It is true that some cats can be very protective of their owners. Whether or not a cat is protective of their owners, their territory, or other animals or children in the household really just depend on the cat’s breed, personality, environment, and relationship or bond with its owner.

There have even been some instances when cats have attacked intruders in their home or dogs or other animals that have snuck into their yard to protect their owners from harm. One case that has been reported on television and in the news involved a paraplegic man who was sitting outside on his laptop with his cat when three individuals tried to rob him and take the laptop from him. To the thug’s surprise, the man’s cat jumped up and attacked them, chasing them off and saving the day. Talk about loyalty!

It is a common belief that cats and dogs are more resistant than people to cold weather because of their fur coats, however this assumption is untrue. Just like people, your feline friend is susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia and should therefore be kept inside during cold weather.

A cat’s temperature tolerance can vary from pet to pet, based on their coat, body fat stores, activity level, age, and health. However, despite this, no pet should be left outside for long periods of time in below freezing weather.

Winter time can be especially dangerous for felines as a warm vehicle engine may seem like an appealing heat source for outdoor and feral cats. This can result in injury or even death. It is very important for us humans to check underneath our cars in the winter to make sure that no cats are hiding and trying to keep warm. Making a little bit of noise can help scare the feline away. Check around and underneath your car, bang on your hood and honk your horn before starting the engine to encourage any stray cats to abandon their roost under the car’s engine.

Guidelines For Protecting Your Cat In Cold Weather

The following guidelines will help you protect your feline friend during the cold winter months.

• Never let your cat outside, especially if there is snow or ice on the ground. In addition make sure that your cat has an ID tag with its name and your address or a telephone number that you can be reached at should your cat escape outdoors.

• Never leave your cat alone in the car during winter, he or she could freeze to death.

• Make sure that your feline companion has a warm place to sleep, off of the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy cat bed with a warm pillow and blanket are best.

Most felid species produce a purr like vocalization. In domestic cats, purring is most noticeable when an animal is nursing her kittens or when we humans provide social contact, be it from petting, stroking, feeding, or playing with kitty. Most people assume that a cat’s purr is an expression of pleasure or that it is meant to communicate with their young, with us humans, and with other cats. However, what many pet owners do not realize is that purring can also often be exhibited during the more stressful moments in a cat’s life.

Many cats often purr when under stress. Whether it be during a veterinarian visit, or when ill, injured, in labor, or near death. Cats might be heard purring. This has led many researchers to investigate how cats purr, however the mechanics of it all are still under debate and have many professionals and pet owners puzzled.

Scientists have demonstrated that cats produce their purr through intermittent signaling of the laryngeal and diaphragmatic muscles. Cats purr during inhalation and exhalation with a consistent pattern and frequency between 25 and 150 hertz. Even more interesting is that many professionals have shown that sound frequencies in this range can also improve bone density and promote healing.

Since cats have adapted to conserve energy via long periods of rest and sleep, it is also possible that purring is a low energy mechanism that stimulates muscles and bones without a lot of energy. A cat’s purring could possibly alleviate the dysplasia or ostereoporotic conditions that are more common in dogs and other canines. While many may assume that cats purr simply because they are happy or content, it is more plausible that they purr as a means of communication and a potential source of self healing.

While your cat might respond to being tickled, chances are its more of a reflex than a tickle response. Just like humans, some cats may be more ticklish than others. There are plenty of cats (and dogs, as well as other animals) who have thumped a hind leg when they were scratched in the right place.

Much like humans, animals will also instinctively try to escape from unpleasant stimuli, so if you tickle or scratch your cat and he hates it, you will probably know it when he tries to flee. Some cats enjoy being tickled, scratched, or pet on their bellies and/or chin.

Cats are nearsighted, meaning they can see better close up than far away. Interestingly enough, cats are also unable to see directly underneath their nose, which is why if you set a treat down directly underneath them they may have trouble finding it right away. While cat eyesight is excellent for detecting motion and seeing in the dark, it is not as good for seeing detail. A cat’s eyesight has developed to assist them in the hunting process. Your feline companion’s vision is less acute than that of a human’s and colors are also less vivid for him or her.

One of the most remarkable things about a cat’s eyesight, however, is their ability to see at night. Since cat’s are nocturnal predators, their eyesight makes them efficient hunters. While cat’s are unable to see in total darkness, they require only one sixth the amount of light than humans do to see. Their pupils can dilate three times larger than the human eye allowing in more light. Cat’s also have reflective cells behind their retina that amplify the light that comes into their eyes. If you have ever taken a flash picture of a cat and noticed their eyes glowing, these reflective cells were the reason behind it.

