Kitty Train

Cat training tips for healthy and happy cats

Maggie

Why Is My Cat Angry

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Why Does My Cat Attack Me?

Does your cat strike out at you once in a while?

Does she hiss, growl or swipe a paw at you when you’re not expecting it?

It happens.

Why Is My Cat So Angry With Me Anyway?

First, he probably isn’t angry with you.

Most likely, he is either somewhat confused, worried, scared, stressed out, not feeling 100%, or just a little annoyed with you.

It’s not really anger.

It’s Called Cat Aggression

A household cat being too aggressive is common.

It’s so common that there are standard terms and definitions for the various types of aggressive behavior.

What Does Cat Aggression Look Like?

Aggressive behavior can take a few different forms, but it’s essentially when your cat exhibits unusual behavior under certain circumstances.

She might be displaying threatening or evasive behavior and it’s directed at you, another family member, or another pet.

It is often a defensive or protective reflex.

Your cat may hide, hiss, growl, swat with her paw, bite, scratch, or display an aggressive or defensive posture.

This behavior often confuses a pet owner unless they understand why their cat is doing it.

Types of Feline Aggression

There are 10 general categories of aggressive behavior.

What you observe in your kitty can probably be assigned to one of these categories:

  1. Play Aggression
  2. Redirected Aggression
  3. Competition
  4. Territorial
  5. Petting Induced
  6. Fear Induced
  7. Predatory
  8. Maternal
  9. Pain or Health Induced
  10. Idiopathic

If you can understand your cat and determine what is motivating her to have aggressive displays, you can get started on reducing the factors that are prompting her to act that way.

Play Aggression

This is considered the most common form of unwanted aggressive behavior that owners report.

This occurs when a household cat believes he is engaged in play, but the play is too rough and they end up scratching or biting their owner or other pets.

The two biggest reasons some cats have this issue is either they didn’t learn how to play appropriately when they were kittens or their owner encouraged rough play as they were growing.

Some owners confuse their young cats by encouraging them to see human fingers and feet as toys to play with, swat at, and pounce on.

If an owner does this, they shouldn’t be surprised if their young cat attacks their feet when they aren’t expecting it. The cat merely has playful intentions.

Kittens and young cats play pretty rough. Kittens learn by playing every day with other kittens what the boundaries are.

They learn that biting softly or swatting without scratching is what they are supposed to do.

Kittens that didn’t have littermates may not have learned the boundaries of where play ends and pain begins.

Redirected

Redirected aggression is a common form of feline aggression and one that can confuse owners.

This happens when your cat is agitated or provoked by some external animal or other stimuli, but then he ends up taking it out on you in response.

The most common situation is when kitty is looking out the window and sees another cat, or a dog, or a squirrel or bird.

That outside animal has stimulated your cat’s territorial or predatory reflexes. But there is nothing he can do about it. Then you come up and touch him on the back of the head and he hisses at you. It’s just a reflex, a redirected response.

The owner may never notice what is outside the window, the thing that is actually agitating their cat. So they end up blaming their cat for being in a bad mood.

And if your cat is frightened or really agitated by what he saw outside, that feeling can stay with him and keep him on edge for many minutes.

Typical triggers for getting your cat agitated include:

  • Seeing another cat through a window or door
  • Watching squirrels or birds outside, just out of reach
  • Smelling the scent of another cat on a family member or a visitor
  • Having another pet or person introduced into the household
  • Scary or loud noises
  • Your other indoor pet is harassing or bothering him

If you see your cat appears agitated, if he is pacing, growling, swishing his tail or otherwise looks on edge, don’t approach him.

You can talk to him, you can try to calm him down, but he may not want to be touched just yet.

Competition

Sometimes indoor cats compete for resources.

Sometimes one cat will try to establish a socially dominant position over another cat.

Some cats want to be the boss of the house. Or at least the boss of the other cats.

Some behaviorists call this Status-Induced Aggression or Inter-Cat Aggression.

The social balance of a multiple-cat house can be complicated and too subtle for the owner to notice.

You may notice this if you see your bigger cat lay in a doorway and swat at the other cat as he tries to walk by.

Or you may see this when he growls at you when you try to move him or he appears to be in a bad mood while you are petting another pet.

Territorial

Territorial aggression is similar to competition, except that it centers just around the home or territory of your kitty.

Many animals have territorial instincts. Cats do too.

They may consider certain areas to be just their areas. This might be a small area. This might just be a certain room or a certain spot in a room.

They may growl at the intruder. They may swat. They may chase him. They may wait for their moment to pounce.

Cats will generally not mind sharing territory with humans, but they may direct their territorial aggression and anger at their owner if another feline has them annoyed or worried.

In a typical house, territorial issues arise when a new pet or human is introduced into the household.

It can also happen when one cat returns from the animal hospital and is covered in unusual, strange smells. It can take days before the returning cat gets her usual smell back.

Petting-Induced

Some cats become a little aggressive after being pet for a long while.

Some cats liked to be stroked a little bit, but after a few minutes, they have had enough. They sometimes suddenly nip at the person petting them, quickly get up and walk away.

If you observe this, don’t worry, it’s normal for some felines.

The best thing to do is pet her when she wants to be pet and stop when she doesn’t want it any longer.

The common signals that indicate petting time is over include

  • He stops purring
  • He doesn’t look sleepy any longer
  • He is now turning his head and looking at your hand
  • His tail has started to twitch or flip
  • He appears distracted and a little restless

If your kitty does this, just accept that he has his petting limits. He has a low tolerance for being groomed and stroked.

It’s nothing you’re doing wrong. It’s just how he is. He has a low petting threshold.

Fearful or Defensive Aggression

This type of behavior is easy to understand.

It occurs when your cat sees a threat and reacts to protect herself.

She’s scared.

Fear aggression is a reaction to a person, animal, or sound that has her scared and confused. In her confusion, she may lash out at you.

Don’t approach her. Don’t try to pick her up. Don’t try to physically console her.

How do you tell if she is scared? She may be hiding so you won’t see her.

Or she may be in a defensive posture. She is crouching low to the floor. Her ears are flat. Her tail is tucked. Her fur may be standing on end.

What do you do? Well, nothing. You can try to vocally reassure her. And you wait for the situation to pass.

Predatory

Predatory aggression is different from the other behaviors on this list.

Predatory behaviors are built into the DNA of a cat. Even a housecat. It’s a survival instinct. It’s a good thing for a cat in the wild to possess.

Cats have the desire to stalk prey. They focus. They watch. They wait. They assume a hunting posture. They sprint and chase. They pounce and bite.

Outside the home, this is what many cats have done for thousands of years.

But inside the home, or if you have other household pets and your feline exhibits this type of behavior towards you, another human, or your other pets, it can become a problem.

Maternal

Maternal aggression is simply how a new mother reacts when someone approaches her kittens.

Mother cats (called queens) have deep instincts to protect their young from any threat.

And even though you would never harm her kittens, she may be overly protective and perceive you as a threat.

She will certainly see your other cats as threats too.

She may be very aggressive towards you and your other pets during the first few days.

If she and her kittens seem okay, it’s best to just leave them alone and not provoke her.

Maternal aggression normally goes away as the kittens grow.

Pain-Induced and Irritable Aggression

When an animal is in pain, it is easy to understand why he might act out aggressively at people or another animal.

Pain-induced or irritable aggression can affect any animal, even the nicest, most normally docile one.

Cats in discomfort don’t want to be touched in the painful areas. They don’t want to be handled at all.

If you have a cat, especially an older one, that has always been calm and docile but has suddenly become aggressive, it’s possible that his problem is medical.

He has experienced some decline in his health and that is what is driving his sudden anti-social behavior.

Underlying medical problems should always be ruled out when you are first seeing any anger issues.

Make sure there is no health condition you should be attending to with your kitty.

Idiopathic

Idiopathic aggression is reserved for those cats that are highly aggressive against their human parents, but no underlying cause for it can be found.

A medical exam provides no evidence of any medical condition or complication.

And, even though their owner has thoroughly studied their daily behavior, environment, and history, no other category of aggression triggers seems to apply.

The cause behind their behavior can not be determined.

Generally, if no apparent cause can be found, the underlying condition ends up being either medical or redirected aggression. Both of these conditions may be difficult to uncover.

But sometimes, there is no underlying cause and the cat is labeled as having idiopathic aggression.

If a cat’s aggression is extreme or violent, and yet there is no cause for it, the cat owner will need to consider how to proceed.

Living with a sometimes violent and unpredictable feline can be difficult, especially if there are young children or elderly in the home.

Why Is My Cat So Aggressive and What To Do About It

Once you figure out the scenarios that are triggering your kitty’s aggressive emotions, you can begin curtailing those incidents from happening so often.

Become aware of how your cat sees his environment.

Constantly watch him and how he acts. You want to learn to read his body language.

Their body posture, the position of the ears, the position of the tail, facial expressions, eyes, whiskers, and sounds can all indicate what they are feeling.

Knowing when your kitty is feeling offensive or defensive can help you to avoid her when she wants to be left alone.

Characteristics of Defensive Posturing

  • A general protective posture that includes crouching
  • Feet tucked under the body
  • Head tucked in
  • Eyes wide open
  • Tail curved around the body or tucked underneath
  • Flattened ears or ears back against the head
  • Body may be turned sideways to the perceived threat
  • Hissing

Characteristics of Offensive Posturing

  • Trying to make herself look bigger and more intimidating
  • A tall upright stance
  • Direct stare
  • Tail is up and stiff or could be lowered
  • Fur on tail is puffed out
  • Upright ears
  • May be growling or yowling
  • May be very slowly approaching the perceived threat

How to Stop Play Aggression

If your cat plays too rough, you can try to train her out of doing that.

But if she’s been attacking people’s feet, toes, and fingers all her life, it’s going to be difficult to get her to stop now.

Your main strategy will be to distract her with better toys. Instead of your fingers and toes, make sure you provide her with a lineup of new and interesting toys that she will appreciate.

And if she gets too aggressive with you, your best option is to simply walk away, which ends playtime.

Over time, she should start to associate biting you with making you go away, which isn’t what she wants.

How Do You Stop Redirected Aggression?

When your kitty gets all excited by something he sees outside (like the neighbor’s cat), but he can’t directly respond to it, he may redirect that energy at you.

Your best course of action is to not allow him to see that outdoor cat in the first place. This removes the stimuli for his aggression.

You can close the curtain or put in window blinds if that is reasonable.

Or you can use deterrents to keep strays out of your yard.

There are motion-activated water sprinklers, sticky tape, electronic doormats, and other items that are designed to keep away outdoor pests.

You may have to get creative.

If the stimuli that are getting him spooked are outdoor noises, you may find success with keeping a radio on or using air cleaners as white noise generators to drown out the outdoor noises.

And when your feline gets agitated, be sure to avoid him until he calms down.

Competition Aggression Solutions

If you have a multiple cat home and your cats are competing for resources or each one wants to be the king of the house, you have a problem.

The first step would be to make sure each one is spayed or neutered. Raging sex hormones are behind a lot of behavior issues. It’s fine in the wild, but not so much in the house.

You don’t want to reward any cat that is trying to bully any other. Try ignoring any aggressive behavior.

Pay attention to the other cats, however. Make sure they have access to any resources they want.

How To Stop Territorial Aggression

Territorial problems start when you bring a new cat into your home.

It’s understandable if your existing cat is disappointed that he now has to share his home with someone new.

But if you have a plan to introduce them, and you take it slow, and you put in the effort to reassure your existing cat that nothing has really changed, you should be successful at it.

Take your time when introducing them. Don’t allow your new cat to go everywhere in the house right away. Restrict the new cat’s access for several days, maybe a week, maybe two weeks if things aren’t going too well.

Make sure each cat has food, water, litter, several great sleeping and hiding areas, and plenty of your attention.

Your new cat will gradually take on the smell of your home. He will begin to fit in. Your existing cat can’t stay mad forever.

Things will get better. They may become friends. At least they should tolerate one another.

How to Stop Petting Aggression

You might have a kitty that likes to be pet, but only for about two minutes at a time. If you go any longer than that, she gets angry at you and leaves – that is petting aggression.

The easiest way to put up with it is to just accept it.

You pet her where and when she wants it. You pay attention to her mood and when you notice that her mood is changing, you stop. Simple.

You may be able to lengthen these petting interactions by being careful, considerate, and giving out a few treats.

First, don’t bother her when she’s eating. Don’t pick her up when she isn’t wanting you to pick her up. Don’t wake her up to pet her.

Let her seek you out.

Don’t hold her on your lap with force, preventing her from jumping down.

Find out where she accepts being pet. Many cats don’t want their legs touched. Or their belly. The head and neck are generally safe.

To increase the time you get with her, give her a treat just as a petting session is ending, but before she shows any aggression.

Try to gradually increase each session a little bit. Keep giving the treats so she associates your sessions with those treats.

Stopping Fear-Based Anxiety and Aggression

The simplest way to stop fear aggression is to keep the fearful situations from occurring.

You will need to identify what is scaring your kitty and figure out how to prevent those situations from happening.

If that strategy isn’t possible, then maybe you can desensitize him so he gets over his worries.

By using treats, praise, and patience, you may be able to gradually expose him to whatever frightens him, rewarding him for staying calm, and maybe he will get over his fear a little day by day.

When your cat is afraid and is acting aggressively toward you, try to not reinforce that behavior.

Don’t react by acting afraid. Don’t react by trying to get her to calm down. Don’t reward her behavior. Just leave the room.

Preventing Predatory Aggression

Predatory aggression occurs when your indoor kitty pretends to hunt your other indoor pets or people.

Predatory instincts run deep in the feline world, so you can’t stop your cat from having those hunting urges or from acting on them.

But if he is pouncing on and scratching toddler’s feet, or terrorizing your gerbil or pet bird, you may have to give him other avenues to explore.

The best approach is to provide him with a rotating assortment of life-like toys. Toys with feathers, toys that resemble moles or mice, small toys he can capture and carry around.

What To Do With Health-Induced Aggression

For cases of medical-induced aggression, follow whatever advice your veterinarian has given you.

If your cat is in pain, handle her gently. Be nice. Don’t take it personally if she snaps at you.

An older cat may be confused, insecure, experiencing a loss of normal sensory input, or have any one of several disorders.

Be sure to properly administer any medications your vet gives you.

Wrap Up

If you have a cat that is acting aggressively, it’s your job to figure out why she is acting this way.

You need to observe her and your home’s environment. You need to determine the factors that are triggering her unwanted actions.

Then you need to reduce or eliminate those factors.

Unless the cause is readily apparent, you should work with your veterinarian to rule out a medical issue.

Once health-related issues as a factor have been ruled out, then you can focus on your cat’s behavior in order to formulate a solution to the problem.

Living with an overly aggressive cat can sometimes be risky. Be careful.

NOTE: This article is not intended to be medical or veterinarian advice or guidance. You should not rely on this article for professional health or vet care. The author of this post is not a veterinarian or a medical doctor. This author does not know your pet or your personal situation. This post should be taken as general information only. The advice you really should rely upon for your pet and your situation is the help and assistance you receive from a licensed veterinarian and the professional staff who actually examines your pet. Talk to your vet. That’s what they are there for.

Why does this nice cat get angry sometimes

Get a Cat To Like You

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How To Get a Cat To Like You

You love your cat — but does your cat love you?

Yes, he most likely does. But it’s kinda hard to tell sometimes, isn’t it?

Why Doesn’t My Cat Like Me?

Your feline shares your house with you. You feed her. You give her water. You talk to her. You play with her.

You are her companion. The odds are — she really likes you. But why doesn’t she show it? Why doesn’t she seem more affectionate?

Your cat is independent. Your cat is not too far removed from living in the wild.

She has survival instincts that may get in the way of her acting just the way you want her to be.

Your cat isn’t a dog. Most dogs trust and bond with humans much faster than kitties do.

But with cats, it sometimes takes daily effort and a certain amount of time in order to get your feline to trust you implicitly and to show her affection.

How To Get My Cat To Love Me

So there are things you can do to win over your feline and build a better relationship.

It’s pretty simple. If you are doing things he likes — keep doing them.

And you may be doing things that he doesn’t really like. If you can determine what those behaviors are and stop doing them, you will probably be well on your way to a wonderful relationship.

How Can I Get My Cat To Like Me More? Tips & Advice

Here are some suggestions for showing your cat you love him and getting him to appreciate you more.

Each of these tips may not work with your situation or apply to you, but here is where to start.

Don’t Approach Them – Let Them Come To You

The best overall strategy is to let them make the first move. Don’t always run up to them, let them approach you.

Don’t rush it. Even if she is rubbing up against you, that doesn’t always mean she wants to be aggressively pet. Watch for her to demonstrate trust in you first.

Take your time. Sit back and wait. Be a little hard to get.

Let kitty start and end each interaction until you two are best friends.

Greet Them the Way They Approach Each Other

Household cats generally greet one another by meeting nose-to-nose.

You don’t want to do that, but if you crouch down, sit or bend down and extend a fingertip down at their nose level, this will mimic their accepted behavior as best as we can.

Most felines will sniff your finger. If she isn’t satisfied, she may turn and walk away. But most likely, she will come closer or maybe rub against your hand.

If you receive a positive response, you may try to scratch her head or ear area and hope for the best.

Pet Them Where They Like It The Most

Lots of cats don’t really like to be touched down by their tail, butt, or lower belly.

If he is asleep on your lap, you may be able to get away with it, but be careful.

Felines prefer to be touched on their cheeks, forehead, neck, and behind the ears. The ears are an area where their mom groomed them when they were kittens. They like that.

If they slow blink, purr or knead their paws, you know you are doing a good job.

Pay Attention To When She Says Enough

If you are paying attention, you will notice when she decides that petting time is over.

She may suddenly stop purring. She might raise her head and look at your hand.

Her ears might flatten back a little or her tail will start to twitch a little.

These signals mean she’s had enough. So stop.

If you stop soon enough, she won’t progress to hissing or swatting at you.

If you don’t overdo it, she will only remember the pleasure of being pet, not anything unpleasurable.

Play With Them

Playing with your cat every day is a great way to bond with them.

Find some toys he likes, such as a wand toy with strings or feathers, and show him a good time.

Don’t let your feline get bored. Or fat.

Dog owners take their dogs outside to parks to burn off some energy. Do the same thing with your cat, only do it inside.

Your kitty will associate you with being their play partner. They love owners who play with them.

Make Them an Indoor Cat

There really isn’t any need for most cats to be let loose outside.

Between fleas, ticks, autos, poisonous items, and other cats and animals, going outside is risky.

