Nominee for Best Cat Behavior Book

Thank you everyone who nominated my book Naughty No More! for the About.com Readers Choice Awards for the best book on cat behavior. Not only did I not expect it, I never knew about the contest until I got a wonderful letter a couple of nights ago informing me that my book was one of the nominees. I am truly honored, especially since I am in the company of two other highly respected authors who have written excellent books.

The voting is opened through March 21^st. You can vote every day on the About.com site. In order to vote, you need to be logged in either to your Facebook account or your About.com account.

Naturally, I want to win—and I would love your vote. But, I truly consider it an honor just to be nominated.

Thank you everyone who nominated me! One cool thing… is that I can now proudly wear the about.com nominee badge on the home page of my site!

The Cat Coach

Cats get bored, especially cats left alone for hours every day with nothing to do and no one to interact with. Sometimes these cats can become depressed and/or start exhibiting troublesome behaviors. Interactive toys, lots of high places to climb and horizontal and vertical scratchers can help keep them stimulated. Depending on the situation, a new cat buddy might chase away those boredom blues.

I am always on the lookout for toys that I can recommend to my clients. Although I like puzzle toys and toys that don’t need human involvement, I really like toys that need people on one end and cats on the other—the interaction helps strengthen the bonds between cats and their people.

I usually don’t review products. I don’t like writing negative reviews… so to be fair, I usually don’t write reviews. Occasionally I’ll give in and write a review—especially when I’ve found something that really rocks my socks. In order to rock my socks, the products have to earn top grades from my rambunctious cats. In regards to toys, this means, they have to not only excite and delight, but they have to withstand extreme play from a 22 pound Savannah and a gaggle of Bengals and one cantankerous Norwegian Forest Cat.

Two toys pass with flying colors.

The first are the Nekoflies toys, by Nekochan. These are toys with interchangeable kritters that attach to a wand. My cats paid attention even before I assembled them… I think they have special Cat ToyDar—sensing toys are theirs before they meet them. Neko sent me two wands and a Katarantula, Kragonfly and a Kittenator. The  Katarantula, Kragonfly and Kittenator are the toys that attach to the rods… Anyway, that’s the theory.

My intentions were to start with the Kittenator. As I was removing it from the box, Sudan, my Savannah, grabbed it while it was still in the box and ran through the house with it clenched firmly in his mouth. It was his until something better was unpacked—the  Kragonfly. All of my cats, including my 19 year old Maulee (19 on Valentines Day) went ballistic over these toys. So far the Neko toys have successfully survived sliming, chewing, being buried, chased, pulled and rolled on.

Neko toys should not be left within reach of cats unless there is someone to supervise. These are wand/pole toys and have pieces that can be potentially dangerous.

The second toys that impressed me are the durable Hyendry toys. My Bengals and Savannah enjoy carrying the alpaca and sheep hide toys throughout the house, sometimes throwing them up in the air, sometimes rolling on them. I never know where the toys will end up. Yesterday, during a meeting, I reached for my glasses, but found an alpaca toy filled with cat nip living in my purse. The day before I found a furry toy lump stuffed in my shoe.

They are Bengal and Savannah proof. And, they even withstand being mauled by a cranky Norwegian Forest Cat. These toys come with or without catnip.

Hyendry recently started producing Flutterhyde cat teasers. Since my cats haven’t been exposed to them yet, I can’t comment on them. Based on the other Hyendry products, I am sure they are durable and have extreme cat-appeal.

The Cat Coach

The Cat Coach

The Cat Coach

Cats have to scratch. In addition to giving themselves manicures, when cats scratch they mark their territory. They have scent glands on their paw pads that produce pheromones. So whenever they scratch, they leave information about themselves on the objects they scratch. They also mark visually through the physical scores and audibly through the sound. Think of it as a cat’s way of autographing objects. Cats scratch objects for other reasons as well. Scratching objects functions as an effective emotional release and is often a displacement behavior. Often cats will scratch when they are feeling stressed. Scratching also is an outlet for releasing excessive energy and after a nap, cats love to stretch and scratch. As you can see, cats have many reasons for scratching objects.

