Ah, the life of a Cat. It all seems so, well, purr-fect. Guaranteed meals. Plenty of time for napping. A personal assistant to tidy up your litter box. It is easy to feel a tinge of envy for our felines, but how much do we really know about them?
For starters, we may adore our furry friends, but the ancient Egyptians literally worshipped them. Centuries later, the tide had turned completely and the superstitious inhabitants of merry Old England burned thousands of them at the stake. Loved and loathed — that’s been the cat’s fate through the centuries. Today, more cats than dogs roost in American households.
In this section, I discuss many aspects of being a cat. For one thing, they like to ponder. After all, they waited an extra 10,000 years or so after dogs were domesticated before deigning to hang out with humans. They like to pounce, which explains how your ankle may be mistaken for a heavy-footed mouse in the hallway. They will lure you with purring to obtain a cozy lap, a fishy treat, or a nice scratch under the chin.
Cunning, candid, and clever — cats have these characteristics and more. Read on!
Q Our household contains a Border collie, a poodle, and an Abyssinian. Those two dog breeds are known for their intelligence, but my Aby, aptly named Mensa, is no slouch when it comes to brainpower either. She comes on cue, walks on a leash, and goes to the kitchen and sits politely when asked if she wants a treat. How smart are cats and how do they learn?
A If there were a pet version of the popular game show Jeopardy!, your trio would trounce the competition, paws down. There is a lot of brainpower packed in that furry bunch, and you may not be surprised to hear that cats learn similarly to dogs and people.
Cats possess both short-term and long-term memories. That explains how they head for the litter box or food bowl kept in the same locale (long-term) or adjust if these feline necessities have been moved to a different room (short-term). Just like people and dogs, cats learn by observing, imitating, and trial and error.
Mensa may act like a dog when she performs those tricks on cue, but cats are big believers in the what’s-in-it-for-me philosophy. Whereas dogs tend to perform to please us and to reap the treats, cats decide what they’ll do and when they’ll do it. If they can reasonably determine that you will come through with an acceptable reward, then they may participate in coming when called, sitting for a treat, or doing some other trick.
Cats also learn by paying close attention to what’s going on in the house. For example, some smart cats watch their owners open doors and then try to duplicate that feat. A friend of mine has a Siamese who learned how to paw the doorknob that opens into the garage. To keep her cat from fleeing when the garage door opens (fortunately, Sheba has not discovered the location of the garage door opener mounted on the wall), my friend had to add a deadbolt lock to this door.
Evolution plays a role in how each species behaves. For instance, your two dogs may dig a shallow hole in your backyard on a hot, humid day as a way to cool their bellies. This instinctive behavior has been passed on from one canine generation to another. Cats, however, aren’t hardwired to dig to cool down. Their paws aren’t as suited for clawing up the earth. They are more apt to seek a shaded secluded place where they can keep an eye on predators while cooling their bodies. And, being the fastidious groomers they are, they are not so keen about rolling in the dirt and getting their coats messy.
Finally, cats are masters at manipulating us. Creatures of habit, they tap into their powers of observation and learning by association to use the household routine to their advantage. Callie, my calico, has trained me better than I care to admit. At least once a day, while I am working at the dining room table, she perches on a step midway down the staircase, poses charmingly while looking at me with soft eyes, and emits a soft mew. That’s my cue to get up from the dining room chair, open the pantry door, and dole out a pinch or two of her favorite dried fish treat.
Of course, she didn’t come down the stairs one day thinking, “I want a treat and I know how to get one,” but the first time she paused and mewed at me on the stairs, and I jumped up to bring her a treat, she knew she was onto something good. Her position is strategic — it is at the same level as the pantry door. I know I’m being manipulated but happily comply. Callie is clever enough to recognize my weak spot and works it to her advantage. Who’s the truly intelligent being now?
Q Gracie, my gray-striped tabby, has quite a life. It seems that she sleeps all night and most of the day. I wish I could log half the amount of sleep she does. She does engage with me in brief play sessions, and she loves mealtime. She seems quite content, but I’m wondering if this much sleep is normal for a cat.
A Cats do love a good night’s sleep and plenty of pleasant daytime naps. They are truly the Rip van Winkles of the world, averaging 17 to 18 hours of sleep each day, or about two-thirds of their entire lives. They sleep about twice as much as most other mammals, but they’re not complaining.
How many hours they sleep each day is influenced by their age (fast-growing kittens tend to sleep more than adult cats), how safe they feel (sharing a home with a cat-pursuing dog would keep most cats awake and weary), and the weather (which explains why your cat carves a tunnel under your bedspread to snooze in during a snow storm).
You mention that Gracie seems content. Make sure that you are not confusing contentment with boredom. Bored cats sleep more than cats who interact and play with people and other pets in the home. So encourage those play sessions every day. Even five or ten minutes will activate her brain, work her muscles, and give her some cool memories to take with her when she dozes off into dreamland.
Q I love watching my cat sleep. He moves a lot and even makes little squeaking sounds at times. His legs quiver and his whiskers move. Is he dreaming?
A Cats do dream, but we can only speculate on the subject matter. It might be that your cat is reliving the brilliant capture of a wayward fly buzzing near a sunny window or a particularly speedy sprint down the hallway. Perhaps he is recalling with amusement how he charmed that final piece of broiled tuna off your dinner plate and into his own bowl.
We do have scientific evidence that cats dream. As with humans, feline sleep falls into two types — REM (rapid eye movement, which is when dreams happen), and non-REM (deep sleep). You will know your cat is in REM sleep because he is apt to twitch his legs, wiggle his whiskers, and subtly move his eyes behind his closed eyelids.
