Question from Sandra:

My cats are very curious cats ( like most cats ). But when you try to put a CD in the PC and it starts to spin they totally start to become boxing kitties. Also when you try to print out things, they are almost in the printer with there heads. Now I tried to find some information on Internet why cats have such an obsession with CD players and printer, but I couldn’t find anything. Only some movies of cats with the same thing. So apparently these things triggers something at the cats. I was wondering if you maybe knew some more about this behaviour?

Answer from Amy:

Hi Sandra,

Indeed many cats get in a combat mode when a CD player starts spinning or a printer printing. What you see from your kitties is a display of aggression.

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Question from Amber:

Our kitten seems to be eating the adult food is that okay for him? And our adult cats keep eating the kitten food. Do you know why that is?

Answer from Amy:

Do you feed the cats together? If you do, when you feed them, do the adult cats take over the kitten’s bowl first or the other way around? Or do your adult cats prefer the kitten food to their own food?

Sometimes cats eat off each other’s food to show a sign of dominance. Other times it could be that they prefer that particular smell of food. Remember cats rely on their sense of smell strongly when it comes to tasting food.

In most cases, it is OK for adult cats to eat kitten food. Kitten food usually contains more protein and fat that little kittens need for their development. However, kittens should stick with kitten food until they reach adulthood so that they can obtain adequate nutrition necessary for them to build a strong and healthy body.

If your cats like to eat off each other’s food, the best way to deal with it is elevate the adult feeding bowls to higher places where only your adult cats can reach. Another option is to feed them in separate rooms.

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Question from Sarah:

I am planning on adopting a cat from a local shelter in the next few months. I am now living in a one bedroom apartment that has a very small bathroom. I was wondering what a good place would be for a litter box, for kitty and my comfort? Or if there is any type of litter box that would suit my small space situation? Thank you so much for reading this.

Answer from Amy:

Hi Sarah,

Thank you so much for considering adopting a cat from the shelter. I am very excited for you.

Cats have several litter box pet-peeves:

1. Placing their food too close to the litter
2. Keeping the litter box too close to their hang out spots
3. Using the litter box in a noisy area
4. Having no privacy while eliminating
5. Dirty litter box

Keep Food & Water Away from the Litter Box

The reason to keep food and water as far away as possible from the litter box is because cats have a very strong sense of smell. It is their most reliable apparatus to identify objects. Cats have a blind spot where they cannot see things right underneath their chin very well, so when they are eating, they depend heavily upon their nose to tell them where the food is and how tasty it is. That explains why when cats are having a cold or a runny nose, they often lose appetite because they simply cannot smell the food. The odor from the litter can throw off their appetite if the food is placed too close to the litter.

Keep the Litter Box away from Their Hang out Spots

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Question from Emelene,

Hi, I have an one-year-old female Maine Coon.  She does not allow me to brush her.  In fact, she will attack me when I try to brush her.  What can I do?  She needs to be groomed because of her long hair.  I hope you can give me some advise. Thank you, Emelene.

Answer from Amy:

Hi Emelene,

Though some cats have no trouble being brushed, others may be very resistant, especially when you are brushing their belly or legs. Below are a few tips for grooming kitties that are not fond of being brushed:

Tip 1.

Make sure your kitty’s nails are trimmed before you brush her. Often cats’ natural defense mechanism compels them to scratch when certain areas of their body are touched. Keeping their nails clipped short will help reduce your chances of being injured.

Tip 2.

Pet your cat gently and put her in a calm and relaxed state. Touch your cat’s back, sides, belly, tail and legs as you pet her so as to get your kitty used to touching. Speak with a soft, somewhat high-pitched tone to your cat through out the entire process.

Tip 3.

Allow your kitty to sniff and smell the brush. Cats are more nervous with things that they are not familiar with. Since cats rely heavily on their sense of smell, it would be helpful to let your cat inspect the brush before using it. Your cat will initially sniff it, then once her nose Read More Meow »

Question from Diane:

I have a 7-year-old neutered male cat who sometimes fights with his brother and only one of his sisters (he has two). He will jump on them and bunny-kick them very aggressively and they are obviously in pain when he does this – as the screaming and flying fur attests. It’s like he’s temporarily in a trance. He acts quite normally before and after, I think, and I’m really not sure how to explain this behaviour to the vet. It’s been going on for about two months now but there’s been no major changes in the house in that time. The “queen” of the house died in January (no blood relation to this cat) but I can’t link it to that since it was so long ago. Any ideas? Have you heard of that behaviour before? Thanks for your insight!

Answer from Amy:

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Vivi

Question from Lourdes,

Hello! My cat Vivi who is almost 3 months old is literally a problem cat. She jumps on counters to steal food, scratches on things, nibbles on my fingers and toes, sometimes she jumps on my hair, she runs everywhere and it causes some of the furniture at home to fall. I have tried the clapping and shouting my loudest NO! to her but she does not mind. She gets scared for a while then she will do it again. She gets too annoying already and its a shame to admit but when I get so frustrated on her behavior. I am getting desperate and sometimes I wish I had not adopted her, which afterwards I regret because even though she is like that I love her dearly. I just wish she would behave. Sometimes i miss my quiet life before I had her. Now everyday all i do is shout and clap my hands and get annoyed and cry, I think it’s not healthy anymore Please help!