Scratching the Right Stuff

Sudan Scratching a Sisal Scratching Post

Cats can be trained to ignore the furniture and scratch designated objects. Start by making the targeted areas off limits to sharp little claws. If your cat is focusing her attentions on the sofa, then block it with either double sided-tape or cover the sofa with a fabric that is not satisfying to scratch. Sheets work great, tucked tightly around the sofa cushions.

Blocking areas is only half of the solution though. While making an area off limits to claws, put a sturdy scratching post directly in front of the now blocked area. The post needs to feel irresistible to the cat.  Some cats love the feel of sisal beneath their paws, others prefer cardboard or carpet. If your cat enjoys carpet, make sure that the scratching surface is a different texture then the carpet on your floor. Scratching posts need to be tall and stable—they should not tip over while they are exuberantly scratched. It is important that you positively reinforce your cat when she is scratching the post. My book Naughty No More! (link) has a chapter dedicated to training cats through clicker training and environmental changes to scratch the right objects and ignore the furniture.

The scratching post won’t have to live prominently in the middle of the living room forever. After the cat consistently scratches the post, move it a couple of inches each day, to another spot in the room. Don’t move it in back of the sofa or to a hidden area. Remember, your cat is scratching to mark territory, so the post still needs to be in a relatively high profile area.

Another effective alternative to declawing cats is fitting cats with Soft Paws®. These commercially available nail caps are placed on each claw and periodically replaced. Cats still scratch the furniture, but the nail caps keep the furniture protected. Although Soft Paws® are effective, they don’t train cats to scratch appropriate objects and avoid targeting the rugs and sofas.

Scratching is a natural instinctive activity that cats have to do. Even though cats have to scratch, they don’t have to target the carpets and sofas. Instead of declawing, furniture and rugs can become scratch-free through painless and humane methods.

The Cat Coach

The Cat Coach

The Cat Coach

The Cat Coach

The Cat Coach

Some cats enjoy the company of another cat—others prefer a solitary cat-free life. Before bringing home a new kitten for your cat, consider the needs of both your resident cat and the new kitten. Older cats who have lived successfully with other cats may appreciate a new friend—a cat friend who is similar in age. Kittens usually love to roll and frolic excessively with others—preferably another kitten with the same active, crazy life style.

180° of Separation
The activity levels for older adult cats and kittens are on the opposite sides of the spectrum. Older adult cats invented power napping whereas kittens are poster children for Energizer commercials. Senior cats prefer to nap and lounge by the window, entertained by the neighborhood viewed from the comfort of a safe perch. Kittens, by definition, don’t nap the day away—they prefer actively exploring their world instead of observing it. And there is nothing more fun for a kitten then to engage every resident animal and human in persistent, rollicking play. Understandably, senior cats are not on the same page. The constant demands from kittens annoy and can seriously stress them.

It is also unfair for the kitten. Kittens need every opportunity to rough house, play and chase another willing companion—preferably another kitten. It’s an important part of the physical and social development of kittens. Kittens learn vital skills from play—including how to hunt and survive. And play teaches kittens important social boundaries.

Cat Company
Choose wisely when searching for a cat to keep your senior company. If your cat had a friendly relationship with another cat in the past, then seek out a new cat-friend who is similar in age and activity level to your resident cat. The new cat should also have a history of successfully getting along with cats the same age and temperament as your senior kitty.

Avoid adopting a kitten as a friend for your senior cat. Most likely both the kitten and the elderly cat will be unhappy with the pairing. Instead of becoming best buddies, the kitten will be frustrated with not having a friend who can keep up with him. And the older adult cat will become annoyed and stressed by the kitten’s natural need for constant play and attention.

Both cat & kitten have valid points.

The Cat Coach