General Cat Questions

Q: What kind of toys are best for cats?
A: Their favorite playthings (that I give them) are catnip sacks, wadded up paper, and paper bags. On occasion they will deign to play with a ping pong ball, but most anything else is a waste of money. The things they choose for themselves run the gamut from pens and pencils to pill bottles and eyedroppers. Plastic drinking straws make wonderful toys and make a satisfying crunch when the cat bites them, but don't let him shred them and swallow the pieces). You can attach a piece of string to a stick and tie an "accordioned" bit of paper to the other end and wave it in front of him or try a laser-beam type toy that he can chase, or even one of those "gloves" with very long dangling "fingers." Top of Page

Q: Why doesn't my cat like catnip?
A: It may be too young. Most kittens aren't interested in catnip until they are close to a year in age. Top of Page

Q: Are all cats similar in personality?
A: No more so than all humans. Some are "love bugs", some are nearly untouchable. Some are "hunt-aholics", others will ignore even the most obvious prey. Some continue to be active and playful long past kittenhood, while others quickly turn into rug potatoes. Top of Page

Q: What does "meow" mean?
A: Most cats never actually say "meow". Each has his or her own voice and vocabulary consisting of a few basic commands. I'm not kidding here, folks. Cats don't generally have a lot to say, but what they do say, they mean. The command you will hear most often is "I want". "I want food." "I want out." "I want in." "I want attention." Next up is a simple "hello" and then "why did you wake me up?". Most cat vocalizations are directed at humans, since we generally have whatever it is they want. The ones they use for each other include the aforementioned "hello", but more often it is a less-than-friendly "You're in my territory", or the more emphatic "Get the bloody heck out of my territory". Of course, females in heat have their own very special calls, as do the responding males, and queens with kits have a peculiar way of calling their young. If you get a cat who wants to carry on a conversation for its own sake, consider yourself very lucky. Top of Page

Q: Why does my kitten paw the floor next to his dish after eating?
A: The pawing and digging is an instinctive behavior. In the wild, cats often bury their food remains (as well as their feces) as a protective measure so their enemies can't track them. Top of Page

Q: Do cats cry real tears?
A: Cats' eyes will "tear" or water for a number of reasons, including dust, a scratch from another cat, or allergies or clogged tear ducts. Some contagious diseases, such as upper respiratory infections will cause tearing. Cats do have emotions such as grieving or depression, but they express them in ways such as lethargy, withdrawal, or disinterest in food. Top of Page

Q: Why do you oppose declawing destructive cats?
A: Declawing a cat requires amputation of the entire first joint, and is naturally painful. Clawing is a natural activity that provides needed exercise, especially for an indoor cat. For a more detailed answer see my article You CAN Have Your Cats and Your Furniture Too. Top of Page

Food and Eating Questions

Q: Recently, my six month old cat quit eating his food entirely. Instead, he's started finding his way into cabinets and onto shelves and stealing ramen noodles and oatmeal. We can't get him to stop this behavior, and beyond being tired of cleaning up ramen crunchies on the floor, we're worried about him not eating anything nutricious.
A: Ramen noodles and oatmeal are nutritious from a human standpoint, but definitely not what a growing kitten needs. If the food you're giving him is strictly canned food, he may not be getting the veggies he needs. Most dry foods have a vegetable component, but canned foods are often strictly meat. Get a large low pot and try growing him some cat grass. Most pet supply stores have the seeds, and they grow quickly. Meanwhile keep the cupboards locked and get him a small bag of good quality dry food. Top of Page

Q: I just adopted a 7 month old cat that was staying in a foster home. The lady that had him mixed in wet food with the dry. I really don't wanna start him on wet food because then that's all they want. He's hardly eating his dry food. Everyone is telling me to just keep the dry out and if he's hungry enough he'll eat, but I feel bad because I don't want him to be hungry. Everytime I go in the kitchen he runs out there and stays at my feet constantly. What can I do ?
A: Most cats eventually settle in to a combination diet of wet and dry food, but if you're set on strictly dry, just set it out and eventually he will eat it. Just be sure to have plenty of fresh water available at all times. Top of Page

Q: Lately my cat has been licking all the juice or gravy of of his food and leaving the solid part. He won't eat dry food or anything solid. What could be the problem?
A: It sonds like your cat may have dental problems. Check his gums for redness amd his teeth for tartar build-up. An abcessed tooth can be a serious health problem, and too much tartar can make eating uncomfortable. If this is the case, he will need professional attention. Top of Page

Q: I've been giving my new cat a lot of cat treats to make her feel at home and now she won't eat anything else. Will she harm herself if she doesn't eat at all?
A: Not likely. A cat's metabolism is geared to the "feast and famine" cycle that a cat in the wild encounters as a matter of course. Your finicky feline can go several days without food. She will eat when she gets hungry enough. Hold your ground and only give her a treat AFTER she eats her regular food. Top of Page

Q: Do I need a special cat food to prevent hairballs?
A: In most cases, no. A regular grooming schedule, combined with a good hairball remedy such as Petromalt or Hartz administered weekly should be all you need. Top of Page

