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Cat Behavior
Cat Behavior includes ways in which cats act and behave, from purring when they are content to playing to other types of behavior.
5,595 Questions
Yes they do. As a matter of fact, most male mammals have nipples. Male cats, like female cats, have 6 nipples in total.
What is wrong if a cat has blood in its feces?
This could be anything from worms to intestinal bleeding so it's best to take your cat to the vets right away and get a proper diagnosis. It is important diagnostically to determine if the blood is IN or ON the feces. The anal sacs in a healthy cat exude a thin "slime" on the surface of the feces during defecation. If the anal sacs become infected or crusted shut, then burst, blood can be included in this coating, however, this is more prevalent in dogs than cats.
How do you get your cat to stop hissing at people?
If your cat is hissing at strangers you can't stop your cat from hissing at them. The only thing I can think of that would stop a cat from hissing at someone is letting a cat get to know a person long enough that the cat isn't afraid of the person, and will therefore get along with him/her.
Cats Meow because they're trying to tell you something. It could be either they're hungry, sick or want attention. But you should always be aware and see what kind of body language your cat is showing. Cats also meow if they are afraid, angry, or want you to back away.
That's their way to communicate to others. We communicate by talking and reading.
Indications are that cats don't purr only when they are content and happy. They also purr during tense moments, or even through trauma. When suddenly and violently injured, even near death, a cat will often purr. It has been suggested that it's a self-calming action, so they may even purr when they're scared or hurt. Scientific research suggests that purring releases endorphins, which are natural analgesics that reduce pain during the healing process.
However, cats also purr during peaceful or happy moments. Kittens instinctively purr when they are nursing; some cats purr when they anticipate their next meal; and it's well-known how a cat will purr when seated contentedly in its owner's lap. It is believed that, being blind and deaf at birth, the original function of purring was to enable a kitten to communicate with his mother. It communicates via this deep rumbling, and it can feel its mother communicating back via the same method.
to stay alive and not die
There are many reasons this could be happening. If you brought another cat in (whether it's male or female) then the two you have at home aren't going to like it and are gingerly marking their territory. You can go to the vets and ask questions and they do have some good sprays to use. Meanwhile, clean up the spray as usual, then mix vinegar in warm water and soak a clean cloth in it, ring it out and rub on the surface, then pat dry. This will help to break-down the pH level in the urine. Good luck
How do you stop a kitten from urinating in the bathtub?
catch him doing it or right after and put him into the litter box, they prefer litter to bathtubs but need to be taught, so just keep putting him into the litter and letting him scratch and he will catch on
Is it normal for cats to start sucking on rugs or carpet as if they were being suckled?
When I met my husband, he had a male cat that 'suckled'. It would sneak in bed with us at night and start sucking on my pillow. It would suck on the sofa, carpet and any clothing that it could get its paws on. Personally, I couldn't stand it. He adopted the cat when it was just four weeks old. I don't believe the kitten was fully weaned from its mother (usually this occurs between six to eight weeks) and therefore, never lost that suckling urge. It's not the cats fault for suckling, but it's obvious the kitty was taken away from it's mother too soon. One way to curb this behavior is to get a small toy (for adult cats only) with catnip (cats love it) and play with the cat. This will usually stop the suckling. Cats will rub themselves against you out of affection, or even use their head to bump your face (gently.) Play with the cat and if it's very affectionate then carry it around and talk to it. I do that with my cat and she got over the suckling. My ginger boy always "makes a nest" with my dressing gown. He kneads it and bites it and purrs his little head off. When he was a kitten he used to suckle my pyjama top. I think, personally, it's a security thing for him - he only does it at bedtime and only when I'm around. It's fine just make sure it doesn't eat anything harmful when he/she suckles! My 9 year old male sill does it and he does it because before I got him I learned he was taken away from his mopther too soon.
How old do your kittens have to be to get fixed and at what age will they go in heat?