It seems that indoor kitties are just more attached to their human owners than are the cats who roam outside.

Leave him inside. Keep him to yourself.

Do a Good Job Socializing Them When They Are Kittens

Kittens that receive friendly and positive handling from humans tend to grow up to be more trusting of humans. Funny how that works.

Kittens that got enough attention, affection and were played with will generally be a more affectionate and happy adult cat.

If you are able to socialize your kitten well, you will be on your way to having an adult cat that will love you their whole life.

If You Adopt – Select a Cat That Will Fit Into Your Lifestyle

Try to select a cat that has a personality similar to yours, or one that will work well in your household.

If you have a quiet house, then a quiet or even shy kitty might work out best.

If you have a loud and chaotic house, getting a highly active and un-afraid one would be best.

It’s hard to tell personalities in a shelter or when they are still kittens, but do your best. Maybe you can even take one home on a trial basis and see how it goes.

Become an Expert in Understanding Their Behavior

Be a diligent observer of how they live their lives.

The way they communicate is often subtle. You have to watch and learn.

Observe how they respond to what you do. What do they like? What do they dislike?

If they hate to be brushed — stop brushing them.

Maybe they don’t respond the way you expected them to. Are they misinterpreting some of your behaviors?

Maybe you will have to adjust what you are doing.

Your cat’s vocalizations are clues to how he’s feeling. If he’s purring, that generally indicates contentment, but not always.

Meowing could be almost anything. Maybe he’s hungry. Maybe he’s saying good morning. Through experience, you will learn the difference.

But growling or hissing means he wants to be left alone.

If he nudges your hand with his head, that’s a friendly gesture. So is wrapping his tail around your ankle.

If his tail is low and he’s hurrying through the room while looking around, he may be worried about something or some other cat.

Don’t Corner Them

Don’t force a cat into a corner or someplace where she can’t simply turn and walk away.

They don’t like the concept of not having an escape option.

Don’t corner them and stare them down, that doesn’t win any friends.

Understand Their Independent Nature

While felines like their human partners, by nature they are mostly independent creatures.

They enjoy their personal space and their independence. They don’t want to be around you all the time.

When they want some alone-time, let them have it. Don’t constantly seek them out and insist they be with you all the time.

Don’t Punish

Never yell loudly. Never hit them or hurt them.

They don’t understand what you mean. They don’t understand the concept of discipline.

They only understand that you hurt them or scared them. That’s not what you want.

Bribe Them With Treats

Reinforce your kitty’s positive behavior by giving her treats.

Give out these treats on a limited basis to reward a positive social interaction or experience.

When she does what you want — give her a little treat.

She will associate her good behavior and being with you with enjoying a wonderful tasty treat. Good times.

You can use store-bought treats or small pieces of cooked chicken or tuna fish. Whatever works best for you.

Pick Them Up the Right Way

When you pick up your feline, make sure she sees you are going to do it, and then do it slowly.

Don’t run up behind him and swoop him up without him knowing it’s about to happen. That can scare him.

Keep Him Safe & Happy & Protected

Your cat wants to feel safe. He wants to feel like he is in a protected place.

He wants to not feel any threat from another animal.

He wants to have easy daily access to food, water, litter box, sleeping areas and escape routes.

Provide him with his choice of a few different places he could sleep on, in or under. Then let him choose.

A feline that feels safe is a feline that is happy and willing to bond with you.

Be a Part of the Feeding Process

Feeding time is a great time to bond with your pet.

Put his bowl of food down and be there next to it. Be the person in your home who feeds him.

Keep feeding him at the same time of day. If that isn’t possible, feed him at specific moments, such as right when you get home.

Cats can’t tell time, but they know when dinner time is. Try not to vary their feeding times.

Never Neglect Your Pet

Always make sure your kitty has water and food and clean litter when you’re not home.

They need your attention. It’s your responsibility to make sure they have what they need.

If you need to go away for an extended time, make sure you have a responsible and kind pet sitter who will come in and take care of him.

My family went on a three-week vacation once. Whatever the pet sitter did while we were away caused our one cat to start peeing outside the litter box. She continued that behavior for the rest of her life.

Keep Her Business Clean

Cats try to keep themselves clean. They want their living area to be clean too. This includes their litter boxes.

They want their litterbox to be chunk-free and to smell okay.

They appreciate having the same type of litter from day to day, but will generally accept change if it happens gradually.

Brush Your Cat If They Like It

If your feline will allow brushing, then do it. Brushing removes dead hair and anything else that might be in their coat.

It should cut down on hairballs and the amount of hair that gets spread around your place too.

And if she likes it, it can be a terrific bonding time.

Provide Them Scratching Posts and Climbers

Cats scratch things. It’s what they do.

Give them a few great things to scratch on and reward them when they use them.

And if you can provide something they can climb on, they will really enjoy it.

Remember They Are Almost Wild Animals

While we now keep cats inside our homes, that was not always the case.

Up until the last couple hundred years, cats were outside animals. You could find them outside around the barn or field.

We liked them because they chased mice and rats.

Our indoor cats still retain much of the programming they had for most of their existence. They are loners and they are hunters.

If you’ve been around another cat or a dog, they will be able to smell it on your clothes.

Some cats don’t want the smell of any other animal in their home. They may not want to be around you if you have another animal’s scent on you.

Don’t Stare Them Down

Don’t get involved in a staredown with your cat. They don’t like that.

They find long eye contact or staring to be aggressive or kind of threatening.

It can be hard to avoid it. It seems like natural behavior for humans, but felines don’t like it.

So if your cat is scared, turn away and don’t stare.

Once your relationship is rock-solid, then your cat won’t care about you looking at him.

Walk On The Quiet Side

Cats don’t like big noises. It spooks them. So don’t make loud noises.

There is no need to yell at them. You don’t want to scare them.

Just like you wouldn’t use a loud voice when talking to a baby, use your inside voice with your kitty.

Those Long Nose-To-Tail Rubs

Cats like to rub themselves against people they either like or want to mark with their scent.

They will sometimes rub themselves on you from their nose all the way to their tail.

They do this to put their scent on you, marking you as theirs, and it probably feels kind of nice to them too.

Once you are all “marked up” by them, they will accept you more and like you better because you smell like them.

Check Your Body Language

Cats can feel intimidated by a human — humans are so tall compared to a feline.

If you want to make your cat feel less threatened, you should crouch down or sit on the floor.

Don’t be confrontational. Don’t stare at her. Get down on the floor and turn away from her. Wait for her to come to you.

Act calm and don’t make a lot of sudden moves or gestures.

Your cat wants you to be a predictable and trustworthy housemate.

Slow Blinks

A thing that most cats do is what is called the slow blink.

This is when they slowly close their eyes and then slowly open them again.

When a cat does this, it shows that they are comfortable being around you.

You can return the emotion by doing the slow blink back at them. Just do it once or twice. Don’t get crazy with it or try staring them down.

This blinking behavior is believed to communicate trust and friendliness. It might feel silly, but why not try it.

Head Bonks

When a cat lowers its head and slowly bumps it into you, it is showing respect and friendship, and trust.

If you are down on the floor, you can return the favor by lowering your own head and bumping it into theirs.

Go To Sleep

If your cat is jumpy around you, and maybe not totally trusting you yet, just being in the same room as they are and being quiet can be a giant step to having them totally accept you.

And one of the best ways to do this is to just go to sleep.

If you’re sleeping and they’re sleeping, they will become comfortable being in the same room as you, and their trust level with you will skyrocket.

It’s one of the easiest techniques there is.

Teach Her Some Tricks

One way to quietly bond with your kitty is to try and teach her a trick or two.

Cats are trainable. And sometimes they can get bored with their current daily routine.

They should find your undivided attention (and the treats you provide) to be stimulating.

Working one-on-one learning a new trick will be fun for her and grow the bond between you.

How To Make Your Cat Like You

Don’t give up.

It can be frustrating to have a cat that you give so much attention to seem to not care about you.

It seems like you love them, but they don’t love you back.

You just need to keep at it. Try some of the tips above. You’ll get there.

Tips on How to Make Your Cat Love You — Q & A

Why Are Cats Attracted To People Who Don’t Like Cats?

People who are allergic to cats or who just don’t like cats tend to avoid making eye contact with any cat who is in the room, because they don’t want to initiate any type of contact with that cat.

They simply want the cat to ignore them and hope that they don’t come around to them.

But, unfortunately, cats don’t really like people who approach them or stare at them, and they are instead attracted to those who are looking away. They consider someone who is looking away to be showing respect to them.

So they always seem to approach the person who doesn’t want to be approached.

Do Cats Like Having Their Belly Rubbed?

Sometimes cats will roll on their backs and show you their belly.

Does that mean they want you to rub their belly? Probably not.

When they lay on their back, they are demonstrating how comfortable they are being around you.

Some cats will let their owners pet their bellies a little bit, but it is such a vulnerable area, most felines are not comfortable with it.

Why Won’t My Cat Sleep With Me?

It’s hard to know for sure. Some cats are just more comfortable being alone.

Try putting a folded, heated blanket on your bed and put him on it. Some cats simply can’t leave a hot blanket.

How Can I Make My Small House More Fun For My Cat?

Do unexpected things to surprise them.

Place some cardboard boxes around for them to crawl into and explore. Or you can hide individual pieces of dry cat food around for them to find and play with.

Why Does My Cat Just Squirm When I Pick Her Up?

Look, some cats just never develop the urge to be picked up. It never becomes comfortable to them.

You can work on it by regularly picking her up for very short moments and maybe one day you’ll be able to hold her for as long as you like.

Why Does My Cat Sleep on the Hard Wood Floor?

Maybe she just likes that spot for some reason. Sometimes felines just lay down wherever they were standing.

Or maybe she was thinking about playing with a toy that is nearby, but eventually decided it was too much work and just lay down.

How Will I Know My Cat Loves Me?

Oh, you will know when they really love you. They might do these things:

  • He will follow you around
  • He will bring you a gift
  • He will want to be where you are
  • He sleeps with you
  • He greets you at the door
  • He sits on your book when you try to read
  • He wants to be on your lap or right next to you

You’re going to have a great relationship with your kitty.

Just use your common sense and have patience. They are complicated little creatures. Good luck.

NOTE: This article is not intended to be any type of medical or veterinarian advice. You should not rely on this article for professional advice. The author of this article is not a doctor or a veterinarian. This author does not know your pet or your personal situation. This article should be considered general information only. The advice you should rely upon for your pet and your situation is the help and advice you receive from your own licensed veterinarian and the professional staff who actually examines your pet. Be sure to talk to your vet about any concern you have with your cat.

You can get this cat to like you

Mother cats and maternal aggression behavior.

Human Foods Not for Cats

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Human Foods Cats Should Not Eat

It’s easy to do.

You’re eating. Kitty is on the floor next to you. She seems interested in what you’re eating. You think, “Why not give her a little taste.”

She will smell what you offer. Usually, she will turn and walk away.

Sometimes she will try some of what you’re having. She might like it. She might not.

Either way, the odds are whatever she ate isn’t going to kill her. But, there are items you should never let your cat eat. They could make her sick. Or even worse.

Why You Shouldn’t Give Human Food to Cats

In most cases, it isn’t that the food we eat is dangerous to cats. Yes, there are some things that are bad for cats, but most items we eat aren’t going to kill your kitty.

However, if you give your cat human food, he may become dissatisfied with his regular cat food, which is designed to give him the nutrients he needs.

And if you give her too much, it may take away her appetite and she won’t eat enough of her special food. So she won’t get the daily requirements of vitamins and minerals she should be getting.

Felines are finicky eaters and you don’t want to upset their routine. You do not want to give them a reason to not eat what they should eat.

If you have found a daily diet routine they are happy with, stick with it. Don’t confuse them by replacing their regular meal with something else.

Human Foods Are Not Meant for Cats

If you do want to give your cat a human food “treat” once in a while, do it at times other than mealtime.

And maybe give it to them in a place that isn’t where they are normally fed their meals.

Think about what you are giving them. Make sure it is not a prohibited item.

If you can’t remember what is good or bad for felines, then maybe just don’t give it.

Human Foods Unsafe for Cats

To start with, don’t give your cat anything you wouldn’t eat.

This includes raw foods that you wouldn’t think to eat raw.

This includes spoiled foods you wouldn’t eat.

This also includes peels from fruits.

Grains and pasta should be cooked to increase digestibility.

And while you and I can eat raw vegetables, felines have a hard time digesting them, so if your kitty likes vegetables, cook them first.

Here is a list of items you should not give your feline because they can pose a health risk.

Human Foods Not to Give to Your Cat

Chocolate

Chocolate is toxic to cats.

Any kind of chocolate is bad, but dark and unsweetened chocolate is the worst.

There are three substances in chocolate that cause problems — theobromine (which is a bitter-tasting stimulant), methylxanthines (which can also be in beverages) and caffeine.

Fortunately, the vast majority of cats aren’t attracted to chocolate, but you should still never offer it to them or leave some lying around.

Symptoms of ingestion include diarrhea, vomiting, rapid breathing or trouble breathing, rapid heart rate or palpitations, muscle tremors, overall weakness, or seizures.

Grapes and Raisins and Currants

The ASPCA doesn’t have conclusive medical proof of the toxicity of grapes and raisins to cats, but there is enough anecdotal evidence (and we know they are hazardous to dogs) that they recommend you keep them away from your cat.

Although they don’t affect every cat, there is no reason to risk your kitty’s health by giving either raisins or grapes, or related fruits to them.

They can lead to kidney failure in dogs, and there are instances of this happening to cats too.

Symptoms include vomiting, hyperactivity, diarrhea, abdominal pain, decreased urination, reduced appetite, lethargy, and even kidney failure.

Onions, Garlic, Chives & Related Root Vegetables

All members of the onion family are toxic for cats in large doses.

This includes onions, garlic, chives, leeks, shallots, and scallions.

These foods can be harmful when eaten in big quantities or a smaller amount of a concentrated form such as garlic powder or onion soup mix.

And it doesn’t matter if these root vegetables are raw, cooked, dehydrated or powdered.

If you have a sauce or a chicken broth that includes a small amount of garlic or onion, it may or may not cause problems for your cat. It will depend.

A small amount of an onion or a clove of garlic may result in some minor stomach upset.

But eaten in a larger quantity or on a regular basis can damage a feline’s red blood cells, lead to anemia, weight loss, lethargy, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, or darker urine.

Alcohol

Alcohol is toxic to our cats.

Cats absorb alcohol very quickly. If your kitty takes one sample lick, it isn’t going to hurt her.

But even a small amount, such as a teaspoon or a tablespoon can lead to problems. Multiple teaspoons of hard liquor can be fatal.

You don’t want to leave alcoholic beverages open or leave any spills left on floors, counters or tables.

Symptoms of ingestion may include intoxication, disorientation, digestive upset, tremors, and vomiting.

Alcohol poisoning can cause liver damage or brain damage or even lead to death if the amount consumed is large.

Raw Green Tomatoes and Green Potatoes

Green tomatoes and green potatoes are members of the Solanaceae plant family. They can contain Glycoalkaloid Solanine which is toxic and can lead to gastrointestinal issues.

The stems and leaves of these unripe tomatoes and potatoes are particularly potent.

Ripe tomatoes and potatoes are fine. The amount of GS in them is very small.

Milk and Cheese and Dairy Products

Kittens drink mother’s milk for a few weeks after they are born. But many of them become lactose intolerant as they get older.

Cats often are attracted to milk and dairy products, but those products may not be good for them. They may lead to indigestion, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Their digestive systems are often not built to handle dairy products from cows, goats, or sheep.

These dairy products include milk, cream, cottage cheese, and cheese.

Certain items, such as lactose-free milk, or low-lactose cottage cheese may be fine for some cats. If your cat can tolerate some dairy and really likes it, maybe the occasional small amount will be okay.

Xylitol and Sugar and Sweeteners

Your cat doesn’t need sugar. And she doesn’t need any artificial sweetener either.

Xylitol is a sweetener used in plenty of sugar-free foods including chewing gum, candy, baked goods, and diet foods.

Consuming Xylitol can increase your kitty’s insulin levels too high, and thus cause a dramatic drop in blood sugar.

Don’t let cats eat gum or foods that contain this sweetener.

The symptoms can include vomiting, lethargy, loss of coordination, and seizures.

Raw Eggs

Eating raw eggs can be hazardous. Consumption of raw eggs can lead to Salmonella or E. coli poisoning.

Raw eggs also have an enzyme — Avidin — that can lead to skin condition problems and coat problems by blocking the absorption of biotin.

Eggs should be cooked. Cooking takes care of both the Salmonella and Avidin issues.

The symptoms of salmonella poisoning usually are diarrhea and vomiting.

Raw Meat and Fat Trimmings

Like eggs, eating raw meat can lead to Salmonella or E. coli poisoning.

Even though a wild, feral cat may eat raw meat on a regular basis, it doesn’t mean that it is a safe practice or a good thing to do.

Meat that is uncooked may contain Salmonella and E. coli and parasites.

Cooking meat minimizes the risk of food poisoning or parasitic infection.

Raw meat consumption can lead to vomiting, diarrhea or Salmonella or E. coli.

Raw Seafood

Should a cat eat raw fish?

A cat may like fish, but raw fish isn’t safe.

This includes sardines, anchovies, tuna, herring, clams, and mussels.

Properly cooking kills the bacteria the raw fish carries such as Salmonella. Just cook it.

Cooked Tuna

Almost every cat really likes tuna. And enjoying this tuna once in a while is fine.

Tuna is not an everyday food, however. It doesn’t fulfill the dietary needs of a house cat.

It also can contain too much mercury for an animal or human to eat too often.

Just make sure tuna is cooked, not raw.

Liver

Liver is like tuna. Cats usually like it, but they shouldn’t have it too often.

It’s a good source of protein and other nutrients. But it doesn’t provide a wide range of vitamins and minerals.

And eating it too much can lead to an imbalance of vitamin A.

Bones

There isn’t any reason to give a cat a bone.

A cat can damage his teeth or swallow a piece of bone that can get stuck in his throat or injure the digestive tract.

Even if a bone is too big to swallow, your cat can break off a piece small enough to swallow and create a problem.

Raw Bread Dough or Yeast Dough

Uncooked bread dough or pizza dough isn’t good for any pet.

If a pet eats dough, it will expand in its stomach and can cause pain and a serious digestive issue.

Besides the expansion, raw dough containing yeast will ferment in the stomach and release alcohol. And alcohol isn’t good for felines.

Cooked bread is okay, but it contains no nutritional value.

