List of articles № 6
Instruction: how to teach a cat to walk on a leash without hysterics.
As a feline behavior specialist, I evaluate harnesses and collars on three criteria: safety, control, and comfort. A properly fitted harness distributes pressure across the chest and shoulders, preventing strain on the neck. This design eliminates the risk of choking if the cat pulls or panics.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: what to do if a cat constantly knocks things off shelves.
Cats knock objects from elevated surfaces for several innate and learned reasons. Predatory reflex: A sudden movement or slight vibration triggers the hunting response, prompting a swipe that sends the item airborne. Curiosity drive: Felines explore their environment by testing the stability of objects, especially those within reach.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to know that your cat is actually training you.
As a feline behavior specialist, I examine the mechanisms cats employ to shape human actions and present clear criteria for recognizing this dynamic. Cats influence daily routines through precise timing. A cat that awakens its owner at the same hour each morning, insists on feeding at exact intervals, or blocks access to preferred spaces demonstrates control over the household schedule.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: why a cat sleeps in your suitcase.
Cats possess an innate drive to seek enclosed, warm spaces. A suitcase replicates the protective cavity of a den, offering insulation from drafts and a confined volume that reduces perceived threats. The curved interior creates a snug curvature that matches a feline’s body shape, allowing the spine to rest without strain.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to help a cat with a food allergy.
Cats with food‑induced allergies often display dermatological symptoms that require immediate attention. The most common manifestations include pruritic erythema, alopecia, and localized or generalized dermatitis. Persistent scratching can lead to secondary bacterial or fungal infections, worsening the condition and causing discomfort.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: what to do if a cat has scratched leather furniture.
Cats scratch to maintain claw health, mark territory, and relieve stress. The act removes the outer nail sheath, exposing sharper inner layers, and leaves scent glands on the pads that communicate presence to other animals. Scratching also stretches the forelimb muscles and provides a physical outlet for pent‑up energy.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to determine which cat is the alpha in the house.
As a feline behavior specialist, I analyze the hierarchy that emerges when multiple cats share a home. Social order among cats is not static; it fluctuates with age, health, and environmental changes. Recognizing the dominant individual requires observation of specific interactions that consistently favor one cat over the others.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: why a cat loves the smell of bleach so much.
The attraction of bleach to cats stems from the volatile compounds released during evaporation. Chlorine derivatives, especially chloroform and chlorinated aromatics, stimulate the feline vomeronasal organ, a sensory structure specialized for detecting pheromonal and environmental cues.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to train a cat not to eat flowers in bouquets.
As a feline behavior specialist, I explain why cats target bouquet flowers and how instinctual drives can be redirected. Cats possess a predatory sequence that includes stalking, pouncing, and mouthing. Flowers stimulate this sequence because their movement, scent, and texture resemble prey.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: what to do if a cat is afraid of heights.
As a veterinarian specializing in feline behavior, I observe that a cat’s reluctance to climb or perch signals a specific anxiety about vertical spaces. Recognizing these signs enables targeted intervention. Common behavioral cues include:. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to know that a cat is healing you with its purr.
Cats produce purrs within a narrow frequency band, typically 25-150 Hz. This range coincides with vibrational frequencies known to influence tissue regeneration, inflammation reduction, and pain modulation. Research on low‑frequency sound shows that oscillations between 30 and 80 Hz stimulate fibroblast activity, accelerating wound closure.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: why a cat looks at you when it uses the litter box.
Cats often glance at their owners while eliminating because several innate motivations converge at that moment. The behavior reflects survival strategies embedded in feline evolution. Surveillance for predators - Even domestic cats retain a need to monitor surroundings for threats.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to properly feed a Maine Coon kitten.
Feeding a Maine Coon kitten requires awareness of the animal’s developmental phases because nutritional needs shift dramatically from birth to adulthood. During the neonatal period (0‑4 weeks) the kitten relies exclusively on the mother’s milk or a high‑quality kitten formula.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: what to do if a cat has become aggressive towards other animals.