You can spay/neuter your kitten once they get to 2 pounds. However, most vets would recommend waiting until they are about 3 - 4 months old but prior to 6 months old. You do not want to wait too long. Spaying/neutering your cat early will prevent it from developing spraying habits and aggressive behavior. For female cats, spaying after they go into heat the first time will be more expensive at most vets. For male cats, waiting too long to neuter your cat will result in that strong urine odor male cats develop. Remember your cat can get pregnant before your even realize she's been in heat. Spay early to avoid kittens and unnecessary cost in long run.
Is your hamster scared if she poops excessively when picked up or is this normal?
This is pretty normal for a hamster. They do get nervous and the pooping may be more frequent when handled. Hamster do tend to poop a lot and whenever they need to so it doesn't matter if you are picking it up or not. Just check to make sure the poop is solid not runny. Runny poop can be a sign of wet tail. If this happens, bring it to the vet!
How do you stop a cat's hair from moulting?
== == Humans hair moults to a certain degree as well. Hair replaces hair and cats or most dogs are no different. Cats usually will constantly groom themselves (the longer the hair the more they will groom themselves) and do this with their tongue (it's rough and will pick up the hair, thus, sometimes your cat will get hairballs and gag them up. You can always brush your cat on a daily basis as well. To groom longer haired cats lift the fur away from you (don't pull) then stroke downward with the brush towards the skin (gently.) Brushing will help this process. I recommend purchasing a Furminator brush (eBay will have them way cheaper than pet stores) This brush really does work and has eliminated my cat and dogs shedding almost completely. Cats usually shed more heavily during season changes, but they could also shed heavily if they have a vitamin deficiency. You can go to a pet store and buy liquid vitamins (such as Vitacoat) that provide them with Omega 3 and Omega 6 or similar fatty acids. Try brushing your cat to help shed the coat faster, or use wipes to catch the excess hair. If it becomes a problem on furniture, cover it up with a throw and then wash that periodically (instead of lint brushing the entire couch/chair/etc).
If you neuter a charming sociable kitten could he then turn aloof and distant?
No not at all. In fact, if you have a kitten that is on the too frisky side or wild, often the neutering can calm them down. Please phone your vet because the younger you do it (not too young ... the vet will tell you when to bring in your kitten) the easier the operation is on the kitten. When you take the kitten in for neutering please book-off that weekend for at 24 hours to be sure you are home for your kitten. They love to just cuddle up and sleep and feel secure after the operation. Marcy When cats get a little older they tend to become "aloof and distant". Just call him "king kitty", since they all consider themselves to be a member of royalty.
Are inbred kittens bad or are there many defects?
Inbred kittens tend to be smaller in size and can have health and genetic problems. I have 3 kittens that were part of a litter I was fostering for the animal shelter. All 3 cats are fully grown, but are about the size of a 3 month old kitten. One of them was born blind. Newsroom
Fact SheetsAnimal Shelter EuthanasiaNational euthanasia statistics are difficult to pinpoint because animal care and control agencies are not uniformly required to keep statistics on the number of animals taken in, adopted, euthanized, or reclaimed. While many shelters know the value of keeping statistics, no national reporting structure exists to make compiling national statistics on these figures possible.However, American Humane is one of the founding members of the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy. The mission of the National Council is to gather and analyze reliable data that further characterize the number, origin, and disposition of pets (dogs and cats) in the United States; to promote responsible stewardship of these companion animals; and based on the data gathered, to recommend programs to reduce the number of surplus/unwanted pets in the United States. The most recent statistics that the Council has published are from 1997, however only 1,000 shelters replied to the survey.
Using the National Council's numbers from 1997 and estimating the number of operating shelters in the United States to be 3,500 (the exact number of animal shelters operating in the United States does not exist), here are the statistics:
- Of the 1,000 shelters that replied to the National Council's survey, 4.3 million animals were handled.
- In 1997 roughly 64% of the total number of animals that entered shelters were euthanized -- approximately 2.7 million animals in just these 1,000 shelters.These animals may have been put down due to overcrowding, but may have been sick, aggressive, injured, or suffered something else.
