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"Is Your Cat Crazy?"
http://pets.yahoo.com/pets/cats/bt/is_your_cat_crazy
Is Your Cat Crazy? As a feline behaviorist, I get countless calls from owners claiming that their cats arenıt normal. ³My catıs gone crazy!² theyıll say, or ³I have the weirdest cat in the world!² Is it true? Are these cats abnormal? No. Most of those cats are very normal, but that always surprises their owners. Understanding Cat Normalı While there are cats out there displaying truly abnormal behaviors, many of the problems we as owners label as out of the ordinary are actually perfectly reasonable for a cat * not necessarily acceptable, but what might be termed cat normalı all the same. An ownerıs understanding of whatıs normal for a cat and whatıs not determines how successful he or she can be in changing a behavior. Cat Logic The most common behavior problem, the one that causes most owners to stare bug-eyed at their cats and scream, ³WHATıS WRONG WITH YOU?² is when kitty stops using the litterbox. The truth is, and this may be hard to believe; the behavior is normal. In fact, itıs logical, looked at from your catıs point of view. Why would he suddenly refuse to go in his litterbox? For starters, it may be a medical problem, such as lower urinary tract disease (common among cats, especially males). The irritated bladder may cause him to feel as if itıs more full than it actually is, and heıll need to void right then and there. If the litterbox is on the other side of the house, he doesnıt have time to reach it. He may even associate the pain he feels upon urination with the litterbox itself. Another normal reason a cat may choose to eliminate outside of his box is if itıs just too darn dirty, or if it contains an unfamiliar kind of litter. A cat is a creature of habit, and abrupt changes are met with suspicion. A cat who sprays can cause an owner unlimited frustration but, once again, the behavior is normal. A cat is a territorial animal and spraying is, bar none, the definitive calling card. A cat reaching sexual maturity will often spray (this can be remedied with neutering), and a cat perceiving a territorial threat may spray. If your neutered cat has begun spraying, there may be a cat outside, or perhaps youıve added another pet to your family. Usually the spraying is the result of something different * and perceived as a territorial threat * in the home. Looking at it from your catıs point of view can usually help you find the cause and eliminate it, modify it or gingerly desensitize your cat to its presence. For a territorial animal, spraying is a perfectly reasonable, assertive but relatively unaggressive reaction to a threatening situation. Scratch a Cat, Find a Feline What about scratching the furniture? Do you feel as if your cat is bent on total household destruction? No, heıs not systematically demolishing your furniture * heıs being a normal cat. Felines have a need and several reasons to scratch: for claw conditioning, for muscle stretching, as an emotional outlet and for territorial security. Once again, the speciesı territorial side needs expression and scratching leaves a visual mark (much to your dismay) and a scent mark (through glands in the paw pads). The reason heıs using your sofa instead of his scratching post is probably because the post isnıt sturdy enough or the right texture. In the wild, a cat uses a tree or a fence for scratching. Understanding Aggression A common aggressive behavior that owners find perplexing is called redirected aggression. An example of this might be how your cat suddenly lashes out at you when you innocently pet him while heıs looking out the window. Your reaction to this seemingly unprovoked aggression is that the cat has, for not reason, turned mean. The simple truth is, he might have seen a strange cat outside and was already in a very agitated state when you suddenly startled him. The overreaction on his part was merely the result of the threat he was feeling from the presence of a cat in his domain. This doesnıt mean that you now have an aggressive cat. In most cases, heıll calm down in a few hours and be back to his old self. Sometimes it takes blocking access to that window until he forgets about the cat outside. Moonlight Madness Cats are nocturnal hunters, so it makes perfect sense for your kitty to prowl around after dark. If the nightly noise gets to be too much, try playing with him right before bed in order to work off some of his energy and satisfy his hunting desire. Cats display lots of funny, quirky, confusing, annoying, serious and even dangerous behavior that often leave owners scratching their head in wonder. Donıt assume your cat is weird. Find the cause of the behavior, whether itıs physical, medical, emotional or environmental, and youıll find it makes sense in a strange, feline way. Excerpts taken from article "Is Your Cat Crazy" by Pam Johnson Bennett in 1998 Special Issue of Pet Let Magazine |
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"Is Your Cat Crazy?"
