Feline Behavior

Review: Play With Your Cat! by Mikel Delgado

Books, Feline Behavior| 5 Comments

play-with-your-cat

This post contains affiliate links*

If you’ve followed me for several years, you may remember our Ask the Cat Behaviorist column with Mikel Delgado on The Conscious Cat. Mikel is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and Certified Cat Behavior Consultant who has been working with cats for over 20 years. She worked as a cat behavior specialist at the San Francisco SPCA for eight years before co-founding Feline Minds, where she offers assistance for cat owners, animal shelters, and corporations.Continue Reading

Why You Shouldn’t Take Cat Bites Lightly

Feline Behavior, Human Health| 6 Comments

cat-bites

It can happen even with the most laid back cat: an overexcited cat bites her human during play, or while accepting a treat. In more extreme cases, redirected aggression can cause a cat to lash out at the humans in the household and cause severe damage. And of course, most of us will pet stray cats we meet along the way, but not all seemingly friendly cats remain friendly after being approached by strangers. Regardless of how a cat bite happens, it is not something to take lightly.Continue Reading

Can Cats Tell Time?

Feline Behavior| 4 Comments

cat-clock-time

Most of you will probably answer this questions with a resounding “yes!” After all, our cats all seem to know exactly when it’s time to eat, and most cats aren’t shy about complaining if meal service is slow. This innate sense of timing when it comes to mealtime suggests that they have a distinct way of perceiving the passage of time.Continue Reading

How to Create a Safe Space for Your Cat

Feline Behavior, Products| 2 Comments

sleepypod-mobile-pet-bed-blush-pink

This post is sponsored by Sleepypod*

At their core, cats are still wild animals, and while we’ve invited them into our homes to share our lives, we can’t expect them to completely give up all their instincts. We have to look at our living space from the cat’s point of view and provide an environment that keeps them safe and stimulated at the same time. This includes creating a safe space your cat can retreat to when she wants quiet time. This is especially important during potentially stressful situations such as home remodeling, inclement weather or any other disruptions to your cat’s routine.Continue Reading

I Am Pawso: The Bonded Pair

Feline Behavior| 2 Comments

Emergency Preparedness for Cats

Feline Behavior| 10 Comments

cat-in-carrier

Natural disasters are becoming more frequent. Wildfires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards: any of these may force you to leave your home on short notice. Evacuating is often easier for dogs, and some may even consider it a fun adventure; simply clip on a leash and a dog will follow you anywhere. But most cats are creatures of habit, and having their normal routines and environments disrupted results in stressed-out kitties that may end up running and hiding. It’s therefore crucial to have a cat-friendly emergency plan in place in the event you ever have to leave your home in a hurry. Continue Reading

Coping with Separation Anxiety When You Have to Leave Your Cat

Feline Behavior| 12 Comments

cat-window

Separation anxiety disorder (SAD) is a well-documented psychological condition in which an individual experiences excessive anxiety regarding separation from home or from those to whom the individual has a strong emotional attachment. And while we usually think of separation anxiety in terms of pets being stressed about being separated from their humans, I think it exists in reverse, too. Continue Reading

My Cat-astropic Year, Part Three: Rescuing and Rehoming a Siamese Cat

Feline Behavior| 3 Comments

siamese-cat-garden

Guest post by Ingrid R. Niesman MS, PhD

During the first few months of 2022, I had two apparently healthy and happy Siamese boys. Until I didn’t.

Uli was diagnosed with asthma in January. Click here to read The Challenges of Treating Feline Asthma for his story. Then in March, heartbreak struck again when I lost Big boy Paterson. Click  here to read Losing a Cat to Aggressive Lymphoma Highlights the Need for Better Diagnostics and Treatment.

This is the third part in my series about important feline topics, seen through my own experiences in 2022. Continue Reading

Ask the Cat Behaviorist: How to Help a Shy Cat Come Out of His Shell

Feline Behavior| 2 Comments

shy-cat

Laura Cassiday is a certified cat behavior consultant (CCBC) and owner of Pawsitive Vibes Cat Behavior and Training. Laura is certified through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. She is also a Fear Free certified animal trainer. Laura recently published her first book, The Complete Guide to Adopting a Cat (affiliate link*.) She works with cat guardians remotely from all over the world, as well as in-person in her local area of Baltimore, Maryland. For more information, visit Pawsitive Vibes Cat Behavior and Training.Continue Reading