Why they do the things they do First of all, do not think that a cat’s          inappropriate behavior must be tolerated.  While cats and dogs are different, there is no  reason why a cat can’t be taught to live in  harmony with us.

Next, remember that many cat behaviors that we do not like are natural behaviors for the cat. If we don’t guide them to the correct behaviors, they’ll never want to do them or learn them.

Get a good cat behavior book to understand why your cat does the things she does and you will be more successful in molding her behavior.

Positive reinforcement vs. aversive conditioning

Positive reinforcement includes giving treats or talking in a soft, happy voice as a reward for behaviors like using a scratching post or walking on a leash. Aversive conditioning provides an undesirable stimulus to stop a behavior. As an example, a startle correction using a loud noise can distract a cat who is scratching on the furniture. A scat mat can provide a static shock to discourage a cat from jumping up on a counter.

A combination of the two types of behavior modifications can be used when you want to redirect undesirable natural behavior (like chewing on plants or scratching furniture) to wanted behavior. Use a startle correction when the cat is scratching on the furniture, and positive reinforcement when she uses the scratching post. [ Read Full Article ]

Kittens (birth-12 months)
A kitten’s diet is the foundation of her health throughout her life. To keep up with their rapid growth, kittens require an extremely high amount of energy, protein, fats and minerals compared to older cats so feeding a diet high in these nutrients is necessary. Calcium and phosphorus are  also important in order to promote healthy tooth and bone growth through kittenhood and into adult life.

Adults (1-6 years)
Adult cats require a nutritious and balanced diet to help maintain their health and weight. A high-protein, wholesome diet containing real meat is important to ensure that she is well proportioned, and has an observable ribcage with only a slight amount of fat covering the ribs. A well-balanced diet with natural antioxidants, such as those found in fruits and vegetables, is highly beneficial in order to promote a healthy immune system and body function. [ Read More...]

• Exercise
  Exercise is vital for keeping your cat healthy and sane. Playing with your cat and having your cat romp around with others is a perfect way for your cat to get exercise, both physically and mentally.
• Release of Anxiety
  Anxiety and stress are as harmful to cats as they are to the rest of us. Cats under stress are more apt to develop behavioral problems such as agression, urine marking, or obsessive-compulsive disorders.
• Relief of Boredom
  Cats especially, being naturally curious, can get depressed and lethargic. Cats need some sort of challenge every day. Watch a cat try to grab at a ball that is spinning around randomly in a circle. He is concentrating so hard that a simple movement of your foot can send him skyrocketing into the air. Whether he is looking out the window at chattering birds, or chasing a feather stick, he loves and needs to play.
• Feel Good
  Play, by definition, is something to make whomever is playing feel good. And your cat deserves to feel good, doesn’t he?
• Bonding With Other Cats or Animals in the House
  Cats chase other cats, cats entice dogs to chase after them, and cats even chase dogs in some households! This type of behavior provides much-needed bonding. Playing with your cat can even bond him to you - and who couldn’t stand more bonds in their lives?

How to Provide Play for Your Felines

Usually, cats enjoy playing both inside the house and outdoors. There are a variety of ways that you can make playtime, inside or out, more fun for your cat.

Inside
Look through our toy section to find something your cat can swat at. Da Bird Toy is one of our most popular items. It provides exercise and entertainment for you and your cat. We’re not sure who enjoys it more - cats or their owners!

A cat tree is a perfect place for your cat to perch to lie in wait for another cat - or even the dog! Anything that towers over the rest of the home’s inhabitants will do. Window perches are especially popular since they allow kitty to see all that nature affords.  [ Read More... ]

The pleasing part is emergence home to a cute, furry little being whose behavior can pass a smile to your face.

The frustrating part is tiresome to house-coach and litter series them.

You can get over the frustrating part by starting them fresh.

Once you have a kitten that you propose to take homing as a pet, you may shrink house-schooling them. Crate exercise is one of the most effectual ways to do this.

Cats can be your best associate for life if you just caution for them suitably.

If you will  instruct  them at the babies age, they will learn to grasp “house rules” and not litter on your bed or abandon your furniture with their claws.

It is always a concern, when a person witnesses a violent behavior between two cats, who were once good friends. Aggression among cats however is associated with certain reasons and it is necessary for human beings to understand this violent behavior of cats and act appropriately.