Q: Which is better for my cat, canned food, soft-moist, or dry?
A: Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Canned food is smelly but tasty and your cat will need less water on the side. Notice I said less, not none. Dry food is usually less expensive and can be left out all day as long as your cat is not inclined to overeat. On the downside, your cat will need a lot of water , but try not to encourage drinking immediately after a meal. A full load of dry food will swell and cause regurgitation. I've never tried soft-moist food, so I can't really speak to that issue. As long as whatever you give them is a quality brand, your cat should live a long and healthy life. Top of Page

Cat vs Cat Questions

Q: I recently adopted two kittens from my local shelter. I've noticed that if one kitten has a toy in his mouth and the other gets too close, the first one will growl. Is there anything I can do to stop this?
A: Congratulations on getting two kittens! There's nothing wrong with one kitten growling at the other under these circumstances. It's entirely normal, and you're not going to be able to train them to "share," as you would with a human child. Your kitten is instictively reacting to a perceived threat, in protecting his "prey" from his playmate. The only time you need to step in is if one kitten is getting hurt, but this is extremely rare. Top of Page

Q: I recently moved in with my boyfriend. I have a 9 month old kitten who is completely fearless, while he has a 4 year old mixed breed who is more solitary. His cat is having a very hard time adjusting. She stays under our bed and won't eat, drink, or poop.
A: Your roomate's cat needs some time to adjust. Try locking her in the bathroom with food, water, bedding, and a litterbox for a week or so. Let her get used to your cat's smell under the door. Then install a chain lock and block the door open a couple of inches so they two cats can sniff and poke at each other through the crack. When they've broken the ice, take the younger cat in with the older one for a few minutes once or twice a day and hold it on your lap. Just make sure you're wearing long sleeves and heavy trousers. Let the older cat take the lead. When she's ready, she'll make the first move. Top of Page

Q: One of my cats (both are male) will attack the other by straddling him and biting his neck and back. The second cat seems to be paralyzed when this happens and stays still and squeals for help. At other times the first cat will initiate grooming with the second. They must have a special bond to be doing this, but I always have to keep the cats separated when I'm not home.
A: Both your cats are behaving normally and doing what cats do. Cat A is not attacking and injuring Cat B, but simply asserting his dominance and even engaging in a little sex play (no, he isn't gay). Cat B simply submits. The fact that Cat A initiates affectionate grooming means they have their relationship worked out, and Cat B is on the bottom. His responses are normal for the situation. There is no need for them to be separated. Top of Page

Cat vs Human Questions

Q: Why does my cat bite and scratch me when I try to play with him?
A: This is how kittens learn to play with each other. First, trim his claws. This should be done regularly, anyway. Then, stop playing with him with your hands. Let your cat wrestle with a catnip-stuffed toy or a crumpled up ball of paper that he can bat around. If he grabs your hand, tell him "no" in a firm voice. Slowly remove your hand from his clutches. Don't yank it away or he'll think it's a game and grab it again. Grasp him by the scruff of the neck and firmly push him down toward the floor, while saying "No!" in a firm tone. Hold him in this position for only three or four seconds and release. If he still persists, tap him on the nose and say no. Top of Page

Q: Why does my cat lick me?
A: Sometimes it's for the salt on you skin, but most often it's a sign that they have accepted you as part of their family, the same way they wash each other. Another way of showing affection is butting their forehead against yours. Rubbing against your leg doesn't count. That's just territorial marking. Top of Page

Q: My two cats drive me absolutely crazy at night scratching the bed and walls to get me up. How do I get them to leave me alone?
A: Cats are normally nocturnal animals, and it is natural that they want their human to wake up and entertain them. The only long-term solution is ignore them. Shut the bedroom door if necessary, and put earplugs in your ears. It may take a couple of weeks, but once they get the idea that you aren't going to respond, they will find other ways of amusing themselves. Top of Page

Q: My new cat doesn't seem to be very loving. He lets me pet him a little, but won't sit on my lap or let me hold him at all. The cat I had before was very loving and affectionate.?
A: It is the nature of a cat to be independent and solitary. How "cuddly" they are depends a lot on how much they were handled in the first few weeks of life. In the wild, only the lion lives in groups. With time and lots of patience, your cat may become more affectionate, but don't count on it. Lap cats are few and far between. Top of Page

Cat Behavior Questions

Q: My cat won't sleep in the basket-type bed that I bought him. Instead I find him curled up behind the bedroom door.
A: Cats like privacy and seurity when they sleep. Try getting him an enclosed bed, or at least put his bed in a quiet corner out of traffic. High places are also a good choice. Top of Page

Q: I have an 8-month cat that I am getting spayed in about 20 days. She's always been an outside cat but comes inside for hours at a time. After her surgery, she has to recover inside. I got her a litter box, and a "Portable Pet Home" which I sprayed with catnip spray, but she won't go inside. Instead she tries to sleep in the litter box I got at the same time. How do I get her to not sleep in it and use it as she should? And how do I get her to use her bed? .
A: First, wash out the catnip spray. 8 months is too young to appreciate it, and it's just a distraction. Next, get something with your own scent on it, such as a small pilow or old sweater, anything that smells like "mom" (that's you). Put this in the bed along with the loudest ticking small clock you can find. The ticking approximates the mother cat's heartbeat and is soothing to the kitten. It's not unusual for a young kitten to try to nest in the litter box, but they will usually switch if you give them an attractive substitute. Top of Page