- 56% of dogs and 71% of cats that enter animal shelters are euthanized. More cats are euthanized than dogs because they are more likely to enter a shelter without any owner identification.
- Only 15% of dogs and 2% of cats that enter animal shelters are reunited with their owners.
- 25% of dogs and 24% of cats that enter animal shelters are adopted.
It is from these numbers that we estimated what is occurring nationwide. It is widely accepted that 9.6 million animals are euthanized annually in the United States.
For more information on the studies done by the National Council, please visit www.petpopulation.org.
Practical solutions for reducing euthanasia numbersAmerican Humane believes that all dogs and cats adopted from public or private animal care and control agencies must be sterilized before being allowed to leave the shelter and supports passage of state laws mandating this practice.
American Humane supports the establishment and operation of low-cost spay/neuter clinics. The reduction in cost motivates those who cannot and those who will not pay the full cost for the operation and has proven successful in reducing euthanasia rates in communities across the nation.
American Humane believes the percentage of animals reunited with their owners would greatly increase if more pets were properly identified.
- Be sure your pet wears an identification tag, rabies license, and city license. Include your name, address, phone number, and pet's name.
- Keep licenses current as they help shelters locate pet owners. If you are willing to pay a reward, put it on the tag.
- When moving, put a temporary tag on your pet. Include a phone number of someone who will know how to reach you.
- Don't assume that your indoor pet doesn't need tags. Many strays in shelters are indoor pets that escaped.
- Purchase special cat collars with elastic bands to protect your cat from being caught in trees or on fences.
- In addition to ID tags, consider getting your pet tattooed or microchipped.
Why would your 16-year-old cat suddenly start urinating next to the litter box?
As long as there are no other symptoms i.e. he's still eating and drinking and going to the toilet regularly and seems generally happy in himself then chances are it's just old age.
Perhaps your cat's senses are fading. Maybe he's just finding it more difficult to get into the litter box. Try making the box more accessible for him, or alternatively make up some sort of tray that he can just walk on to as opposed to having to climb in.
Cats are creatures of habit so if he's finding that going to the toilet outside the box makes life a little easier he will probably continue to do it unless you give him an alternative. If this works no need to worry as long as everything else is ok with him.
16 is a fine age for a cat and in his twilight years he deserves all the comforts he wants!
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my cat was 17 when he started this, it was most likely incontinence, he just couldn't hold it, also i did move it to where ever he was so it was easier for him to get to and that deffinately helped, we changed the litter several times to new stones, paper, paper kitchen towels etc
although i was still a bit suspicious as he was still sometimes going next to and near it and i think that it could have been also down to his stroke
hed had one and we hadnt noticed as its difficult to ascertain, i looked back after the vet mentioned that and it all made sence i went through all the things that were different or strange, and infact he had another one only months later and acted odd again
i don't want to worry you by saying that but it is a huge possibility in old cats (same as old people) so look out for other signs, mostly strange behaviours and differences and of course take the cat to a vet,( especially if you havnt recently, old cats need regular vet care and medicines.)
f4
Answer: Sometimes a urinary tract infection can cause this type of behavior, as well as urinating in places other than the litterbox. See your vet.
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Our girl Misha made it to just over 19 years old. She started peeing is a couple of corners and just wouldn't stop. The vet said that she had no bladder infection or other sickness. We finally realized that she was just so old and maybe it was a senility thing. She WOULD on ocassion use the box to pee in. She also had bowel problems and would drop a nugget just about anywhere - at least they were easy to clean up. This lasted for maybe a year - it did seem endless, but she had asked so little from us for that lifetime of love - we knew we just had to deal with it without anger. She couldn't help it. Now she's been gone for close to a year - I really wouldn't mind just one more pee-spot or nugget just to pet her again. Our best advice is after making sure with a vet regarding health issues just to use pee pads on the floor or lay down newspapers - easy and cheap. Focus on the time and love that you have now. One day there will be no more messes.
