List of articles № 11
Instruction: how to properly care for a cat's claws.
Proper maintenance of a cat’s claws delivers measurable health advantages. Regular trimming prevents overgrowth, which reduces the risk of painful nail fractures and associated infections. By keeping the claw length appropriate, cats retain comfortable gait patterns, decreasing strain on joints and hind‑limb muscles.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: what to do if a cat has marked you.
Cats mark primarily to communicate. The behavior serves several functional purposes that become apparent when an animal feels compelled to leave a scent trail on a person or object. Territorial assertion: A cat perceives a specific area or individual as part of its domain and deposits urine or pheromones to establish ownership.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to understand if a cat is copying you and why it does so.
Mimicry refers to the deliberate resemblance of one organism to another or to elements of its environment, enabling the mimic to gain an advantage that would be unavailable without the deception. The advantage typically involves reduced predation, increased access to resources, or enhanced social integration.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: why a cat won't eat from a dirty bowl.
Cats possess a highly developed instinct for cleanliness that governs feeding behavior. Their sensory systems detect contaminants that humans often overlook. The following points illustrate how this instinct operates: Olfactory acuity :. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to train a cat to stay home alone.
A cat that is emotionally stable and physically comfortable contributes directly to successful solo confinement. Such an animal exhibits predictable routines, reduced stress responses, and a lower incidence of destructive behavior, all of which simplify the owner’s effort to condition independence.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: what to do if a kitten's eyes are festering.
When a kitten’s eyes show signs of infection, the first professional step is a thorough assessment of the animal’s overall health. This baseline evaluation determines whether ocular symptoms are isolated or part of a systemic problem that may require urgent medical intervention.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to tell if your cat feels guilty.
Cats experience a range of affective states that influence behavior, vocalization, and body language. Recognizing these states requires attention to subtle cues that differ from canine or human expressions. In the context of assessing whether a cat feels remorseful after a transgression, several indicators emerge from ethological research and clinical observation.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: why a cat sleeps on its back with its paws spread out.
Cats frequently adopt a supine posture with limbs splayed, a stance that appears counterintuitive given their predatory instincts. This position exposes the ventral surface, suggesting a deliberate physiological or behavioral purpose rather than accidental relaxation.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to train a cat not to shred wallpaper.
As a feline behavior specialist, I explain that a cat’s urge to shred surfaces stems from innate predatory and territorial instincts. Scratching sharpens claws, removes the outer nail sheath, and deposits scent glands that signal ownership. When wallpaper presents a textured, easily torn substrate, it triggers the same drive that a cat uses on tree bark or cardboard.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: what to do if a cat is afraid of being in the dark.
As a veterinary behavior specialist, I identify fear of darkness in cats through specific observable signs. Recognizing these indicators allows owners to intervene effectively and reduce anxiety. Hesitation at the entrance to a dimly lit room, accompanied by a pause before crossing.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to tell if your cat is at risk for diabetes.
Diabetes mellitus in cats is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insufficient insulin production or ineffective insulin utilization, leading to elevated blood glucose levels. The condition mirrors type 2 diabetes in humans, with obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and genetic predisposition as primary contributors.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: why cats sometimes «freeze» with their mouths open.
Cats sometimes become motionless with their jaws slightly ajar when their sensory systems are overwhelmed. Visual stimuli that change abruptly-flashing lights, rapid motion, or shadows-can trigger a reflexive freeze response. The open mouth often reflects a brief loss of muscular coordination as the brain reallocates processing power to the dominant sensory channel.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to choose the perfect kitten from a litter.
Choosing a kitten that fits a household begins with systematic research on breed characteristics and individual temperaments. Each breed presents a distinct set of physical traits, health predispositions, and behavioral tendencies. For example, a Maine Coon typically exhibits a sociable disposition and a tolerance for active children, while a Russian Blue often prefers quieter environments and may be more reserved with strangers.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: what to do if a cat has eaten a wasp or a bee.
