Mindofyourcat

Years ago, it seemed that, unless people planned to let their cats go outside, the cats were likely to be declawed. Thankfully, veterinarians and cat owners alike have learned that indoor cats can live happily ever after with claws intact - and that there is no reason for these clawed cats to inflict damage on people, other pets or furniture.…

Why in the world are there so many types of litter boxes available? Does box style really matter? Most cat owners purchase litter boxes that are inexpensive and readily available. Sometimes, designer litter boxes become attractive options - maybe some people figure, if we have to deal with the mess, at least we should have an aesthetically pleasing container. …

Rescuing stray cats can be simultaneously rewarding and also quite frustrating. It is very tempting to bring roaming felines into our homes. When cats are outside, they may approach us as we bring them food and other offerings. More often, we peek at them from our own hiding places, content to know that we have offered them some comfort. …

Veterinary behaviorists can spend hours watching their subjects. What are the animals doing all this time? Mostly, they are engaging in normal, species-typical behaviors. In fact, it can be quite difficult to identify and manage problem behaviors without understanding which behaviors are truly normal. A question commonly posed to veterinarians and behaviorists is: Doc, is my cat normal? …

Many communities have leash laws for dogs. But is there a similar rule for cats? You may very well ask: Why would anyone want...

Where do housecats like to sleep? Most often, it seems, right in bed with their favorite people. And for most of us, that is...

I recently learned of a cat that, upon seeing a visiting dog in the house, ran for cover and refused to come out for months. Fortunately, this cat did not exhibit aggressive behavior. However, it is not uncommon for a cat, when frightened, to respond by attacking rather than by fleeing. …

Cats and their litter boxes ... Could there really be more to say? Absolutely. I recently received several letters about yet another variation on the theme. The question of the month concerned those cats that eliminate so very close to - but just not quite inside - their litter boxes. Why would that be? …

One of the questions my clients often ask is, Does my cat need drugs? Naturally, I inquire in turn, Whatever prompted you to ask? As it turns out, there is a vast assortment of responses. A major reason why people inquire about the use of medication is that they hope to find a drug that will cure their cats tendency to urinate or defecate outside the litter box. Other reasons include fighting among household cats,…

At least once each month, I am called to evaluate a cat that bites the hand that feeds him. Sometimes, even after a bite, people decide to excuse the behavior. Perhaps the cat was stepped on or startled. Maybe the kids tried to dress him up. Id have bitten too! some people may claim. …

Cats are capable of an amazing assortment of behaviors. Some behaviors that are normal for cats are socially unacceptable to humans. A particularly common but universally unacceptable behavior is elimination outside the litter box. When a cat soils in places other than his box, it is time to call the veterinarian. Once the cat is determined to be healthy and all reasonable medical explanations have been ruled out, it is time to consider other factors. …

Is Muffy Too Mischevious For Your Taste?