Getting Your Cat to Come to You

Unlike dogs and children, cats are unlikely to come to you just because you want them to obey. However, a cat who knows he will be warmly petted, brushed, will receive a treat, or an extended period of lap-napping, is more likely to get up, stretch, look casually around, and then wander over to you (displaying, for all intents and purposes, the attitude that it was his idea in the first place). No animal will come to you willingly if you are raising your voice or if they think they are going to be punished.
Cats, by the way, respond best to names that end in an "ee" sound. You will most likely get a better response if you shorten Prince Zadrach of Dominquez' name to Zaddy, for example. Too, they seem to respond better to a higher-pitched tone of voice.

Guide:
1. Call your cat's name. If your cat knows its Name well enough, this ought to be something that interests it. Always start as early as you can in teaching your cat to come to you. Kittens are more likely to learn and be responsive than older cats. But a cat that is loved to bits is always able to overcome the reticence of knowing it all at an older age by the lure of treats and praise.

2.Pat your cat while on the ground or floor. Try to indicate the place where you would like the cat to come and see you. It also helps for you to crouch down on the spot you are patting, as the main reason why the cat wants to come is your presence, not the patting noise. There should be some sound involved to draw the cat's attention. If the cat notices, keep it up; if not, try something else.

3. Practice sounds that attract your cat. This is not really something that applies across all cats, so suggesting sounds here is not really useful. Rather, you will need to try different clicks, whistles, smooching sounds, fake meows, etc., that attracts your feline individual. And then use them to call your kitty!

4. Use rewards. Have little nibbles ready for your cat. Offer them to her or him when he or she arrives. That way, he or she will come to associate running to you like a speeding bullet with a delicious treat. Followed, of course, by a cuddle.

Does Music Mellow your Cat?

Much has been written about the power of music to sooth the soul, aid relaxation, and improves developmental brain functions. But did you know that music might also help soothe your frazzled kitty? Musicians and music publishers have even composed and released compilations of mood music, specifically designed to help mellow your favorite feline friend.
If you're skeptical as to what music can do to help mellow your cat, consider this: a cat's sense of hearing is remarkably sharper than human's. Research shows that cats have a much more expansive hearing range than humans, ranging between 45 to 64,000 Hz. Compare that with the average hearing range of a human, which are 23 to 64,000 Hz. Cats are particularly adept at sensing sounds at the low and high end of the spectrum. This may explain why cats are prone to their infamous "caterwauling" at the sound of discordant music or sounds.

Cat's ears are physiologically designed to capture a variety of sounds, even those that occur at a far distance. The design of their ear canals allows cats to receive and magnify sounds, even at a far away distance. Cats have been shown to be able to detect relatively quiet sounds at distances of up to 30 feet away.

Since cats have shown to have a very good sense of hearing, it makes sense that the right music can help mellow your cat. For instance, consider the sweet, slow strain of a violin featured in a classical composition. The sound is high enough to capture your cat's attention, and may prove to have a sedative effect on him or her.

But how do you know what kind of music to play for your cat? Some cats are incredibly expressive. Cat owners have told stories about pets who scurry out of the room at the sound of loud music or a blaring TV set. The best way to see what your cat prefers is to experiment. Try playing a soothing classical piece and see what happens. If you note no perceptible reaction, try experimenting with more upbeat jazz tempo pieces. Some animal behavior researchers claim that loud rock or heavy metal music can disrupt your pet's relaxation patterns.

Wat does a term "Halloween Cat" stand for? a MISCHIEF MAKER

Why does my cat scratch walls? Cat Scratching as Communication

Ok, this post is meant for those who are proud owners of a cat, a scratching post and a flat full of scratched furniture. Lets assume that your cat has a scratching post and regularly uses it. Why would the cat scratch the furniture? Why would your cat scratch walls in the middle of the night? Is it laziness? Is it lack of training? While these are possible explanations, there is one other reason why a cat might do this. It is trying to communicate, to get your attention!Cats are normally nocturnal animals, and if they become bored, it is natural that they want their human to wake up and entertain them.