When a cat consumes a wasp or bee, the first priority is a rapid, systematic appraisal of the animal’s condition. Observe the feline closely and note any immediate signs of distress: sudden coughing, gagging, retching, drooling, or pawing at the mouth.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to know if your cat respects you.
As a certified feline behavior specialist, I interpret cat respect through observable body language. The following cues reliably indicate a cat acknowledges and trusts its human companion. Slow blinking toward you: a deliberate, relaxed closure of the eyes signals safety and acceptance.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: why cats hate the smell of citrus so much.
Cats possess a highly specialized olfactory apparatus that far exceeds the capabilities of most domestic animals. The nasal cavity contains up to 200 million olfactory receptors, compared with roughly 5 million in humans, providing a detection threshold for volatile compounds measured in parts per trillion.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to train a cat to sharpen its claws in one place.
Cats scratch for several innate reasons that intersect with any effort to direct this activity to a single location. Claw maintenance - shearing removes the outer sheath, keeping nails sharp and preventing overgrowth. Territorial marking - friction deposits scent glands on the paws, leaving a chemical signature on surfaces.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: what to do if your cat is too skittish.
A cat that reacts fearfully to ordinary sounds, sudden movements, or unfamiliar people often carries the imprint of earlier distress. Past trauma can reshape neural pathways, heightening the animal’s threat perception and reducing its willingness to explore.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to understand what color your cat really is.
Understanding a cat’s true coloration is essential for accurate identification, proper breeding decisions, and health monitoring. Color determines breed standards, guides selection of compatible mates, and can reveal underlying medical conditions such as jaundice or anemia that alter pigment appearance.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: why a mother cat moves her kittens from place to place.
As a veterinarian specializing in feline behavior, I observe that a mother cat’s relocation of her kittens is driven by a set of instinctual priorities that maximize offspring survival. Limited food resources in the current nest compel the mother to seek areas with higher prey availability.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to train a cat not to sleep on your pillow.
Cats gravitate toward pillows because the fabric offers a soft surface that conforms to their bodies, while the elevated position retains heat generated by the human sleeper. This combination of tactile comfort and retained warmth creates an appealing micro‑environment that rivals any dedicated cat bed.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: what to do if a cat is sneezing blood.
When a cat expels blood with each sneeze, the first responsibility is to determine the immediacy of the threat. Observe the volume of blood, the frequency of episodes, and any accompanying signs such as nasal discharge, facial swelling, or difficulty breathing.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to understand that a cat is «healing» you.
Cats and humans have co‑evolved a relationship that influences physiological and emotional states. Research demonstrates that feline presence can modify heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels, creating measurable health benefits. The low‑frequency vibration of a cat’s purr (25-150 Hz) aligns with frequencies known to promote tissue regeneration and pain relief.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: why a cat runs around the apartment like crazy.
As a veterinary behaviorist, I observe that the sudden, high‑energy bursts often labeled “zoomies” are a normal expression of feline instinct. During these episodes, a cat releases pent‑up kinetic energy through rapid, unpredictable sprints across the living space.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to teach a cat to fetch toys.
As a veterinary behavior specialist, I have observed that training a cat to retrieve toys yields measurable advantages. Increases cardiovascular activity, helping prevent weight gain and associated health issues. Engages problem‑solving circuits, reducing boredom‑related stress and destructive habits.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: what to do if a cat has stopped eating its favorite wet food.
When a cat suddenly refuses its usual canned diet, the change often signals an underlying health problem. Common medical reasons include: Dental pain from gingivitis, broken teeth, or oral ulcers. Gastrointestinal upset such as nausea, constipation, or inflammatory bowel disease.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to tell if a cat is dehydrated.
Proper hydration is essential for feline health because water supports every cellular function. Adequate fluid intake maintains blood volume, regulates temperature, and enables efficient nutrient transport. When a cat’s water balance is compromised, organ systems-particularly the kidneys, urinary tract, and cardiovascular system-experience increased strain, accelerating the progression of chronic conditions such as renal insufficiency and urinary crystals.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: why a cat tries to «groom» you.