Dog Food

Dog food and cat food are different products.

Cats need different nutrients than dogs do. And they won’t get it from dog food. Dog food is formulated just for a dog’s needs.

Cats will normally taste dog food (if you also have a dog) once in a while. It’s okay. It won’t hurt them.

But a steady diet of dog food will lead to malnutrition. It’s not what you want.

If you notice your kitty nibbling from Fido’s bowl too often, you may have to come up with a solution.

Caffeine – Coffee and Tea and Energy Drinks

Foods or drinks that contain caffeine are bad for cats. They shouldn’t consume them.

One little sip isn’t a problem, but slurping more than that is not.

Things to avoid are brewed coffee, tea, coffee grounds, tea bags, energy drinks, sodas, chocolate, or even some medicines.

Caffeine can result in restlessness, rapid breathing, muscle tremors, heart palpitations, hyperactivity, high heart rate, or seizures.

Nuts

Nuts are great for humans. They possess plenty of protein and healthy fats.

But nuts aren’t designed for cats. Cats don’t have the teeth to break them up well.

And Macadamia nuts are actually bad for cats. Never let them eat Macadamia nuts.

Too many nuts or too much nut butter can lead to diarrhea and vomiting.

Mushrooms

It can be difficult to tell which mushrooms are edible and which are not.

If you know that your mushrooms are edible, your cat can have a small amount.

But if there are wild mushrooms in your yard, they may contain harmful toxins and you should stop your kitty from eating any.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a plant extract that cats can’t eat. It upsets their stomachs. It leads to vomiting.

Turmeric is in a variety of foods and supplements these days.

Avocado

For some cats, the fruit of an avocado is generally okay.

But the fruit can be mildly toxic to some.

However, the peel, pit, and seeds need to be kept away.

If your kitty wants to get into your guacamole, you can either let him and see what happens, or you can simply keep it away from him.

If your cat can’t stomach avocados, it may end up with diarrhea or vomiting.

Other Items to Keep From Your Feline

Here are five other items you should not let your kitty near.

  1. Baby food
  2. Human or other pet vitamins
  3. Rhubarb leaves
  4. Salt
  5. Tobacco

How To Stop My Cat From Eating Human Food That is Bad for Them

How do you stop your feline from eating stuff that is bad for her?

First, you make sure that she likes her current food routine. If she is happy with her foods, she is less likely to stray.

Second, you prevent her from noticing and getting to foods that are poisonous or bad for her health.

Preventing Cats from Eating Dangerous Foods

Cats are curious — don’t give them hazardous things to investigate.

Don’t leave hazardous things on a counter.

Keep all hazardous foods well out of reach so they can’t get to it.

Keep an eye on all your ingredients while you are preparing meals or cooking.

Don’t leave cooked food uncovered on a counter while you eat.

If your kitty is active, make sure food isn’t left in the sink either.

Make sure that poisons are in cabinets your kitty can not get into.

Don’t start feeding your pet table scraps without thinking about what you are feeding them.

Make sure that house guests know they shouldn’t offer table scraps either.

What To Do If Your Cat Eats Something Bad

If you think your cat has eaten something either poisonous or bad for her health, you need to watch her carefully.

It’s important to know what she ate and how much of it she ate.

A small taste of something will usually not require a veterinarian visit, but if you don’t know how much she ate, you will have to monitor her symptoms.

Even if you don’t see any symptoms yet, it’s good to call your vet and get their input on what to watch for. You’ll also find out if they are open and where to go if you need to make an emergency trip.

Many foods in small amounts will give your feline some temporary discomfort, but she will not have to go in.

If you notice serious problems, take her to your veterinarian or animal hospital immediately.

Serious symptoms include sustained vomiting, diarrhea, muscle tremors, increased thirst, trouble breathing, seizures, or disorientation.

So it’s important that you don’t hesitate to contact a veterinarian if you suspect your cat has been poisoned by something you have given her or she has found herself.

Human Foods Poisonous for Cats

Your cat has instincts, but she is mostly dependent on you to provide for her and to keep her safe.

You are responsible for providing a safe environment.

You want to make sure she is provided with a balanced diet that will lead to a healthy life.

If your kitty loves some of these risky foods, maybe you can give her a little taste once in a while.

If a food isn’t poisonous, such as dairy, you can let her have a small sample and monitor how she does. Just be careful.

DISCLAIMER: This article is not intended to be medical or healthcare advice. Do not consider this article to be professional or veterinarian advice. The authors of this article are not doctors. They are not veterinarians. The previous article is to be read as mere general knowledge only. The only pet health advice you should put your trust in is the advice and guidance you receive from your own veterinarians, doctors, and staff you have contacted and who have seen your pet. Please contact a local veterinarian or an animal hospital professional if you need assistance with your pet.

Adult cat with a cabbage and other vegetables

Human foods that are okay for your cat to eat.

Stop My Bullying Cat

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Stop My Cat From Being a Bully

Is there a bully cat in your household?

Why is he like that anyway?

What’s gotten into him? He was never like this before.

A little bullying is common in the cat world. If it’s very limited and your pets remain friends, don’t worry about it.

But if it happens too often or gets too severe, you want to put an end to it.

Types of Bullying in a Multi-Pet Household

Pets are going to interact with one another in a variety of ways.

Sometimes they will get along; other times, maybe not so much.

There are six basic bullying scenarios we see:

  1. One adult indoor cat versus another adult cat
  2. One adult indoor cat versus a new kitten
  3. A new kitten versus an adult cat
  4. A cat versus a dog or puppy or other pet
  5. More than one cat versus one indoor cat
  6. Someone else’s cat versus your household’s cat

One Indoor Adult Cat Attacking Another Adult Cat

Pets have different personalities. Some are passive, some are more aggressive.

A passive cat will sometimes attract the attention of a more aggressive one. Sometimes the issue is over territory, other times it could be about almost anything.

If you provide enough resources — food, litter boxes, etc — household cats will generally work things out. They will divide their territory up in order to prevent encounters.

One Indoor Adult Cat Bullying a New Kitten

When you introduce a kitten into a cat’s home, it’s a huge change.

Why does my older cat bully my kitten?

It’s very common for the older cat to lash out at the new kitten. He sees the kitten as an intruder. He doesn’t see the kitten as a cute baby cat.

A kitten also hasn’t learned basic cat social skills yets. She doesn’t know yet that the older cat doesn’t want to be jumped on.

You will need to slowly and properly introduce your kitten into your home. You will need to supervise them constantly whenever they are together until the new relationship is established.

A New Kitten Bullying an Adult Cat

Sometimes it happens the other way around. It’s the kitten that starts bullying the older, established cat.

Don’t confuse kitten play with bullying. Kittens want to play whenever they are awake. Your older cat only wants to play once in a while.

Hissing, growling, aggressive stares and obvious resource blocking are signs of bullying, not playing.

Once you know that she isn’t playing, you should step in, because that kitten will grow bigger and bigger and that behavior will result in bigger problems in the future too.

A Cat Bullying a Dog or Puppy

Cats and dogs can get along. Sometimes they will become friends. Sometimes they will just learn to put up with one another.

When they don’t get along perfectly, or when one dominates the other, it can create a stressful situation for both of them.

An energetic cat can see a dog as a threat and a nuisance and will act out aggressively as a defensive move.

If this is the case at your house, do your dog a favor and keep your cat’s nails trimmed as much as you can.

Generally, if the ages of your pets are similar, you will have better luck.

An older dog usually gets along better with an older cat. A senior cat may find a puppy to be very annoying, while a kitten may be a better match for a young dog.

Make sure that each of them has time to themselves and has their own territory where they can be alone.

Multiple Cats Bullying a Single Indoor Cat

Whenever you combine a bunch of cats into a single household, interesting things are going to happen.

You have to take the time to properly introduce each one and observe the new dynamic. Each one needs lots of attention from you so they know they are loved.

Each one also needs to know that they have their own litter box and sleeping spot and food dish and water supply. They need to feel safe and secure.

Multiple-cat households can work, but unless they are siblings, it can be months or longer before everyone settles in and lives in harmony without stress.

Someone Else’s Cat Bullying Your Cat

Sometimes the cat that is bullying your cat isn’t yours. It lives next door or somewhere else in your neighborhood.

There may be territorial marking, stare-downs, hissing, chasing, or even fighting. For outdoor pets, interactions and disputes are fairly common occurences.

There isn’t much you can do to keep a cat out of your yard. Your only recourse is to keep your feline indoors.

If your cat still wants to go outside, maybe your cat isn’t that concerned with the bullying, he doesn’t like it but is willing to put up with it in order to enjoy the outside.

Signs of Bullying To Watch For

Felines are solitary creatures by nature.

But humans decided that they were nice to have around, so we brought them into our homes and tried to domesticate them.

They can live with people and other pets. Sometimes they get along well, sometimes there are issues.

What are the symptoms of bullying? Is there a problem in your house? Sometimes it’s hard to tell.

Here Are Some Signs of Bullying in Cats

  • One cat is stalking, chasing, hitting, or pouncing on another
  • Your cats growl and hiss at one another
  • They actually fight, and it’s not play fighting
  • They never sleep near each other or groom one another
  • They insist on sleeping or being in rooms far apart from each other
  • One stares at the other one too much
  • One “guards” the litter box, food dish, stairs, doorways or access paths
  • Someone is using different rooms as a bathroom instead of making it to the litter box
  • When a cat walks through your house, he hurries through certain rooms in case the other cat is there
  • Your cat seems nervous, scared. stressed or unusually jumpy

These symptoms can be tricky to identify.

It’s your job to pay attention to their habits and their body language so you will know when you have a problem.

Sometimes one cat just has a lot of energy and loves to play and has a high internal hunt drive, he isn’t being mean,

Are My Cats Fighting or Just Playing?

Of course, it’s common for cats to play rough, especially when they’re young. But as they get older, that type of playing starts to subside.

How do you tell the difference between playing and actual fighting?

You tell the difference by looking at their body language and posture.

Ears that are forward are friendly; ears that are flattened back indicates hostility or aggression.

Dilated pupils and whiskers flat back also show seriousness, not friendliness.

Pawing and hitting can be play, as long as the claws are not out. When a feline is leaning back and swinging, it sometimes indicates that the other one has his claws out.

When a cat feels threatened or afraid, its tail puffs up and/or its hair stands out. It does not do that when they are mock-fighting.

Play fighting is generally pretty quiet. Real fighting includes some yelping and growling.

Playing often involves one cat being the aggressor, then the other one takes her turn at being the aggressor. They take turns.

And when it’s over, one doesn’t run away. They seem to get over it right away.

If they are actually fighting, you should stop it and prevent it from continuing. You don’t want your cats to accept this behavior as normal and have it persist. It’s unhealthy for all the pets in the house.

Why Does My Cat Bully My Other Cat?

When you have a multi-pet household, your pets are going to make up some type of social structure. This social structure can be complex and not understood by humans.

Cats are not pack animals. They usually prefer living by themselves, or as the only cat in a house.

Although they prefer a solitary existence, they will learn to live as a group. Blood relations tend to get along the best.

When felines live together, they may mostly ignore each other, enjoy having the other one around, mutually dislike each other, or develop some type of bully and victim situation.

If you can identify the cause of the aggression, you can start to correct it. Typical causes include these:

  • You’ve brought home another feline or pet. You have totally upset the hierarchy of the house.
  • Your cat is seeing a cat outside and is upset. He is redirecting his anger at your other kitty.
  • He thinks you’re not spending enough time with him.
  • She is jealous of another cat or something else — like a new baby.
  • Your cat has had an upsetting visit to the veterinarian.
  • He has an undiagnosed medical condition. He is in pain or feels scared and confused.
  • She is defensive of her territory or turf. It could be just a bedroom or a favorite sleeping area.
  • He perceives another cat to be submissive or weak and he wishes to assert his dominance.
  • She feels her role in the hierarchy of order is to protect the house from any intruder, from outside or otherwise.
  • He is young and has a high interest in stalking and hunting. And the other cat is the only prey in town.
  • She has a lot of energy and she’s bored.
  • He is very nervous and jumpy and is lashing at whoever is slower or more timid

It’s hard to stop bullying behavior if you can’t determine what is causing it.

When you notice it happening regularly, you need to interrupt this behavior. If it continues, it could become a real problem for your household.

Tips for Stopping Bullying Behavior in Cats

Once you have the cause narrowed down, you can move on to trying a solution to the problem.

Here are the common solutions to stopping bullying and incidents of cat-to-cat aggression.

Make Sure They Have Time Apart From One Another

Housecats want a lot of time to be alone and to feel safe.

Give them time apart from your other pets. They use this time to calm down and recharge their batteries.

Be sure to monitor them if one is new to your household.

Give Them Attention and Love

Make sure you show all your pets plenty of attention and love.

When your pets are together in the same room, give each the same amount of attention. Don’t let one dominate the other.

Reassure them they are important to you, play with them, talk with them and maybe give each a little treat too.

Offer Separate Cat Food Bowls and Water Dishes

The pets in your house probably don’t stand a chance of starving, but that doesn’t mean they don’t worry about it.

Animals have an instinctual need to save and protect their food and water. They might not want another cat eating out of their dish.

So just feed them from separate bowls to get rid of any tension. If it’s an issue, feed them in different parts of the house.

Provide Extra Litter Boxes

Disagreements sometimes take place around the litter box area.

When kitty needs to use the litter, she feels vulnerable. You don’t want to put her in an uncomfortable situation with another feline.

You don’t want her to start viewing other parts of the house as a safer place to go to the bathroom.

What do to? Add another litter box in the same area.

If your litter box is covered, consider adding an uncovered one. A picked-on kitty might feel trapped inside an enclosed box.

Keep those boxes as clean as you can. If it’s possible, place another box somewhere else in the house so your victim cat has options.

Offer Plenty of Other Resources Too

Limited resources lead to competition. Competition can lead to tension and fighting.

Provide everyone with everything they need. Make sure they have great places to sleep, toys, hiding places, high perches, areas with sun and safety.

Tire Them Out

If you have a young, high-energy cat, they may be stalking and pouncing on your other cat simply because they have a need to hunt and they have way too much energy.

Help your feline burn that pent-up energy by playing with her. Get her to chase you around the house a little bit.

Use toys to help her engage in pretend hunting. Give her some extra stimulation. It’s possible she has been sleeping most of the day. Tire her out some.

If she’s tired, she won’t be so interested in running after her housemate.

Break Up Any Fight Right Away

If a fight breaks out, you need to stop it.

Nothing good happens from a catfight.

The best way to get it to stop is to startle them somehow and distract them.

You don’t want to scare them. That could make the whole problem worse.

Try putting something in between them, or throwing a soft blanket over the aggressor, or using a whistle that isn’t too loud, or even using a water misting bottle with a small amount of water.

Use the word “No” and reprimand her. Don’t go on and on berating her, just tell her “No” once.

Don’t try to pick one up when they’re fighting.

Divert Their Attention Before a Fight Starts

If you really know your cats and you can see that the bossy one is ready to act out, you can distract him before he does it.

Grab your feather wand or whatever toy she can’t resist and distract her away from the other feline.

Get her to play for a while and reward her with a treat. Reinforce her good behavior.

It’s likely that your other cat will be watching too. If you can get him involved with the playtime, it’s a golden opportunity for both cats to play the same game at the same time in the same place.

This is great because if both cats can associate being around each other and being praised, receiving treats and having fun, all at the same time, it’s possible they’ll remember that tomorrow and the next day too.

Your bully cat might start thinking of her housemate as a play partner or friend, and not as an intruder or as prey. It’s a good start.

Offer a Safe Space for the Victim

Make sure the victim kitty has a safe space to go to. It has to be a place where the dominant cat won’t go.

It could be up high. Or in a room or closet where the bossy cat doesn’t like to go.

It needs to be a place where she can retreat to and not worry.

If you live in a small space, you might have to get creative.

Give Each Their Own Territory

In the same topic, your goal could be to provide each feline with its own territory.

While you probably don’t want to dedicate your entire home to your cats, the more areas you can allocate to your cats, the better for them.

If you can add window perches, cat trees, climbing areas, soft areas on bookshelves, small cat beds, open closet doors and other spaces for them to explore and use, the happier they will all be.

This gives all your cats more options and spaces they can use so they aren’t forced to be around each other all the time.

Some owners forget about adding the vertical element in their home, but cats love to climb and explore and be up high.

Be Cautious When One Returns From the Vet

When you bring a feline home from the veterinarian, he is covered in weird smells. Your other house cats will be confused. They may not be fully certain they know who he is.

One of your other cats may attack him. You don’t want your felines to start attacking each other.

Protect him by secluding him in his own room for a while, until he can groom himself and re-cover himself in the smells of your pet community.

Spay or Neuter Your Pet

When you have behavioral problems between cats, getting them spayed or neutered can be a good step to take.

All those wild hormones can lead to thoughts of competition, aggression and fighting.

You may also benefit from less spraying and marking around the litter box or elsewhere.

Try Cat Pheromones

You can purchase a cat pheromone diffuser.

These diffusers plug into a wall outlet and periodically spray out a solution that mimics a cat’s natural pheromones.

When kitty emits her own pheromones, it relaxes and reassures her. These artificial pheromones do the same thing.

If you have a big house, this may not be the best option.

On the other hand, it would be cheaper and easier than giving kitty an oral prescription from your veterinarian that is designed to reduce anxiety or tension.

Try Some Natural Cat Deterrents

If you have an outside cat coming around, maybe you can stop him from doing that.

There are motion-activated ultrasonic sounds that might keep him away. You can also try blocking his access to your door by laying down something he won’t want to walk on.

You don’t want to go overboard on this, but maybe there is something you could do that wouldn’t look too weird to your neighbors.

There are lots of houses that an outside cat could go to, just make yours one that isn’t his favorite.

Block Their View of Outside Cats

We usually encourage our felines to get into the window and look outside.

But if he is seeing an outside cat that is freaking him out, try to stop him from seeing outside.

Close your drapes or blinds when you can. Or you could put some peel-and-stick covering on the bottom part of the window for a few weeks which will prevent him from seeing the neighborhood intruder.

Call in a Behavior Specialist

Not having any luck?

Tired and disappointed with your attempts at working it out?

It’s possible a veterinary behaviorist can help you.

They might be able to either detect what the issue is that is triggering your kitty’s behavior or come up with the correct solution to take care of it.

They also might be able to see if your cat appears to have some type of physical ailment too.

How To Stop My Cat From Bullying My New Cat or Kitten

The most common situation for bullying to start is when a new second cat is introduced into a home.

