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Litter box aversion. Aggression. Inappropriate scratching or destructive behavior. Eating or chewing non-food materials. Cat carrier avoidance. Separation anxiety. Other fears and phobias that make you and your cat unhappy. When your cat develops a behavior problem, you may need professional advice. But whom should you call? Your veterinarian should be first on the list to rule out any medical problems. But after your cat’s clean bill of health, your veterinarian may suggest the help of a certified applied animal behaviorist or a board-certified veterinary behaviorist. While either one can help you solve your cat’s adjustment difficulty, there are some differences in the services each provides.

One of your favorite things about your cat is her sleek, shining fur. Lately, though, it seems like your cat has been having a bad fur day — maybe even several. Her fur looks rather unkempt. When you think about it, she hasn’t seemed very interested in grooming herself over the past couple of weeks. What’s going on? A decline in grooming, or a change in your cat’s fur, are some of the subtle signs that may indicate your cat is ill. In fact, you can view your cat’s fur as a barometer of her overall health and well-being. If you do notice a change, report it to your veterinarian so that you can take steps to start any necessary treatment quickly.

One of your favorite things about your cat is her sleek, shining fur. Lately, though, it seems like your cat has been having a bad fur day — maybe even several. Her fur looks rather unkempt. When you think about it, she hasn’t seemed very interested in grooming herself over the past couple of weeks. What’s going on? A decline in grooming, or a change in your cat’s fur, are some of the subtle signs that may indicate your cat is ill. In fact, you can view your cat’s fur as a barometer of her overall health and well-being. If you do notice a change, report it to your veterinarian so that you can take steps to start any necessary treatment quickly.

A cat’s physical well-being depends largely on the efficiency of its endocrine system, an array of small organs that manufacture chemicals called hormones and deliver them into the animal’s bloodstream. Once they reach their respective target destinations, hormones interact with tissues to enable bodily processes and to ensure their effectiveness. Among the components of the endocrine system is the pancreas — a relatively tiny organ located near a cat’s stomach and small intestine. Perhaps the most important function of the pancreas is the manufacture of a hormone called insulin. After a cat has consumed fats, carbohydrates, and proteins, these dietary components are broken down into a vitally necessary chemical substance called glucose — sometimes referred to as “blood sugar.”

We all know people that we try to avoid, but what if your cat develops an unpleasant attitude? What if one cat attacks another in your home, or even your dog — or even you? Territoriality and fear are usually the causes. Luckily, both can be controlled with some patience and understanding. Cats don’t plan these unpleasant behaviors to bother you. They aren’t plotting ways to punish you, either. “It’s more likely that your cat is saying, ‘Hey, this is my house,’” explains Katherine Houpt, VMD, PhD, and the emeritus James Law professor of Behavior Medicine at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Who isn’t 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.” Pets teach children the responsibility of doing chores like feeding the cat, changing the water and cleaning the litter box. Having a pet can also provide a family with its own pet-assisted therapy.

Among all agents of feline illness and mortality, few if any are more pernicious — especially to kittens — than feline panleukopenia virus (FPV). The disease is also known in some circles as “distemper,” a misnomer, notes Fred Scott, DVM, PhD, a professor emeritus of virology in Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and founding director of the Cornell Feline Health Center. ”Distemper” refers to a respiratory disease, and there is no respiratory component to feline panleukopenia. Cats become infected with FPV — which is classified as a parvovirus — by living in an environment that is contaminated with it or by coming in contact with the urine, feces, saliva or nasal secretions of a cat that is already infected.

Every so often, your otherwise fastidious cat will do this alarming and somewhat disgusting thing. She’ll awake from a peaceful nap, rise up on her paws, retch convulsively for a moment or two, and spit up what may appear at first glance to be a damp clump. What the animal has disgorged — in the middle of your kitchen floor or, worse yet, in the middle of your prized Persian rug — is a trichobezoar, a wad of undigested hair that is commonly referred to as a hairball.Despite the term, disgorged hairballs are not always round. They are often slender and cylindrical, shaped more like a cigar or sausage than a ball.

Red and swollen gums, bad breath, declining appetite and weight loss are among the conspicuous indications that your cat is suffering from a disorder centered in its mouth, most likely in its teeth and gums. The animal may not appear to be in pain, but that’s because cats are generally very good at concealing illness, possibly because they don’t want to signal a potential predator that they are weakened and are thus vulnerable to attack. But a cat with dental disease is likely experiencing significant discomfort, since the sensory nerves that cause humans to experience dental pain are present in the cat as well. Feline dental problems are not at all uncommon, with approximately 90 percent of all cats experiencing some type of dental disease at one time or another.

Are you considering adopting a new kitten? While the love part is a no-brainer, the responsibility can sometimes come as a surprise. In addition to choosing high-quality food, litter and toys, a new owner must take a proactive role in the kitten’s health. During your new pet’s first year, a veterinarian will examine the kitten a number of times in order to identify and treat or prevent any potential health or behavioral problems. There is not a set list of medications and vaccines that every kitten should receive, so owners need to consult with their veterinarian before deciding what is appropriate and what may not be. But keeping your kitten healthy isn’t just about vaccines and medicine. Here’s what else you need to consider.

The birth of the Feline Historical Museum was celebrated during the opening ceremonies of the Cat Fanciers’ Association. The museum is billed as the world’s largest devoted to felines, featuring a cat library, feline-related artwork and historical items. The foundation has an abundance of additional artifacts and pieces of art in storage, and the items will be rotated periodically.

Nothing can be more frustrating for a cat owner - and annoying to a cat - than skin disorders. Nutritional deficiencies or food hypersensitivity; parasites; fungal, viral and bacterial infections; and environmental allergens can cause problems that range from dry, brittle hair and coat to baldness and open wounds. "Most skin diseases are simple and straightforward," says William Miller, Jr., VMD, professor of dermatology at Cornell Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine, "and common problems such as flea bite allergies, abscesses and ear mites are easily recognized, treated and resolved."