Tabbytudes Cat Behavior Column - March 2003

Other letters this month included a cat's odd reaction to an owner's sneeze, incessant meowing, and a cat upset about a new dog. My cat, Seren(dipity), hates it when I sneeze but has never gone so far as to attack me-she simply says "ack-ack-ack" in imitation of a lion cough, scolding me for making such a rude sound. In fact, I believe that to the cat, a human sneeze must sound very much like a feline SPIT! If the cat thinks her human has SPIT! she may, indeed, take offense and either scold (like Seren does) or challenge the verbal threat in other ways.

Cats love the status quo, and also become upset whenever there's a change in the routine. That means cats get their tails in a twist when moved to a strange house, or a new pet invades their territory. Confining the new pet to a single room for several days or a week or so, while allowing the resident cat access to the rest of the house, will help with the introductions. When the new pet is a dog, keep Fido on a leash for first meetings. It can also help to make the new and resident pets smell alike-dab your favorite perfume on the base of the neck and tail of both animals, to help fool the resident cat that she's already cheek-rubbed and knows the newcomer. In kitty terms, if the new pet already smells like the resident cat, he must be safe and already part of the family.

Cats that are upset at a change in status quo often complain vocally. Meows are feline demands to human owners for something-feed me, let me in, let me out, pay attention to me! The problem with meowing is, it works great. The cat meows, humans try anything to make him stop-they feed, play with, yell at, otherwise pay attention to the cat, and that reinforces the meowing. Even bad attention is better than being ignored. The cat has, in effect, trained the humans to respond to the meow, and the longer you hold out (and then give in) the better your cat learns that the longer he cries, the likelier he is to get his way. The only way to stop the meows is to totally ignore them. Period. I do NOT endorse shock collars- they can too easily be misused and permanently injure (physically or emotionally) the pet. Cat and dog pain receptors in the skin are different than humans and what is a mild tingle to us can be much worse to pets. Instead, confine the meowing cat to a small room at night, with plenty of cat toys. Give him a "treat" puzzle ball he must manipulate to release the food as a sort of imitation hunting activity. Do not respond to his cries-it may take several weeks to extinguish the behavior he's been taught. If the meowing still bothers you, invest in earplugs.

TabbyTip of the Month:

Countertop cruising is one of the most common owner complaints, when in fact Kitty is only doing what comes naturally. Felines love lounging in high places. First, countertops offer a safe and ideal lookout. Second, the cat that "owns" the highest territory is the most important socially- literally the "top cat" in the house. Cats also practice a time-share behavior, in which they'll get off counters when owners object (because you are the bigger "cat" and call the shots); but when you aren't there and not using the territory, cats think nothing of borrowing the lounge space. You can't be there all the time to shoo him with squirt guns, which, incidentally, don't always work. My cat Seren likes to be squirted!

Instead, give the cat a better opportunity, a higher and more comfortable perch such as a cat tree, and he'll leave the lower countertop alone. Make the countertop less attractive than the "legal" cat tree by lining the countertop with aluminum foil, or Sticky Paws (double-sided tape product) on placemats on the area. Many cats dislike walking on foil or tape and will choose the legal alternative on their own. If you can't afford a fancy cat tree, buy a wooden ladder and tie on cat toys, put a cat bed on the paint rack, and voila! You have an instant kitty gym.

Amy D. Shojai is a nationally known pet care specialist, and author of more than a dozen pet books, including the forthcoming "Complete Care for Your Aging Cat" and "Complete Care for Your Aging Dog." She can be reached through her website www.shojai.com