Recommendations and suggestions on the who, what, when, where, and how of solving behavior problems.
When it comes to modifying your cat’s behavior, consistency is necessary. Cat behavior is driven by both active reinforcement and habit (AKA, a history of reinforcement. To make lasting change, your approach needs to be predictable and consistent. Setting Realistic Expectations One of the most common mistakes people make is expecting instant results, and for … Read more
Could your cat be in pain? None of us want that to be the case, but knowing how to identify pain is key to supporting your cat’s well-being. There is No Test for Pain There is no test or diagnostic that your vet can run to definitively rule out pain. This includes bloodwork, urine testing, … Read more
Let’s be honest: most behavior problems in cats don’t actually have a quick fix. They require time and human effort. BUT! Sometimes a small change can make a big difference. These “quick fixes” are either focused on a thing you can do once right now (or this weekend) or specific, highly-effective changes to add to … Read more
Chewing isn’t unique to dogs! Many cats enjoy nibbling or chewing and it can be a natural and fun activity. But for other cats and households, it can be a big problem! Photo Credit: Litkei Szabolcs/Pexels.com What is the Behavior? Chewing comes in many different forms, ranging from concerning and dangerous to normal. What are … Read more
Cats don’t scratch just to ruin your furniture! Scratching is a behavioral and physical need and cannot be eliminated completely. Cats scratch to stretch their bodies, condition their claws (not just sharpen them but keep them healthy), and to communicate with others in their environment. Along with the visible marks, they use pheromones from their … Read more
Does your cat show signs of stress, such as peeing outside the box, when you travel, even though they love the pet sitter? Do they take days to recover from vet visits, changes in routine, or even new furniture? Does every little thing seem to set them off, leaving you feeling sad for them or … 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