Far East countries, most notoriously in China. In a recent blog post, the people from Animals Asia Foundation described the rescue of one tiny newborn kitten.

Apparently, a mother cat gave birth while in a crowded cage in an animal market in China where the Animals Asia investigators were documenting the appalling conditions. One newborn kitten simply fell through the cage and unto the ground. She was quickly snatched away and hidden from sight, in an effort to rescue this tiny life from its horrible fate. The kitten, named Panda, was rushed to a veterinary clinic, but alas, as is often the case with such young kittens, she did not make it.

Take a minute to visit this page on their blog that was made in Memory of Panda and let us keep those poor cats in our hearts.

And while we’re on the subject of cats in China… on a more positive note, some 1,300 cats were recently rescued from meat dealers in China -

The cats had been locked up in iron cages at a store in Tianjin in preparation for shipping to meat dealers in the southern province of Guangdong before they were rescued by more than 100 pet lovers and animal welfare volunteers from Tianjin and Beijing on Tuesday.

It is just a drop in the ocean, but I guess it’s a positive sign of change. The rescued cats are housed in less than ideal conditions even now. Still a long way to go