ANOTHER ANSWER
Maby you need to clean the litter box real well and if the cat does not stop peeing next to the litter box mabyreplace the litter.
Is there any way to tell if a female cat is spayed without going to the vet?
There should be a small one inch scar running head to tail on the cat's belly just below the sternum. Normally there is a small rigid lump under that scar. That scar often just looks like a line.
How do you get a cat to stop going to the bathroom in your house?
I too had a similar problem with my cat. Personally, I would suggest placing a litter pan in each room and periodically, putting the cat in there after meals so he/she can smell it. Also, make sure you clean the litter everyday. Cats hate a messy litter box. Another idea is to experiment with the brand of litter- cats can be picky.
One other reason why your cat might be going in the house and not in its box is it might have a urinary tract infection (UTI). When a cat has a UTI, it hurts to pee (and sometimes poop), but it doesn't understand it's a medical issue - it just thinks it hurts to pee where it is peeing now, so it tries other "softer" places.
Also, is your cat spayed/neutered? If not, it might be spraying to mark its territory. Getting it fixed should help solve the problem, though for some male cats, not entirely (once a male cat learns how to spray, they still sometimes do it, even after being fixed).
I'm not a vet, but I've owned cats all my 55 years. They love salty things (like Doritos and potato chips), so I'm guessing you were sweating at the time, or that for some reason, your perspiration is suddenly more salty. You might want to Google "medical causes for salty-tasting perspiration" to see if that is a symptom of something. Hope this helps. GCW Some cats will lick people who are handling them if they get irritated by the touching. Perhaps your cat is not as comfortable being handled now that s/he is older.
* Was he around any catnip? that makes them hyper, he might have just been playing roughly. * Providing the cat was not in pain, or scared by something obvious, as far as I think, maybe he saw something you could not see, and it scared him. No proof, but I do think sometimes that animals may see, or sense some things that we cannot. * I agree with the above poster, but if this sort of action keeps up then you should take your cat to the vets to be sure nothing is wrong. Our pets aren't so far removed from us humans and can many maladies such as humans and (not scaring you here) but can have tumors of the brain or anywhere in the body, or possibly some pain in a part of the body.
* Possibility of territorial issues. My cat once circled my aunt several times, meowed at her and then jumped on my unsuspecting aunts head after she sat at his space at the heater and didn't move and as he was younger he was a bit wild and settled after age set in so age could be a factor too.
* I'm wondering if it has to do with the scent. When I brought back a cage with new kitten in it, even if I put away the new kitten in its separate place, I didn't realize I had big dog hair everywhere statically adhered to the cage bottom from the place I picked up the kitten. My female and male cats have been together since birth and always played with each other (spayed and neutered early on when they were in animal shelter). Well, my female cat is sneaky curious kind, male cat is totally playful alpha male, very friendly to strangers even! But when my female cat got in contact with bunch of dog hair, my male cat started hissing and attacking the female cat. I at first thought their hissings were due to the new kitten who were put away in separate room. But even without the kitten around at all, with cage put away, they started just attacking each other! (my female cat is very curious about the kitten, by the way. and my male cat's very scared of whatever that "thing" is behind the door). Well, I'm at my wit's end. Now I separated all three of them. I'm not even sure how I'm going to introduce which cat to which one first. But anyway, I suggest your brother cat might have picked up some scent that prevents the first one from recognizing him at all. * It's very important that you take your male cat to the vets as male cats can pick up parasites more readily than females. There could be some physical reason your cat is acting this way, so go to the vets first and if this is a territorial problem then your vet can help you remedy this. * Give him more cat nip eventually he will just pass out because he is just doesn't have any energy, or take him to a animal shelter, or just go all "old yeller"
How should a female cat's stomach feel 4-5 weeks after spaying?
Usually the cats stomach will feel very soft. This is because muscle tissue has been cut through (sort of like human surgery on the stomach area) and in tie, you will see a flap on each side of the stomach flap back and forth. It's normal. Marcy
How can you stop cats from sitting on your car and making such a mess of the roof?
