Mindofyourcat

Have you ever been close to a truly frightened cat? You might picture a cat peeking out from under furniture in fear of being groped by a toddler. Veterinarians of course routinely cope with cats plastered to the sides of their carriers, hanging on with all their strength. Some of us have also witnessed a cat as he suddenly puffed up, ears flattened against his head, eyes black and vocalizing in a spine tingling manner.

The age-old admonishment never to bite the hand that feeds us is a good-sense reminder not to alienate those we depend on for comfort and security. But this metaphor is, of course, based in the reality that pets sometimes do bite the hand that feeds them. A bite from a family pet is at the very least viewed as an insult. At its worst, the bite generates anger or even fear. Not to mention the physical pain and possibility of infection.

This month I received two letters describing cats that play with water. One of the cats dips her paws into the water bowl until the bowl is empty. The larger the bowl, the larger the puddle on the floor. Actually, that bowl has now been moved to the bathtub. (Still a mess, I am told.)

Lets face it: Sometimes we need to do something to one of our cats that the cat is just not going to like. No doubt we have her best interests in mind, but she is not likely to recognize that.

Let’s face it: Sometimes we need to do something to one of our cats that the cat is just not going to like. No doubt we have her best interests in mind, but she is not likely to recognize that.

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.

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?

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?"

How many of us simply dread the thought of taking a car trip with our cats? First, we must be clever enough to catch the wily feline.

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.

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

Sometimes, even though I am a veterinary behaviorist, I am asked about couples therapy. You are probably familiar with the situation. Two humans meet, marry - and then remember that their respective pets have not been formally introduced. Bad enough when this is cat-meet-cat. But cat-meet-dog can be quite a challenge. …