Cat Psychology - Understanding How Your Cat Thinks

Cats are not like dogs. If you have a dog, it will be perfectly obvious to you what he is feeling as they have ways of making this very clear. However it can be very difficult to read a cat's mind and know exactly what she is feeling. Cats are by nature solitary and independent creatures, unlike the dog which is a pack animal (as are humans!), so the psychology of the cat remains a mystery to us.

If your cat has suddenly developed a problem behavior, a little understanding of cat psychology could help you to resolve it. Here are a few pointers;

The main thing you should understand is that cats do not develop problem behaviors to spite their owners. If she suddenly starts to attack you, refuses to use her litter tray or shreds your furniture, she is not doing this out of malice so any problem behavior should not be taken personally. There will be an underlying reason for the behavior, and it is up to you to figure this out!

Also, a lot of the cat behaviors we don't like are perfectly natural to your cat, such as scratching her claws. They won't have any comprehension that this is 'bad' behavior so you are highly unlikely to be able to train them out of it. It's a bit like someone telling you that you are no longer allowed to cut or file your nails! You will have to resign yourself to persuading your cat that it is much more preferable to sharpen her claws on that new scratching post instead.

An understanding of cat psychology will help you understand why physical punishment won't work on cats. They do not have the same thought processes humans do. If you catch your cat urinating on your new rug and hit her, she will not associate urinating on the rug with being punished; she will associate the punishment with you. In her mind you have suddenly attacked and physically hurt her for no reason and she will be wary of you in case you do it again. Cats have long memories and will not forget any mistreatment. If you hurt your cat, you will need to work very hard to regain her trust.

A far better way of stopping this type of unwanted behavior would be to make a loud noise when you catch your cat urinating where you don't want her to, such as clapping your hands or firmly shouting 'no!' If she learns that every time she urinates on the rug she gets a fright, she should decide not to do it.
Cats thrive on routines and if there is the smallest break in this routine they can easily succumb to stress. If you have made changes in your house recently, even something as relatively minor in having a change around of your furniture, your cat may be finding it difficult to adjust and this is when problem behavior can develop. Cats also suddenly stop doing something which has been routine for them for years, such as eating a previously preferred food or refusing to use the litter tray. There could be any reason for this; for example she may have been startled by a sudden loud noise when using her tray. You will need to think like your cat to try to identify a solution, such as moving the tray to a safer location and providing plenty of reassurance.
Sometimes you may never get to the bottom of your cat's changes of routine and may just need to adapt to it, for example changing her food to one she will eat.

If you are having real problems with your cat's behavior, it may be worth seeking advice from a trained cat Psychologist.

Are you having problems with your cat shredding your furniture? Are behavior problems becoming a real headache? Drop by our blog for tips and resources on how to deal with the most common cat training issues. Also visit to discover the one thing you must never do when training your cat.

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How You Feed Your Cat May Be Just As Important As What You Feed

If you've ever experienced an upset stomach or the inability to eat when under stress, it shouldn't be difficult to imagine that animals can be susceptible to the same thing.
Wildlife experts who specialize in rehabilitation of injured or displaced animals are often faced with the challenge of feeding them correctly so they can recover and return to their natural habitats.
Household pets are no different, often suffering health issues due to stress, including improper feeding practices. Cats, in particular, are very sensitive to stress and are easily affected by poor diet and/or their surroundings at meal time.
It's not enough to simply put down a bowl of any old food and expect them to just eat and be happy, healthy and well-behaved. However, because cats are so adaptable, it often works out that way, but if your cat develops a mysterious problem, it could be related to stress during feedings. If they've stopped eating, it's critical to remedy the problem quickly.
Here are 6 tips to help keep your kitty eating happily for health:
1. Be sure there is no competition for the food. If there are other pets in the home, it may be necessary to feed at different times or locations to prevent one from intimidating another and stealing their food.
2. Keep food dishes in a low-traffic zone. It can be disconcerting to be constantly interrupted by people walking back and forth nearby.
3. Keep the noise down. Cats' ears are very sensitive and loud noises could certainly drive them away from their food.
4. Are the dishes clean? Don't just refill the bowls every day. Give them a good washing, just as you do your own. The accumulation of crumbs and residues can attract insects and cause bacterial growth, clearly a risk factor for health problems. If it gets particularly bad, only a desperately hungry cat will even eat it, and could become ill.
5. Most animals appreciate a routine, and cats seem especially happy with one. Providing their food at the same time and place every day contributes to a sense of security and calm.
6. Attitude is very important, too. Cats can tell what your moods are and will usually avoid anyone who is being a grouch. Feed them when you're in a relaxed frame of mind, such as after the kids have left for school, or before the entire family has gotten up for the day. Speak pleasantly and avoid a harsh tone when serving them.