Studies using electroencephalograms (EEGs) to read brain activity in sleeping cats have indicated that cats are in the REM sleep stage for about 30 percent of their sleeping time and that their brain wave patterns during REM are similar to ours. In comparison, we spend about 20 percent of our sleep time in the REM stage (although human babies spend up to 80 percent in REM).
When cats are not dreaming, they are in the deep sleep phase. This is the time when the body goes to work repairing and regenerating bones and muscles and bolstering the immune system to fend off disease. The only movement you can detect during this sleep stage is the quiet up and down of breathing.
Q I know my cat, Cleo, hears much better than I do. She can be in a deep sleep on the second floor but will scoot down the stairs when she hears me opening the refrigerator door. That’s where I keep her favorite treat — small pieces of broiled chicken. By the time I open up the lid of the container, she is affectionately rubbing against my leg. But sometimes Cleo doesn’t seem to notice a toy mouse when it is right under her nose. When it comes to the five senses, how do cats compare with people?
A You’re right that cats can hear much better than humans. If I whispered that fact in one room while you and Cleo were in another room, I would bet the mortgage that Cleo would pick up my words and you wouldn’t. In fact, cats hear even better than dogs. They can hear sounds in the ultrasonic range, that is, at very high frequencies.
Sound is caused by vibrations, and the number of vibrations produced per second is called “frequency.” Frequency is measured in hertz (Hz), with one hertz equal to one vibration per second. Cats can hear up to 100,000 Hz, compared to dogs at between 35,000 and 40,000 Hz and humans at up to 20,000 Hz.
Why can cats hear so much better than we can? First, take a look at the design of the feline ear. Those cone-shaped wonders can rotate like mini satellite dishes to hone in on sounds. With their ability to pick up higher frequencies, cats can detect the squeaks of a trespassing mouse in the house far faster than we do. Now, let’s run down the four other senses and see how we stack up against our feline friends.
THE NOSE KNOWS. Cats learn about their environment by sniffing out facts. They pack about 200 million odor-sensitive cells in their nostrils, compared with our paltry 5 million. The feline nose does more than sniff out food morsels on the kitchen floor. Cats use their noses to communicate with other cats. Each time a cat rubs his scent glands from his head or paws on an object, he is leaving a feline business card for other cats to sniff and interpret.
TOUCHY-FEELY. Cats rely on their whiskers and paws to scout out their surroundings. You may be surprised to learn that whiskers are found not only on a cat’s face but also on the backs of their front legs. They use whiskers as antennae, touching objects around them and determining if they can squeeze through tight openings. Special sensory whiskers called “vibrissae” help cats to stalk prey in dim light and to navigate. That said, there are some notable exceptions among feline breeds who maneuver quite nicely without long whiskers. For example, the Cornish Rex and the American Wirehair sport curly, short whiskers, while the Devon Rex has hardly any and the Sphynx lacks whiskers entirely. All of these breeds are fast and agile despite their short or missing whiskers.
TASTE ISN’T EVERYTHING. Cats have a reputation for being finicky eaters, and there is a scientific explanation. Cats have only about 473 taste buds compared to the more than 9,000 we possess. Because feline taste buds are few in number and poorly developed, cats depend more on their sense of smell than taste. They do not adopt the canine motto of “eat first, ask later” when it comes to food.
THE EYES HAVE IT. Finally, the reason Cleo may be missing that toy mouse right under her nose is because it is not moving. When it comes to the sight sense, cats surpass us in seeing movement due to their superior peripheral vision. Their pupils can dilate wider to capture more of a panoramic view than we can. However, they can be a bit myopic and not actually see what’s literally under their noses, like that toy mouse, because they have a blind spot right under their chins.
So, if you’re keeping score, it’s Cats 4, Humans 0, with a possible tie for vision. I guess we should be grateful that we have something cats don’t have — thumbs.
Q I love watching my three cats bat around toy mice and chase the feathers on a wand toy. Why is their hunting instinct so strong after they have been domesticated for thousands of years?
A While we usually think of cats as mighty hunters, they actually fill the role of both prey and predator, depending on the other species involved. Let’s start with the predator part. All cats, from a mighty lion to that sweet kitty on your lap, are genetically programmed to hunt. In keeping with their size, cats focus on small mammals and birds. Interestingly, most biologists regard cats as small mammal experts and bird opportunists because cats tend not to be very good at catching birds unless the birds are sick, young, or ground nesting.
Predatory behavior is mostly innate, and kittens early on show a tendency to chase moving objects and to pounce on littermates. Just like us, they learn through trial and error, and their play sessions help them increase their speed and refine their leaping abilities.
Their moms also teach them by example. Outdoor cats often bring home a dead mouse or bird to their litter and eat it in front of the kittens to demonstrate needed behaviors. She will then present a dead animal to the kittens to eat themselves, and, finally, will bring home a nearly dead creature for the kittens to finish off. These experiences hone their hunting and killing skills. For indoor cats, the prey happens to be a store-bought toy or perhaps your pink slipper. But the lessons learned are the same, and many cats who never see a mouse or a bird until adulthood quickly figure out how to catch and kill their prey.
When the tables are turned and cats become the prey, they tap into their survival skills and the fight-or-flight mind-set. Outdoor cats are at risk not only from neighborhood dogs; even in suburban areas they often fall victim to coyotes, hawks, and other predators. Their first response is usually to flee if at all possible, either diving into a hiding place or scooting up a tree. A cornered cat can fight fiercely, however, as many a startled (and scratched) dog has discovered. The very tools that make them effective predators become their best defense. That must be where the phrase “to fight tooth and claw” comes from!
When searching for a kitten or cat to adopt, how can you tell if your selection will be a lap lounger, a shy cat, or an adventure seeker? Pedigreed (purebred) cats tend to have certain characteristic personality traits, though individuals within breeds may be very different. With the typical shelter cat, personality clues may be linked to the shape of the cat’s face.