You sure do enjoy copying and forwarding material, Kiran.
g -Toni |
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"Is Your Cat Crazy?"
Toni wrote:
: You sure do enjoy copying and forwarding material, Kiran. I don't do it too often but ran into some interesting articles I felt like sharing. Of course, I realize not everything will appeal to everyone. |
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"Is Your Cat Crazy?"
"Kiran" wrote in message Toni wrote: You sure do enjoy copying and forwarding material, Kiran. I don't do it too often but ran into some interesting articles I felt like sharing. Of course, I realize not everything will appeal to everyone. Don't worry about it. These ****wads will swallow *anything*. Even **** from people who buy "a little toothbrush for my cat". |
#5
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"Is Your Cat Crazy?"
Eyra Humpentestikular wrote:
: Don't worry about it. These ****wads will swallow *anything*. : Even **** from people who buy "a little toothbrush for my cat". Good sarcasm but I am not sure what you are trying to say. Toothbrushes for cats are sold, and after some trial and error my cat and I have adjusted to the weekly routine. Is it a good idea worth the trouble? For us yes, but everybody has to decide for themselves. It is a very small investment to try and see if it works for you. |
#6
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"Is Your Cat Crazy?"
Kiran writes:
Eyra Humpentestikular wrote: : Don't worry about it. These ****wads will swallow *anything*. : Even **** from people who buy "a little toothbrush for my cat". Good sarcasm but I am not sure what you are trying to say. Toothbrushes for cats are sold, and after some trial and error my cat and I have adjusted to the weekly routine. Is it a good idea worth the trouble? For us yes, but everybody has to decide for themselves. It is a very small investment to try and see if it works for you. Personally, I wouldn't traumatize our cat that way. If you managed to get your cat to accept the procedure, I'm duly impressed. |
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"Is Your Cat Crazy?"
"Dan Espen" wrote in message ... Kiran writes: Eyra Humpentestikular wrote: : Don't worry about it. These ****wads will swallow *anything*. : Even **** from people who buy "a little toothbrush for my cat". Good sarcasm but I am not sure what you are trying to say. Toothbrushes for cats are sold, and after some trial and error my cat and I have adjusted to the weekly routine. Is it a good idea worth the trouble? For us yes, but everybody has to decide for themselves. It is a very small investment to try and see if it works for you. Personally, I wouldn't traumatize our cat that way. If you managed to get your cat to accept the procedure, I'm duly impressed. They make chicken flavored toothpaste! It works with enzymes so it is not like your really have to scrub. One of my girls loves it, the other tolerates it for long enough for me to get enough on her teeth. I can tell a difference in their breath, lol Inviato da X-Privat.Org - Registrazione gratuita http://www.x-privat.org/join.php |
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"Is Your Cat Crazy?"
Dan Espen wrote:
: Personally, I wouldn't traumatize our cat that way. Why? Would you take them to the Vet, adminiter medicines and injections if their health needed that? Brushing teeth is picnic by comparison. : If you managed to get your cat to accept the procedure, : I'm duly impressed. Took some getting used to but I wouldn't say it was a big deal. Somewhere between combing and Vet visits, much less traumatic than the latter! How do you think I or my kids enjoy our hospital visits and procedures? In the end, I ealize that some things are good for us and for those we love even if somewhat stressful. Compared to what else we all put up with for our health, brushing teeth is not even a blip on the radar. |
#9
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"Is Your Cat Crazy?"
I gave away a cat from a litter of three. Plus my black cat. 6 mos old,
neutered, now his wife says she wants to declaw him . I am very angry, poor guy is now gonna be crippled so he can live with her declawed older femme. |
#10
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"Is Your Cat Crazy?"
not my black cat. hes all mine. I gave away a 5 month male orange tabby.
kept his two bros., plus my black cat. anyway, I told them not to declaw! |
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