Cats are indeed predators. In fact, being a predator is your feline friend’s specialty. Although your companion may be spending everyday of his life eating cat food out of a bowl and cuddling on your lap, he is a predator by nature and has specialized eyesight to make him a more efficient hunter. Like most hunters your cat’s eyes are located on the front of its head, instead of at the sides. Having eyes at the front of the head have many advantages for a predator, including superior depth perception which is very helpful in helping your cat figure out how far he has to pounce to land on his prey while hunting.

Cats are obligate carnivores and can sever a small creature’s spinal cord in a matter of seconds. They are fast runners and can see well in the dark, making them an even bigger threat to the rodents and smaller creatures that they hunt. At just five weeks old they are full-fledged killers, hunting and successfully killing mice on their own. Cats have even been known to hunt whole islands of birds into extinction. British scientists have even theorized that a cat’s mere presence is frightening enough to stop birds from breeding, thereby driving down population size.

Contrary to popular belief, cats are not vindictive, evil, or mean by nature. Cats are simply cats. They do the things they do because just like humans each cat has a unique personality. Some are more social than others, and just like people each cat has specific needs. As a cat owner it is your job to make sure that these needs are met. Most often when these needs are not met, your cat will find a way to meet them on their own. However, unfortunately sometimes this will be accomplished in ways that are less acceptable to you.

If your cat is displaying negative behaviors there is a reason for it. For example. Let’s say your feline companion has started eliminating outside of the litter box. First and foremost, if your cat has suddenly started urinating or defecating outside of their litter box, there could be a medical reason behind it. A trip to your local veterinarian can quickly rule this out if it is not the case. Once medical issues are ruled out, you will have to look carefully at the litter box situation in your home. Do you have more than one cat in your home? If so, do you have enough litter boxes? The general rule for having multiple cats in a household is to have one litter box for each cat plus an additional litter box. In addition to having enough litter boxes it is important to consider the features of each box. Are they clean enough? Are they big enough for the cat? Is it in a quiet location where your cat will not feel uncomfortable or interrupted when using the bathroom? Is it easy for your cat to get in and out of the box without difficulty? Does your cat like the litter you are using? Your veterinarian can offer additional advice.

If you think that your cat is being “vindictive” because he or she is using the bathroom outside of the litter box, on your clothing, bedding, furniture, etc. it could be a medical reason or it is most likely do to a litter box issue. Either your cat is being territorial because of the other cats in your home, or they are unhappy with their litter box or the other things you have provided. Experiment with different litter box designs, litter types, etc. to find out what the problem is.

If you think that your cat is intentionally clawing your carpet and furniture up to be mean, think again. Your cat is not clawing anything to annoy you. Rather, he or she is performing a perfectly normal behavior. In the wild cats will sharpen his or her claws and will also stretch the muscles in their legs and mark their territory by clawing. This is a basic need for your feline friend and it helps keep your cat in good shape and proper health. If you want to deter your cat from clawing certain objects try giving him or her items that are okay for them to scratch and direct him or her to these items. Cat trees, cat scratching posts, emery boards, etc. are great for your clawing cat. Sprinkle a bit of catnip on them and show your kitty how to use them and you’re good to go.

Providing more than one type of surface for your cat to scratch is ideal as different cats prefer different textures. Just remember if you do not provide adequate surfaces for your cat to use, he or she will continue to use whatever is available. If you want to spare your favorite chair from being shredded up, invest in a cat scratching post or similar item. If your cat still seems stubborn after purchasing these types of items you may want to try sticky paws tape (a tape that your place on furniture to keep cats from scratching). Another option is claw caps. These caps can be purchased online or at your local pet store for about $20 and come with adhesive. You simply trim your cat’s nails and attach the caps to each nail with the adhesive that is provided. They eventually fall off and you will need to re-attach them, but these are a great alternative to de-clawing and will keep your cat from harming you or others with their claws and will save your furniture too. If you are having trouble getting the caps on your cat, try giving your local pet store a call, or contact a pet groomer, or your vet, sometimes they will attach these caps for you for a small fee or even for free.

If your cat is aggressive and attacks you, your pets, or others in your household, it is most likely do to the fact that cats get too worked up. Sometimes after petting a cat, he or she will become over stimulated and will strike out as a result. The key here is to learn your cat’s body language. Learn to recognize when your cat has had enough affection. If your cat’s ears are laid back, his or her tail is twitching, or their hair on their backbone is rising, stop petting them.

Last but not least, setting aside a few hours each day to play with your cat can help release their natural extinct to hunt and release all that pent up energy they have from being indoors. Toys with feathers, or on wands work great for this and your cats will most likely love chasing them around and stalking them as they would stalk and hunt prey in the wild.