Kit Jenkins, program manager for PetSmart Charities, has spent more than 20 years studying the behavior of cats and dogs in animal shelters. She has developed a theory of cat face geometry, which is based on the fact that feline faces usually fall into one of three physical shapes: square, round, or triangle. While noting that genetics and life experiences play major roles in how cats think and act, Jenkins contends that personality is also influenced by a cat’s physical shape. Here’s how she describes the various types.
SQUARE. These cats are big and solid with square faces and rectangular bodies. Think Maine Coon. Jenkins dubs them the “retrievers of the cat world.” Eager to please, square cats tend to be affectionate and love to snuggle and give head-butts.
ROUND. These cats sport flat faces, large eyes, circular heads, and rounded bodies. Think Persian or Burmese. These types might be called the “lap dogs” of the feline world. They tend to be low-energy, easily frightened, submissive cats who gently display their affection to trusted family members.
Triangular. These are sleek, long, lanky cats with big ears and faces that narrow at the nose. Think Siamese or Cornish Rex. Jenkins calls them “the herding dogs of the cat world.” Triangle cats are curious, smart, athletic, and chatty, and they thrive in active households.
Jenkins has shared her personality theory with shelter workers, animal trainers, and behaviorists all over North America. Animal behaviorists and veterinarians say her observations serve as another tool in helping people find a cat who meets their lifestyle and personality. Although just a theory, Jenkins’s observations have been supported by her peers; to date, though, nothing has been published in a scientific journal.
When I applied Jenkins’s cat geometry theory to my own feline trio, I gained some insight into their individual ways. I own one of each personality shape — the only thing these three have in common is that all were strays who charmed their way into my heart and my house.
Little Guy is my square-faced feline. At age 19, this brown-striped tabby is Mr. Mellow. He spends his afternoons sleeping on my office desk while I work. He always answers to my whistle and loves to give me a head-to-head greeting.
Callie is my round-faced calico. This 12-year-old craves a quiet, consistent routine. She shyly shows affection by lightly brushing against my leg but darts away from sudden noises and avoids visitors with booming voices.
Murphy is my triangle-faced cat. I can count on this high energy, sable-colored 8-year-old to greet all visitors and supervise all workmen in the house. She chases airborne paper wads, paws at the bubbles in my bath, and loves her daily stroll on her harness and leash.
Math wasn’t my favorite subject in school, but thanks to this body-shape theory, I’ve finally found a way to put geometry to a practical use.
Q When I walk around my house at night in dimly lit rooms, sometimes I am a bit spooked when I see my cat. Precious is a sweet Siamese, but at night her eyes seem to glow red in the dark, giving off a devilish look. I seem to notice this most after I’ve watched a scary movie on TV. What causes her eyes to glow like this?
A Timing is everything. You are more apt to be a little jumpy after watching a horror movie, but don’t worry about Precious. She is not possessed by the devil. Her large, round pupils are designed to operate far better in low light conditions and in the dark than our eyes are. As hunters who are active at dawn and dusk — the best times to stalk prey — cats can actually see as well in pitch black as we can see in full moonlight.
Holding your cat in your lap, take a look at her eyes some evening under a bright lamp. Notice that the pupils are elliptical in shape, compared to our circular ones. In the lamplight, the pupils become narrow slits to protect the sensitive retinas from damage. Now turn the lamp off and notice that her pupils dilate to accommodate the lower lighting. In very dim light, the pupils will fill her eyes, making them look almost completely black.
As for that red glow, it is caused by light reflected from a layer of tissue called the “tapetum lucidum,” which lines the back of the eyeball behind the retina. It acts like a mirror, reflecting light that was not absorbed the first time it passed through the retina back through the eyes onto the light sensor cells in the retina. The result is an eerie glow as your cat’s eyes catch a beam of light in a dark room.
Interestingly, some feline eyes glow green rather than red depending on the color of the cat’s eyes. Blue eyes, which your Siamese has, glow red, while golden and green eyes cast a green glow at night.
Q My super-sweet kitty, Bubba, likes to cuddle with me and follow me around the house. He is very friendly and affectionate, and of course I love him to pieces. This may be a silly question, but I’ve always wondered if cats are capable of loving us or are they just being nice because we give them food and shelter?
A That’s not a silly question, but it doesn’t have an easy answer. I would be able to give you a more definitive response if I could speak cat and ask the feline world directly. Cats are candid creatures and I’m certain they would reply honestly.
Without that ability, however, defining feline love can be tricky. What we do know is that cats clearly express emotions. They get angry and they show fear. They display contentment and express excitement. As for interpreting cat love, cats definitely form attachments with people in their lives who make them feel safe and who shower them with attention.
Cats convey affection toward their people in a number of ways, including delivering soft-eyed winks by half-closing both eyes at once, twitching an upright tail, and delivering head bonks also known as bunting. The next time you lock eyes with your cat, try giving him a few soft winks. I bet he returns the favor. And notice that when he sees you enter a room or hears your voice, his tail probably pops straight up in the air with the tip twitching just a bit. See if he expresses affection by purposely bumping the top of his head against your forehead, hands, or shins.
When I first adopted Little Guy, he was a young tiger-striped stray who camped out on my front porch each morning and evening in hope of scoring a free meal. I put food in a bowl for him though I wasn’t sure if I wanted another cat. But every time I bent down to pet him, he beat me to the punch by quickly stretching his body and bumping his head against my hand, accompanied by full-throttle purring.
Little Guy knew what he was doing. He was showing he liked me and as a result, he won me over. Sometimes, the timing of feline affection is not ideal, such as when your cat jumps on your bed and head-slams your forehead when you’re sound asleep.
But as you know, true love doesn’t care about time. Take it as a compliment that Bubba follows you around and likes to cuddle.