Cats are highly intelligent. According to some research, they can achieve the mental level of a 2-year old human. Cats are also great problem solvers and will work out ways to get what they want. The problem is, they have difficulty communicating their needs to us.

Recommended treatment: a squirt from a spray bottle, or shaking a can filled with coins. If this fails and your cat wins the mental battle, use ear plugs :-)And dont even think of Draconian measures such as declawing a cat - its barbaric and unethical

Falling Victim to a Stealing Animal - Why does my cat nick stuff?

Have you ever taken off your watch or ring while working in the yard only to find it has disappeared? Have you had door mats or clothes from the clothes line mysteriously vanish? If this has happened to you, you may be the victim of animals who steal. Animals will steal under the cover of darkness or boldly pull a daylight robbery without giving it a second thought. Why do they do it? The theory is that cats are treating the objects they're collecting as prey and are bringing it back to their "den".

Solution:

1)Talk to your cat, explain that this behaviour is just unacceptable. Sometimes they need a firm telling, you know?
2) Give your cat a new hair cut that causes her/him to resemble a squirrel. Then it really doesnt matter that he/she is so nutty.
3) Steal the stolen objects away from your cat and hide the stash in a secret place. Treat the magpie with its own medicine :-)

"Cats seem to go on the principle that it never does any harm to ask for what you want." -- Joseph Wood Krutch

Why does a cat.....

Why do some cats go crazy over catnip, but others ignore it?
The response to catnip is the result of a gene in the cat; if the cat doesn't have the gene, it cannot physically react to catnip. Some cats will react to catnip by rolling around on the floor in delight, others will just quickly eat it up and wander off, while others will ignore it completely. It's like a cat cocain.

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a plant in the mint family that grows wild as a weed and is found throughout the United States, particularly in the Midwest.

Cats under three months of age usually do not respond to catnip. Most older cats typically become excited or aroused as they smell, chew and eat catnip. They will frequently salivate, roll and rub, and sometimes run and leap in the air when responding to the catnip. It may be applied to scratching posts or used in stuffed toys.

Not all cats are stimulated by catnip to the same degree, and over a third of cats will not respond at all. Strange as it may seem, the different responses are probably due to environmental factors, genetics, and the gender of the cat (males are more likely to respond than females). If a cat who normally reacts to catnip is in a strange environment or is anxious, she may not react to the catnip. Cats in certain genetic 'lines' do not react to catnip. No one really understands the genetic trait, but it can be bred into a line through genetic selection.

The cat-active ingredient in catnip is 'nepatalactone.' This substance closely resembles a chemical found in the urine of female cats. This may be why unneutered males generally have more of a reaction to catnip than females and neutered males.

Cat in Brazil

Cat in Argentina

Cat in Rome

The cat in gloves catches no mice. Benjamin Franklin

Why does your cat.......?

Why does your cat wash your hair or face?
The first thing a kitten experiences, even before it can see, is its mother licking and washing. Grooming is a demonstration of love and caring. So, if your cat occasionally washes your hair or licks your face, he is showing you his acceptance and caring of you as a fellow feline.

Why does a cat "knead" or "make biscuits" or "make cupcakes"?
When a kitten is nursing, it typically kneads its paws against its mother, either as a sign of contentment or to encourage the milk flow. When the cat matures, it kneads to show its contentment and pleasure.

Why does a cat sometimes wash its fur immediately after being petted?
There are two theories on this behavior. One theory proposes that the cat is getting rid of the human smell. The other is that the cat is furthering the pleasure of his association with you by tasting your scent.

Why does your cat bring you dead or dying creatures?
There are at least four differing theories on this behavior:
- Your cat is bringing you a present, in appreciation for you feeding it or as a sign of affection.
- Your cat realizes you are a totally incompetent mouser and is trying to educate you.
- The cat is bringing her prey home to where it is safe, where she usually eats.
- The cat is simply trying to make sure you have fresh food

Why does your cat take a small bite on your arm or cheek and hold on for a few seconds?
Some cats, when they are very happy and feeling extremely affectionate toward the Big Unfurry Cat, will gently take a piece of human skin between their teeth and hold it for a few seconds. Think of it as the feline equivalent of kissing.