If you have a garage you may consider using it. but if you have no choice but park outside, use a sprinkle system with a timer. they have a timer you can screw onto the water hose nozel for the sprinkler system. you can set it for certain times. they will stay away from that area . some cats like the car because of the heat after running it.
Go to Goodwill and spend 2 or 3 bucks for a sheet. Step one-park car. Step two-cover with sheet. End of problem.
How do you get your cat to stop bringing home dead and alive animals?
The best way to curtail this unfortunate occurrence is to keep your cat indoors at times when rodents, birds, etc. are most susceptible, namely around sunset and at dawn. If you have a catflap/dogflap, or keep a window open or closed for the cat to get in and out, then this should be manageable.
This is only a way of minimising opportunities that your cat has to catch prey; unfortunately, as long as your cat is allowed indoors, there is no single way to stop it from happening altogether!
Hunting is a cat's natural instinct and your pet sees nothing wrong in bringing its prey indoors and proudly presenting it to you as a sign of love or a gift of food, to show that it is earning its keep by protecting your home and its territory. For this reason, yelling at your cat will not make it stop. It will not understand why you do not want to see its caught prey.
If it is dead, dispose of the mouse but NOT IN SIGHT OF THE CAT. Praise the cat first, then dispose of when you get the chance. There is no way to stop your cat from doing this, because your cat is showing you respect and affection. You cannot make a cat what it is not through any amount of training, though you can warp their psyche by being disapproving of them.
Usually a hunting cat will lie in wait for its prey, so bells on collars are usually ineffective.
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Well, the best way is to STOP letting your cats outdoors. It is almost impossible to stop them from bringing in animals if they have access to outside; it's just what they do. It is actually a gift for you (nice, eh?)
Just dispose of the animal out of sight of the cat if you don't want their gifts.
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If it wears a collar then try attaching a bell. This won't stop the hunting instinct but it could warn the prey of the cat's approach in time for them to escape.
Your cat may have worms in which case you will most likely have to take him to the vet or go to your local pet store and ask them if they have deworming medicine. To check if it is worms you need to look at the cats butt and stools to check them for small white things resembling pieces of rice. You really shouldn't have a pet if you can't afford the vet because the animals need shots to prevent all sorts of problems they can get and they should be spayed or fixed to prevent them from peeing in the house. Good Luck!
AnswerWorms are a possibilty, but unfortunately only tapeworms (white, flat, and rice-sized) and roundworms ( look like spaghetti) can be seen in feces only if they are very bad. Hookworms and whipworms can only be seen under a microscope. Call your local shelter, many of them can refer you to a low-cost clinic or even do an examination themselves with volunteer vets.
AnswerIf your cat is "scooting", you will need to squeeze his or her anal glands in order to empty them. Google this term for detailed instructions.
AnswerSometimes a vet will accept payment plan.I know it can be an expense but small payments are better than none.Not many of us can afford the vet bills. Also he may just have an itchy butt!! He hasn't got any hands to scratch so "scooting" is the next best thing.Also try moving litter box or set up another where he is going.Don't forget they always like a clean litter box so make sure its kept clean.But I'd try putting another where he is choosing to go. Best Of Luck!!
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very much aggree that you shoudlnt have a pet if you cant afford to take care of it and certainly would not tell you to 'scoot' your cat
only irresponsibe people think its ok to act like a vet when you are not and you could seriously hurt your cat by doing things like that
take the cat to a vet, get pet insurance or arrange a payment plan with a vet
or give it to someone who can afford take care of it properly .
f4
Answer
To add my experience:
My cat has been doing this for years, and it is not due to any 'problem' like glands (don't seem to be a problem) or poop (he's very clean) or worms (none present) or dehydration/constipation (he gets wet food and plenty of water, no defecation problems).
When I see that he does it on his favorite blanket, and NOT the floor, NOT some other blanket, and always before laying down, suckling, kneading, and napping, it's clear -- he's doing it because he wants to. He's either marking, or simply hornballin' it up. He likes it.