Typically, this cat is a kitten. And his arrival shakes up the entire household.

When you bring your kitten home, you will keep him separated in a small room away from your other pets. He won’t mind being in there. He will feel safe.

Your other pets will soon hear him or smell him and they can hiss or growl at him under the door. That’s okay.

One technique that owners use is to feed them both at the same time, right by the door that separates them. They will be able to hear each other but that’s it. Mealtime is a happy time and you want to associate happy moments with being around the other cat.

You can also replace their sleeping blankets. Bring them into the other cat’s area so they can get used to the other cat’s smell.

You can bring out the kitten in a carrier to show him off to the other pets. That will allow everyone to see the other.

There will come a day when you open the door and let him come out if he wants to.

Be positive with your older cats. Give them treats and reward them for acting nice. Hissing is fine. That’s normal. You don’t want to see swiping or attacking.

Both cats will have to figure out what to do. It will take some time for the kitten to understand the social norms of living with other cats. And it will take the established cats a while to accept the kitten.

We want them to accept each other immediately. That probably won’t happen. Just be patient.

If the introduction process fails miserably, you can move the kitten back to his room and try it again. Reintroduce them slower and more carefully this time.

Tips for Stopping Bullying Behavior in Cats

In summary, you need to do four things:

  1. Identify the cause of the aggression.
  2. Come up with several possible solutions to eliminate the behavior.
  3. Initiate one or more of the potential solutions to prevent the behavior from happening.
  4. Work with your felines and their environment, monitor the situation and adapt your approach as you see success or failure.

How to Stop Bullying – What Not To Do

There are a few things you should never do when you have cats that fight or if one is bullying the other.

  • Don’t let them fight it out. It just sets them up to fight again. And they could get hurt.
  • Don’t use your arms or legs to break up a fight. Never pick a fighting kitty up.
  • Don’t put yourself in a situation where you could get bit. Cat bites can be bad.
  • Don’t physically punish them. Felines don’t understand it. It will only confuse them.
  • Never hit them or strike them. They don’t understand.
  • Don’t yell. You can raise your voice, but don’t yell too much.
  • Don’t throw something hard at them. Don’t hurt them.
  • Don’t drench them with water. A little spray can work, you don’t need a lot of water.

Once in a while, a homeowner who has a problem will decide that adding another animal to your household mix might balance everything out and take care of it.

Don’t try that. You’re not making soup. Adding more animals to your household will only lead to further dysfunction.

What To Do If Nothing Works

Basically — you start over.

You separate them and reintroduce them again, just like you would if you were bringing home a new kitten.

This time you do your best to complete all the steps and to allocate as much attention to each of them as you can.

If your reintroduction is not successful and you give up, you could consider rehoming one of them to another home to live in. It’s a dramatic step and it’s hard on the owners and the feline, but sometimes it is necessary.

Stopping a Cat From Being a Bully

We don’t like to see any of our pets being bullied. We want our felines to get along all the time.

Witnessing bullying and fighting and not being able to stop it can be frustrating.

If you have a cat with some aggressive issues, you should be able to change your cat’s attitude and put a stop to any excessive aggressive behavior.

It will take time and effort, keep working at it. It can take months to see progress.

In some cases, household felines will never become real friends. At best they may only tolerate the other’s existence.

Talk with your vet if you can’t get the bad behavior to stop or if someone gets injured. Good luck.

NOTE: This article is not intended to be veterinarian advice. Do not consider this article to be professional medical advice. The authors of these articles are not veterinarians or doctors. This article is to be viewed as general information only. The only professional advice you should depend on for your situation is the guidance and advice you receive from your own vet, doctor and staff you have direct contact with. Please call your vet with any serious concern you have with your cat.

This cat is a bully in her household

Read a list of human foods that aren’t good for cats.

Stop Family Cats From Fighting

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How To Stop Cats From Fighting

Do your cats fight?

We don’t like to see our cats fighting. We want to see them getting along like best friends.

If we have a single cat, maybe we want him to have a friend, so we bring a new one into our home and we just want them to get along and have a nice life together.

Most of the time, the outcome is pretty good, our kitties become friends or at least put up with each other, but there are those times when one gets too aggressive with the other one and they fight.

Aggression Between Family Cats

Cat behavior is complex — you know that.

Relationships between household cats can be complicated too. We don’t understand all the nuances going on.

Some disagreement between our kitties is normal behavior.

Even if a cat has some aggressive tendencies, cats normally figure out how to tolerate one another and live happily without unnecessarily inflicting conflict.

They learn to mostly stay apart from one another when they sleep, eat or use the litterbox. They work it out.

But repeated aggression or violent daily aggression needs to be resolved so it doesn’t keep happening.

Reasons Why Cats Fight

It can be upsetting to see our cats fighting with each other.

Why do they do it? Aren’t they friends?

We do our best to pick a cat that we hope will get along with our household, but it’s impossible to know for sure what will happen.

Why Do Household Cats Get Aggressive?

There are several reasons why a cat may become aggressive towards another one of your household cats. Here are the common types of aggressive behavior between cats.

Some Cats Are Just More Aggressive Than Others

Some cats simply are more prone to acting in an aggressive manner when they are put in a challenging circumstance. It’s just their nature.

They resort to aggression quickly. Why are they like this? We figure it is due to how they were brought up, their early life experiences, and their genetics.

It isn’t any one situation that makes them act aggressive, it can be just their common response.

They Become Startled

Your kitty is sleeping when suddenly there is a loud noise. Kitty is startled and a little scared. She doesn’t know what happened or what is going on.

It’s common for her to become defensive and act out at anyone or any other cat near her. And, for a little while, she may associate that feeling with the other cat and not trust that other cat.

They Think They are Defending Their Turf

Cats are territorial. Some are very assertive about it.

Most are adaptable and can live together in a multi-cat house, but a few never adjust to sharing it.

Some cats will hiss at strangers and other animals coming into or near their home. They feel they are defending their home against an invader.

Some cats will divide up a house into areas where only one cat is allowed to go. They each have their own special territory or favorite safe spot for sleeping or resting.

One Cat Associates Something Unpleasant With the Other Cat

Housemates can be getting along just fine, but then something unpleasant happens. For whatever reason, both your cats associate the other one with this unpleasant situation.

They are suddenly frightened of each other and the fighting begins. Sometimes they get over it right away, other times it takes days or weeks.

Genetics and Kitty Parenting

An adult cat’s temperament will be influenced by the experience they had as a kitten. A kitten brought up in a friendly environment with other kittens will usually become a friendly adult.

A cat that lived outside on his own and had little pleasant contact with other cats or humans may have difficulty fitting into a multi-cat home.

They may be too territorial and have an overly strong survival instinct that won’t allow them to share food or space.

It’s also possible that a cat who has grown up as a single cat, without contact with others, has only known being a solo cat. She may not know how to relate to suddenly having another feline in the house.

It will be a complete disruption of her world. It may take her a long time to adapt. On the other hand, maybe she will not have a problem with it. With a cat, you never know.

Inadequate Socialization as a Kitten or Young Adult

The early weeks of kittenhood are so important in the social development of a feline.

This socialization prepares them to be around people, other cats and possibly, other animals.

Felines that don’t receive the care and experience they need when they are young are more likely to have issues later when being exposed to people and other cats.

For example, they may misunderstand feline etiquette and communication and not know how to act around another indoor cat. They may respond with aggression instead of with an appropriate response.

Maternal Aggression

Maternal aggression can occur in two ways. It can be between two females in the same household or between a mother of new kittens and everyone else.

A female who is protecting a new litter may suddenly not trust any other feline. She does not want anyone else coming around her new litter. She will get back to normal once her kittens are weaned.

Competition for Food or Other Resources

When cats share a house, they also share these important resources:

  • Food
  • Water
  • Litter Boxes
  • Sleeping Spots
  • The Best Places to Sit
  • Play Areas
  • Scratching Surfaces
  • Toys
  • Windows
  • The Couch
  • Favorite Chairs
  • Human Laps

If you can provide multiples of these resources, there will be enough for your felines to share.

You don’t want your housemates to be in constant competition with each other for these things. Not having enough of these to go around will increase the anxiety and stress levels of your cats.

Play Aggression

Most young cats and all kittens engage in rough and tumble play that resembles fighting.

This mock aggression is just play. One attacks another. Then later, the other one attacks back.

They stalk each other. They jump on one another. They hide. They run. They swat at each other.

If they engage another cat who does not have the typical socialization of a kitten into their play, the older cat may respond back with aggression, not understanding that they are merely playing.

Territorial Aggression

Territorial aggression is very common. This occurs when one cat believes another cat has come into her territory.

The aggrieved cat can respond by running away, hissing, swatting, or fighting.

Their territory could be your whole house or simply one small favorite area, such as a bed.

Playing Predator

Cats are born predators. It’s in their nature to stalk and hunt.

If the only thing in your house that moves is another cat, and that’s the only game in town, your feline may have the urge to stalk and pounce on him every once in a while.

Inter-male Aggression

Sometimes two unrelated adult males will have issues with sharing a home.

Sometimes the issue is just between the two of them trying to achieve a little dominance in their relationship. But often this occurs when there is a female around and they are competing for her attention.

Defensive Aggression

Defensive aggression happens when your cat is afraid and feels threatened.

When she feels there is no escape route or no other option but to fight, she will lash out as a defense.

She worries she is about to be attacked by another cat or may be punished by a human. She’s simply trying to protect herself.

Redirected Aggression

This is a common situation for homeowners. Your cat is sitting in the window or looking outside and sees an outdoor cat walk right up to the house.

Your cat freaks out and feels the need to protect his territory. Then he turns and sees your other cat right behind him and gets confused. He lashes out at your other cat instead of the outside one.

If both cats see the outside cat, they might attack each other. This redirected aggression can also be directed at you too.

Bringing a New Cat Home

If you’re bringing a new cat into your home, introducing him the right way is essential. Not just for him, but also for your existing kitties.

You want to start by leaving your new cat in just one room at first. This allows him to get acquainted with the smells and sounds of his new place.

Your existing feline isn’t going to like it very much that there is an intruder on the other side of the door, but you will give him a few days or more to get used to the idea before you open the door.

Properly introducing your cats to each other needs to be done slowly. Their first meetings might not be perfect, but they’ll get better as time goes on.

Maybe It’s a Medical Issue

If you’ve noticed a change in your cat’s behavior towards you or another cat, don’t rule out a medical condition.

A cat in pain will be irritable and scared and will growl or hiss at other pets when they get too close.

If you see a change in behavior, especially if it is combined with a change in eating or another habit, you should contact your veterinarian.

Don’t Confuse Rough Playing With Fighting

Cats play fight with each other. Especially siblings.

How do you tell the difference between playing and real fighting? Play fighting is usually silent. It starts and stops for a few seconds. It might include some chasing and rolling around with each other.

There may be some screeching in the end when one gets too rough. Real fighting is filled with a big buildup of posturing and hissing and screeching.

How to Stop Aggression Between Cats – What You Can Do

Some cats are tolerant and will share their home with multiple cats. Others may tolerant one, but not another. And the more cats you have, the more issues you will likely have to.

If aggression between your household cats has become an issue and you want it to stop, there are some steps you can take.

Rule Out a Medical Issue

If your usually friendly cat is suddenly acting up, a good first step is to rule out some medical issue.

When a cat is ill, it doesn’t readily show symptoms. But the pain and confusion about the pain causes them to get grouchy and unfriendly.

It’s best to take her to your veterinarian for a health evaluation. Be sure to explain the behavior you are noticing.

Spay or Neuter

If your vet thinks there is nothing wrong with your feline, you can move on from there.

If your cat is not spayed or neutered, it should be an option to consider. Intact males in particular can show aggressive behavior sometimes.

And the behavior of just one intact animal in the house can affect the entire environment.

Identify the Triggers That Upset Your Cat

Monitor your feline so you can identify what it is that is setting her off.

Maybe she is seeing cats outside that are making her angry or she is getting scared by loud noises or an inconsiderate roommate.

Come up with a strategy to reduce those triggers and design a plan to distract her and redirect her attention when those triggers happen.

If your cats are fighting because you are giving them only a little attention and they each want more, make a plan to give them each attention.

If they are fighting over one food bowl, give them more bowls.

Some mild behaviors, like a little hissing that doesn’t progress into any other action, can be normal. Hissing is a way they communicate and it’s not necessarily bad as long as it doesn’t lead to fighting.

Provide Sufficient and Separate Resources

Sometimes the trigger is tension resulting from competition to resources in the home.

Cats will compete for the food bowl, water dish, beds, litter boxes, hiding spots, high resting perches, scratching posts, or your lap.

Fortunately, this is also the easiest problem to solve. You just give more resources.

Your cat might guard one food dish, but he can’t block access to three.

If you feed them wet food at a certain time, you can use multiple dishes instead of just using one.

Each cat will probably have his favorite water dish. Some will be protective of it. So you just provide one more in a different spot. Or maybe two.

It can be difficult to provide litter boxes in more locations than just one room, but if you can manage it, having a litter box in multiple areas of the home gives each cat another option.

Provide Sufficient Entertainment and Distractions

Felines can get bored. They want to play and hunt.

Try to introduce new toys for them to play with. Try to give them new things to explore and do.

Give them plenty of ways to play and be entertained.

Block Their View

If one of your cats goes crazy when he sees another cat outside, you may need to block their view.

Sometimes it is as easy as closing your window blinds. Other times it will be harder.

Some homeowners will apply an opaque window cling product on the bottom section of a patio door in order to block an animal’s view. Since it is only applied to the bottom, it won’t obstruct a taller human from seeing out.

Give Them Lots of Attention

Play with all your cats.

They like it, it uses up some of their energy and reinforces their belief that you love them. Playtime is especially helpful in the evening.

If your cats are fighting over attention from you, it’s possible you can teach them that you don’t like their aggression towards one another.

When you notice that one cat becomes anxious or angry, you should leave the room. Without you being in the room, they have nothing to fight over.

It may take a while for this strategy to sink in, but your cat should eventually realize that her bad behavior results in you leaving the room. That is not what she was wanting.

Don’t Let Them Fight

If your cats are fighting — get them to stop.

Interrupt them by making a loud (but not frightening loud) noise or doing some other action, like dropping a towel over one.

A bad fight can add long-lasting harm to a feline relationship. And one fight can lead to another one later on.

Once they have separated, don’t get too close. They could turn on you during their confusion.

And don’t try to calm them down by talking to them or reaching out your hand. Just leave them alone.

Distract Them and Reward Good Behavior

Reward them for good behavior.

When you notice the signals your feline is giving off, interrupt those feelings and redirect her towards you.

Distract her and get her to come to you. And when she does, reward her for this great behavior by giving her a treat and some kind words and affection and maybe a special toy.

Praise – Don’t Punish

Use your best voice and praise your felines when they are cooperating.

Punishing doesn’t do any good. Yelling or scolding doesn’t do any good.

Any physical punishment or yelling just confuses a cat. They may even end up blaming the other cat for their punishment.

You Got To Keep Them Separated

When household cats are fighting too much, the best option may be to separate them into different rooms or areas of the house for a while. How long? Maybe even a few days.

You make sure that each area provides what the cats need — food, bed, toys, litter boxes, water, and anything else they would like.

They will be able to hear what’s going on around the house, but they won’t be able to touch each other.

Place their food bowls near the closed door between them. This ensures they will be close together while doing something they like.

After a while, have them switch rooms so they experience some variation and safely reacquaint themselves with the other’s scent.

Carefully Re-Introduce Your Cats After an Episode or a Separation

You want to gradually reintroduce your felines and watch for signs of stress and anxiety.

After several days or so, you could open the door an inch or two at the most. Wedge the door so they can peek through the crack but can’t fit through it. If they remain calm, they may be ready to be together again.

However, if one immediately starts to growl, hiss, or swat, you may have to close the door again.

Once the door is open, keep them distracted by feeding them or playing with them. But keep them far apart. You want to teach them that good things happen when they are together.

When they can be just a couple of feet apart from one another and peacefully play or eat, maybe they are ready to be left alone.

You can try leaving them alone, but just for short periods of time at first. Go slow and be cautious. It’s better to go slow than have to start over.

Be Careful When One Comes Home From the Vet

It’s common for cats to be aggressive with one another when one returns from the vet.

The cat coming home from the vet smells funny to the other cats in the house. He almost smells like a different cat. They may have trouble recognizing them.

And since your cats communicate using their sense of smell, that familiar communal odor formed by your group is now different. It’s confusing to them.

So keep the returning feline in a separate room for some hours in order for him to groom himself and get back that familiar odor.

Try Pheromones

A cat has glands in the cheek area that produces chemical substances called pheromones. These substances provide details about the cat and producing them also helps the cat relieve anxiety.

That is why your cat will rub their cheeks against your leg, the wall or the couch, they are marking their territory with these released pheromones.

You can buy a synthetic pheromone spray or diffuser which mimics the real thing. It can be sprayed into the air or onto surfaces. It provides a calming effect to most cats.

You won’t be able to smell it or notice it, but kitty will. Some felines respond very well to it.

What Not To Do

Here are a few things you shouldn’t do.

  • Don’t just ignore it. Don’t let the behavior continue. It isn’t healthy or productive.
  • Don’t allow your cats to fight. Fighting makes it all worse.
  • Don’t try to pull apart fighting animals. To stop them, make a loud but not terrible noise, squirt them with a little water, or throw something soft on one of them.
  • Don’t punish them. They won’t understand. It may just make them more fearful and aggressive or make you a target.
  • Don’t try to handle them if they are agitated or angry.
  • Don’t give a cat any pet medication without consulting with a veterinarian first.
  • Don’t give them any human medication or product.
  • Don’t give up.

How to Deal with Aggression Between Family Cats

What do you do if nothing seems to work?

If you’ve tried everything, but your cats still can’t get along with each other, you may need to bring in a pro.

You can contact an animal behaviorist or a veterinary behaviorist for help.

They can evaluate your problem and perhaps come up with a solution that works for your situation. You may be able to find a behaviorist in your area on our list.

But What if Nothing Works?

Working through these issues can take time and commitment. Try to be patient and don’t give up quickly.

Some felines will never grow to be best friends, but most will learn to tolerate each other and learn to live with as little conflict as possible.

However, in some rare instances, some felines cannot live with each other.

And instead of forcing them to suffer a daily stressful life, maybe it is better to either keep them permanently separated in your house, if possible or to find another place for one of them to live.

It’s a radical move, and one that is hard to make, but maybe it would be for the best.