Q Increased work demands have recently called for me to travel a lot more, and my cat, Keeper, a beautiful Bengal, is sometimes home alone for a night. I have friends who stop by to feed him if I am gone more than overnight, but he is still alone more than he used to be. When I came home from my last trip, he had shredded the toilet paper, clawed a corner of my couch, and tipped over a container on my desk that sent paper clips flying all over the floor. When I saw this, I marched up to him and yelled at him. He fled and hid under the bed for a while. Are cats capable of plotting revenge, and do they feel guilt when they do something we don’t want them to do?
A In the animal kingdom, humans have a monopoly on feeling guilty. Cats, dogs, and the rest of our animal companions do not experience or express guilt. It is tempting to anthropomorphize your cat, giving him human reasons for his misdeeds and for running away when you chastised him. But the truth is that guilt is self-reflective, an emotion only people feel, according to top psychologists.
Guilt is a human response to behavior that we recognize as wrong or socially unacceptable. Cats do not have the capacity for that type of abstract thinking. However, cats are definitely capable of experiencing fear and submission. It is easy to confuse feline fear with guilt.
In Keeper’s case, he is most likely bored by those long stretches of being home alone. Bored cats, especially active breeds like Bengals, will look for ways to amuse themselves, even if that something (clawing couches, turning toilet paper into confetti, and pawing piles of paper clips) is not desirable from your point of view. In other cats, these actions could illustrate separation anxiety. Whether a cat is bored or anxious depends on his temperament and relationship with his owner.
Keeper cowered and hid under the bed when you yelled because he was frightened of your angry voice, not because he was feeling guilty about his “bad” behavior. He had no idea why you were angry, only that you were acting scary and threatening.
My recommendation is first to take away feline temptations. When you’re not home, shut the bathroom door, put a covering on your couch to stop his claws, and tidy your desk. Next, provide Keeper with acceptable outlets for his boredom. These might include battery-operated toys that move when he touches them, a sturdy window perch for him to keep tabs on the neighborhood, or a circular trackball toy that encourages him to paw at the ball. You could try turning on the radio or television to add some sound to ease his solitude. There are videos of fish and birds and other cat-enticing images that might occupy his attention in your absence.
When you do come home from those business trips, ignore any messes and greet Keeper with happiness and affection. Spend some time playing with him and petting him so that he doesn’t feel alone even with you back in the house. You may discover that he comes rushing up to greet you after an absence.
Q I was shocked the other day to discover a deep gash near my longhaired cat’s hind leg. When my veterinarian shaved the area and examined it, she told me it was an infected cat bite. She cleaned the wound, closed it with stitches, and prescribed medication. It was obvious that Freckles was in a lot of pain, but she never gave me any clues that she was hurting. Why wouldn’t my cat let me know that she was hurt?
A Cats are masters at masking their pain, because their survival might depend on it. As small creatures who are vulnerable to larger predators, cats can’t afford to disclose any weakness. With obvious injuries or illness, they become easy targets, which explains why they instinctively mask signs of pain or sickness, even from the people who love and protect them. Unfortunately, this is why many of my veterinarian friends relate stories of clients who bring in cats who are just “not acting right” only to discover that their pets are in full-blown stages of cancers or kidney failure or other serious health problems.
Since cats prefer to hide any signs of weakness, we need to be attuned to any subtle signs of illness. Here are some clues to look for and to report to your veterinarian.
Inappropriate elimination
Changes in eating habits
Eating litter
Sudden weight loss
Bad breath
Changes in normal activity level
Changes in sleep habits
Changes in social interactions
Changes in grooming habits
Becoming more vocal
Suddenly hiding and declining attention
Q I’ve always had fish and turtles and finally decided that I was ready for a more complicated, interactive pet. I recently adopted a big orange tabby from the local animal shelter. Gus is great, but he loves to claw and tear at his scratching post. Luckily for me, he leaves my couch alone. Why does he have this need to scratch?
A Bravo! With no disrespect intended for the fish and turtles in your life, I am happy that you are ready and willing to enjoy the perks of feline companionship. And I am happy to hear that you adopted from a local shelter because you have given a homeless cat another chance.
Scratching, as you have discovered, is one of the signature actions of cats. Even declawed cats will perform scratching gestures. You’re lucky that Gus adores his scratching post and not your expensive sofa. Cats scratch for a couple of reasons. One reason is to keep their claws in shape — what I call a “peti-cure.” Those scratching sessions remove the dead outer nail covering and hone the claw’s shape and sharpness, keeping Gus prepared to defend himself or to pounce on a passing mouse.
However, the paramount reason cats scratch has to do with turf talk. When Gus scratches, he is leaving a feline business card, if you will. He not only leaves physical marks, but also the scratching action releases a scent from the sebaceous glands in his paws that communicates to other cats — and to himself — that this is his domain.
You mention that you are grateful he only scratches the cat post, but I’ll bet if you pay close attention, you will discover that old Gus is pawing and rubbing his face to leave his scents on doorways and wall corners. It appears as a dirty, oily discoloration on the walls and doors. (See Cat-to-Cat Communication, page 76, for more on scent marking.)
Q Whenever I’m sitting down, my cat will climb into my lap, circle around, plop down, and busily start to push her paws (and claws) up and down on my legs. I call it her happy dance. She sometimes does the same thing on my bed before settling down for the night. Why does she do this?
A The feline ritual of rhythmically pumping their paws up and down begins at birth. Newborns push their paws around their mother’s nipples while they suckle to hasten the flow of milk. Even after they are weaned, kittens remember the happy feeling of a full belly that came with kneading and nursing. As adults, “making biscuits,” as I like to call it, brings them a sense of comfort. It is a way for cats to convey joy and delight in having you in their lives. If you regularly clip your cat’s nails, you might avoid the pain of her nails plunging into your leg.
