Cat Behavior Solutions

Well... apparently I touched a nerve. Last week's Cat Talk Radio episode, “My Cat Never Goes Outside — Does It Really Need a Rabies Vaccine?”, generated a lot more conversation than we expected. There were thoughtful questions. Personal experiences. Strong opinions. Some excellent points. And, yes, a few comments that made us think, Okay... let's go back and check the facts. And...

One of the most common questions I ask myself and hear from cat owners is: "My cat never leaves the house. Why does it need a rabies vaccine?" It's a logical question. If your cat spends every day indoors, where would rabies exposure even come from? The answer is more complicated than many people realize. Why Rabies Is Different Rabies isn't treated like other vaccines because i...

Walk down any pet food aisle and you'll find products designed to let cats eat whenever they want. Many people believe this is the most "natural" way to feed because they've heard that cats are grazers. But here's the truth: cats may eat several small meals each day, but they are not natural grazers. Wild cats don't stroll over to an always-full food bowl. Every meal begins with...

Have you ever wondered why your cat races after a feather wand, proudly parades a toy mouse through the house, or suddenly tears through the living room at midnight? The answer lies deep inside your cat's brain. Cats are hardwired predators, and their brains evolved to reward behaviors that helped them survive. While food is certainly important, the act of hunting itself trigger...

One of the most common questions I hear is, "Why did my cat suddenly do that?" Whether it's biting during petting, avoiding the litter box, hiding from visitors, or attacking another cat, many people assume the behavior appeared out of nowhere. It didn't. Every behavior has a beginning. I call the study of that beginning Triggerology™. What Is a Trigger? A trigger is anything th...