Q: I have a 7 month old kitten that is constantly meowing. The vet checked him and says he is healthy, but the crying continues. What can I do to get him to stop?
A: Try playing music for him. Lullabies don’t usually work, nor will classical music. They need something with a strong beat. Different cats like different types of music, but most go for 60's rock, but nothing shrill or raucous like heavy metal, and don't play it too loud, they don't like it too noisy. Top of Page

Q: Why are my neutered cats spraying? I have two cats, a female about 12 years old and a male three years old. When the three year old came into the home, I did notice a problem with the female marking different areas. It wasn't too bad at the time, but now it has got to the point that both cats are doing it everywhere.
A: First eliminate physical causes, especially in your 12-year-old female, as inappropriate elimination can also be a sign of urinary tract inflammation or infection. Stress-induced urine marking is probably one of the most difficult behavioral problems to correct. If possible, confine them to separate rooms, preferably with vinyl flooring and with no residual markings. If they stop marking, wait a couple of weeks and try gradually re-introducing them to each other, no more than a few minutes a day at first. Top of Page

Q: How soon will my neutered cat quit spraying? He was two years old when we finally got him neutered.
A: There is no automatic cutoff triggered by neutering of this learned behavior, especially in a fully developed cat. Some cats will spray indefinitely, even though they have been neutered. You'll need to completly remove any odor of his previous spraying with an enzymatic cleaner, but this may or may not work. I have had several cats that I had to keep confined in a room with vinyl flooring, and mop up almost every day. Top of Page

Q: We have two indoor cats who are constantly getting on top of the kitchen countertops. Any suggestions?
A: Place a several wide strips of cardboard along the edge of the counter so that four to five inches of the cardboard hangs over the edge. Put some pennies in some empty soda cans and put the cans on the inside edge of the cardboard to weight them down. When the cat jumps up to the counter it will land on the overhang, which will give way, toppling the cans. The noise and the fall should discourage the cat from jumping on the counter again. This may have to be repeated two or three times. Top of Page

Q: My cat uses the scratching post but he likes the carpet better. What can we do about this?
A: Many cats prefer a horizontal surface to a vertical one. Try wrapping carpeting around a large piece of plywood and putting it on the floor over hre favorite spot. Spray it with catnip spray, and when she starts using it, gradually move it into a more convenient place. Or you might want to try one of the commercial corrugated cardboard scratching trays. They are a bit messier, but cats love them. Top of Page

Q: My cat doesn't meow very much? Is something wrong with her?
A: Not at all. Some cats simply aren't very vocal. Take it as a compliment. She has everything she wants, so why complain? Top of Page

Q: My cat uses the carpet instead of the litter box.
A: Just close the cat in a room with the litter box on a hard, bare floor with no rugs or other furniture except the cat's bed. Cats prefer something soft to go to the toilet on, and most animals won't soil their own bedding. It may take a week or two, but once it gets the habit, it probably won't break it again. Top of Page

Really Strange Behavior Questions

Q: Why does my cat insist on licking or even chewing plastic bags from the grocery store?
A: Most plastic nowdays is made with corn starch to make it biodegradeable, and surprisingly, many cats have a taste for corn. Under no circumstances should you let her eat the plastic. It can become impacted in the intestines and cause a potentially fatal blokage. Top of Page

Q: My cat steals my mail when it comes through the mail slot in the door.
A: The only thing you can do is to fasten a container of some type under the slot to catch the mail so the cat can't get it." Top of Page

Cat Medical Questions

Q: My cat is shedding like crazy and it isn't summer. Is there something wrong with him?
A: All cats shed some year round, and indoor cats tend to shed almost continuously. In addition, a lot of cats go through a six- or seven-year shed cycle when they seem to shed more than normal for several months at a time. A daily brushing with a plastic-bristled brush will alleviate most of the mess, and your cat will love you for it. Top of Page

Q: My cat was fine until we moved into a new mobile home, but two or three months later she started scratching and licking all over her body. She has started losing hair in her lower stomach, the back part of her legs, and near the top of her chest. How can I help my nearly-naked cat?
A: Sounds as if your cat is allergic to something in the new mobile home. Unfortunately, new homes, and especially mobile homes, are rife with toxins, most notably formaldehyde, which "outgas" from carpeting, cabinets, paneling, insulated drapes, in short, just about the whole house. The best solution (for the cat) would be to have her stay with a nearby friend or relative for a few months until the outgassing process is more or less resolved. If this is not possible, at least ventilate the house as much as possible. If the weather is warm enough, open all the windows and set up a fan to pull fresh air through. In cooler weather, open all the windows for a couple of minutes every hour while you are home.. You won't lose that much heat bcause the walls and floor hold the heat. Your vet might be able to prescribe something for the itching. Top of Page