cat behavior

Frustrated by your cat's behavior? Does she scratch that expensive leather sofa? Does he bite the hand that pets? Do you think you want to correct the behavior but aren't sure how? You've come to the right place! The DosIs This Really a Behavior Problem? More often than not, the behavior is...

Cats have “besties,” BFFs and buddies. They have family and roommates. Just like humans, they grieve when a friend passes away. What can you do to help them through it? Keep in mind, a cat may not grieve every death. There will be cats Kitty views only as a roommate but not a close friend so he...

There are several possible causes for feline aggression. While an attack can seem unprovoked, there is almost always a reason for it. We just need to try and figure out what it is. Our article about cat aggression towards people covers possible reasons, including redirected aggression. Let's...

Clicker training for cats is much the same as clicker training for dogs, with one exception. The treat had better be worth the effort! Find what motivates your cat—is it a special treat or food? Time to play with that favorite toy? Maybe he just wants to sit and cuddle while you tell him how...

Why Do Cats Knead? 5 fascinating reasons why your cat may be kneadingCats? Kneading? Has TheCatSite become a baking site? Not to worry, we're still here to talk about nothing but cats and cat behavior! And if you're an experienced cat owner you probably know what we mean when we ask why cats...

Do you need to make the introductions between a cat and a dog? That's not always easy and can even be risky. In addition to this article by Mary Anne Miller, we also suggest reading: How to Safely Introduce a Cat and a Dog Introducing Cats To Dogs Introducing a cat to a dog is not always a...

Felines are predators. In the wild, all felines hunt. The silent paws, sharp teeth, excellent night vision and incredible physical abilities are all perfectly suited for the cat's natural role as a solitary nocturnal hunter. In fact, the cat's domestication in ancient Egypt had a lot to do with...

Many owners wonder sometimes if it's at all possible to have a cat and nice furniture at the same house. When cats cause damage to furniture some owners can get so frustrated they turn to declawing the cat or even getting rid of her. These drastic measures can be avoided. Understanding the...

What is Spraying?Some cat owners are familiar with this scene: the cat backs up toward a vertical surface, holds up its tail and sprays urine in several short bursts. That cat is not simply urinating outside his litter box, but rather marking territory with urine. The difference between regular...

Why You Should Never Punish Your CatThe words discipline and cats should never be used in the same sentence. A cat does not respond to discipline in a positive learning fashion. Rubbing a cat's nose in a recent urine stain on your carpet is liable to get you either bit or scratched or start a...

Long hours of sleepCats spend a great deal of their time sleeping. The average cat sleeps for 13-18 hours a day. The exact number can change according to the cat's age and personality. Cats that spend the day alone at home tend to sleep throughout the day. Newborn kittens spend most of their...

Fiendish Cats? Watching an enraged cat can be daunting. If you haven't seen one up-close, you've probably seen the image in some scary movie. A snarling cat with sharp teeth showing through a wide- open mouth, ears flattened backwards and eyes wide open with dilated pupils. The soundtrack of...

Cats have a whole range of vocal sounds that most owners learn to appreciate. Cat chat can be very meaningful, even though cats also use a variety of other communications media, other than sounds, such as body posture and scent marking. Getting To Know The Feline RepertoireAlmost all cats use...

We tend to think of our cats as furry little people who walk on all fours and speak in some exotic foreign language, but this couldn't be further from the truth! Cats are, first and foremost, felines. They have natural instincts that serve as their guide - hunting and stalking prey are among the...

Dr. Dennis Turner has established himself as the world's leading expert on the feline-human bond. He has conducted and published numerous studies on how people interact with their cats and how this relationship benefits both species. Among his numerous credits and titles are co-editor of both...

In a multi-cat household, skirmishes tend to erupt. One cat establishes himself as the Alpha cat. The Alpha cat is the cat that automatically seeks the highest spot in the house, demands to be fed first and will at times spray his mark (urine) on the home. As the other cats grow and mature...

If you have been reading a bit about feline behavior, then you should know by now that cats and discipline don't mix; in other words, you should never punish your cat. Cats are not dogs and you simply can't take your cat to obedience class… That said, sometimes you need to lay down some rules in...

What Is My Cat Trying To Tell Me? In doing the research for this article, I was amazed to learn that there really is not a lot of information out there about this fascinating but mysterious behavior in cats known as The Silent Meow. If we have been observant, we may have been fortunate enough to...

Sucking on wool or other fuzzy fabrics seem to be a common occurrence among cats. This can be merely an annoying habit, potential health issue or an indicator of a physical or emotional problem. Wool sucking can be a life-long habit but, in many cats, it begins in mid-life. The exact cause(s) of...

In an interview to a local newspaper, I was once asked what was the one thing I would define cat behavior by. My reply was "individuality". Each cat has his or her own particular characteristics and peculiarities. As a cat behaviorist, the issue of cat individuality was always prominent in my...