Answer from Amy:

Hi Lourdes,

Thank you for your question. I understand it must be frustrating for you to see all that is happening, but don’t worry. There are things you can do to mend your relationship and make you and your kitten’s life more enjoyable.

Stealing food off the kitchen counter:

Clapping hands or using an air-horn works because she will associate stealing food with an annoyingly loud sound. However, once you incorporate shouting at the top of your lungs or even gesturing or using your hands to brush her off the kitchen counter, she will quickly learn that you are the person that tries to stop her and she needs to find another way to get to the food.

So the key here is to set it up so your cat doesn’t know it’s  you. Many animals can easily learn that they can’t do certain things with a human present, but they can when the person is gone.

In this case, you can set her up, leaving out some food on the counter the same way you do every time she comes around to grab it. Once she has her paw on the food, use an air-horn or something to startle her. If you are not present, that would work even better.

This may take a while to train your kitten especially for cats that have learned how things work around the kitchen. If you think your kitten knows you more than you think, setting her up without a human around is probably most effective.

Remember that cats Read More Meow »

Question from Amanda:

I would like to know why my female cat  always washes me?

Answer from Amy:

Cats love to lick. In fact, they spend about one third of their waking time grooming, whether they are cleaning themselves or others. In a multi-cat household, it is common to see cats grooming each other. It is a way for them to show affection.

Likewise, when cats are licking their owner’s skin, they are showing a plethora of love to their owners. It is how they say “Thank you” and “I love you.” It is cute when they do it, but cat grooming can last for hours. Their tongue can be a bit rough to our bare skin. [See Suckling Behavior in Kittens]

Cats show their affection in many other subtle ways. Sometimes they blink their eyes at you as a way to tell you how much they love you. You can blink back to show you love them too.

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Question from Mary Beth:

I would really like to know why my 2 year old male cat eats the bed linens (including comforters and blankets), bath towels, our clothes, socks and shoe laces? He’s otherwise healthy and loves to play.

Thank you,

Mary Beth Bear-Cub’s Grandmom

Answer from Amy:

Thank you for your question, Mary. Some cats seem to have a urge to chew, lick or suckle on fabric especially wool. Other than fabric, a few cats are found of items such as plastic bags, human hair, cardboard and shoelaces. What causes this kind of behavior? Is it harmful to cats? What can we do to discourage our cat from doing it?

Causes:

Is it medical?

The first thing we want to find out is if this type of behavior is a result of a medical condition. Cats that have anemia or diabetes may also chew or suckle on non-food items. It is a good idea to consult a veterinarian to rule out any medical causes.

Is it nutritional?

If you are feeding your cat a high quality food and your cat looks healthy and everything seems normal, it is unlikely that this behavior is caused by nutritional deficiency. Cats that are not getting proper daily nutrients, may develop the tendency to chew on non-food items.

Is it genetic or is it due to early weaning?

Many cats especially Siamese or Burmese require a longer nursing period. The standard age for weaning is around 6 – 7 weeks of age, but it is not long enough for the Oriental breeds. Kittens have a strong tendency to suckle as it is part of their instinct. Most of the fabric eating behavior is found in Oriental breeds or their crosses, this could be partly genetic, but it can also be attributed to early weaning.

If kittens lost their mother at an early age, they could also develop such behavior. However, many cats simply outgrow it by the time they are 2 years of age, though there is a number of those who carry the behavior with them for the rest of their life.

Is it Harmful? Read More Meow »

Question from Arlene:

My Himmy, Misha is almost 18 (12/21). He is healthy, his coat is shiny and thick, and his appetite is strong. At his age, he is not too active, but sometimes he still wants to play for a little while. The only problem I have is that almost every day he vomits. Not food or hairballs, but a loose, watery stuff. Nothing solid at all. I hesitate taking him to the vet, because whenever I do, he comes home sicker. He is very high strung. I hope you can help me. Thank you.

Answer from Amy:

Hi Arlene,

Your cat is probably vomiting bile on an empty stomach.

There are many reasons that cause a cat to vomit. Cats seem to have a more sensitive digestive tract than most other species. Some cats retch frequently, but do not show signs of illness such as weight loss, dehydration, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. It is difficult to determine the culprit of vomiting in these cats.

Most of cats’ vomiting problems are caused by consuming things they cannot digest. However, other common causes are inflammatory bowel disease, kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, heartworms, cholangiohepatitis, pancreatitis and cancer according to Dr. Mike Richards. Also, Infectious diseases or parasites can induce vomiting. Physical obstructions in the digestive tract can also upset a cat’s stomach, but sometimes it is accompanied by foul odor from the rear and loss of appetite.

Solutions:

First of all, you can try to figure out the severity of your cat’s vomiting. If he is retching frequently and losing more water than he could replenish, it is important to have him seen by a vet ASAP. Severe vomiting can indicate an obstruction in the digestive system. Physical obstructions are usually treated with IV fluids, but sometimes they can only be removed surgically. However, if the vomiting is intermittent and your cat is able to retain water, you can try the following home remedies recommended by Nelson Animal Hospital. Read More Meow »