The best advice of all is to get her to a vet or to an animal shelter, if this is something you cannot or will not do the following is acceptable. It depends on the injury. If its obviously minor you would care for it as you would if the injury was on a little child. Splinting if needed with cardboard or hard paper for sprains. If its an open wound you would shave the fur, clean well and use an antibiotic ointment, bandage and splint if needed. While kitty is ill, use some pediatric multivitamins in her bottle to help her immune system. Your little kitten needs to see a vet. Pets look to their owners for love and care and we need to provide that for them. A vet that can't make a deal with someone who can't afford to pay right away isn't much of a vet in my eyes. My vet is a woman and wonderful. Of course she works hard and wants to make money like anyone else, but she does many things for free if she feels the person is sincere. Go into a vet and explain the circumstances (try several vets if you have too) and you can offer to sweep the back rooms, clean cages and take the dogs there out in back for a bit of fresh air. You can pay the debt off this way. GET YOUR KITTEN TO THE VETS!
How do you get your cats to drink out of their water bowl?
Cats have an extremely sensitive sense of smell, and can easily detect any decomposing proteins in their food or water. Cats, given the option, will only drink from the freshest water sources such as dripping faucets and toilet bowls.
Domestic cats, like their wild ancestors and cousins, are designed to get their moisture from their food, so will not often drink water out of a bowl or other water source unless very thirsty. Of course, there are many ways of trying to entice a cat to drink more:
Feed more wet food: If you are feeding them wet cat food that has a high water content in it, it may be enough for them most of the time. A cat's body consists of about 67% water. Coincidentally, that is approximately the same percentage of water in the prey they catch and eat in the wild. A cat in the wild meets its moisture requirements just from the prey it eats. Wet cat food usually consists of 70% - 80% water
Different bowls and Water Fountains: Some cats are allergic to plastic bowls and will avoid them. Many cats will prefer glass or ceramic bowls to plastic, as plastic will start to decay after time and constant use.
Another trick is to buy a bowl that circulates the water. Many cats prefer moving water. Investing in a water fountain specially designed for cats is an excellent way of enticing a cat to drink, as the water is constantly moving and kept fresh.
Water Freshness and Filtration: Filtered water may help as it filters out all the chlorine and other chemicals in the water, particularly if you live in a 'hard water' area. Our cats think the overflow/drain valve on the water softner is a super place for water!
A plastic ball in the water can help cats 'locate' the surface of the water. The theory is that cats cannot see the still surface of the water, so will not attempt to drink from it.
Keep replacing the water in their bowl every couple of hours and that should improve their desire to drink out of the bowl, on hot days it may even become simply too warm for them.
What do you do about an unspayed cat's scratching and loud purring?
Spay her! An unspayed cat will vocalize (meow loudly) and become VERY affactionate if she is in heat. She will also do anything to escape outside to find a mate, even resorting to scratching at doors and windows.
Being in heat every few weeks is not natural for a cat (Outdoors, the cycle of light and dark would regulate her estrus so she only went into heat twice a year.) Heat is very draining for them, physically.
Of course, it's also a pain in the butt for you, and you run the risk of getting yourself a litter of kittens.
If spaying her is a financial hardship, please go to Friends of Animals. They give out certificates that you can take to approved vets so that the surgery costs you only $65.
Another Answer
Cats will scratch whether they're Spayed or Neutered. This is just a natural thing for cats to do. If you do not want your cat to scratch on everything, Buy or make a scratching post or a scratching house for your cat. The list of scratching products can go on. However, spaying will calm her down.
Cats also purr naturally. This means that they are happy and content.
Another Answer
Your cat just has loud purring and that probably won't change. All my cats still scratch things but the scratching post really helped.
Another Answer
Cardboard Boxes! They work! I have several cats and they have to satisfy their urge to scratch to shed their old nails. They love scratching cardboard and best of all, it's free. Sometimes I get a big box and flatten it and lean against the furniture. Others, I leave as a box and let them sleep in it. When it gets too old or torn, pitch it and get another box.