NOTE: This article (as well as the other articles here) is not intended to be medical or veterinarian advice. Do not rely on this article for professional advice. The author of this article is not a veterinarian or a doctor. This author does not know your personal situation. This article is to be considered general information only. The only advice you should rely upon for your pet and your situation is the advice and guidance you receive from your own licensed veterinarian and staff who actually examine your animal. Be sure to get in touch with your vet with any concern you have with your feline.

Three family cats outside but not fighting

Got a bully in your house? Learn to stop a bully cat.

Make My Mean Cat Nice

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How to Make My Mean Cat Nicer

Do you have a cat that is kinda mean?

Maybe you got a cat that just isn’t as nice as you would like?

It happens. Cats are independent creatures. They have survival instincts they rely on. It shapes how they behave.

For example, no cat ever grows up wishing that some human being would pick it up, squeeze it so tightly that it can’t move any of her legs and then carry her around.

You can train your cat to like that eventually, but there is nothing in a cat’s DNA that prepares them for that. Mother cats don’t do that. Only human mothers do that.

So don’t think your cat is mean just because she protests some when you do things like this to her.

Why Is My Cat So Mean?

Cat behaviorists say you should look at four general areas when first trying to determine why a cat isn’t behaving as nice as you would like.

These four areas are:

  1. Health
  2. Instincts
  3. Stress
  4. Symptoms and Reactions

Health

The first step is to rule out any health issue. Maybe he isn’t feeling well. Maybe he’s hurting.

Most cats prefer to be left alone when they aren’t feeling well. And they don’t provide obvious clues when they aren’t feeling so good.

Even though it isn’t likely, it’s possible that your kitty has a health problem.

This could especially be possible if this mean behavior has developed recently if there has been a change in how he reacts to you.

If you suspect a health issue, schedule an appointment with a veterinarian. Come ready to discuss what behavior or changes you have noticed and any relevant background that might be helpful.

Instinct

Kittens begin with a list of instincts designed to keep them safe in a strange world.

As they grow, instincts may be reaffirmed by what they experience. They shy away from things that have frightened them in the past. They also develop habits.

These instincts and habits may be telling them to be wary of you. They aren’t trying to be mean; they are just being careful.

Stress

Has your cat been stressed lately? How about you?

Anything unusual going on in your household?

Cats can get stressed. We think they can also sense stress in humans too. They are sensitive.

Maybe they are acting differently just due to heightened tension or stress in your home.

Symptoms

Look at the symptoms your cat is displaying and re-think those symptoms. Maybe you are misinterpreting your cat’s behavior.

When he hisses at you, maybe he is simply trying to tell you he’s done playing. He just wants some alone time. He’s not trying to be mean, he just wants you to stop.

Maybe she is just unhappy because you changed the food or the litter or she has been seeing some big cat outside her window that has upset her.

Don’t take it personally. She is just displaying unhappy behavior. But you can turn her bad mood into a good mood with patience and kind actions.

Training My Cat to Be Less Mean

Cats are complicated. They are individuals too.

Some are affectionate; others are slow to warm up to a human.

Their behavior can change quickly too. One minute they want to be pet, but all of a sudden they are done and want you to stop.

He might hiss at you. He might swipe at you a little bit. He might give you a little bite.

If it’s just a little bite or swipe, don’t overreact. Don’t hit them back or yell at them.

You want to get to the point where you recognize she wants you to stop before she actually hisses or snaps at you.

Tips to Make My Mean Cat Nice

If you think you have narrowed down the cause of your kitty’s unwanted behavior, your next step is to act to get that behavior to change.

Here are some tips to try.

Fix the Health Issue

If kitty has a health issue, follow your vet’s advice on how to either help her recover or how to alleviate her symptoms. It’s no fun giving a cat medicine, but you just have to find a way to do it.

Take It Slow

Whatever change you are attempting to make, go slow and steady. Don’t rush the process. Always approach him slowly. Be cautious. Be deliberate. This is most likely not a quick fix situation and results won’t happen overnight.

Give Her Time and Reward Her for Improvement

It may take a while before she responds, but when she does, be sure to give positive reinforcement.

Don’t Lose Your Cool

When the behavior training is going slow or she seems to regress, do not get angry. Don’t get mean with her. It’s okay to feel disappointed, but that’s where it stops. Two steps forward and one step back is still an improvement.

Take the Stress Factor Out

If there is something in your environment that is creating stress for her or for you, try to eliminate it. If nothing else, set up a room where she can go and feel safe.

Maybe It’s You

If you are doing something that he doesn’t understand, something that is scaring him, maybe you need to change your behavior. For example, maybe you are too aggressive and he feels you are invading his space. Try a different approach.

Being Scared is Not Being Mean

Be sure to notice the difference between a scared cat and an angry cat. If your cat is scared of you or other things, you need to approach her differently than you would if she were simply angry at you or being mean.

Friendship Doesn’t Always Happen Overnight

You need to develop a friendship with your pet. Generally, if you are happy, he’ll be happy. You’re a team. Treat him like a friend. He’ll become a great companion to you over time.

Spend extra time with your cat, letting her see you not as her owner but as her friend, meal provider, and guardian.

Give Out Treats For Good Behavior

Why not reward her for doing what you want her to do? There is nothing like providing a little treat to effectively modify some types of behavior. People do it because it works.

Pet Your Cat Where She Wants To Be Pet

It sounds a little too elementary, but maybe he doesn’t want you touching his stomach or his butt. Focus on his cheeks, head, neck and upper shoulders.

Maybe Let Him Come to You

Instead of you always approaching him to pet him, if he is standing, maybe extend your finger or hand and allow him to initiate petting by rubbing against you first.

Maybe Let Him Smell You First Too

Allowing him to smell you will reassure him that you are you. Smells are important to your kitty.

Give Them the Food They Want

Unless your kitty requires a certain type of diet, why not give him the food he likes? You can mix it up for variety, but why not keep him happy.

Carefully Pet Kitty When He Eats

You want him to associate you with his breakfast and dinner time. These are happy times for him. You want him to associate those happy moments with you. Pet his head and talk a little during meal preparation. This is pretty easy.

Let Her Lick Your Finger or Hand

If you give her wet food or a product like Laxatone, why not have her lick it off your finger or the back of your hand. It’s bonding.

Do That Slow Blink

Slowly blink at him when the time is right. We think cats who trust each other slow blink at one another. Try slowly blinking at him and see how he reacts. Maybe he will blink back.

Don’t Stare Them Down

Cats may think that a long stare is a sign of aggression, so don’t do it. Don’t focus right on them for too long.

Chasing Doesn’t Help

Cats generally do not like to have someone run after them or at them. It’s not something they see as playful. They might think it’s fun to run after you, but not from you.

Make Sure They Have What They Need

Kitty needs food, fresh water, a good clean litter box area, comfortable and safe sleeping spots, and some toys to play with. It’s the basics she needs to be happy.

Use Your Friendly Voice

A soft and calm voice works best when communicating with kitty. Most people instinctively do this. Some felines don’t appreciate male voices very much. Maybe they have bad memories of men as a kitten.

Don’t Forget the Catnip

A little catnip can be a great ice-breaker. When cats inhale nepetalactone, which is contained in the catnip plant, it stimulates brain neurons and most cats feel happy, calm, content and friendly.

You Can Try Feline Pheromones Too

A feline pheromone spray may help a very anxious kitty relax and enjoy less anxiety.

Call in a Specialist

If nothing seems to work and you are desperate, you can call a feline behaviorist in your town. They will generally come out to your home, observe your environment and your cat’s behavior and let you know what they think.

Don’t Give Up

You’re probably going to have your cat for a long time. Whatever effort you put into making your relationship better will be returned to you many times over the years. Keep going. You can do it.

Note: This article (and the other articles on this site) is not intended to be considered medical or veterinarian advice. Do not rely on this article for professional or veterinarian advice. The authors of these articles are not veterinarians or doctors. This article is to be considered general information only. The only vet or medical advice you should rely upon for your pet and your situation is the advice and guidance you receive from your own veterinarian and staff you personally contact. Please get in touch with your vet with any concern you have with your cat.

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Got multiple cats? Learn how to stop family cats from fighting so much.

Help With an Aggressive Cat

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Dealing With an Aggressive Cat – Tips and Techniques

Got a cat that’s too aggressive towards you?

It’s not any fun when you can’t fully trust your furry friend.

The First Step – Figure Out Why She is Being Aggressive

The average cat isn’t naturally overly aggressive or defensive.

Unfortunately, some learn it as a kitten due to lack of socialization or perhaps a bad owner.

Many cases are a result of some previous traumatic life experience, or general fear or anxiety.

Some become aggressive due to something they see or perceive in their current environment.

And still others begin to lash out when they are hurt or unwell.

Typical reasons your cat is acting aggressively are these:

  • He’s scared of you for some reason
  • He’s scared of something else and is redirecting it at you
  • He thinks he has to protect his territory from you or another cat
  • He has an issue with another cat in your home
  • He likes to play rough or play as if he is a hunter
  • He isn’t feeling well and is feeling scared or vulnerable
  • He’s had enough petting or human physical contact for a while
  • She’s a new mother and feels she has to defend her offspring

Whatever the source of their aggression is, your mission is to resolve that issue, and thus, stop your cat’s unwanted behavior.

What To Do First

If you aren’t sure what the underlying issue is, you may need to spend some time observing your cat’s body language and keeping track of her behavior patterns.

Take notice of what seems to trigger aggressive behavior.

Does there seem to be a specific trigger that usually occurs? What is happening in their environment just before their behavior changes? Is there a specific person or animal that is present?

Understanding the environment and how she perceives it is is the first step.

Tips To Deal With an Aggressive Cat

Once you think you have determined what the issue is that is behind your cat’s behavior, you can take steps to help solve those issues.

Depending on what you believe is the cause for your kitty’s aggression, here is a collection of actions you may be able to take to alleviate the situation.

1. Break the Pattern

When you notice your cat is about to become aggressive, try to interrupt the pattern by distracting him.

You could introduce a toy into his environment while talking to him.

Unusual noises work well at distraction too. However, you don’t want to make a loud noise that could scare him and make the situation even worse.

However, if he has already started becoming aggressive, it’s usually best to stop and try again another time.

2. Reduce the Stress

Most cats prefer a low-stress home.

It isn’t always possible for homeowners to provide this. But, if nothing else, try to provide a room or set of rooms your kitty can retreat to when she needs to.

3. Block Your Cat From Seeing Stuff That Upsets Her

Some cats hate seeing outdoor cats near their territory.

If an animal is just outside your house or looking in your patio door, try to get them from coming around.

If you can’t control your yard, perhaps you can block your kitty’s view to the outside with a curtain or window blinds. Or maybe you can discourage your cat from sitting in the window.

4. Modify the Behavior

While it’s hard to do, you may be able to slowly change the behavior of an aggressive cat by using positive reinforcement.

By using treats, food, and kind words, you can reward good behavior. This type of positive reinforcement may help change undesirable behavior.

It takes time and patience, but it’s worthwhile if you can do it.

5. Give Them Alternatives

Some cats have so much pent-up energy that it turns into overly aggressive behavior.

You can provide some alternatives for them to burn off some energy. Give them an interesting environment. Tire them out.

Maybe you can provide things for them to climb on, sleep up high on, scratch on, crawl into, carry around, or push around.

You can spend a little more time with them too, engaging them in playful activities.

6. Give New Mothers Some Space

New mother cats can display maternal aggression when someone or some other animal approaches her kittens.

It’s perfectly natural for these mothers to want to protect their little ones. Give her some space. There usually isn’t any need for you to handle those kittens during their first few days.

Most new mothers will be fine with you being around (and you will want to be around too), but just be sensitive to her needs too.

If you need to examine her offspring and she is being aggressive, her favorite foods or treats may distract her for a few minutes while you take a look at those kittens.

7. Maybe Cut Back on Visitors

If your kitty is not a fan of the people you have over, you can’t let her rule your life, but maybe you can do a few things to help her out.

If you will be having a visitor, you can move kitty to another room before your guest shows up.

It’s not likely that your aggressive cat will want to socialize with new people.

You may want to suggest to your visitors that they ignore him if he decides to come out. Visitors should not stare at him or initiate any petting, even though it may seem like a natural thing to do.

8. Use a Pheromone Diffuser or Spray

There are sprays and diffusers that produce smells that can calm most cats down.

These products emit smells that replicate feline pheromones. Cats recognize these pheromones which can make them feel safe, relaxed and with less anxiety.

9. Give Her a Time Out

When your cat gets too aggressive during playtime, just stop what you’re doing and walk away.

Don’t try to pick her up and put her in another room, simply go away and stop playing with her.

10. Use Food and Treats

Use treats to reward good, non-aggressive behavior.

You may also use feeding time as a way to build their trust.

If she is fearful of another person, that person could be in the room at a safe distance during feeding time.

Cats consider feeding time to be a positive experience, and by having that person in the room, you hope your kitty will start to become less scared of that person.

11. Know When to Stop Petting Him

Cats love to be pet, but there comes a time when many of them have had enough and want you to stop.

Some cats will suddenly stop purring. Others may start to twitch their tail. Some will flatten their ears back. Some will suddenly get up and leave.

You will have to be observant of your cat and how she responds. You will want to stop before she gets irritated and lashes out.

What Not To Do

Don’t physically strike or hit your cat. Don’t yell at her. You can change your voice a little so she knows you disapprove, but you want to remain calm.

Try to not get angry. Don’t throw things at her. Don’t scare her. Don’t stare at her. Don’t throw her off your lap. Don’t corner her. None of that helps.

Remember, she is little when compared to you. You don’t want her injured and you don’t want her to be scared of you.

Don’t approach an aggressive cat — let them come to you.

Don’t pick up an angry cat. But if you have to, protect yourself with thick gloves and long sleeves.

Some owners will throw a towel over a cat before picking him up. This works pretty well, but the cat will not like it at all. So you will have to have a plan about what you are doing with him.

Don’t encourage her to play with your feet or hands. Don’t allow her to think they are toys.

If you have multiple cats and they are really fighting, do not let them continue. You don’t want one or both injured.

A loud clap of the hands can often do the trick. But never attempt to touch or pick up a cat that is fighting.

Maybe Aggression is a Medical Problem

If you can’t identify any reason why your kitty is aggressive, maybe she is suffering from a medical condition.

She is lashing out because she is in pain and feels frustrated and vulnerable. This is called pain-related aggression.

She may have dental pain, arthritis, or areas that are painful to the touch. She doesn’t want anyone to touch her.

Taking her to a veterinarian for a check-up is a good idea.

Your vet may find some obvious medical condition.

He may be able to prescribe medication to reduce her discomfort and allow her to have a happier life. Her pain and aggression may be reduced dramatically.

If no medical reason is found, your vet may have some suggestions on what you might try.

The Last Resort

If you have a cat that is so aggressive that you can’t trust him any more — that’s a big problem.

You aren’t expected to live with a cat you are afraid of.

Cat scratches can be painful, but cat bites can be hazardous.

For the safety of your household, you may have to explore moving your cat to a different environment.

Finding another home for him, like on a small farm with a good family, might be the best thing to do. He will still have humans to take care of him, but he will also have plenty of freedom to do what he wants.

All cats deserve our patience and understanding.

NOTE: This article (along with the other articles on this site) is not intended to be medical or healthcare advice. Do not consider this article to be veterinarian or professional advice. The authors of this article are not doctors. They are not veterinarians. This article is to be read and understood as general information only. The medical advice you should depend on for your situation is the advice and guidance you receive from your own doctor who has examined your pet. Please call your vet with any concerns you have.

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Cat Returning From Vet

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Cat Returning Home From Vet – What Should I Do?

When you bring a kitty home from the vet, it doesn’t have to be a difficult or stressful time, but it can be.

Especially if you have other pets in the house.

And if your pet had to stay at the clinic overnight, and now smells like the clinic instead of how she used to smell, the situation can be worse.

Here are some general tips to do when you bring kitty home from the veterinarian.

If Your Cat is Ill – Help Him Recover

If your vet visit was purely routine, you can probably skip this step.

But if your cat is sick or in poor health, here are some things to do:

  • She may have received a sedative. She may still be groggy or unsteady.
  • She will be stressed. She had a bad day. She may be somewhat disoriented.
  • If she has wounds, monitor their condition as best you can. If they appear to be getting worse, call your vet.
  • If she has stitches, watch how she reacts to them. You don’t want her to pull them out.
  • Give the full course of medication, apply any ointment, or give the injections. It’s not easy, but you need to do it.
  • Make sure they have a quiet and private area of your home to get better in.
  • Comfort them as much as you can. They may not appreciate much touching, but they will like you being there.
  • If he doesn’t eat, hides or acts unusually, he could be in pain or feeling scared.
  • Be sure to contact your clinic and let them know what you are seeing and get their advice.

Keep a Sick Cat Separated After a Vet Visit

The last thing your cat wants after coming home from the clinic is to be around other cats.

She wants to feel safe and come down from the stress and unpleasantness of the vet hospital.

She wants to calm down. She wants to groom herself and cover up those funny smells on her fur.

Keep him separated in his own room if you can, at least for a while.

It’s best if they have their own food, water, and litter pan until they are better.

Even if your kitty is healthy, he will appreciate having his own space for a few hours until he feels normal again.

Cat Coming Home From Vet With Special Needs

If the health of your returning cat has suddenly changed and she needs special care going forward, that will be a disruption to your household.

Household pets like a general order and routine in their lives. When something changes in their environment, it can have an effect on them too.

If you have a cat that now needs special care, especially if that care takes away another cat’s favorite sleeping spot or water dish, it can create tension and fighting.

Cats that used to get along may now be fighting over sleeping spaces, sunny windows, favorite rooms, mealtime rituals or even a favorite litter box.

It may be important for you to maintain the status quo and be sure each cat’s needs are met.

If you need to treat your ill kitty often, it’s best to do this when other cats are not nearby.

Your cat isn’t going to like taking her pills, and she may redirect her anger at any nearby housemate.

Plus, she needs her space afterward too, she doesn’t need another cat sniffing around while she’s stressed out.

Schedule Cats for Vet Visits Together

If you have more than one kitty, maybe you can schedule routine veterinary visits to take place at the same time.

Siblings, or cats that like each other, may find the company of their brother, sister, or housemate in the car next to them to be comforting.

Plus, when the appointments are over, both cats will have that same vet smell on them at the same time, so the experience at home will be better.

Of course, this works best if the cats like each other.

If you have kittens, you can probably take them together in one big carrier. Once they are older, you will want them in separate carriers.