Some cats can go a little overboard, though. Some drool while kneading, and others become so enthusiastic that they drive their sharp claws into human legs. If your cat is turning you into a pincushion and regular nail clipping sessions aren’t making it less painful for you, you can stop this behavior from becoming an unpleasant habit by simply standing up and walking away. After being ousted from your cozy lap a few times, your cat is apt to tone down her need to knead.
ACCEPTING AN INVITATION to address veterinary school students enrolled in a shelter medicine class, I knew the power of showing, not simply telling. So I visited a local animal shelter in search of a perfect “demo” cat. I found her — a black, longhaired cat named Tara who hissed and crouched in the back corner of her cage.
Although Tara had entered the shelter as a trapped stray just the day before and lashed out at any attempts to touch her, she displayed signs that she may not have lived on the streets all her life. Her coat was fairly shiny, indicating that she had been grooming herself. She displayed a good weight, showed no signs of battle scars and — the biggest giveaway — was not pregnant or lactating as is the case with most feral females.
Any cat entering a shelter may feel temporarily threatened by the strange sounds, smells, and typical shelter handling with gloves or cat-grabbing equipment. A truly feral cat is not social or touchable and is not considered adoptable. A frantic cat is one who has known humans but is in a state of fear-induced panic.
Using Tara as an example, I shared techniques with the veterinary students on ways to help scared cats such as Tara gain self-confidence through repeated pleasurable handling and socialization from shelter staff and volunteers. As cats feel less stressed in the shelter, they begin to show their true personalities, thereby increasing their chances for adoption.
On my first visit, I avoided making direct eye contact with Tara’s angry eyes because cats view prolonged staring as a sign of imminent attack. After several sessions spent just talking to her, I lightly touched her with a soft feather teaser, brushing it over her back, neck, head, nose, and eyes. She responded without making a hiss. The next time, she stood up and arched her neck toward the feather, a sign she was developing trust in me.
Knowing it was time to touch her, I slowly took her out of the cage, hindquarters first, and placed her four feet on a small table, so she would not feel clutched. I purposely faced her away from me, so she could observe the entire room without feeling trapped. Speaking softly, I was able to lightly touch her coat.
At my presentation, this once-scared black cat amazed the students by behaving in a social and friendly manner. Tara now lives in a happy home with people who adore her. Her owners find it hard to believe that Tara was once a hissing, swatting cat in a shelter, because she is now so sweet and loving.
Contributed by Joan Miller, all-breed judge
Q I am embarrassed to admit that I would sometimes hold my childhood cat belly up over my head and let him fall. I was amazed at how he could twist his body and land on his four feet with ease. I have much more respect for cats as an adult, but I am still intrigued by their athleticism. How do cats manage to maneuver their bodies and land safely?
A My advice is never to challenge a cat to a game of Twister. He will win every time, paws down. A flexible musculoskeletal system and a strong sense of balance enable airborne cats to right themselves rapidly and gracefully and, most times, safely. You may be surprised to learn that cats don’t have collarbones, but they do have flexible backbones with five more vertebrae than humans, allowing them to twist and turn in midair.
Their superior sense of balance and coordination comes from the vestibular apparatus, the fluid-filled canal in the ear that allows both humans and cats to remain upright when walking and to figure out where the ground is in relation to the body. When a cat falls, the fluid activates tiny hairs in the ear canal, allowing the cat to determine its body position and identify which way is up.
Studies on falling cats have discovered that felines who fall from heights of seven stories or fewer face greater injury than those falling from greater heights. In fact, cats have survived falls from as high as eighteen stories. The explanation is that after falling five stories or so, a cat reaches terminal velocity. On a longer fall, it has time to right itself, relax its muscles, and spread out its limbs like a flying squirrel to slow down its rate of speed.
The actual movements from the start of the fall to the four-on-the-floor finish are quite ballet-like. First, the falling cat rotates its head and the front of its body to bring its legs underneath its body. The hind end then moves into alignment. Just as he lands, he brings the front legs closer to his face to absorb some of the impact and bends his back legs to prepare for the jolt.
As agile as cats are, they do not always land on their feet. Cats have suffered injury from falls off of countertops and two-story balconies. That’s why I strongly urge all cat owners to make sure that all window screens are sturdy and will not pop open from the weight of a cat perched on the sill. And don’t let your cat roam unsupervised on a balcony. All it takes is for one sparrow to fly by and your bird-chasing cat could leap up and over the balcony ledge in determined pursuit.
Q Now that I’m retired from teaching, I enjoy taking my certified therapy dog to nursing homes and children’s hospitals. But some people I visit like cats better than they like dogs. My cat, Kai, is a young, friendly Maine Coon. Visitors to my home always remark how comfortable they feel around Kai. He likes to ride in the car and happily travels with me when I visit family and friends. Can cats make good therapy animals?
A Being greeted by a friendly therapy animal can do wonders to boost the outlook and even the physical health of those in nursing homes and hospitals. Dogs do make up the majority of certified therapy animals, but cats are increasing in numbers. Felines are small and easy to pick up, and possess one major advantage over dogs: the soothing sound of purring.
Kai’s easygoing style and desire to greet people are two key traits needed for therapy cats. That he enjoys traveling is an added plus, since most cats prefer to be homebodies and don’t like adjusting to new surroundings. Generally speaking, Maine Coons are gentle, affectionate giants who would probably take to therapy work. Some Persians also make good therapy cats because they tend to be calm and patient, and they definitely enjoy being showered with affection. Tonkinese, a less common breed, are noted as being ideal therapy cats because they are outgoing with strangers and like to sit on laps. But there are always exceptions within breeds, and of course there are many random bred cats who succeed as therapy cats.
