Analysis of Cat Behavior

The most important thing to remember in analyzing the behavior of your cat
is that your pet is not a human. Cats are not rational beings and their
actions are not based on emotion. Changes in his behavior are not stemmed
from any repressed anger with you; your cat is not trying to get revenge on
you for being away from home too much or bringing a new baby into the house.

Negative changes in cat behavior are typically cause by stress or anxiety
for the cat. It is easy to see why pet owners tend to conclude that the
cat's feelings toward them are causing the behavioral differences; it is
human nature to correlate two unrelated events. In reality, there is a
missing link: your behavior may cause the cat physical anxiety, thus the
cat's behavior alteration is based on physiological changes in his body.

One common complaint among cat owners is that their cat has suddenly chosen
a new favorite place to deposit wastes instead of his litter box. This
could be a result of a few factors.

First, it may be a medical problem.
Cats are prone to urinary track infections that make it extremely painful to
urinate. Cats then associate the pain of urination with the litter box, so
they do not like to visit their designated urination station. If your cat
has stopped using the litter box, your first step should be to take him to
the vet and have a thorough check-up run on him. Cats also have natural
preferences for certain textures and smells, so if you have recently changed
the type of cat litter you use, the cat may be showing that he does not care
for the new feeling or smell of his litter. In avoiding the litter box, the
cat may have become attached to new textures and locations around your
household, perhaps the soft living room rug or bedroom closet.

The best
strategy is not to punish the cat; he will not understand. Rather, have a
medical check up, switch litters, and continuously reintroduce the cat to
his litter box. Reward him for using it, just like he was a kitten again.

To relieve any anxiety your cat may be feeling, carefully analyze any
changes that have occurred in his life as of late. If a new baby or
roommate comes into the house, your cat may feel threatened, so be sure to
give him extra attention. If you suddenly have to spend more time away from
home than normal, consider getting a second cat so that your cat does not
spend his days alone. Although the cat is not having emotional reactions,
his body feels different due to changes around him.

Be in tune with what may be causing your cat to feel anxious, analyze the situation, and do the
loyal owner duty of relieving his stress.

Credit: Keith Kingston

What Your Cat Wants You To Know

If your feline friend could speak your language, here a few things she would probably like you to know.

1) I am the boss of you. Get used to it. I decide when I want your company. I am not a dog who relies on you to make these choices in our relationship.

2) I am finicky. I like the food I like and I will not eat the cheap stuff. I prefer to have the nasty, overnight water left in my dish dumped first thing in the morning. If you cannot accommodate this need, Do Not Yell At Me when you see me desperately dipping my head into the toilet for some fresh water. Believe me, it's not something I Want To Be Doing - But If You Don't Take Care Of Me Properly - I simply have no choice.

3) I like my space. I choose my space. I pick special places through out Our House to lay in the sun, take my afternoon nap, relax after dinner etc... Deal with it. Do not expect me to clean up my own hair. I cannot help it if I shed on your precious sofa, and I personally don't really care if I leave a little bit of me behind on my Favorite places.

4) I do not want to have a new "sister" or "brother" ie: feline relative. If they came to live with you when I did that's fine. If you're trying to improve the quality of my life by giving me a new friend, Forget About It... I don't want one. I like being the Queen/King of Our Domain. I do not want to share my palace with anyone.

5) I like you and I like your children (or most of them). But I chose when I want to be bothered with the youngsters. Please do not push them on me when I'm clearly not in the mood to play, which consequently results in me being forced to let them know I do not want interact with them in the only way I know how - by hissing, scratching, or trying to run away. My actions inevitably lead to you yelling at me for showing my feelings. So we could make life much simpler, if You prevented this whole scenario from the start.

6) I have certain innate needs - like the need for something to scratch - Please make both of our lives easier by getting me something just for this purpose... So I do not have to resort to using the back of the chair, the carpet, the comforter or the front porch screen (which will definitely result in you having to Yell at me yet once more for something that I have a natural desire to do...)

7) Remember You picked me. You decided to bring me into your home. I did not pick you. I had no choice. Yet I treat you with respect and love, thus you should treat me equally as well...

Credit: Danielle Hollister

Traveling With Your Cat by Car - What You Need to Know

The majority of cats can easily adapt to riding in a car if they have a cat carrier that they are comfortable with. It should not only be durable, but spacious enough for a cat to stand and move about. Long before the road trip, leave the carrier in any of your pet's favorite sleeping areas. Usually, the door can be taken out to be used inside the home. Cover the bottom part with a blanket they have previously slept on, or place one of the clothes you have just worn but have not yet been washed. Every now and then, place her favorite food inside the carrier. If the cat doesn't fall for the treat, you have to patiently feed her with regular food inside the carrier.

For both your safety, don't let your cat roam inside the car while you are driving. Many unfavorable things may happen, like she could distract you, which could result to a serious accident. On the other hand, she could get thrown and hit something on a sudden stop. For the cat to feel more comfortable and to remain quiet, it would be best to cover the carrier with a towel when the car is moving. Do what is best for your pet.

Every time you are home, motivate the cat to use the litter box by pouring new litter into it. When cats are not used to traveling by car, they usually throw up inside their carriers within 10 to 20 minutes of the trip. If there is a chance that this may happen, buy absorbent, disposable "puppy pads" (just like diapers), then use them to cover the bottom of the carrier. It will be easier to clean up when the unexpected happens.

Just like you, your cat can go on for a long time without stretching her legs. When you reach a stop, put her leash before letting her go out of the car for a water and litter break. There were several incidents when cats got lost at places where owners stopped to take a break. They managed to get out through a window crack or open door. The collar should have some kind of identification and contact details of the people who can be reached in case of an emergency while you are away from home. You should also carry the latest picture of your cat in case you need to print some flyers in the event of an incident.

When you take along your cat while traveling, most of your meals will come from drive-through eateries. If you have to leave your cat inside the car for some unavoidable reason, like a bathroom break, park in a shaded spot, roll down the windows just a little and come back right away, like after 5 minutes. It would be better to take along the carrier with your cat inside the cubicle. Your pet is used to seeing you there, so he won't be surprised. If you want to take some time in shopping or sightseeing, always make sure that your pet is safe, or else search for a reputable veterinarian in your vicinity and try to make arrangements for some short-term boarding.

Credit: Karina Popa