Leaving a beloved pet home while you travel can be a source of stress for many people. It can also be a very stressful experience for the pet. In the post Jessica Dwyer Bartlett, a professional pet sitter and cat behavior consultant, adds her insights on setting your cat and your pet sitter up for … Read more
One of the two most common reasons cat guardians come to me for behavior consultation is conflict between cats in the home (the other reason is litter box avoidance). A situation where cat-cat conflict can develop is when a new, young cat comes into a home with a resident, older cat. These “May-December” (younger-older) relationships … Read more
Not the Right Fit Cats are living beings with their own personalities, needs, and wants. That means they will each have their own unique requirements of a home. Some need peace and quiet, others lots of play and engagement. They may be happiest with a feline (or canine) friend or prefer to have only human … Read more
It’s a commonly held belief that cats just can’t be trained like dogs can. Cats are independent and stubborn and there’s just no way they’d “give in” to what we humans want them to do. Right? Wrong! Cats absolutely can be trained if you understand them. Don’t believe me? Read on to see if I … Read more
Do you live with a wild child who never seems to stop moving? Is your cat seemingly in need of play 24/7? Do you wish your cat would just CHILL OUT for one minute, please?!? Let’s explore some reasons for this issue and ways of creating some peace. Why It’s So Hard To Chill Out … Read more
Cats are lovable in so many ways, but they can also annoy us, damage things, and leave a trail of chaos in their wake! If you find yourself constantly saying “no” to your cat, it can get exhausting. Turn things around by saying “yes” instead, and see how this may be even more effective. Why … Read more
Hearing your cat hiss or growl can be scary. You might worry that they are going to harm you or your other pets. Hissing and growling is aggressive behavior, after all, so it needs to be stopped immediately, right? Vocab of the Day: Ritualized Aggression Before diving into why your cat might be hissing or … Read more
Behavior and health go hand in hand. If your cat’s behavior has changed, a vet visit is your first step. When To Talk To Your Vet Behavior and physical health are very tightly linked. Cats are masters at hiding signs of pain or illness so you cannot assume that you would see clear signs. Behavior … Read more
UPDATED: May 2022 – This post was originally written in 2019. Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of helping many families introduce or reintroduce their cats. I’ve also continued my education on the topic of cat social behavior. This post has been updated to reflect some changes in my thinking on the topic. Although generally … Read more
There’s nothing like the smell of cat pee to make you drop everything to search for an answer. A cat that is peeing outside the litter box can do damage to both your house and your relationship with them. Finding a solution to get them back in the box, and quickly, is important. Peeing outside … Read more