For more information on feeding cats and handling behavior issues, go here: http://www.theproblemcat.com/faq.html

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Fun Facts About Feline Physiology

Did you know...?
Cats prefer acidic and bitter tastes and are unable to perceive sweetness due to an inherited mutation that affects their taste buds; since cats are meat eaters, being able to detect sweet flavors would not provide them with any survival advantage as predators.
Cats' ability to hear low frequencies is approximately the same as ours, but they can hear frequencies than both humans and dogs which allows them to detect rodent communication, including ultrasonic calls: an essential trait for nocturnal rodent hunters!
Cats' greatest visual acuity is at a distance of 75 cm, which is perfect for hunting (except from the perspective of mice!) because this is the approximate distance across which cats pounce when catching their meals!
Cats have poorly developed color vision: they can distinguish blue and green but are frequently unable to distinguish between green and red.
Since cats are mostly nocturnal predators they have excellent night vision. A large portion of a cat's retina has a special characteristic called the tapetum lucidum which is an iridescent reflective surface that causes constructive interference and increases the quantity of light passing through the retina. In other words, a cat's eye is like a small house of mirrors that amplifies the amount of light the eye perceives. Light passes through the retina and is then reflected back into the eye again, decreasing the actual amount of light required for them to see.
Cats have an excellent sense of smell, and they rely on smell more than they do on their sense of taste. At the base of their nasal cavities, cats also possess a special sensory organ called the vomeronasal organ (VNO), also referred to as Jacobson's organ. The VNO detects pheromones, chemical molecules which carry information - pheromones are an important mode of inter-cat communication.
Adult cats have poor temperature perception along their body coreswhich means that they can accidentally sustain burn injuries if humans are not careful about restricting their access to heating pads, stove tops, and other thermal devices. However, in general, cats are capable of withstanding much higher ambient temperatures than humans. Their heat tolerance is likely a result of their desert origins.
Cats are obligate carnivores which means that they belong to the order Carnivora and must eat the flesh of animals in order to survive. They are poorly able to digest vegetation and utilize vegetation derived nutrients; they are not equipped with the appropriate digestive enzymes and absorptive mechanisms to do so.
Cats have retractile claws and are digitigrades (they walk on their toes). These traits enable them to be agile tree climbers and silent stalkers; cats are generally ambush predators, or stalk-and-ambush predators.
Cats' vibrissae (whiskers) provide sensory information to them and can detect very slight air movements caused by the movements of their prey: yet another handy feature for the feline predator to possess!
Have you ever wondered how your kitty can get into impossibly tiny nooks and crannies? Cats have free-floating clavicles (collar bones) which enable them to squeeze through very small spaces!
The information provided in this article is for educational reference purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice and care of your veterinarian, nor medical diagnoses or treatments. All questions regarding your cat's health should be discussed with your veterinarian. © 2011 K & J Ventures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Dr. Ko is a passionate believer in the importance of preventative medicine and educating cat owners about its benefits for their cats. It was this ideal which was the motivation for the creation of the Dr. Ko website.
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