What is Flooding? Flooding is a method of behavior modification. It has been used on animals and people to stop them from reacting to something they fear. It basically means exposing them to the feared thing at full strength for a long time, until they are quiet. So, if you were afraid of spiders and I wanted to using flooding to fix that, I’d shut you in a room full of spiders until you stopped screaming and swatting at them. Not a pretty picture, is it? Does it work? Sometimes. But not only is flooding unpleasant, perhaps cruel, it can backfire. After I let you out of that room full of spide ..read more

What is non-recognition aggression? People recognize each other by sight. Cats rely more on smell. Each group of cats has a group-scent. If one cat goes somewhere and returns smelling as if he is from another group, he very well may be attacked when he comes home. This is called non-recognition aggression. His friend does not recognize him. His friend is frightened, and attacks to defend himself when this “stranger” approaches. And, yes, it can even happen between cats that have been life-long friends. How does this happen? It often happens when one cat goes to the veterinarian. Just as a todd ..read more

Why you should train “up” Training a cat to sit somewhere off the floor is a good way to keep them off your kitchen table or counter. It also comes in handy during cat-cat introductions. We do this by training the cat to jump up on cue. Catch the wanted behavior When a cat jumps up, say “up” while he is in mid-air. Then give him a treat when he is on the surface your want him to use. After a few times, you can cue “up” when he’s crouched and about to jump. Repeat this over the next few days. Cuing “up” Next, say “up” when the cat is just looking at the surface that has been earning him yummy t ..read more

Have a treat in your pocket before you train To train your cat to come on cue, you don’t want him to know you have a treat. So hide in a room when you put a few treats in your pocket. Then wash your hands. You may even want to put the treats in a plastic baggie before placing it in your pocket. We really don’t want him to come because of a treat. Set your cat up for success The best way to first train your cat to come is when he is already coming to you! When that happens, just say “name, come here” in a happy voice and give the cat the treat when he arrives. DON’T put your hand in your pocket ..read more

Get good foods to test For training, we want a food that a cat will work for. They will only be getting a few pea-sized pieces per training session, so we don’t have to think “health food”. As long as it isn’t harmful, it’s fine. You can start with commercial treats if you’d like. They are easier to work with, since they can go in your pocket. And they have a long shelf life. I find that many cats are very motivated by freeze-dried liver. Foods to consider include baby food meats, boiled chicken, bacon, cheese, or ham. Just be sure there is NO onion or garlic in these, as onion and garlic are ..read more

As an extra precaution, I often harness train cats before introducing them. Here is how I do that. Training a cat to wear the harness Put a treat inside the harness’s collar for the cat to eat. Next time, pull the collar up a little while he’s eating the treat. Work up to putting the collar on while he eats the treat, and giving another treat while you take it off. Next, give a treat when putting the collar on, and another for wearing it, then take it off right away. Work up to him wearing the collar for a few seconds. Next, give a treat for putting on the collar, and another for havi ..read more

Petting a cat is not always a simple matter. Some cats like it, and some don’t. Some cats like it at times, and want to be left untouched other times. How can you tell? Ask the cat. Ask first. The safest way to tell if a cat would like to be petted is to ask them. You do this by slowly and smoothly presenting the back of your hand. If the cat leans into your hand, as shown in the above photo, then you can rotate your hand and pet her. Of course, if you know your cat likes to be petted, you may be able to initiate petting with a brief scratch of the head. Ask again. Just because a cat wanted to ..read more

For nearly a decade, I’ve been told that a cat will look at a person she likes and slowly close her eyes half-way. Some have called this a kitty kiss. I had seen cats do this when calm and relaxed, towards humans they had a good relationship with. So, it always seemed like a good hypothesis. But there wasn’t any science to back this up until October 2020, when a team researched this eye movement. What did this research team conclude that a slow blink means? While one research project cannot conclude anything, the results do indicate that the slow blink is a positive signal from the cat. To be ..read more

Is canned or dry food best for your cat? From a behavior standpoint, both have advantages. I recommend that cats get both early on, so that they recognize and accept both types of foods. Why should cats get canned food? Canned food is better for administering medicine. Some medicines are in powder or liquid form, and can be put on canned food. And a pill can be made into a tiny meatball to be given before the meal. These methods do not work for all cats, but they do work for some. Cats that have lost their appetite are more apt to eat canned food, since it is easier to smell. But this only wor ..read more

Loving the carrier from the start. Cats naturally love boxes—they are fun to hide in! Leave the carrier out all the time with the door off or opened. Put a fleece throw or a cat bed inside it. Give the cat a treat if he chooses to go inside it. Toss a treat in now and then as a surprise find. Teaching a cat to love the carrier. If your cat already dislikes the carrier, leave treats a few feet away. Gradually leave treats near and far. Eventually just leave treats near it. Leave treats on the threshold, and later just inside the carrier. Eventually leave treats all the way inside. Go slowly ..read more