By following all of the steps above you should start to see a huge difference in your cat’s behavior. As mentioned earlier, cats are not vindictive or evil by nature. If your cat is acting out there is always a reason for it and there are ways to get to the bottom of it. If these tips do not help you may want to consider talking to a veterinarian or cat behaviorist for additional tips and information.

Cats do get jealous of other cats, pets, and sometimes even humans. It can be very stressful if you have just introduced a new cat into your home and your old kitty becomes jealous. However it is important to understand that this response is totally natural. Cat behavior is very complex so it takes time and patience to help your feline friends adjust to each other. The good news is that there are a few things you can do to help make this transition easier for both your old kitty and the newcomer.

One important thing to consider when bringing a new cat home is whether or not he or she is spayed or neutered. Male cats are often involved in inter-cat aggression, which most often occurs when a cat reaches social maturity between two to four years of age. Although this type of aggression is usually seen in males competing for mates, it can sometimes occur between cats of any sex when territorial conflicts occur.

The first step toward eliminating this type of behavior is to make sure that both your old cat and your new cat are spayed or neutered. If this has already been done, there are other ways to help with territorial and aggressive behaviors in cats. Pheromone products are available on the market and can help reduce aggression and tension between cats. One such product is called Feliway. This product is a plug in device that diffuses cat pheromones and helps to calm kitty. Having one in every room is recommended for best results. Feliway collars are also available to purchase. If these products do not work you might want to consider other alternatives such as kitty Prozac.

That New Cat Smell

When you first bring a new cat home it will have a strange new cat smell that screams “intruder” to your resident cats. Some cats may be more troubled by this than others. Integrating their smells over time can help resolve the conflict. Rubbing a towel or blanket that already has the scent of your house on it can help make the new kitty smell like he belongs. After rubbing new kitty, rub your resident kitties with the same towel to mingle the feline’s scents. This can be done several times a day for several weeks.

Territorial Issues

Another good idea when bringing a new cat home is to make sure that he or she has their own litter box. This will help resolve any territory or potty issues that may occur between new cats and resident cats. The general rule of thumb for a multiple cat house is that there should be a litter box for each cat, plus an additional litter box. Having more than one litter box in the house can be very beneficial as sometimes cats will begin urinating or defecating outside of the litter box or throughout other areas of the home as a way to mark their territory and tell the new cat “this space is mine”.

Jealousy

One common mistake that many pet owners make when they first bring a new cat or other pet home is introducing the new pet to their resident cat right away. This is not the right approach if you have hopes for the two to become best friends. The better method would be to take the new cat into a room and keep it there for 7-14 days so that the two cats can get used to each other’s scent and presence through the door. Make sure that your new kitty has everything he or she needs to survive. A food and water dish, a litter box, some toys, etc. During this time be sure to set aside some one on one time for both kitties so neither feels neglected.

Cats by nature are territorial creatures. When bringing a new cat home he or she will need to establish territory and your resident cat(s) will need to defend theirs. This often results in a cat fight or two. Keeping your new cat in his own room for a week or two will help him gain confidence and claim that room as his “territory”.

During this time it can be helpful to have the two cats switch places every now and then. For example, let your old kitty out into the rest of the house to wander around and get used to his new belongings, and lock your old kitty in new kitty’s room to get him used to new kitty’s scent. Mingling the two scents will help the two cats get used to one another better.

Eventually you can also integrate meal time, shared play time and treats. This will help the cats get along better. Start feeding your old cat outside the new cat’s bedroom door, or try using a pet gate or a cardboard poster board to block the two from seeing each other, but allow them to be close enough to one another to know that they are each there. They will smell one another and if you feed them together they will also begin associating one another with food and other positive things. Eventually when the cats seem to have warmed up to the idea of sharing meal time you can ditch the walls or gates and see how they do.

Reinforce positive behavior towards one another by feeding the cat’s treats when they are behaving and getting along. Try to play with them both in the same room until you can eventually get them to play together. If they start to fight, lock one of the kitties up for now and continue this until they can be in the same room together without fighting. Never leave two cats that do not get along alone together. Eventually the two felines should be able to coexist peacefully in the same home.

Breaking Up Cat Fights

During this entire process you will most likely be required to break up a few cat fights every now and then. Never reach in between two cats fighting and try to separate them yourself. Instead, squirt the cats with a squirt gun or a spray bottle filled with water, from a distance. It is best if they do not know that you are the source of water. Loud noises can also be affective in breaking up a cat fight. A can full of pennies or something similar can be used. Never chase or hit a cat with an object such as a broom. This will only increase aggression and can permanently destroy a cat’s trust in you. The best method is to reinforce positive behavior when the cats get along so that they begin to associate good things happening when they are around one another. With a little time, patience, and understanding, you should eventually be able to achieve household harmony within a few months.