Contact a therapy animal organization in your area that provides certified programs. (See resources, page 314, for suggestions.) Although each program differs, the ground rules call for cats to be at least one year old; fully updated on all their vaccinations; in good health; and able to tolerate travel, loud noises, crowds, strange smells, and frequent handling. They must be good-natured about being poked at or pulled on, and comfortable with people of all ages.
To ensure Kai’s safety, I recommend you train him to wear a harness and walk on a leash, rather than relying on a carrier. He will definitely win admiration if he can strut into a hospital room on a leash. Cats able to perform tricks such as paw waving, sitting up on their hind legs, and jumping into open arms on cue will make a great impression as well. Of course, possessing a strong, steady purr only enhances his popularity among people in need of a little TLC (tender loving cat).
Q My young daughter recently took her kindergarten scissors and trimmed all the whiskers off our cat. Of course I was very upset with her, because I know cats need their whiskers to find their way around, but I realize that I don’t really know how they work. What happens when a cat loses his whiskers?
A Most people realize that whiskers serve as measuring tools for most breeds of cats. The width of the whiskers along the sides of the face sizes up small openings to alert them if their bodies can fit through without getting stuck. Perhaps that explains why my chubbiest cat, Murphy, sports the longest whiskers among my three cats. But as mentioned in Five Feline Senses, page 9, not all breeds rely on whiskers to help them navigate.
Whiskers serve other vital purposes. A cat uses the long, protruding whiskers along his muzzle to rotate and scan for signs of possible prey. What is amazing is that the whiskers don’t have to actually touch an object for a cat to realize it is there. Bundles of nerves in the whiskers supply oodles of information to the cat’s brain, delivering almost supersensory abilities. I often equate this feline “Spidey sense” to that of superhero Spiderman.
Cats also have delicate whiskers above their eyes. Like our eyelashes, these whiskers activate a blinking reflex that automatically shields their eyes from flying debris. Wispy whiskers under the chin sense objects from below. Whiskers on the front legs assist in safe landings and to sense the presence of prey.
Whiskers also signal feline moods. Pay attention to your cat’s whiskers when he goes on the alert or appears content. When relaxed, a cat’s whiskers are held slightly to the side. But when a cat is intrigued or feels threatened, the whiskers automatically tense up and point forward.
Without his whiskers, your cat’s sense of balance, depth perception, and warning systems can be altered slightly. Veterinarians recommend keeping a whiskerless cat inside until the whiskers grow back, which can take two or three months.
Q A friend of mine has three Havana Brown cats that she enters in cat shows. She has invited me to attend a show. I often watch dog shows on television, but I’m not at all sure how a cat show works. Can you give me some insight on what to expect and how to behave at a cat show?
A Dogs aren’t the only animals who like to mug for a camera or strike a pose for a judge, and dog owners aren’t the only people who like to show off their sleek, well-groomed, and highly pedigreed pets. You can learn a lot about cats by taking the time to attend a cat show.
The Cat Fanciers’ Association Championship International show I attended drew more than 800 felines representing 41 breeds. It was a marvelous opportunity to see so many different cat breeds under one roof. True, cats do not vary as much in size or looks as their canine counterparts, but there is a great distinction between a Sphynx and a Maine Coon or between an Ocicat and a Ragdoll. I was surprised to discover that many show cats like to strut their stuff just as much as dogs do. Some even revel in a new feline event — indoor agility. (See Make Way for Feline Athletes, page 284.)
Most cat shows feature judging rings for seven different classes. Like dogs, cats are judged not against each other but against a written breed standard of perfection. Rather than trotting around the ring all at once, cats are brought to a particular area to be handled and inspected individually by the judge for each class. The seven main classes are listed below.
KITTEN. Unaltered or altered kittens too young for Championship classes
CHAMPIONSHIP. Unaltered, registered cats over eight months of age
PREMIERSHIP. Neutered or spayed, registered cats over eight months of age
VETERAN. Registered cats seven years or older
PROVISIONAL. Registered breeds with provisional standards established by CFA but not yet accepted for Championship competition
MISCELLANEOUS. Registered breeds not accepted for Provisional Breed competition
HOUSEHOLD PET. Any domestic kitten or altered cat not otherwise eligible
There are many ways to snag a ribbon at a cat show. Categories include best of color, best champion within a breed, and best of breed. There is even a separate competition called Junior Showmanship. This is a program to evaluate young participants’ knowledge of cat care, breed history, and standards in an effort to encourage family involvement in cat show competitions.
As for being a spectator, there is a certain etiquette required of attendees. Some of the inside tips I can share are on the following page.
Never touch a cat without the owner’s permission. Not all cats like being handled by large numbers of strangers. Also, you don’t want to risk passing germs from one cat to another or detracting from the cat’s well-groomed appearance that took hours to achieve. Exhibitors will usually ask visitors to spray disinfectant/odor neutralizer on their hands before petting their cat.
Time your photo-taking opportunities. Ask permission before snapping away at a captivating cat being groomed or in the judging ring.
Don’t engage in extended small talk with the cat show exhibitors. They are busy listening for their cats’ numbers to be called to a judging ring and keeping their cats calm and well coiffed. Ask if they have time to answer a question or two, but let them initiate any lengthy conversation about their cats and their particular breed characteristics. Most do enjoy talking about cats when the time is right. Look for exhibitors wearing “Ask Me” buttons as these people are in the CFA Ambassador Program and they are always willing to answer questions or just “talk cats.”
Leave your feline friend at home. These shows are limited to cats competing for honors. And of course, no dogs are allowed!
What I like best about cat shows is that they are not limited to pedigreed cats. Most shows sponsor a Household Pet competition that is open to random bred cats at least four months old. The winners are judged for their overall coat and body condition, reflecting good health and cleanliness, as well as for their unique appearance and appealing personality. The agility competition is also open to all cats, pedigreed or random bred.
