There’s no more irritating behavior than begging. You might expect it from other pets, but not cats, which makes it all the more annoying. So why do cats beg for food, and how can you stop them? How do I get my cat to stop begging for human food? Cats beg for many reasons. Begging is partly a learned behavior, where the cat learns to beg because it normally works, i.e. the cat gets its food in the end. Food-obsessed cats may also beg because they’re ill e.g. with worms, when their food isn’t suitable, when they can only eat at certain times of day, because their food lacks key…

The joy of playing with your cat is second only to the joy of petting your cat! But what if your cat never wants to play? Is that something you can train it out of, or is it just part of your cat’s personality? How can you get a cat to play with you? Try picking a new kind of toy, e.g. a feather; one that your cat hasn’t tried yet. When you find one your cat likes, stick with it; it will start to smell like your cat, so it will recognize the toy as its property and be more likely to play with it. You should also follow…

Cats have a reputation for being aloof, but anybody who’s owned cats for a long time will tell you that’s not true. This misconception stems from how cats show trust, affection and love to their owners: so how do they do it, and how can you show love back? How do cats tell you that they love you? While it’s unclear whether cats feel the same kinds of love and affection that we do, they can trust their owners. Cats display trust through slow blinking, which is where the cat finds your gaze and blinks its eyelids slowly. They also allow you to show them affection, particularly on the belly and neck,…

Cats are like us in many ways, but do they dream? If so, what do they dream about, and how can you tell that they’re dreaming? Do cats dream when they’re asleep? All evidence suggests that they do. Cats have sleep phases like we do, i.e. deep sleep and REM sleep. REM sleep is when almost all dreaming occurs, and is characterized by high levels of activity in certain parts of the brain. Cats display this brain activity like we do when we sleep. They also twitch and their eyes move around under their closed eyelids, as, again, is the case with people. That being said a cat’s dreams are…

You may not believe us, but it is possible to teach cats things, not least with cat clicker training. So how does cat clicker training work, and why is it so effective? How do I teach my cat basic commands with cat clicker training? Cat clicker training is a way of training cats. You use a small handheld clicker the size of a key fob to make clicking sounds when you train your cat. You have the cat perform the behavior, make the click to get your cat’s attention, and give it a treat. It will then build up an association between the positive behavior and the reward. You then start…

You might think eating bugs is ‘gross’, but your cat doesn’t. Your cat might chase bugs and gobble them down like it’s going out of fashion. But can bugs make cats sick, and if not, why not? Is it safe for my cat to eat bugs? Typically, yes. Cats can eat flies, moths, butterflies, June bugs and other hard-shell bugs without gastrointestinal distress. The only exceptions are if your cat is eating bugs for the first time, it may react badly, and vomit or experience diarrhea; or it could eat a poisonous bug. Whether there are poisonous bugs near you depends on where you live. If you’re concerned for your…

Cats love to do things we don’t want them to do. Sometimes they pee in places they shouldn’t. But if your cat peed on your bed, is that bad behavior, or is it beceause your cat is sick? Why do cats pee in places they shouldn’t? It can be a sign of bad health, e.g. bladder stones or a UTI. It can also be related to stress or anxiety, causing a urinary tract issue without a clear reason (idiopathic cystitis). Your cat may feel uncomfortable using its litter box for a variety of reasons, like the size of the box, the location of the box, and whether it was taught…

Cats aren’t known for panting, but they do occasionally. So why would your cat pant, is the problem serious, and what should you do about it? Why is my cat panting? There are several reasons why cats pant. Your cat may be overheated, stressed/anxiou, or both. These are problems that can be fixed easily. However, cats can also pant because of serious health issues like heartworm, respiratory infection, hypocalcemia resulting from birth or pulmonary edema resulting from heart failure. If your cat is panting frequently, or has not stopped panting for some time, take it to the vet for a full diagnosis. The guide below first looks at whether and…

Cats can be cuddly, fluffy and lovely. But they can also be annoying: pooping in your flower bed, eating your plants, or having cat fights in your garden. So how do you keep them out of there? How can you keep cats out of your flower bed? There are a few ways: if the cat is yours, keep it indoors, or encourage it elsewhere. If the cat isn’t yours, get rid of any rodents or birds in your yard, purchase a roller rail fence or an ultrasonic cat deterrent, lay down chicken wire or tin foil where you don’t want the cat to go, plant plants that cats don’t like,…

If your cats are constantly fighting, it can be a drain on your mental health; severe cat fights can also take a toll on your cats’ health too. So how do you stop them? How do you stop cats fighting? Don’t allow them to fight it out, and try to separate them with a broom. Keep them separated until they calm down. To prevent cats fighting in the future, feed them in separate areas, and give each its own private space (e.g. with its own bed). Reward them with treats if they sit together calmly, and try to reduce aggression in your cats by playing with them separately, neutering your…