Preventing Conflicts With Other Cats After a Visit to the Vet

Even if your veterinarian visit was just a routine one, it can still be stressful for the cat that went and even the others in your household.

When you first return, your kitty wants to get out of the carrier and be somewhere familiar and safe.

Allow him some time to be by himself, away from any other pets. He can calm down and get happy again.

When it’s time for your cats to get reintroduced, be sure you are around to monitor how they act.

Your cats may be confused. They don’t understand the process of going to the Vet. They may react with aggression from fear or stress.

Cat Returning From Vet Can Upset All the Cats

When your cat comes home, she is going to smell different than she used to.

There are unfamiliar scents at the veterinarian that your kitty can pick up.

There are new smells from clinic cleaning products, medicines, rubber gloves, and even other animals. And if she stayed overnight, those scents maybe even stronger.

Your other household cats are not going to like these scents. Every cat has a unique scent and provides strong communication signals to others.

When your kitty doesn’t smell like himself, it can confuse your other cats. They may hiss and growl.

Cat Behavior After Vet Visit – Aggressive or Defensive Signs

When kitty comes home after a vet visit, he will be stressed and covered in unfamiliar scents.

He doesn’t like it. And any other cats in your home won’t like it either.

A stressed-out cat may act defensive and not want anyone near him. He may lash out at you in his confusion.

Your cat’s behavior is controlled partially by scent. Unfamiliar scents can make them uncomfortable.

Unfamiliar smells can make the returning cat defensive, or your other cats aggressive.

It is usually best to keep your cats separated until the vet smell is gone or mostly covered up.

She will try to do it herself by licking and rubbing up against objects, but you can help to by rubbing her with familiar items that may have your household scent on it.

My Cat Smells Like the Vet – What To Do?

It’s so important to get your kitty back to smelling like himself. To your other cats, he smells like an intruder.

You can take a few steps to hurry up the process of getting their individual and communal scent back.

You can start by throwing or washing any bedding that was in the carrier when he was at the Vet. You can put the carrier out of sight too.

You can take a dry hand towel and rub it on your other cats. Rub it on their head, back and cheeks.

This places your cats’ scents on the towel. While we can’t smell it, your kitties can.

Then, when your returning cat is ready, you can rub her with that same towel. This will help put familiar household scents back on to her, replacing the strange ones.

Instead of taking a clean towel, you could use a towel or blanket that they sleep on and use that instead. Not all cats like each other enough to do this though.

Spend time with her. When she is receptive to it, pet her and rub her to replace the vet scents with yours.

She will also be pretty intense with her grooming. Lots of licking going on.

If your cats remain aggressive towards one another, you can take an additional step to reduce these anxieties.

You can open a can of tuna or chicken broth. Put some of the liquid on your hands and then rub it on each cats’ necks.

This does two things. First, it makes each of them smell the same. This distracts them and decreases the vet smells.

Second, it encourages all your cats to groom themselves and the back of the neck of each other. This can speed up the reintroduction of your kitty back into the communal family.

Keep Monitoring All Your Pets Behavior for a While

You need to watch how your pets get along after a vet visit.

Don’t force them to get together right away. There is no rush.

When they do first get back together, try to be in the room to act as a calming influence or to engage one or more of them in playtime or even treat time.

Maybe you can reintroduce them during mealtime. It could be a special meal you know they really like. Perhaps have a short barrier in-between them.

Either of these methods will help distract them so they are not completely fixated on one another.

If your cats demonstrate aggression to one another, you can try to limit their exposure to each other, but don’t yell, reprimand or punish either of them for their actions. That won’t help.

Get Ready for Future Trips to the Vet

Why not be proactive and take a few steps to help make your next vet visit calmer and stress-free?

You can do a few things that may make future visits to the vet easier.

First, whatever type of crate or carrier you use, make sure kitty doesn’t totally associate that carrier with going to the vet.

Don’t get it out of the closet only on appointment days. Bring it out on normal days too. Put a toy or two in it. Put a treat or some catnip in it.

You want them to be comfortable with it. You don’t want them to be scared of their carrier.

Most cats do not like car rides. And if the only time they go in the car is when they are going to the clinic, they will really grow to dislike it.

If you can, maybe take them for short rides. Try to make these trips fun.

Your kitty will probably be stressed, but you can try to make it as fun as possible.

If you have more than one, take siblings together.

How to Treat Your Cat Returning From the Vet – Conclusion

You will need to make regular trips to your veterinarian during the life of your kitty, but she isn’t going to like it.

So try to make the experience as less stressful as possible.

Be prepared as to how you will reintroduce her back into your household if you have more than one pet.

Stay watchful and be sure to check on her and how your other pets react to her once she is back.

If you need to give medicine or treat wounds, be sure to do it. You can do it.

It can be difficult to get her to swallow a pill or to take care of a wound, but you’re a cat owner, it’s your responsibility. You can do this.

NOTE: This article (and any other article on this site) is not intended to be medical or healthcare advice. Do not consider this article to be professional or veterinarian advice. The authors of these articles are not doctors. They are not veterinarians. This article is to be taken as general information only. The only medical advice you should depend on for your situation is the advice and guidance you receive from your own doctor and staff you have contact with in your suburb. Please call your vet with any concern you have with your cat.

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Cat Bites

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Are Cat Bites Dangerous?

Yes, they can be.

We don’t want to think that a quick bite from our fluffy pet can be harmful to us, but it certainly can be.

If it happens to you, you should take it seriously.

Why Are Cat Bites Serious?

These injuries can be serious because they often cause infection.

Cats have a lot of bacteria in their mouths. They also have sharp and narrow teeth which can inflict deep puncture wounds. These punctures potentially allow bad bacteria to get deep into joints or tissue.

Once bacteria is inside a person, it can infect and spread fairly quickly.

These small but deep wounds may not bleed much or look bad at first, so owners sometimes think they are not serious.

But don’t make the mistake of ignoring them.

Try to clean the wound as best as you can. These types of small but deep wounds can be difficult for a person to clean.

Studies show that about half of these types of bites lead to infection.

You should call your doctor and describe what happened.

Pay close attention to the wound area. If it gets swollen, red, feels warm, or is painful, or if you feel any flu-like symptoms or run a low fever, you should go to urgent care.

They will examine you and most likely prescribe antibiotics. It’s not uncommon for people, especially children, the elderly or health-vulnerable individuals to be hospitalized.

Cat Bite Infections

Why can a cat bite get infected so easily?

When a cat bites, its long and thin fangs can puncture the skin and leave bacteria underneath the skin.

The small hole in the skin can close and heal over quickly, but the bacteria is left under the skin where it can thrive, multiply and spread.

Dogs have bacteria in their mouths too, but when they bite a person, the pressure of the bite is spread out over several teeth. And those teeth are less sharp than a cat’s teeth.

So when a dog bites, the wound is over a greater surface area, but it doesn’t go as deep. A cat bite can be more like getting a shot with a needle. One or two deep punctures.

Cat Bite Infection Diagnosis

Pet bites can be serious. Very serious.

Whenever you receive a bite, even if it is just a small nip, you should immediately and thoroughly wash the area and determine if the bite was serious or not.

But even a small hole in the skin can lead to an infection. You need to be cautious.

Infection from Cat Bites

A cat bite infection can’t be diagnosed immediately, but signs will usually develop within 24 to 48 hours.

Many of the symptoms will appear near the area of the bite.

Swelling and inflammation are two examples of how the body responds to bacterial infection. These are warning signs that your body is fighting back.

The location of the bite may be important. A deep bite over a joint, such as your wrist, may lead to a serious situation more than one in a fleshy area, such as in your forearm or upper arm.

Cat Bite Infection Symptoms

If you develop an infection due to a bite, there are two types of symptoms you may experience.

There are symptoms that will occur right near the bite area, such as redness. And there are other symptoms that may affect your body in general, such as fever.

Bite Area Infection Symptoms:

  • Redness of the skin
  • Swelling
  • Pain or tenderness
  • A warm feeling in the surrounding skin
  • Fluid or pus draining out
  • Any puffing up or growth of anything that looks like a pimple
  • Loss of sensation or numbness near the area
  • Red streaks
  • Any type of unusual odor

General Symptoms Often Caused by an Infection:

  • Fever or chills
  • Stiffness in a finger or hand
  • Headache
  • Swelling in any part of the body
  • Shortness of breath
  • Sweating
  • Muscle weakness or fatigue
  • Lower than normal blood pressure
  • Rapid heartbeat

Two Symptoms To Really Watch For

The first symptom you will usually notice is redness of the skin around the wound. And if the redness spreads out at all away from the wound, it could be a really bad infection.

The second sign to really watch for is the temperature of the skin around the wound. If the skin there is warmer than the rest of your body, that means your body is sending antibodies there to fight infection.

If you only focus on one or two things, these are what you should focus on.

If you experience these symptoms, you should call a doctor. They will move forward with further diagnosis and treatment.

Infections can run the gamut from just slight discomfort to a serious condition requiring hospitalization.

If you have a weakened immune system or haven’t been keeping up on your tetanus shots, you should act more aggressively. Don’t wait to call your doctor.

Cat Bite Treatments and Healing

If your cat bites you, you should first try to determine the severity of the situation.

Slight scrapes of the skin are generally not serious, while deep punctures can be.

However, if a wild or stray animal bit you, then consider any wound to be serious.

How to Treat a Cat Bite if it Seems Minor

If her teeth didn’t break the skin, you are not at risk.

Scratches that are just at the surface of the skin have only a slight risk as long as you can clean it well.

If you have a minor wound:

  1. Wash your hands first.
  2. Visually inspect the area to see how bad it is.
  3. Use soap and water to thoroughly wash the area.
  4. If the wound isn’t bleeding, don’t be afraid to press on it to possibly help flush out any bacteria that might be in it.
  5. Apply an antibiotic ointment if you have one.
  6. Cover the area with a clean bandage.
  7. Pay close attention to the wound area and your own general health for the next 48 hours.
  8. If you have a wound that is worse than minor, or if it was a stray or wild cat that bit you, you will need to do each of the previous steps, but you may also need to focus on stopping any bleeding by applying pressure.
  9. Once you have it cleaned and dressed, you may also try to keep the wound elevated above your heart to help prevent swelling.
  10. Then you will want to call a doctor.

Your Doctor Knows How to Treat Cat Bites

Treatment for animal bites varies based on the location and severity of your injury, along with your overall health.

Your doctor will ask you the specifics as to what kind of animal bit you and then examine the wound area.

She will rewash and clean the area and possibly take away any damaged skin or tissue.

If necessary, stitches may be used to close the wound.

She will look for any signs of infection and probably prescribe an antibiotic to help prevent one from occurring.

You will discuss your tetanus vaccination history and she will probably give you a tetanus shot if your last vaccine was more than five years ago.

Your doctor will probably already know your overall health history, but if you have any condition that weakens your immune system, make sure she knows about it.

A blood test or X-rays may be ordered to diagnose any spread of infection. If oral antibiotics aren’t sufficient, intravenous antibiotics may be recommended until the infection clears up.

When it seems necessary, your doctor will schedule a follow-up visit to ensure that your wound is progressing.

In the days following your visit, you will need to monitor your situation for any symptoms of worsening infection. If anything gets worse, you should call your doctor right away.

If your wound is deep and it came from a wild animal, there is potential for exposure to rabies. That would be a whole different discussion and course of action.

What About Tetanus?

Because most people in the United States keep current on the tetanus vaccine, tetanus infection is rare.

Children get multiple shots when they are very young. An adult should get a tetanus shot at least every 10 years.

If you don’t remember when your last tetanus shot was, there is no harm in getting one earlier.

Doctors will often recommend a tetanus vaccination if they see a patient with a possibly contaminated animal wound, and that person hasn’t had the shot in the last five years.

There is no cure for tetanus.

Tetanus is a severe infection that can cause symptoms such as lockjaw, high fever, difficulty swallowing, body stiffness or spasms, or even convulsions.

What About Rabies?

The virus rabies is uncommon in cats in the United States. The vast majority of people who get bitten do not need rabies shots.

If you know the owner of the pet that bit you, ask the owner for that pet’s vaccination records.

The cat can be isolated and monitored for signs of illness for 10 days. If the cat remains healthy, then there is no danger of rabies to you.

If your biter was a stray, report it to animal control. They will try to find it and test it.

If the animal can’t be found, your healthcare provider may start the treatment of rabies vaccine shot series.

Your doctor can’t wait to see if you develop symptoms. Once you develop symptoms, it will be too late. It’s usually fatal.

Cat Scratch Fever

While its name sounds silly, cat-scratch fever is a medical condition.

It is spread by an animal scratch or bite.

It is not generally serious, but it can be a long-lasting condition.

Cat Scratch Fever Symptoms Can Include:

  • Swelling at the bite site
  • Tenderness or blistering at the bite site
  • Fever or chills
  • Headaches
  • Rash
  • Sore throat
  • Nausea or vomiting or lack of appetite
  • Fatigue

Cat scratch fever symptoms begin a few days or a few weeks after the incident.

The symptoms can last a few months or several months.

The condition is cured by taking antibiotics.

How to Prevent Getting Bitten

So how does one prevent getting bit in the first place?

Tips to not getting bit include:

  • Teach your kitten that biting is not allowed and that you don’t like it.
  • Train your cat to enjoy playing, but that your hands and fingers aren’t toys.
  • When you bring home a new pet, select carefully.
  • When pets are fighting, don’t put your hands in the way.
  • Don’t disturb your pet when he is eating, unless you know it’s okay.
  • Be sure your kids know how to be gentle with your pets.
  • Be careful when grooming, cutting nails, giving medications, or doing any procedure that may scare your kitty.
  • Keep up on your pet’s vaccinations.
  • Don’t approach strange cats you see outside.
  • If a friendly cat approaches you on the street, be careful when putting your uncovered face, fingers, hand, or arm near their mouth or claws.

What To Do Going Forward

Cat bites can be serious.

Be careful. Do what you can to change how you interact with your pet.

Don’t bother them when they don’t want to be touched. Don’t tease them.

Don’t unintentionally train them to bite your hand or fingers as a form of play.

Make sure they have their rabies vaccines.

If you get bitten, carefully investigate the wound and the situation to determine if it is superficial or if it is serious.

Clean and treat the wound. If you need to call your doctor — do it. If you aren’t sure if it’s serious — call anyway.

If you see any sign of infection, call your doctor or go to urgent care or even an emergency room. Don’t wait until the weekend.

DISCLAIMER: The previous article is not intended to be medical or healthcare advice. Do not consider this article to be professional or medical advice. The authors of this article are not doctors or veterinarians. The previous article is to be taken as mere general knowledge only. The only medical advice you should trust is the advice and guidance you receive from your own doctor or the doctor and staff you have contact with in your town. Please contact local healthcare professionals if you have received any bite from any animal, pet or otherwise.

Bites from cats like these can be dangerous

Tips for cats returning from the veterinarian.

Stop Your Cat From Biting

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If your cat bites you like this one does get help

How To Stop Your Cat From Biting

Does your cat bite you?

Do you find it annoying? Wish it would stop?

Look, it’s not uncommon for a cat to softly bite their human partner from time to time.

Usually, there is no cause for alarm. It’s not being done out of aggression or fear.

But it’s something many owners wish to curtail.

Why Do Cats Bite?

Biting is normal behavior for a kitten. It is one of the ways they communicated and interacted with their brothers and sisters.

Kittens and adult cats may bite for different reasons.

For kittens, biting and mouthing is usually a socialization method, but adults may bite for a variety of reasons.

An adult cat might start biting, seemingly unprovoked. It’s normally not done out of aggression, so it can be confusing to the owner.

So why do they do it? What are they trying to communicate?

They may be trying to give you a message. Maybe they want you to stop doing what you’re doing. Maybe they’re telling you they aren’t enjoying the current contact or interaction.

Most of the time, when a kitty bites, she is doing it for a reason that makes sense to her, even if that behavior is a mystery to you.

Cats use their paws and mouth to explore what’s around them, it’s natural for them to bite a little.

As they grow, they learn to lessen the force of their biting and to paw at things without having their nails out.

So when your pet gives you a bite, she is trying to communicate something with you. Maybe she is telling you she has had enough petting, or that her stomach is off-limits.

Maybe he wants you to do something. Maybe he wants you to get up and feed him. Maybe he knows that if he gives you a little nip, you’ll stop doing something he doesn’t like.

Maybe he’s responding to a threat. Maybe he suddenly sees your behavior as a threat. Or maybe he’s just not feeling good.

Before you can stop this behavior, you’ll have to first figure out why they are doing it.

Playful Cat Biting

Are you dealing with unwanted biting that occurs when petting or playing?

It happens. Your kitty is enjoying being petted and then suddenly she’s had enough.

It’s her way of telling you she needs a little space. A little time alone.

It can be hard to tell when your cat has had enough. Maybe she will stop purring. Maybe she will stare at you. Maybe her tail twitches loudly. You will have to learn to read her body language.

Respect her wishes if you can interpret them.

Cats have a natural hunting instinct. Their predatory instinct leads them to notice movement and to try to hunt down whatever it is that is moving in their territory.

They want to follow, pounce, grab and bite their prey. Sometimes their prey might be your sock.

If you play roughly with him, he will often use his mouth and paws to play roughly with you. It’s normal.

And meowing isn’t the only way your kitty can communicate with you. Small nibbles can be meaningful as to what her mood is.

Aggressive Cat Biting

Feline biting serves several functions.

In most households, it happens during over-excited playtime and it is not a sign of aggressive behavior. But it can be.

Sometimes it can be an expression of aggression.

If you are playing roughly with your kitty and he bites you, but turns around right away and wants more physical contact, then that bite was just a friendly play nip.

Aggressive behavior is often accompanied by hissing, growling, a defensive posture or other hostile signs.

Your cat may be responding to some type of threat that you may not be totally aware of. The threat could be a different person in the house, a different animal in the house, or even an animal he sees out the window.

He could be confused, frightened, fearful or frustrated. He could be instinctively trying to assert dominance in his territory.

Maybe It’s Just a Way of Communicating Something

Your kitty may bite as just a form of communication with you.

Maybe instead of using a meow, that nip means she wants to go outside or she doesn’t like her new food. If she nips at you and immediately stands up, see if she wants you to follow her somewhere.

If your pet snaps at you, it could be a health issue. Maybe he doesn’t feel good. He could be sick or sore or irritable and in a bad mood.

If he never bit you before, and suddenly begins to bite, you should carefully inspect and watch him for something wrong. And don’t be afraid to take him to the veterinarian.