If you are interested in exhibiting your cat, you might be surprised to know that many cats, once exposed to the busy cat show environment, enjoy the process. Household Pet cats must be entered before the show; the club sponsoring the show will have information necessary to prepare your future star and make this a good experience.
I am also impressed that many cat show organizers work with local shelters and rescue groups to promote adoptions for cats in need of homes.
What do America’s 90.5 million cats look like? A great many are “just cats” — tabbies, tigers, tortoiseshells, and tuxedos, both short- and longhaired. Of the 41 pedigreed breeds recognized by the Cat Fanciers’ Association, keepers of the world’s largest cat registry, these are the most popular breeds.
1. The Persian has held on to the top spot since 1871. People love his easygoing nature and admire the long silky fur that requires daily combing to keep it mat-free.
2. The all-American Maine Coon Cat overshadows most other breeds in terms of size and bulk, but has a gentle giant temperament. This breed is often referred to as doglike in character. The long coat comes in a variety of gorgeous colors.
3. The Exotic resembles a Persian except for his coat, which is dense, soft, plush, and medium length, and does not require daily fussing over. He is sometimes called the “Persian in pajamas.” People love his cherubic face, solid body, and calm, even temperament.
4. Known globally as the breed that loves to talk, the Siamese has long been one of the most easily identified breeds. People are drawn to the graceful, muscular build, the smooth, short coat, and matching “points” of dark color on the face, ears, legs and tail. The breed’s loud, raspy yowls are definitely distinctive.
5. The active, intelligent Abyssinian loves to be around people. The Aby makes a perfect match for people looking for plenty of interaction with their feline pals. He is a regal beauty with a slightly rounded, wedge-shaped face, lithe body, and short, dense silky coat, which is ticked like a wild rabbit and comes in several colorful shades.
Rounding out the top 10 in order are the Ragdoll, Birman, American Shorthair, Oriental, and Sphynx. Now, I love the look and predictable personality traits of the pedigreed cats, but keep an open mind when you think about adopting a kitten or a cat. Consider the spontaneous beauties of the feline world without a pedigree that are known by the abbreviations DSH (domestic shorthair) and DLH (domestic longhair).
Q I’m curious about why there are more than 150 recognized dog breeds but only 41 distinct cat breeds. Dogs can weigh 5 to 180 pounds, with a huge variety of ear, nose, and tail shapes, and many different types of coats. Cats pretty much weigh between 6 and 20 pounds, have essentially similar faces, and not as much variation as to fur. Why is there so much variety in dogs and so much similarity in cats?
A Good question. Dogs were domesticated thousands of years before cats even associated with humans because we needed canines to help us hunt, pull heavy sleds, herd our flocks, and other tasks. There has been incentive for people over hundreds of years to tweak the breeding of various dogs to better suit their needs. That explains why there is such a variety in size, temperament, and abilities among dogs.
Cats have primarily been kept as hunters and companions. Because they were not tapped to perform a laundry list of activities, there are not as many distinct breeds nor such a great range in weight or size among the feline population.
Q I want to adopt a cat from my local shelter, but as a first-time pet owner, I need some advice. Should I adopt a kitten or a grown cat? What should I look for in deciding among so many? How can I make sure the cat is a good match for me?
A These are important questions and you are wise to be thinking about them before you bring a cat home. As you prepare to welcome a new feline into your life, my main advice is to think long term. Think of it this way — you are likely to have this cat in your life much longer than you will have the car you drive. Sadly, people typically spend many hours picking out a vehicle they keep for four or five years but spend only a few minutes selecting a feline companion who may be part of their lives for 15 years or more.
You need to be honest about your lifestyle and personality, and also a bit selfish. Your new cat or kitten needs to match your lifestyle and your preferences. If you really want a shorthaired cat so you don’t have to fuss over daily grooming, then please do not let a well-meaning friend talk you into adopting a longhaired cat, no matter how beautiful it is. If you like a cat to “talk back” at you, then seek out an active, chatty one, not a shy feline mime. Do you admire an independent spirit or would you prefer a cuddly lap cat? An adorable kitten is hard to resist, but do you have the time and patience for the high-energy antics that come with a youngster?
I recommend that you write out a checklist of what your “dream” cat looks like and acts like. Your mission: to seek a feline that best matches your list. There are hundreds of cats in your area needing a home, so don’t be in a hurry. Take your time and you will be rewarded with a lifelong cat pal. Visit different shelters and look in local papers for groups that rescue cats. There are also breed rescue groups to contact if a pedigreed cat would be a good match for the desired temperament traits on your list.
Once you have assessed your needs, my advice is for you to be calm and passive in the shelter and see which cat chooses you as a good match. I trust cat intuition. That’s how my cat Murphy picked me. She ran and hid whenever others tried to catch her, but would bounce out of the bushes and rub against my leg when I appeared.
When my friend Jim wanted to adopt a kitten years ago, I went with him to the local animal shelter. Jim is a big, brawny guy with a quiet nature. Each time he picked up a kitten, he felt awkward. He finally confessed that he didn’t feel comfortable raising a tiny, bouncy kitten. In the end, he took home a pair of one-year-old littermates who lived with him for 17 years. These cats provided companionship for one another when Jim worked long hours. They played together and snuggled together for afternoon naps. Like Jim, if you are honest about your wants and needs, I’m sure you will find the perfect companion.
Q A couple of skinny young cats have been hanging out in the alleyway behind our restaurant. They are foraging for scraps of food. At first, they dashed away when I came out the door. But since I’ve started to put out food and water for them, one of them is starting to trust me and to creep closer. The other one still flees at the sight of me. I’d like to adopt the friendlier cat, but how can I tell if a homeless cat is stray or feral?