As a veterinary behavior specialist, I observe that feline hostility toward other animals manifests in distinct patterns, each requiring a specific management approach. Recognizing the underlying type of aggression is the first step toward effective intervention.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to tell that your cat is trying to «adopt» another toy.
As a feline behavior specialist, I explain that a cat’s drive to claim a new object stems from innate predatory and territorial instincts. When a cat treats a toy as a potential “adopted” item, several instinctual mechanisms are activated. The predatory impulse urges the cat to stalk, pounce, and immobilize moving objects.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: why a cat «talks» in its sleep.
Cats produce audible vocalizations while asleep because the brain remains active during rapid‑eye‑movement (REM) phases, a period associated with dreaming. Neurological studies show that neuronal circuits controlling the larynx and respiratory muscles are intermittently triggered, generating sounds that mirror daytime communication.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to train a cat not to chew on charging cables.
Cats chew objects because their instinctual behavior includes oral exploration, predatory play, and the need to maintain dental health. When a cord mimics a moving prey item, the cat’s hunting reflex triggers biting. The texture and warmth of a charging cable also satisfy the cat’s desire to chew on pliable, conductive surfaces that resemble natural prey or grooming tools.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: what to do if a cat has eaten an insect.
When a cat consumes an insect, the first step is to evaluate the immediate condition of the animal. Observe the cat’s posture, breathing, and activity level. Note any signs of distress such as vomiting, excessive drooling, coughing, pawing at the mouth, or sudden lethargy.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to understand that your cat sees the world in different colors.
The feline visual system differs markedly from that of humans, and a clear grasp of its structure is essential for interpreting how cats perceive color. The eye of a cat consists of several specialized components: Cornea: a transparent front layer that refracts incoming light.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: why a cat doesn't like your perfume.
Cats possess an olfactory system that operates on a scale far beyond human capability. Their nasal epithelium contains up to 200 million odor receptors, compared with roughly 5-6 million in people. This dense receptor field enables detection of volatile compounds at concentrations as low as parts per trillion.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to make catnip even more attractive.
Catnip, scientifically known as Nepeta cataria , belongs to the Lamiaceae (mint) family. The plant is a perennial herb with square stems, opposite leaf arrangement, and tiny, tubular white or pale lavender flowers. Its natural habitat includes temperate regions of Europe and Asia, where it thrives in well‑drained soil and partial shade.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: what to do if a cat doesn't want to leave the vet.
Veterinary behavior specialists observe that feline reluctance to exit the clinic often stems from physiological and psychological factors. Stress hormones surge when a cat perceives the environment as threatening, and the unfamiliar smells, sounds, and handling intensify this response.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to tell if your cat is a true esthete.
The feline world of refinement reveals itself through observable patterns that distinguish a genuine connoisseur of aesthetics from a merely indifferent pet. A cat that consistently seeks sensory harmony, curates its environment, and exhibits selective preferences demonstrates an advanced appreciation for beauty.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: why a cat takes food out of the bowl and eats it on the floor.
Cats often remove kibble or wet food from a bowl and consume it on the floor. This pattern aligns with the evolutionary concept of prey distribution, which describes how wild felines handle captured organisms in their environment. In natural settings, a predator isolates and displaces its catch before consumption.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to train a cat not to climb in kitchen cabinets.
Cats seek vertical space, tactile stimulation, and territorial markers. These instinctual drives push them toward the heights of kitchen cabinets, where they can survey the room, sharpen claws, and claim a perch. To discourage this behavior, an expert approach must replace the unmet needs with suitable alternatives.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: what to do if a cat has become too dependent on you.
Cats that cling to a single person may exhibit behaviors indicating excessive dependence. Recognizing these patterns is the first step toward restoring a balanced relationship. A cat that follows you from room to room, insists on being held or petted continuously, and becomes visibly distressed when left alone signals an over‑reliance on human presence.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to tell if a cat recognizes itself in the mirror.
