Behavior

We all recognize scratching as a normal behavior for a cat. Should your cat claw his way into the arm of your favorite chair, you would simply let out a sigh of regret, and wonder why you hadnt thought to cover that precious piece of furniture.

"Helping Owners Handle Aggressive Cats" is animal-behavior consultant Wayne Hunthausens advice for veterinarians who counsel concerned cat people who, like us, never knew there were so many reasons for cats to attack. He lists 11 possible types of feline aggression: "Fear-induced, play, redirected, petting-induced, territorial, inter-male, maternal, pain-induced, learned, pathophysiological and idiopathic."

Cat lovers must surely agree that there is little as lovely to behold as a cat running freely outdoors. What is as graceful as a cat nimbly climbing a tree or darting after a butterfly?

Who isnt charmed by photographs of kids holding and petting cute, cuddly kittens? Children can benefit from having a cat, and vice versa. "The experience of bonding between the child and the cat can be invaluable," says Larry Lachman, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist, animal behavior consultant and author of Cats on the Counter: Therapy and Training for Your Cat, "and a child learns to increase compassion and empathy for nonhuman life."

Humans are very biased in assessing the intelligence of our cats (or dogs). Thats because we tend to judge them according to traits that we can relate to as humans. When cats do something entertaining or "display their independence, we think of them as intelligent," says Julia Albright, MA, DVM, animal behavior resident at Cornell Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine. But there is actually far more evidence for cats intelligence than just our perception of it. According to researchers at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, the physical structure of our brain and that of cats are very similar; they have the same lobes in the cerebral cortex (the "seat" of intelligence) as we do. Our brains function the same way, conveying data via identical neurotransmitters.

What is your first thought when you come home from work to discover that something in your house has been damaged perhaps by one of your cats? You may wonder, "Who created this mess?"

Whenever Alexandria Brooke, a junior at the University of Massachusetts, would return home from school, she would wake up with hives on her face. She thought it might be the laundry detergent her family used at home or some new cosmetic or soap.

Our cats do have it made; we humans want only the best for our feline companions. Much to the chagrin of the average cat, this care is likely to include at least one thing that just doesnt seem particularly enjoyable.

Training your cat to accept a harness and lease can provide extra stimulation and bonding.

Cognitive dysfunction can be as hard n us as it is on our beloved pets. Here's some help.

You may think the more cats, the merrier--but it's important to know your household limits and what is best for your pets.

Your cat uses her entire body to communicate messages to us and other animals.