How to Stop My Cat From Biting

There are reasons a cat may bite.

She could be agitated, scared, or hurt. And she doesn’t want anyone touching her.

She could be worried about your dog or an outside cat and direct that aggression towards you.

She could have been chased and teased by the young child your pet sitter brought along last week when you were out of town.

There is a reason when an animal becomes aggressive.

If your pet has never bitten you before, something has triggered it.

In order to stop this behavior, you’ll have to figure out what is the cause of it.

It could be your pet is hurt or not feeling good.

If the cat flattens his ears or starts a low growl when you want to pet him a little, he’s warning you that now is not a good time for it.

Take notice and slowly take back your hand. Speak softly to him, but resist the overwhelming urge to touch him.

It will be up to him to come to you for affection.

But if you can rule out illness and injury as a reason why your kitty is acting up, you can check other behavior.

If your cat bites when you play roughly with him, maybe you will need to stop playing roughly with him.

You can transition from rough play to using toys. Keep him engaged by using small toys designed to simulate the type of prey outdoor cats experience.

All cats need playtime. Be sure to give yours some a couple of times each day.

Sometimes lonely or bored cats get aggressive. They need to be engaged and kept entertained.

Give him increased attention and play, including interactive toys, to use some of his energy and make him aware of how much you love him.

Changing kitty behavior will require patience, but you’re up to the job.

How to Stop Your Kitten From Biting

Kittens bite things. It’s what they do.

It’s a way for them to explore their new world.

And kittens bite other kittens.

It’s a way to show affection and to play.

And by biting their brothers, sisters, and mother, they learn how to bite softly and how to paw without scratching too much.

Why Do Kittens Bite So Much?

If a kitten is removed from her family at a very early age, she may not have learned the lessons her family would have taught her.

Kittens who haven’t been completely socialized don’t know the rules of fighting and playing and don’t know that their teeth and claws hurt others.

The act of play-fighting makes up the majority of a kitten’s day. They engage in mock hunting drills and wrestle with anything they can get close to.

Your kitten will bite anything that moves. Or doesn’t move. It’s a natural instinct.

While it’s fine that your new kitty bites and claws, you will need to train her to not bite human fingers. They need to learn that it isn’t acceptable.

They will have plenty of toys and other items to chew on and scratch. And you can reward them for doing so.

Cats that bite as adults were generally never taught to not bite when they were kittens.

How Do I Stop My Kitten From Biting?

Kittens are going to play. And your fingers are just the perfect size for them to chew on.

You can shape their play habits to not involve your fingers in their mouths. Do it when they are young.

Kittens mock fight with each other. It’s how they practice becoming hunters. They will do the same with you too. You will get scratched.

During their first two years, kittens are curious and use their mouths to learn more about things around your house.

They do this less and less while they grow older, but it is still a valuable tool for them.

Provide your new kitty with all kinds of toys and play items. Introduce one or two new ones each day.

When you play with your new kitty, be sure to stop a play session when your kitten gets too aggressive or bites too hard.

Your kitten will eventually understand that biting you ends her playtime.

It will take time, but they will learn.

Tips To Stop Your Cat From Biting

In order to be comfortable around your pet, you have to be able to trust them.

While most pets may bite once in a while when they’re startled or scared, there are some techniques you can use to keep your kitty from biting you in most other situations.

How to Train Your Cat to Stop Biting:

  • Try to determine why this behavior is happening. This will guide your actions going forward.
  • In order to change behavior, you need to be consistent. Your pet will not understand erratic behavior. You can’t accept some nibbling one day but complain and yell the next day.
  • Reward their good behavior or gently punish their bad behavior immediately after the action.
  • An overly-aggressive male cat may be neutered.
  • Some cats will respond to a stern and loud voice from their human. Some will not.
  • If she is biting you to get your attention — ignore her. Don’t respond to it.
  • Change her form of communication. Respond quickly to a meow with the action you believe she is interested in having you take. She will learn to do the new action next time.
  • Be careful with negative words or actions. Be careful with any punishment. You don’t want him afraid of you.
  • Positively reinforce good behavior – when kitty is chewing and clawing on a toy, reward with affection and maybe a treat.
  • Make sure all members of the household are on board and follow the same guidelines.
  • Don’t offer your fingers or toes as toys. It might start okay when they are a tiny kitten, but you don’t want a grown-up cat to think your finger is their prey.
  • Keep introducing or exchanging toys and stuffed animals so kitty doesn’t get bored.
  • Include a toy that dispenses a treat or contains catnip.
  • When kitty plays with you and doesn’t bite or scratch — reward and praise him.
  • If you get hurt by their teeth or a claw, stop playing. Take a time-out. Do it enough times, they should get the message.
  • If she bites you, stop and turn your back on her. Don’t eyeball her or confront her. Just ignore her for a while.
  • If ignoring him doesn’t work, try picking them up and putting them in another room that may not be as much fun for him.
  • If your hand is caught in your cat’s mouth, try not to pull it away. Pulling away is the natural tendency, but it encourages kitty to hang on even harder. Instead, push your hand towards her until she releases you.
  • Cats don’t really understand clothing. If you let them scratch or bite your clothes, they may do it to your skin next time. Don’t count on them to understand the difference.
  • If you can, try to initiate replacement behavior. Come up with a replacement behavior and consistently reward her for doing it.
  • Don’t do any physical punishment. No matter how angry you are in the moment, just stop for ten seconds and walk away. And don’t hit them.
  • Don’t do any strong negative reinforcement such as squirting with water or anything that will scare them. They may associate you with being scared or fearful.
  • Increase the amount of playtime. Tire her out. Drain her energy. Cats need to play every day. And it should include pretend predatory play that resembles what they would do in the wild.
  • Take away or reduce things that may increase your pet’s anxiety or things they might worry about.
  • Take the time to really learn where your pet prefers to be touched. Maybe she doesn’t really like her stomach or tail touched.
  • Maybe your kitty doesn’t really like to be held. We had a kitty that only liked to be held in one room, being held in any other room made her anxious. She didn’t like it.
  • If he seems a little agitated, maybe wait a while before trying to pet him. Try to recognize his moods and body language.
  • Gradually gain their trust. It might take weeks or it might take years. Let him know he’s safe with you.
  • Don’t surprise her. Let her see your hand coming towards her. Don’t surprise her from behind.
  • Always keep a toy within reach so you can substitute it for your hand or finger.
  • Some cats like being pet and handled, but only up to a point. After that point, they find it irritating. Pay attention to how your kitty behaves. For example, maybe they suddenly stop purring. That means the session is over.

Summary

You need to trust your pet completely. There should not be any biting from your kitty.

You can train him to stop doing it.

You will need some patience and discipline.

Be consistent. Stock up on the treats. It may take some time, but your cat wants to please you.

Good luck.

NOTE: If your cat really bites you, if it breaks the skin, you should take the wound seriously. There are bacteria in a cats’ mouth that can lead to infection.

And if your pet doesn’t respond to training and seems overly aggressive, they may have a health problem and need attention from a veterinarian.

Also, no content in this article or website is intended to be medical, health, professional, or veterinarian advice. This article and content are meant to be for general information only. It is not intended for you to base your healthcare decisions on it. Please seek out professional advice in your area to help with your unique situation.

If your cat bites you like this one does get help

Are cat bites dangerous or what?

Cat Rabies

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Cat Rabies – What Is It?

Rabies is a serious viral disease.

It can infect any warm-blooded animal. This includes cats, dogs and people.

In the United States, rabies is reported in cats more than any other domestic species.

It affects the brain and spinal cord of its victim. And it’s often fatal.

Rabies occurs in most countries. Some lucky countries are rabies-free.

In the US, every state but Hawaii sees cases of it.

How is Cat Rabies Transmitted?

The rabies virus exists inside a mammal’s body. It doesn’t survive long outside it.

Transmission of the virus occurs when an infected animal bites another mammal and the infected animal’s saliva is introduced through the bite wound under the skin of the bitten.

The main source of infected animals include foxes, raccoons, skunks, bats and wild, stray, unvaccinated dogs or feral cats.

Unvaccinated cats who roam outside and might be exposed to these types of wild animals are most at risk.

Symptoms and Signs of Cat Rabies

The symptoms of cat rabies can vary and they will depend on what stage your cat is in.

Most cats will not show signs immediately, it will take time.

Most cats will also not be infectious themselves at first either.

Common Signs of Rabies Virus Infection Include:

  • An increase in meowing
  • Loss of appetite
  • Dilated pupils
  • Excessive drooling
  • More restless
  • More lethargic or suddenly shy
  • More aggressive or agitated
  • Increasingly nervous or irritable or excited
  • Apparent weakness
  • Seems disoriented
  • Experiencing seizures
  • Limping
  • Appears somewhat paralyzed
  • Eventually enters into a coma

There is an incubation period from when the bite occurs to when the infected animal begins to show symptoms.

Incubation times vary and can even extend to almost one year, but from two weeks to eight weeks is common.

Signs seem to show up slower in bites that are less severe, when less saliva is released into the wound, and depending upon where the wound is.

But once signs start to occur, the virus can move fast. A kitty can die within two weeks of first showing signs.

Diagnosis of Cat Rabies

Diagnosing rabies cannot occur in a live animal. There is no good test your vet can run on a live animal.

This is because the only good diagnostic test is done on the animal’s brain.

Cat Rabies Prevention

Preventing your pet from getting this virus is fairly simple — keep her vaccinated and away from wild animals.

Both of these steps are easy to do.

In some areas, rabies vaccinations are mandatory for your kitty; in other places it is just highly recommended.

If you let your pet outdoors, you really need to have him vaccinated. It not only protects his health, but if he were to bite someone, you will need to prove that he has a current vaccination, otherwise he could be quarantined or put down and tested.

Many owners simply never let their cat outside.

For those owners, this settles the issue.

Feline Rabies Treatment

What is the treatment for rabies?

The bad news is there is no accepted treatment and no real cure for rabies once symptoms appear. And the disease will result in death.

If rabies is suspected, your kitty has to be placed in quarantine.

Your veterinarian’s office will have to notify the animal disease regulatory authority.

Cat Rabies Post-Bite Treatments

In theory, you can treat a bitten and potentially exposed cat with a post-bite vaccination if that cat has not been previously vaccinated.

If this post-bite, anti-rabies serum vaccination is given early enough, it could interrupt the progression of the rabies virus.

This serum, if taken right away, could stimulate the bitten cat to begin developing antibodies to the rabies virus.

But it’s risky.

Because there is no way to test to see if a live animal has or doesn’t have rabies, there is no way to tell if a post-bite vaccination series worked or not.

So while you think your kitty is fine, he could still be carrying the rabies virus and could infect you or a family member. It’s too risky.

If there is a strong probability that your pet has been exposed through a bite, you can either strictly quarantine her for several months, or you may opt to euthanize her. Both are horrible choices. But there is no good path.

Cat Rabies Vaccines

Most states require rabies vaccinations. They are regularly given to kittens usually at three to four months of age.

And revaccination will be recommended at specific times in a cat’s life too.

Should My Cat Be Vaccinated?

Yes. Vaccinations work. They’re important.

Rabies vaccines are safe. But as with any type of vaccine, a pet may show some type of allergic reaction.

If your cat shows some pronounced sign after getting his shot, such as breathing difficulties or something else that looks serious, this could be an allergic reaction that you should call your veterinarian about.

What to Do

Here’s what to do if you come in contact with a potentially rabid animal.

Stay back from any suspicious animal. This includes a strange dog or cat that is acting unusually or any wild animal.

Protect you and your pet from getting bitten or scratched.

Don’t try to capture or touch an animal that is acting strangely or unusually.

If you think you got bitten, see a doctor right away.

If you think your pet got bit, call your veterinarian.

Contact your local animal control department regarding the animal that bit you or your pet. It will be their job to identify and capture the animal.

If your cat is up to date with her vaccinations, she maybe will just be given a rabies booster vaccine shot right away. It will be your job to closely monitor her health and attitude. It’s possible she may need to be quarantined for a period of time.

Even if the animal that bit you or your pet had rabies, it’s possible that there was no rabies virus in the saliva or that the saliva didn’t penetrate under the skin.

Rabies is serious.

Be cautious.

NOTE: The content in this article is certainly not to be considered professional, medical, health or veterinarian advice. This content is solely for general information purposes only. So be sure to consult with a licensed veterinarian in your state before starting, or deciding to not start, any treatment program.

Twins have their feline rabies shots done

Got a cat that bites? Get your cat to stop biting you.

Cat Ringworm

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What is Cat Ringworm?

Ringworm is the most common fungal infection of the skin and hair.

Don’t worry — it is not any type of worm, it is just a fungus that lives on the skin.

Caused by bacteria known as dermatophytes, it can be called feline streptococcus, cat scaly dermatitis, cat dermatitis, or cat fur disease, depending upon which part of the body the infection is occurring in.

Are Some Cats More Susceptible To Getting It?

Kittens, older cats and longhaired cats are the most susceptible to ringworm infections.

This is because when your kitty grooms himself, he is doing an important activity which will help him remain infection free and healthy.

But long hair or other coat characteristics protect these fungus spores from being removed by typical daily grooming.

And our older cats can’t or won’t groom themselves like they used to.

Kittens are used to be groomed by mom, and it sometimes takes them some time to develop a good, effective grooming routine, so they are probably the most susceptible group for ringworm.

Other factors, such as compromised immune status, already having an illness, poor nutrition or living in a crowded condition can predispose a kitty to acquire ringworm.

Cats who live with other cats are more likely to get it too. It’s hard to isolate the fungus. Cats in shelters can spread it easily.

Genetics may play a role as well.

Cat Ringworm Symptoms

Clinical signs of cat ringworm can be similar to other common skin infections.

The classic signs include seeing one or more areas of hair loss with mild or moderate crusting of the skin.

Sometimes, you may notice that your kitty’s coat seems thinner than normal. And sometimes cats will develop an itchy rash.

You may see reddish, thick, scaly, raised or flat sores on her skin when you move her hair to the side.

Cats will sometime show only one of these symptoms.

An Infected Cat May Present One or More of These Signs:

  • Mild to severe crusting and scaling of the skin.
  • Subtle or dramatic hair loss in one or several areas.
  • The appearance of blackheads, usually on the chin.
  • Darkening of the skin or skin that looks sore in some areas.
  • Skin redness in the area of hair loss.
  • Itchiness that may be mild or extreme.
  • Hair loss from apparent over-grooming in one or more areas.
  • Nail infections that may appear greasy or crusty.
  • Patches of fur has become thick, dry, coarse or falls away.
  • Repeated scratching or rubbing or when your cat keeps biting herself.

How is Ringworm Diagnosed?

If ringworm is suspected, your veterinary practice can test for the presence of the zoophilic fungus that causes this problem.

Your vet will take hairs plucked from the affected area of your kitty and place them into a fungal culture medium and conduct the test.

Ringworm is common. This test, along with the visual evidence, will allow your vet to confidently confirm your cat’s situation.

How Does a Cat Get Feline Ringworm?

Ringworm is the most common infectious kitty skin disease.

A cat can get infected when she is exposed to infected spores. This happens through either direct contact with an infected pet, or even some contaminated object.

These infected spores are small. They are so small they can even be on dust particles or even blown through the air.

If these spores can reach your kitty, they stick on cells on the hair shafts and skin.

If they stay on long enough, they start digesting the keratin protein on the hair and this starts the infection process.

The nearby hair becomes brittle and loose. Bits of hair and skin scales, contaminated with spores, break off and fall.

These spores can remain on the floor or furniture for months, and can infect other cats or even humans.

A cat’s defense against these spores is grooming and sunbathing. Good groomers are less inclined to acquire an infection.

Long-haired cats like Himalayans and Persians may not groom as efficiently, so they may not be able to remove the sports. They may be more at risk.

Can I Get Ringworm?

It’s possible. Ringworm can be transmitted from cats to humans. Owners do often get it.

If a person is medically compromised in some way, they are more likely to get it.

Because ringworm spores get spread around their living space, it’s common for owners to develop ringworm lesions too.

Cat Ringworm Treatment

How to Treat Cat Ringworm in Cats and Kittens?

There are two goals when treating this situation:
1. The kitty needs to be treated and cured.
2. The environment needs to be decontaminated.

Cats that test positive need treatment.

Fortunately, feline ringworm is a pretty simple form of a skin affliction and is generally treatable in the early stages with topical treatment and/or an anti-fungal drug.

Since these cases are curable and not too harmful, treatment plans may vary somewhat for each cat.

Most treatment plans involve clipping the hair, the application of topical therapy or medicated shampoo, oral antifungal medication, and cleaning the living environment.

And the environment includes any other pets that live with you too. You should probably test, and probably treat, any other cats in your home.

Most cats will have some or all of their coat clipped. This removes infected hairs and cuts down on the shedding of infected hair and spores. It also makes it easier to the antifungal shampoo to work.

Topical therapy generally involves shampooing. This helps removed spores and crusty skin and hair from the coat and keeps them from falling off too.

Cats may be bathed twice a week. It can be a challenge, but the shampoo needs to stay on your cat’s fur for a certain length of time, the longer the better.

Ointments and creams can work too, but they are easily groomed off and aren’t practical to apply over large areas.

And as long as your cat is over eight weeks old, most cats will be prescribed an oral medication too.

Cats usually show improvement in within two to four weeks of therapy. But treatment may extend much longer than this.

Decontaminating the Environment

Ringworm spores are spread easily and can exist in the environment for up to a year or two.

Steps You Can Take:

  • Quarantine your cat while you are treating him (if possible)
  • Thorough and repeated vacuuming
  • Daily wiping of hard surfaces
  • Daily washing of cat beds and blankets
  • Smooth surfaces may be disinfected or scrubbed
  • It’s a good time to get rid of old cat rugs, fabric toys or blankets
  • Items that can’t be cleaned or disinfected should be discarded or put away
  • Dust daily with a disposable cloth product, like a Swiffer broom
  • Try to vacuum and clean your heating ducts and vent plates as well as possible
  • If you have heavy drapes, they should be cleaned too

It sounds like a lot of work. And it is. But you want to rid your home of these troublesome spores.

Just do the best you can.

What To Do Now

If you are concerned that your kitty has ringworm, if she is showing the symptoms, you should make an appointment with your veterinarian.

Don’t worry, this condition isn’t dangerous.

But it is not healthy, and it involves some effort to get rid of it.

NOTE: The content in this article is not meant to be considered pet health, medical or veterinarian advice. This content is just for general information purposes only. Be sure to consult with a professional veterinarian for treatment information or before undertaking any treatment option.

