Speaking Feline

The Language Barrier

• Cats don’t speak English – or any other human language. In fact, verbal language makes no sense to your cat. Cats depend on body posture, facial expression, tail postures and some vocalizations for communication.

• Pay attention to the “body language.” One subtle movement by your cat may speak volumes – a slow blink, a lash of the tail, a tilt of the head.

• You CAN train a cat! But not with the same methods as dogs. Dogs can be trained to respond to one word commands with specific behaviors. Cats have their behavior shaped into general rules through training – no biting, staying off the table, scratching only where appropriate, etc.

The Personality of a “Typical” Cat Is…

• Independent – but not self-sufficient. In the wild, felines are usually solo hunters living in small social groups. Since your cat depends on YOU for food, the “solo hunter” attitude doesn’t quite fit!

• Aloof – Many “aloof” cats were taught to be that way! Cats ARE social animals. The typical “aloof” cat is quite often a solo kitten raised by people who weren’t home consistently during the day. The cat learns that people are largely food providers and not much in the way of company.

• Closer to the wild – Although cats have been in the company of humans since ancient Egypt , they have only become “homebodies” in relatively recent history. In the past, cat-owners have valued their pet’s semi-wild behaviors, so today’s cats may tend to be more purely instinctual – and therefore may seem more mysterious than many dogs.

• A great hunter – Cats retain many of the skills of their wild ancestors, including superb night vision, excellent climbing and leaping, sharp hearing, and an insatiable drive to stalk and pounce on any moving object. For a well-fed domestic cat, these skills are shown as play behavior.

• Social – Many cat behaviors are purely social. In fact, two of the most troublesome behaviors – scratching and urine-spraying – have a strong social motive: marking territory. Many times, inappropriate or destructive behaviors by a “solo cat” can be reversed with the proper introduction of a playmate.

Instinctive Behavior

…is the kind that won’t go away. For cats, scratching is a good example: even declawed cats still engage in scratching behaviors, despite no longer having the tools to accomplish them. In our eagerness to have a “good” companion animal, we often try to cut off instinctive behaviors. Frustrating an instinct often leads to other, more bizarre or unacceptable behavior.

Although instincts can’t be “trained out” of an animal, they can be shaped. Going back to our example of scratching in cats, this behavior can be shaped to a specific area (a scratching post), provided that the area appeals most greatly to the instinct. A tall, stable scratching post covered with a textured natural fiber surface and placed in clear sight in a well trafficked area of the home is a great start. Gentle corrections and positive reinforcement are usually all it takes after that.

AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION – Good communication with your cat is the basis for many years of happiness and harmony. If you have any questions about your cat’s behavior, call us, your local humane society, or your veterinarian.

 

 

 

Copyright 2005 by Tree House Animal Foundation. All rights reserved.