Different Forms Of Aggression:

Below are some common and different types of aggression in cats:

Play aggression:

It is also termed play- fighting. It begins very early with kittens, but adults can also show this kind of aggression. Mother cats teach predator-prey behavior very early to their kittens, and thus cats possess a natural survival instinct be it in a comfortable home or in the wild.

The kitten will follow the other and then leap on that kitten. Play fighting is normally harmless fun, unless it becomes a sexual aggression. One needs to prevent injury by cutting the cat’s claw without fail. Play fighting is the initial step for establishing an everlasting hierarchy amongst feline house members.

As most already know, cats like to play. They darling to played with, especially with toys. They will bound on equipment on time, which should forever be expected. If you try to thwart this typeface of conduct, your cat will take a very denial contact and you’ll end with a lot of dejected things in your home. You can forever play with your cat with a cord, as he will adoration to track the rope around the area.

The longer you own your cat, the more odd behavior you’ll see him exhibit. Cats behave in strange ways, although they always have an argue for behaving the way they do. If you can understand why your cat behaves like he does, you’ll have no problems keeping him healthful and cheery. If you cleanly pay thought to your cat and the way he behaves at period - you’ll be able to understand him better than ever before.

Most people bring home a cat or a kitten  expecting a friendly cat that will become a  companion and lie cozily in the lap. It is  unlikely that a cat will be confident enough to  adjust easily to a new home and people.  However, apart from the initial short period  that the cat may take to get used to a new  environment, most cats adjust easily in new  homes. On the other hand, some cats

remain fearful of the new surroundings despite patient efforts of the cat owner. Such situation may be the start of a problem. If the fearful and anxious situation continues you can be sure that you have landed yourself with a stressed and unhappy cat.

A fearful or defensive cat is likely to resort to aggressive behavior like fighting, biting and scratching. Understanding cat behavior is critical to handle an aggressive cat or to stop cat biting behavior. Unlike treating aggressive dog behavior, which requires re-training, handling a mean cat may require a little bit more than that. However, before you try anything it is recommended that you take precautionary measures and trim the cat’s claws. Trimming the claws should actually be a regular practice since the feral wild traits can manifest anytime.

It is normal for owners to confuse playful aggression of cats with typical aggression. Cats need to play aggressively to spruce up their survival instincts. Play activities of cats include cautious, exploratory and investigative behaviors. This may appear as aggressive behavior to owners who have other expectations from their cat. Play that looks like aggression may be initiated by the owner or the cat himself. Do not use your hands and feet as toys for the cat.

Do not play rough games with him nor indulge in any physical punishment. Cats are not likely to understand the association of the punishment with an act that they have done. On the contrary, they are likely to associate it with the individual who metes out the punishment. Try to divert the cat’s attention and offer toys so that he can play in a manner that is acceptable to you.

Read On!

Although domesticated cats have all their food available at home, they are prone to practice hunting skills.For some inexplicable reason cats get fed up with petting very quickly. Watch out for signals that resemble predatory  behavior  and stop the moment you see shifting eyes, pulled back ears and a twitching tail.

Young cats that are less than two years of age love to play and indulge in activities that appear aggressive to humans. Young cats do not let go of any opportunity to practice skills that they need for survival. This involves exploration, investigation and predation.
A kitten is likely to pounce upon anything that moves to investigate and explore. It may even bite an innate object that appears as a prey. Socializing at a young age ensures that the playful activity is limited to scratching and restricted biting that does not break the skin.

Another type of feline aggression that normally surprises owners is typical to cats and is generally not seen in aggressive dog behavior.  It is common for cats to bite suddenly while being petted. Petting that was being enjoyed and welcomed a moment ago, suddenly becomes unpleasant to the cat. The only logical explanation to this abrupt offense is that cats have a certain tolerance level.

Once that level is reached they tend to treat the same petting hand as a probable large predator. Cats normally give signals using body language to indicate that they have had enough petting for now. It is up to the owners to observe and understand it. The signs that the cats may give to indicate that they want petting to stop are restlessness, ears turning back and forth and moving the head towards the petting hand. The last sign is likely to be tail lashing and if you reach that stage, it may actually be to late. Continue…