Cats Can Get Feline Ringworm

Feline rabies information

Cat Arthritus

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What is Cat Arthritis?

Cat arthritis is a degenerative joint disorder that causes strong inflammation throughout one or more joints.

It generally affects areas such as the tail joints or near the spine, but other joints — hip, knee, shoulders, ankle or elbow — are often affected as well.

Cats with feline arthritis will typically experience swelling in the joints. It can be uncomfortable or even painful.

Feline Arthritis Symptoms

It’s hard to tell if your kitty has the beginning of arthritis, because it can develop gradually and you may not notice the changes in her.

But an arthritic cat may eventually have several symptoms you can notice. They may be subtle, you may have to be observant.

Clinical signs include loss of appetite, weight loss, change in overall attitude, less grooming, going outside the litter pan, or less desire to jump on and off objects.

A cat suffering from arthritis may experience pain and discomfort, and you may be able to tell if yours is experiencing it.

For example, these symptoms can lead to a decrease in movement and what looks like awkward mobility when standing up, lying down or moving around.

They may appear stiff or become more lethargic than usual. They just don’t seem to be as energetic as they used to be.

Most affected cats will not limp. But you may notice that they are less inclined to jump, or the height they are willing to jump is significantly less than it used to be.

In extreme cases, you may notice a joint is swollen, looks red or a even a little misshapen. But because cats can usually live with it due to their small size and natural agility, it’s hard for the typical owner to notice irregularities like this.

How Does Cat Arthritis Start? Why Does it Happen Anyway?

Feline arthritis begins when their body begins to put too much pressure on their little tissues that make up their joints, cartilage and surrounding bone.

The joints and the normal cartilage cushion support their bones and they have to work hard to support an active little animal.

These little joints start to not function properly and they can begin to thicken, wear down or even tear.

Once these joints deteriorate, the neighboring bones will experience stress, and they may slowly wear away. This results in bone damage, inflammation, and pain when adjacent bones rub together.

Over time, and as a cat gets older, these joints can lead to permanent bone or joint deformity and problems with movement and getting around.

How is Feline Arthritis Diagnosed?

If your veterinarian suspects your kitty has feline arthritis, they can diagnose it by completing a thorough medical exam which will probably include x-rays.

However, a totally confident physical diagnosis, even by an experienced vet, is difficult in a cat patient.

Cats are tough to examine. Because first, they are so small.

Second, your cat probably does not like being manipulated, handled and examined by a vet. He may pull away or just remain immobile when the vet tries to examine him. They don’t always give respond or give clues as to what is uncomfortable.

Due to these obstacles, to diagnose osteoarthritis in cats, veterinarians will often simply rely on the cat owner’s observations that their pet is not moving around as well as it once did.

If you think you see symptoms in your cat, call your vet, discuss the situation and make an appointment.

Cat Arthritis Treatment

Treatment options are somewhat limited. It is a progressive disease, but it can be managed.

If your vet suspects your cat may have arthritis, they will recommend a course of treatment.

Treatment Options May Include These

  • Encourage weight loss for overweight cats
  • Increase exercise
  • Elevate food and water bowls
  • Use a lower-sided litter box
  • Provide various soft bedding options
  • Give anti-inflammatory and possibly steroid medication
  • Change and improve diet
  • Make it easier for them to access favorite resting spots without them needing to jump
  • You may start a special diet designed for arthritis-affected cats.

A diet high in protein and fiber, but low in fat may help. By increasing the amount of fiber in her diet, she will be able to move better and protect her joints better too.

You may need to change any human food you give them too. Your vet will help you design the proper diet.

Treatment can include supplements or vitamins too.

Some vitamins can help stimulate the maintenance of joint cartilage. These vitamins include calcium, vitamin D, vitamin A, vitamin C, niacin, biotin and potassium.

Maybe these nutrients can help stimulate the production of collagen and cartilage as well as prevent further damage to the bones.

Supplements that contain antioxidants may help prevent oxidative damage to the cells.

Taking all of these steps will help improve your cat’s flexibility, slow down further joint damage, reduce his discomfort and make his overall life easier and better.

What To Do

Remember, if you suspect your kitty is developing arthritis or seems to show symptoms of any type of distress or discomfort, scheduling a visit with your veterinarian is the best first step.

You’ll receive some good information and find out what to do next.

NOTE: Any content in this article is not to be considered medical, health, professional or veterinarian advice. This content is only for general information purposes. Be sure to consult with a licensed veterinarian before beginning, or deciding to not begin, any treatment option.

Feline arthritis affects plenty of older cats like this one

 

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List of Common Cat Diseases

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List of Common Cat Diseases

Every cat will have a health problem eventually.

Some problems can be minor and temporary, others can be major and long-lasting. Some even fatal.

Typically, cats don’t have as many health problems as dogs do, but you will still likely encounter one or more during the life of your kitty.

Feline Leukemia

Leukemia is a dangerous disease among cats. It is characterized by the growth of tumors in the bone marrow.

Feline leukemia is diagnosed by an examination of a cat’s lymph nodes.

The bone marrow is where your kitty produces healthy white blood cells which allow him to combat disease, infection and injury.

Cats with leukemia can be more susceptible to developing an additional serious infection than an otherwise healthy kitty.

Respiratory Disease and Infection

Upper respiratory diseases are one of the most commonly known cat issues.

It’s not the most serious ailment, some vets will say it is similar to a human cold.

Feline upper respiratory infections occur when there is an explosive growth of bad bacteria and viral agents around the respiratory tract.

These infections can be bacterial or viral and can be transmitted through direct contact with the eyes or nose from an infected cat to another or through saliva from their mouths.

These bacteria and viruses normally stay in the throat or lungs, but can spread to other parts of the body, causing inflammation or other issues in other organs.

Cat Arthritis

Feline arthritis is a common disease.

The most common form of cat arthritis is called rheumatoid arthritis. It can eventually affect about 50% of all cats as they grow older.

This condition is caused by excessive production of cytokine, which is a protein, in the cat’s immune system.

Most cat owners can understand arthritis, as a version of it occurs in humans as well.

Skin Infections

Feline skin infections happen often.

They are usually limited to the skin surface, but they might spread to the throat or lungs, and can even cause pneumonia.

These infections are be transmitted to other cats in your household too. This is done through scratching or coughing.

Most owners don’t think about it, but it can be important to isolate your sick kitty from healthy ones.

Kidney Disease

Cat kidney disease is something that is common among aging cats. And it can affect cats of both sexes.

The condition develops as a cat kidney’s filtering system fails to do its job.

Cat kidney disease can be painful.

Symptoms can include difficulty in urinating, blood in the urine, changes in urination consistency or volume, abdominal pain, weight loss, swelling in the legs and feet, fever, difficulty in walking, vomiting or overall lethargy.

Yet it is hard to diagnose kidney disease just through observation until it has reached an advanced stage.

It can cause permanent damage to the kidneys and internal organs. It can eventually be fatal too.

Finding and treating this condition early is important. It can help reduce complications and allow for a longer and happier life.

Urinary Tract Infections

Cat urinary tract infections can occur. They often aren’t serious.

However, like a lot of other conditions, they should be checked out and your vet can decide whether or not treatment is necessary.

What To Do

Cat owners can often treat their pets themselves. There is a lot of information online that can help the owner with their situation.

But veterinarians know how to diagnose cat issues and treat them with diet or drugs.

Many drugs prescribed for and used by humans are not suitable for cats. They can have serious side effects.

Professional practitioners have experience working with medications and may prescribe the right product to prevent negative side effects.

They may also recommend over-the-counter products or prescription treatments.

There are medications to help alleviate pain, reduce inflammation or just make your kitty feel better if she has been infected by a virus or other issue.

Other products will help your cat get relief from inflammation, itching or help control pain or discomfort that occurs as a result of a viral infection.

Vets may also suggest dietary supplements to help slow a disease’s progression or reduce the symptoms and hopefully slow down a disease’s progress.

While many cat issues may seem minor at first, they can be serious and should not be simply ignored.

While it can be hard, your veterinarian should be able to diagnose the situation and help treat your cat. If left untreated, a disease can turn serious.

Your vet can suggest appropriate treatment and advise on what you should do to prevent your kitty from getting worse.

Once detected, many diseases can be treated effectively so she can continue to have a comfortable and healthy life.

If you are concerned about your cat’s health, talk to your veterinarian at once.

If you suspect that something is wrong with your cat or he might have an ailment, contact your veterinarian. Set up an appointment.

Follow your veterinarian’s advice as best you can. Help your cat have a longer and healthier life.

Cats like these can get different diseases or health problems

Information about cat diabetes.

Cat Sounds What Do They Mean

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Why Does My Cat Make That Sound? What Does it Mean?

Your cat probably makes a variety of sounds.

When you’ve had the same cat for 15 years, you probably know what your kitty is telling you when they meow or make another noise.

But if your cat is new to you, you may have questions about the different sounds they make. And what they are trying to communicate with you.

Noises Your Cat Makes and What They Mean

Cats are pretty good at communicating their wants. They can make a variety of noises.

They might be talking to us to tell us they’re hungry, or they don’t feel good, or that they want to be left alone.

Or they might be hissing or growling to express how angry or scared they are.

It’s up to us to figure out what these different noises mean.

Sounds Your Cat Makes and What it Means

All cats make some type of sound. But they are all individuals and each one can be different. Some are big talkers; others — not so much.

Kittens tend to be noisier than senior cats. And the majority of them will meow less and less as they grow older.

Those that live with humans tend to communicate more than feral ones.

There is some evidence that certain breeds are more talkative than others are too. Burmese and Siamese and breeds of Asian origin are considered to be more talkative than the average breed.

And some folks believe that the typical shorthair is more talkative than the typical longhair.

When your cat is new to you, you should pay attention to the position of their tails, ears and back when they chirp or meow or growl. These physical signs will help you understand what their feelings are.

Why Do Cats Make These Sounds?

Most of the time, a cat will meow, hiss or growl because she is trying to communicate with a human, another cat or maybe even some other type of animal.

The purring action, however, can be brought about by a variety of situations. They can purr when they are happy; they can also purr when they are hurt and they are attempting to soothe themselves.

Common Cat Noises and What They Mean

Meow and Meowing – Why Does My Cat Do It?

Meowing is the most common cat sound.

It is a sort of all-purpose sound that a kitty can make for a variety of reasons.

Some of the time, it is used as a greeting to a human or another cat. But it can also be used as a demand for attention, or to help them get something they want, such as food or to get a door open.

But it can also be used as an objection to something. Like to tell you they think they have been brushed enough and you should stop.

Kittens meow a lot. They do it when they’re cold or hungry, or when they want their Mom or to be comforted.

Kittens have a familiar high-pitched meow. As they grow older, this sound changes. Each cat develops her own collection of meows. Some cats develop a unique meow which often doesn’t even sound like a meow any longer.

Types of Meows

Not all meows mean the same thing. They also don’t sound the same either.

The sound might last from a fraction of a second to several seconds. Often, the more intense the emotion or the urgency of the message, the longer and stronger the meow will be.

A Regular Meow

The typical meows are mid-pitch in tone and mid-length in duration.

This is usually when your kitty wants something. She might want food, attention or to be let into the next room.

A Short Meow

This sound typically occurs when your cat is saying hello to you. It’s a sort of greeting.

It’s often a chirpy and bright sound. It could be accompanied by him rubbing against you or having him stand up on two legs and stretching up to you.

The sound is shorter and more high-pitched. If you walk into a room where your cat is sleeping and wake her up, this is often the noise she makes when she looks at you (and then puts her head down and goes back to sleep).

A Repeated Meow

When your cat repeats a meow over and over, she is excited.

She is excited because you are preparing her dinner or maybe she is just excited to be around you. She is usually happy. This is usually good.

A Longer Extended Meow

This is a full-throated, drawn-out meow, almost a cry or a pleading.

It’s either a forceful call for attention, perhaps to be fed, or they are strongly objecting to something, like being in the vet’s waiting room and being surrounded by other pets.

These long, lower pitch and intense sounds mean your cat wants something specific.

A High-Pitched Yelp

This kind of super-short, high-pitched meow can often be described as more like a yelp. It’s often an exclamation of being hurt or maybe startled.

A Low-Pitched Meow

This is sort of a regular meow, but less excited and lazier.

It’s more of a kitty talking to himself than it is a demand for you to do something.

A Crying Meow

This is a pleading, urgent, distressful and worried sound.

It’s generally associated with kittens or a very worried adult.

Meowing that doesn’t stop could indicate something is wrong. If you hear this, consider calling your veterinarian.

An Aggressive Meow

This isn’t a happy sound, it is a little bit on the angry side.

It sounds somewhat harsh and unpleasant. It’s like she is scolding you for something. If I ever yell a little at my cat, this is the sound she makes at me in return. She is yelling back.

Purring

People love the hypnotic and relaxing sound of a cat purring.

A purr is a low, rhythmic throaty rumble they make by contracting the muscles in their throat and chest.

It does not require them to open their mouth. It creates a soft vibration in their little bodies. It sounds comforting. We love it when they purr.

It can be a faint sound or a louder rhythmic rumble you can hear into the next room.

A mother cat will purr to attract her blind kittens. The kittens pick up on the vibrations and gravitate around her.

Most cats will purr when they are content and happy and in a good mood.

When we hear them purr, we assume they are happy.

But they can also purr when they are unhappy, frightened or when they are not feeling well.

It can be a technique they use to calm and comfort themselves. It’s a self-soothing method for them.

Chirping or Trilling

This is a cute sound that is somewhere between a purr and a meow. It’s a pleasant, chirp-like, high-pitched noise.

They can produce this noise without opening their mouths. It’s short — it lasts less than a second.

Some folks call it chirping; others call it trilling.

It is used by the mother cat to get her kittens to pay attention. That’s where they learn it.

Your kitty will trill when it sees you or wants your attention or when she is in a good mood. She also may do it when she greets another household cat.

It usually means he is pleased or excited to be around you, or looking forward to the dinner you are getting ready for him.

Hissing and Spitting

A cat hiss is an unmistakable sound.

Cats will hiss when they are feeling threatened, frightened or very unhappy.

The action and sound may be loud or soft. It typically depends on the gravity of the situation.

A hissing cat is an angry or scared cat. The hiss is usually directed at another cat or animal.

A hiss means they are on the verge of attacking. It is meant to intimidate their perceived threat. It is their last resort before taking action.

When they are hissing, they often assume a fighting position which includes a puffed-out and twitchy tail, an arched back, flat-back ears and an open mouth.

When a cat is hissing aggressively, spit may come out as well, hence the term spitting.

They may also hiss when they are in pain and scared. If your cat is hissing at you for no reason, she may be feeling unwell.

Understanding Cat Language

Chattering

This is the oddest of cat noises.

It’s a universal sound that most cats will make, no matter where they come from or what background they have.

Chattering is a fairly quiet, stuttering type of clicking sound that is made by your cat’s trembling jaw.

It is almost always reserved for when your cat sees a bird through the window. While they are staring transfixed at the bird, they make this chattering noise.

It seems like it is uncontrollable. They can’t help making the noise.

No one really knows why they do this. Is it simply predatory excitement? Is it frustration from not being able to hunt?

People have tried to come up with reasons for this behavior, but there is no consensus whatsoever on what the answer is.

Yowling and Howling

A yowl or howl is a drawn-out meow.

It can be louder than a typical meow. It’s not a happy sound.

It can indicate a few different things. It could be because your kitty is in distress or is not feeling well. Or he is scared or worried.

It is often a communication with another cat. This communication could be either that they are trying to frighten the other cat off or, on the flip-side, he or she is interested in mating.

A new cat in the neighborhood who is visible through the patio door can trigger this.

Sometimes a cat will howl a little bit if they are bored or lonely. Sometimes elderly cats will begin to yowl if their health is declining.

If yowling becomes excessive in your previously quiet kitty, calling your veterinarian may be a good option in order to rule out a health disorder.

Caterwauling

Caterwauling is that drawn-out, mournful, loud cry that female cats make when they are in heat.

These sounds are typically made by cats who have not been spayed or neutered. This wailing call is used by females to announce themselves to all potential mates nearby.

These prolonged desperate moans can carry quite far through the quiet night air.

If these loud moaning calls are heard by males, they will be attracted to the area. They may yowl in response in order to claim their territory or announce their presence. If there are multiple males, fighting may occur.

If the female is outdoors and there is a suitable mate nearby, mating will generally happen.

Cats in distress can also make a wailing caterwauling sound too.

A cat who is disoriented, in pain, fearful, hungry, thirsty or unhealthy can also caterwaul.

Snarling and Growling

Growling is a deep rumbling noise cats make.

It’s a threatening sound that stands as a warning to another cat, a human or some other kind of animal.

A feline will make this noise when it is angry, fearful or feels his territory is being compromised. They may even growl just to let you know they have had enough rough play or petting and want you to knock it off.

Depending on the situation, besides the growls, your cat may have her ears back, her fur puffed up, her tail big and twitching and her back arched up.

Growling may be accompanied by hissing. Your cat may alternate between growling and hissing.

A cat that is growling and hissing is signaling that it is ready to swat and even fight if necessary if her situation does not change quickly.

Screeching of Pain

This is a loud and sudden high-pitched sound, which a cat will make when they are hurt.

It’s a short scream of pain. After making this sound, a cat will generally hurry away and hide in order to recover.

The Sounds a Cat Makes

The longer you have a cat, the better you will be in interpreting the various noises he makes.

You will often be able to understand what he is trying to say to you, and you’ll be able to meet his wants and needs better too.

When you have a new feline, you can pay attention to her ears, tail, posture and overall body language in order to gauge her emotion and decipher what her meows and chirps mean.

You can see how she reacts to her environment, litter box, food, toys, you, other people and other cats.

She’s trying to communicate with you all the time — you just have to figure out what she is trying to say.

What do you think?

Do you have any tips for helping to decipher what your kitty is saying to you?

Two cats who make a lot of different feline sounds

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New Page of Cat Behaviorists

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Our New List of Pet & Cat Behaviorists

We have put together a new page about pet behaviorists.

This page has a long list of pet animal behaviorists and veterinarians around the United States.

We have organized these pet services by state. Hopefully, there will be one near you.

That being said, many of these services are offering online, virtual service too, so you should be able to find someone to help you out even if there is no one near you.

And as we note on this new page, it really isn’t proper to phone one of these services up and drill them with questions in an attempt to get free advice and tips.

You should simply describe what your situation is and allow the professional to steer the conversation from there.

If you need professional help, here is that list of pet behaviorists. Good luck to you.