Why do some cats insist on drinking from a dripping faucet?
Cats - like most other animals - prefer their food and water fresh, and running water is most appealing for that reason. Too, the motion of water coming out of a faucet is probably appealing to their sense of hearing and sight. Some cats will even put their paw into their water dish and "swirl" it around so they can drinking "running" water

Why does a cat spend so much time grooming?
Besides the obvious purpose of hygiene and the social aspects, grooming helps cats cope with confrontation or embarassment (you may have noticed that if a cat accidentally falls off a chair, the first thing he does is nonchalantly wash himself, as though he intended to get down in the first place.)


Why does a cat frequently demand attention when you're on the telephone?
The cat, since it can't see the person you are talking to, presumes you are talking to him, and is responding to what he perceives is your conversation with him

Why do cats chew on plants?
It could be that the grass helps the cat get rid of fur swallowed while grooming, or that grass provides fiber or vitamins and minerals not found in meat. Some plants are poisonous to a cat; others are okay for nibbling.

"I love cats because I enjoy my home; and little by little, they become its visible soul." ~Jean Cocteau

"One cat just leads to another." -- Ernest Hemingway

A smiling cat

To bathe a cat.....

To bathe a cat takes brute force, perseverance, courage of conviction - and a cat. The last ingredient is usually hardest to come by.Stephen Baker

"Curiosity killed the cat, Satisfaction brought it back!" - English Proverb

Cats

"Before a cat will condescend
To treat you as a trusted friend,
Some little token of esteem
Is needed, like a dish of cream." T.S. Eliot

"I wish I could write as mysterious as a cat" Edgar Allan Poe

"The city of cats and the city of men exist one inside the other, but they are not the same city." Italo Calvino

Have you ever wondered how to say “CAT” in other languages?

In English, cat is "cat." In French, cat is "Chat." In German, your cat is "die Katze." In Dutch your cat is "kat". The Spanish word for cat is "gato," and the Italian word is "gatto." In Czech, your cat is "kocka" (also a word for a good looking woman). In Russian, your cat is "koshka". The Slovak word for cat is "macka". Japanese prefer "neko" and Arabic countries call a cat a "kitte." Any additions?

People who own cats live longer, have less stress, and have fewer heart attacks.

Lucky me :-)

Cats do strange things and behave in some very interesting ways - Interesting facts about cats

The average cat sleeps between 12-14 hours a day.

Cats have 220° field of view where humans only have 180°.
Cats' sense of smell is 14 times stronger than that of humans.

Cats have 30 permanent teeth, while adult humans have 32.
Cats have 30 vertebrae, while humans only have 25.

Cats have 230 bones in their bodies, this is 24 more than humans.
Cats have a body temperature of between 101 and 102.2 °F (38 and 39 °C).

The lifespan of cats are usually between 15 and 20 years.
Cats have a heart rate of between 120 - 240 beats per minute. (This varies highly between different breeds cats)

Cats take between 20 - 40 breaths per minute in an inactive state. (This varies highly between different breeds cats)
The print on a cat's nose is like that of a fingerprint of a human, each is unique.

Cats have a top speed of about 30 mp/h (48.28 km/h).

"There are many intelligent species in the universe. They are all owned by cats." - Unknown

I believe cats to be spirits come to earth

I believe cats to be spirits come to earth. A cat, I am sure, could walk on a cloud without coming through. - Jules Verne

"Of all God's creatures, there is only one that cannot be made slave of the leash

"Of all God's creatures, there is only one that cannot be made slave of the leash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve the man, but it would deteriorate the cat." - Mark Twain

There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats. - Albert Schweitzer

"Those who will play with cats must expect to be scratched" Cervantes

After Dark all Cats are Leopards