Cat Behaviors - Jealousy

My cat Sid is worse than a husband. He is so jealous of my time and affection, it at times can drive ya nuts. Though, most of the time it is very endearing, he can at times be all over me and there is no escaping his advances if you will.


As I type this, I am fighting for keyboard space with Sid. He wants to be right on top of whatever I am doing. And forbid if he does not get his way, you get the pouting and aloofness then.


If we leave the house for short periods of time, he does not seem to affected. If we leave for a vacation, forget it. You would think we traveled around the world and left him to survive in the woods for years. Boy do I pay for it when we vacation. He goes wild when we get home. And, it is not really wanting to re-bond, it is his frustration and upsetness coming out. He used to try to bite me, but we have nipped that in the bud with spraying him with a bit of water. Now, when I don't leave the house hardly at all for lengths of time, his jealously seems to be worse. He wants undivided attention all day long. I love him and his affection, but after a while you feel like you are strapped into your chair.


And, to make it worse, we have a friend staying with us who has a cat and Taby, the new cat, wants to sleep on our bed, which is where Sid sleeps. Oh watch out. The sounds that Sid can make are unbelievable. That's his bed and no other cat is sleeping on it.


We have taken a few steps to calm down this situation. Taby is getting neutered so that should make him a bit more mellow and maybe he won't show the aggressive behavior he has, and Sid can live his little jealous life with me by his side and not the other cat. This has proven to be a time consuming Cat Behavior. At times we just have to put the new cat in the basement, it is the only way to solve the problem at hand.


Janet Michael is a Cat owner and author who has written several article about her Burmese Cat named Sid and his new friend Taby. Please visit http://sidcitykitty.com for more Cat Behavior articles.


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How to Get Your Cat to Come When Called

Cats can be elusive creatures, and sometimes the task of getting them to come when called can seem daunting. However, if you approach this in the right way and with the right attitude, it can be much easier than you think! Here are some effective steps that work very well for most cats.

Step 1: Begin by making it a habit to talk to your cat often, and create a strong bond with her through petting, brushing, and spending time together. Take every opportunity to give her your love and attention. Having a good relationship with your cat is very important.

Step 2: Find a special dry treat that she really loves. This should be something that she doesn't have very often, and it will only be used for this purpose. While you are training her to come when called, make sure you don't give her this particular treat at any other time. Please choose something small and nutritious. A snack that is good for your cat's teeth would be ideal.

Step 3: Find a special word that will be used for training her to come. This will become a word that she associates only with this special treat, so think of something that she won't often hear at other times.

Step 4: The next time you give your cat a snack, use the special word. Put one treat in her empty food bowl while speaking the word out loud.

Step 5: Say the word again after she eats the treat. Then give her another of the same treat, and use the word again in the same way.

Step 6: Step away from your cat now. If she protests that she is "starving" you can say the word again and give her one more piece. Then leave the room.

Step 7: About 4 minutes later, repeat the entire process again. Your cat will begin to learn to associate the special word with her special treat.

Step 8: Continue doing this a few times a day for the next several days. Eventually, your cat will learn to come to you when you say the special word.

Step 9: When your cat starts coming to you every time you say the special word, start giving her the treat only once in a while. The rest of the time, give her lots of attention (petting, scratches, playing with a toy, whatever she likes) for a few minutes. Then let her go. Repeat this process a few minutes later.

Step 10: If you have created a strong bond with your cat, and if you have followed the above procedures correctly, your cat will now associate your special word with the extra attention and loves she gets from you. She should now be coming to you when she hears you say the word.

Please remember, the treat must be a small and nutritious snack, not something large, or a whole bowl of food. She will be eating a fair number of these during training, and we don't want her to gain extra weight!

Make sure that you use the special word every day, just so that she will come to you for affection and hugs. If you use it only when it is time to take her to the vet or give her a bath, she will learn to associate the word with unpleasant times and it can undermine the effects of your training. When these types of occasions do come up, give your cat the treat and then wait a little bit before following through with your "hidden motive".

So why does this technique work so well?

What this all boils down to is conditioning your cat to associate your special word with getting attention from you. The word becomes the trigger, to which she responds in order to get something she wants. Once this happens, any time you say the special word your cat comes because she knows she will be rewarded.

As you can see, the bond you form with your cat is the most important aspect of getting her to come when you call. When your cat knows that she will get love and affection from being close to you, then she will WANT to come to you any time she can.

How to Keep an Indoor Cat Entertained

Cats that are kept indoors can become bored very quickly, which leads to excessive eating, weight gain and connected health problems. Of course, owners that keep their cats indoors do so with the best of intentions - keeping their pets safe and ensuring that he, or she, does not randomly kill local wildlife.

However, if your cat is cooped up indoors all day, it is important to make sure that he, or she, is stimulated physically and mentally. The following tips will provide ways to keep an indoor cat entertained.

1. While your family is at work or school, it is a good idea to keep the television on and perhaps a radio in another room. The sound of voices will help a cat feel less alone, but the volume should not be turned up too high. If possible, set your television to a children's station with lots of bright colors. Alternatively, your cat may enjoy nature programs that feature birds, fish and small mammals.

2. Make sure that your cat has lots of toys to play with. Of course, there are many toys available from pet stores, such as laser pointers, balls and scratching posts. However, you can also making your own toys simply by placing a length of string from your ceiling that reaches about two feet off the ground. You can then attach a plastic ring, ball or bell to the end of the string. That said, it is crucial that you ensure that the item is safe should your cat remove it. So, cotton wool balls or soft plastics should never be used.

3. On a similar vein, it is wise to ensure that your cat does not have access to anything that may do him, or her, harm while you are out of the house. This means ensuring that bins are secure. Shoelaces, plastic bags and cotton wool can all cause your cat serious harm, so make sure that your cat cannot play with any of these items.

4. Some cats enjoy simple pleasures, such as playing with an empty cardboard box. You may find that leaving a cardboard box or paper bag in the middle of the floor provides a good few hours of entertainment for your cat.

5. Don't leave your cat with the same toys everyday. Try to alternate toys and, when making your own, think of new things you can add or different ways to setup the toys. Cats are intelligent and, even if they have plenty to do, they will become bored with the same old things everyday.

6. It is a delicate balance between ensuring your cat is entertained and overwhelming him, or her, with toys. You do not want a room, or house, that is full of cat toys. Just three or four toys everyday should be enough to keep your cat amused while you are gone.

7. Climbing apparatus is also great, because it provides your cat with physical stimulation. Cats enjoy climbing and jumping, so you may like to play some of your cat's toys on different levels, as this will encourage exercise, which is especially important if your cat is a little overweight.

8. Your cat may enjoy a room with a view. In other words, ensure that your cat has access to a window. Watching birds or simply watching the world go by, can be entertaining for a cat.

9. If your cat still seems to be distressed when left alone, you may find it beneficial to get a second cat. However, it is advisable to ensure that the cats do not fight before leaving them alone together.

Of course, there are many other things that you can implement to keep your cat entertained. Some toys and activities will appeal to some cats, but not others. So, remember to cater to your pets individual tastes.