The role our feline friends play in society has changed considerably over the past few decades. We recognize that cats should no longer be classified as “low-maintenance pets” for owners who are gone from home for long periods of time, or for those who wish to own a pet who doesn’t require much attention. We now see that cats have individual personalities that endear them to us and allow them to be loved members of our family, deserving of the same time, attention, dedication, and respect we give our canine family members—and sometimes our children.
New research tells us that being around cats is just plain good for us. Exposure to cats in childhood can help reduce the risk of developing asthma. Owning, or even just petting, cats can reduce our stress, lower our heart rate and blood pressure, and make us generally happier. Cats are unique and comedic. Who can’t laugh at a cat trying to shove herself into a tiny box?
Cats have important jobs that benefit us as well. They help control rodent populations in agricultural situations. Research into their afflictions often gives us enlightening information about similar human diseases. They entertain us in movies, commercials, and stage shows. They come visit us in hospitals and nursing homes to provide comfort with their soft fur and soothing purring.
In recompense, the scientific community is delving into the true nature of cats. Cats deserve their own reality, rather than having us extrapolate that of another species onto them. Cats are not children, or rabbits, or small dogs. They are cats, and we should understand and treat them as such.
This is the goal of Decoding Your Cat: To bring the most current and scientifically accurate information regarding cat behavior to the public. To allow everyone the opportunity to climb into the minds of our cats—to the degree that such a thing is even possible.
The diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists have hundreds of years of collective knowledge and experience about animal behavior and veterinary medicine. Our members include rabbit enthusiasts, dog trainers, obedience competitors, equestrians, herpetologists, cat fanciers, police officers, soldiers, professors, pharmaceutical professionals, and many others. While our backgrounds are diverse, we all have a deeply rooted passion for animal behavior and an equally strong drive to share this passion and knowledge with others. We are emotionally bonded and committed to our pets and our patients, but we also understand that emotion isn’t enough. Facts matter, and for this reason, the science of animal behavior is crucial to allow us to live well and honorably among our feline friends.
This book is written by humans who love and admire cats, but it is written on a foundation of objective, factual knowledge. Decoding Your Cat is our homage to cats and our opportunity to help dispel common myths about cat behavior.
In this book, you will learn about cat behavior from kittenhood to the geriatric years. We discuss normal feline behaviors and body language, as well as behaviors that are abnormal due to various medical or environmental problems. Decoding Your Cat includes information on doing the best for feral and shelter cats, and also how to create a harmonious multicat household and avoid fighting cats—topics the reader will be hard-pressed to find in other feline behavior books. The book also enlightens readers on the science of learning and training (yes, cats really can be trained!), which will empower caregivers and enable them to cope with common behavior problems. Most important, each chapter informs readers about ways to enrich cats’ lives so they can reach their full potential as companions and live relatively free from fear, distress, and potentially harmful assumptions.
We hope you enjoy reading this book as much as we enjoyed writing it. We also hope reading this book inspires you to learn even more about cats and find ways to deepen your relationship with the cats around you.
LORE I. HAUG, DVM, MS, DACVB
Past President, American College of Veterinary Behaviorists