Self‑recognition refers to the ability of an organism to identify its own physical form as distinct from other entities. The concept originates from the mirror test, a behavioral assay in which an animal is exposed to its reflection and observed for evidence of self‑directed responses.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: why a cat purrs when you are sick.
As a veterinary physiologist, I explain the biological processes that cause a feline to emit a low‑frequency vibration while its caregiver experiences illness. The cat’s purring originates in the laryngeal muscles, which contract rhythmically under neural control from the brainstem.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to build a wall-mounted play complex for a cat.
A wall‑mounted play complex offers distinct advantages for indoor cats and their owners. By relocating enrichment elements from the floor to vertical surfaces, the system maximizes usable space and reduces clutter. The elevated platform satisfies a cat’s natural climbing instinct, encouraging regular exercise and improving muscular tone.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: what the «cat kiss» of a slow blink conceals.
The slow blink, often described as a feline “cat kiss,” functions as a deliberate visual signal that conveys safety, affiliation, and non‑threat. When a cat narrows its eyelids and holds the pause before reopening, the pupil constriction reduces light intake, while the prolonged closure signals an absence of immediate vigilance.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to tell if a cat is lacking vitamins.
Cats require a specific set of vitamins to maintain metabolic balance, immune competence, and tissue integrity. Because felines are obligate carnivores, they depend on pre‑formed vitamins obtained from animal tissue rather than synthesizing many nutrients from plant sources.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: what to do if a cat is vomiting white foam.
When a cat expels a frothy white substance, the episode usually signals irritation or obstruction in the upper gastrointestinal tract. The most common triggers include an empty stomach, rapid ingestion of food, hairball formation, or exposure to toxins.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: why a cat eats paper and cardboard.
Cats that chew or ingest paper, cardboard, or similar materials display a condition known as pica. Pica is defined as the persistent consumption of non‑nutritive substances. In felines, the behavior often reflects a combination of physiological, environmental, and psychological factors.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to train a cat not to run over you when you sleep.
Cats often run across a sleeping person as a direct bid for attention. The behavior stems from a desire to be noticed, especially when the animal has learned that physical contact elicits a response. Recognizing this motive is essential for effective modification.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: what it means if a cat lies on your face.
When a cat settles on your face, it is performing an affectionate gesture that signals trust, social bonding, and a desire for close contact. The behavior reflects several underlying motivations: Trust and safety - The cat perceives the area around your eyes and nose as vulnerable;. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to understand why your cat is afraid of a certain person.
Cats communicate fear through distinct postural cues, ear positions, tail movements, and facial expressions. Recognizing these signals enables owners to identify the specific individual that triggers anxiety and to intervene appropriately. Ears flattened or rotated sideways - Muscles contract to protect the ear canal;. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to properly weigh a cat at home.
Regular weight tracking provides a reliable indicator of a cat’s physiological condition. Sudden fluctuations often precede clinical signs, allowing early intervention before disease progresses. Veterinarians typically advise weighing cats at least once a month for adult animals and weekly for kittens or pets with known health issues.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: what to do if a cat won't let you trim its claws.
Cats often resist claw trimming because the procedure triggers instinctive and physiological responses. Recognizing these drivers helps owners choose a strategy that minimizes stress and injury. Anticipated pain: Even a brief clip can cause discomfort if the nail’s quick is close to the surface.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: why a cat flattens its ears.
Cats flatten their ears as a precise component of a broader communication system. The ear posture conveys information that other animals, including humans, can interpret only when they attend to subtle cues. When a feline pulls its ears back against the skull, it signals a shift in emotional state.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59
Instruction: how to introduce a new cat to an existing cat without a fight.
When a resident cat perceives its home as a personal domain, any newcomer triggers an instinctive defense of that space. The first indication of territorial anxiety appears in body language: ears flattened, tail whipped, and a rigid posture.. Date latest changes: 2025-10-02 00:59