By nature, cats are solitary creatures, although some cats are able to live quite happily in groups. Bringing a new cat into your home may change his whole outlook on the people and other animals around him. If you make introductions carefully and sensitively, your cat will grow into a confident, friendly animal that can … Read more
There is no doubt that the most important time in a new puppy or kitten’s life is between the ages of 3 and 12 weeks. During this short timespan, the adolescent will learn who it is, who you are, and who and what all of those other living, moving beings surrounding it are as well. … Read more
Proper training is definitely the key to a happy owner-pet relationship. It establishes your dominance in the relationship between you and your cat right from the start, and it can help prevent many behavioral challenges from rearing their ugly heads later on. Solid training can also keep your cat out of troublesome situations that could … Read more
Cats need some excitement in their lives to ensure their physical and mental well-being—especially indoor pets that are left alone at home all day. With a little thought and commitment, you can give your cat a fun home life. Playing games together is a positive way of interacting with your cat, but you should also … Read more
In rural areas, feral cats are sometimes welcomed by farmers and other landowners for their role as low-maintenance rodent controllers in stables, barns, and feed stores. Some cat adoption centers have exploited this by offering farmers feral cats that they have collected and taken into care. Properly managed, such programs can be a satisfactory solution … Read more
The decision as to whether to have a cat declawed is certainly a controversial one, yet it is one that needs to be made based on individual circumstances. For indoor cats that refuse to stick to their scratching post, declawing is certainly a better solution than drug therapy or worse yet, eviction from the home. … Read more
Scratching comes naturally to cats, which use this behavior to keep their retractable claws manicured and to mark their territories. As a result, scratching, though it might become destructive and annoying, should be viewed as a perfectly natural behavior. If your cat is engaged in destructive scratching, you haven’t satisfied a basic need. A scratching … Read more
Contrary to popular belief, some cats can be just as trainable as dogs. Keep in mind, though, that the independent nature of cats can make certain training procedures a bit tricky, but if you maintain an understanding attitude toward your task, your frustrations will be minimal and your rewards plentiful. As with dogs, all cats … Read more
Cats are generally solitary animals. Highly independent, they have developed subtle and complex ways of behaving and communicating that often send confusing messages to their owners. Cats do, however, have a range of other signals that you can learn to interpret. Facial Expressions and Body Language Your cat will give you signals using his ears, … Read more
Cats of domestic descent that have known little or no human contact, or former pets that have become homeless for various reasons, are termed “feral.” Although feral cats live in a wild state, they have no relationship to the true wildcat species found throughout the world. Being resourceful animals, cats that have strayed or been … Read more