A All around the world, caring people are putting out bowls of food and water on porches, alleys, and other places to provide nourishment to homeless cats. It can be challenging to distinguish between feral cats (those born in the wild who have had little or no interaction with humans) and stray cats (those who have lived with people but have become lost or been discarded).
But in your situation, you can help both cats. The one who seems more trusting of you is likely to be a stray cat who finds himself in the great outdoors and wishes he was safe inside a home. The second one appears to be feral — he has no desire to be stuck in a house with a human but is strongly motivated to seek food, even if it is offered by a human being.
For the second one, I encourage you to contact a local cat rescue group and ask them if they can set out a humane trap (scented with tuna or other aromatic food as a lure). Some groups are also willing to let individuals borrow one of their traps.
Once the cat is in the trap, you can give him or her a wonderful gift by taking him to a veterinarian for a health exam and spay or neuter surgery. The treated cat is then returned to his outdoor home where other members of his colony live.
As for the stray cat who has captured your curiosity, and apparently your heart, avoid making any fast motions or speaking loudly around him. Your goal is to win him over by displaying cat-accepting etiquette. Chances are that he will eventually approach you and allow you to gently touch him. It may take a few days or weeks, but go slowly with your introductions. If you are worried about his safety or his health, you might speed up the process by capturing him in a humane trap and taking him to a veterinarian for a complete head-to-tail examination before adopting him. Good luck!
IMAGINE THE PLEASURE OF LIVING WITH a moving “museum piece” with a shimmering silver-tipped coat and large, luminous green eyes. The government of Thailand officially recognizes the Korat cat as a national treasure. An ancient manuscript, Cat-Book Poems, created during the Ayudha period of Thai history (AD 1350 to 1767) depicts “good luck” cats. Among them is the Si-Sawat, as Korats are called in Thailand. Their “hairs are smooth with roots like clouds and tips like silver” and their “eyes shine like dewdrops on a lotus leaf.”
Among the purest of all breeds, the Korat’s physical appearance has remained unchanged for centuries. Every Korat today is silver blue and all trace their ancestry to Thailand. It is conceivable that their unique breed-related personality traits could be a reflection of their rich heritage.
These cats have enjoyed centuries of close association with humans, particularly high-ranking Thai government officials, nobility, and representatives of foreign governments. Si-Sawats were cherished by their owners, regarded as good luck cats, and given as wedding gifts. Some people trained them to check for scorpions before the baby was placed in his crib.
Today’s Korats are exceptionally bonded to their own family and home. They follow their owners around the house, communicating through a variety of expressive sounds. A Korat is a “listening” cat, always watching, deliberately cautious. The world revolves around a Korat, who generally prefers a quiet household and always expects people to do the adapting.
In describing Korats, the first attribute mentioned is usually intelligence. Most cats have smartness based on instinct, but Korats display ingenuity. They easily learn specific words, play fetch, and can get into any cabinet. Korat fanciers around the world enjoy exchanging examples of their cats’ exceptional memories, ability to think, and problem-solving skills.
A couple in Seattle always took their Korat on boat trips. She was not allowed on the open deck unless she had on her harness and leash. When she wanted to join them on the deck, she would pick up her harness and carry it in her mouth to the porthole.
Korat kittens like to select their own owners. When a litter is shown to a potential owner, all of the kittens will be curious, but often one kitten decides this is “his” person and proceeds to climb in the lap, perhaps chew on the hair, and become irresistible, while the other litter-mates act aloof or shy.
These remarkable cats are still treasured as much for their winning personalities as for their stunning beauty.
Contributed by Joan Miller, all-breed judge
Q In a Brady Bunch–style union, my new husband and I are trying to merge our teenagers as well as cats, birds, and mice under one roof. We are optimistically hoping for harmony. I have two curious cats. He has one talkative bird and a handful of pet mice. He has never owned a cat. I have never owned birds or mice. Can these different animals live in harmony with one another?
A Prevention is the key here. It is unlikely that your grown cats will come to regard their new housemates as anything but potential meals. Even though some cats are not big hunters and would rather enjoy bowls of hand-delivered kibble, don’t take the chance that the activity of the bird or mice might trigger an instinctive predatory response.
Even if your cats seem uninterested in the bird or the mice, never leave them unsupervised together. If no one in your merged family is available, make sure that the bird and mice are safely in their cages out of paw’s reach. You don’t want a case of feline “fowl” play or a mouse murder in the house.
It is important, however, that you convey to your cats that the bird and mice are part of the family. Pay attention to signals from your cats that they are feeling more aggressive than amused by the smaller critters. Prey-focused cats tend to display overt curiosity, sit very still and stare fixedly at the prey, or twitch their tails slightly and fold their ears back. Another big clue: predators don’t vocalize before they stalk and kill. However, many cats do make a distinctive chirping or cackling sound when they become aroused at the sight of birds.
It is important to reward polite, acceptable behavior in your cats by praising them and offering them small treats when they are relaxed around the bird and mice. If one of your cats displays unwanted behavior, such as pawing at the birdcage or pacing around the mice container, you can toss a small pillow or squirt water near your cat to startle and distract him (don’t actually hit him!). The message you want to deliver is that unpleasant things happen when he paws or stares at the caged critters.
Although I am not a big fan of remote punishment, I am in favor of keeping birds safe. You can’t erase the predatory nature in your cat, so if you wish to have a household filled with wings and fur, take extra precautions to keep mice and birds safely out of a curious cat’s reach. Make sure your cat can’t jump on top of the cage or perch nearby and poke a paw through the bars.
Many pets of different origins do get along, or at least tolerate one another. Some cats — especially those raised from kittenhood with birds or mice — can tone down their predatory nature and be friends. But you’ll be a better friend to all your pets by keeping a close eye on their actions.