Cats engage in mutual grooming as a social mechanism that strengthens bonds within a group. When a cat extends its paw or mouth toward a human, the behavior mirrors the allogrooming observed among felines, signaling trust and inclusion. The act reduces tension, aligns individual scent profiles, and creates a shared olfactory signature that marks the human as part of the cat’s social network.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to make a balcony safe for a cat.
When assessing a balcony for feline safety, begin by cataloguing every element that could harm a cat. Conduct a systematic walk‑through, noting structural, environmental, and behavioral hazards. Openings larger than 5 cm allow a cat to slip through railings or gaps between balcony panels.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: what to do if a cat has a cold.
A cat experiencing an upper respiratory infection typically shows one or more of the following signs: Nasal discharge that may be clear, yellow, or green Frequent sneezing Watery or crusty eyes Coughing, especially after activity Reduced appetite or difficulty eating due to congestion Lethargy or decreased activity Low-grade fever, often detectable by a warm paw or ear Hoarse or altered vocalizations Observation of these indicators should prompt veterinary. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to tell if your cat is right-pawed or left-pawed.
Paw preference, also known as laterality, describes the tendency of a cat to favor one forelimb over the other when performing tasks that require precise coordination. This bias mirrors handedness in humans and can reveal subtle aspects of neural organization and motor development.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: why a cat doesn't like being held.
Cats that resist being held often trace that reaction to traits inherited from their ancestors. Wild felids survived by maintaining acute awareness of surrounding threats; any restriction of movement signaled potential danger. Domestic cats retain this instinct, interpreting the confinement of their limbs as a loss of escape routes.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to properly care for a Sphynx cat.
Sphynx cats possess distinct physiological characteristics that demand specialized attention. Their lack of fur eliminates the natural barrier against environmental factors, requiring owners to manage temperature, skin health, and hygiene with greater precision than with coated breeds.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to tell if a cat recognizes your voice.
Feline auditory perception is highly specialized, allowing cats to detect a broad frequency range from approximately 48 Hz to 85 kHz, far exceeding human capabilities. The ear anatomy-outer pinna, middle ear ossicles, and a proportionally large cochlea-facilitates precise sound localization and discrimination of subtle acoustic cues.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: why a cat watches television.
Feline attention to moving images on screens reflects a blend of sensory stimulus and instinctual behavior. Cats possess acute visual acuity for rapid motion; televised scenes that feature swift, high‑contrast movement trigger the same predatory response evoked by real prey.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to train a cat not to hunt birds outside the window.
Cats possess an innate drive to stalk, pounce, and capture moving prey. This predatory sequence initiates with visual detection, proceeds to focused tracking, and culminates in a rapid strike. When a bird flies past a window, the cat’s visual system registers the motion, triggering the chase circuitry embedded in the brainstem and limbic structures.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: what to do if a cat does not give back a stolen item.
Cats exhibit stealing behavior for several instinctual and environmental reasons. First, predatory drive compels cats to capture moving objects that simulate prey. Small items such as socks, pens, or crumpled paper trigger the chase‑and‑capture response, resulting in temporary possession rather than deliberate theft.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to understand that your cat sees something you do not.
Cats navigate a reality shaped by vision, hearing, and whisker feedback that far exceeds human capability. Their retinas contain a high density of rod cells, granting superior motion detection in dim light. This allows them to notice subtle shifts-such as a flutter of insect wings or a distant shadow-that go unnoticed by people.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: why a cat ignores you after your return from vacation.
Cats measure intervals through internal circadian cycles rather than calendar dates. Their suprachiasmatic nucleus synchronizes with light cues, producing predictable daily patterns for feeding, play, and rest. When an owner leaves for several days, the feline clock registers a prolonged disruption of these patterns.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to set up a spot for a cat by the window.
A window perch provides a direct line of sight to the outdoors, satisfying a cat’s innate predatory instincts. Visual stimulation reduces boredom, which in turn lowers the incidence of stress‑related behaviors such as excessive grooming or aggression.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59