The Best Stuff For Your Cat

By Jeanne Gibson

A meowing cat can drive you up the wall-or at least away from home to seek relief for a few hours. Does your cat meow too much? I’m not referring to a meek little meow now and then, but the “Chinese water torture” kind of meowing that goes on, and on, and on.

Before you do anything about your cat’s excessive meowing, you need to figure out the reason behind this problem behavior, one that can become serious, if no steps are taken to curb it. Here are 5 of the most common reasons cats meow too much:

1. Your cat may be ill and meow to let you know he or she needs help.

If your fairly quiet cat suddenly starts meowing excessively, it is time to check it out for a physical problem. Look the cat over thoroughly, checking for scratches, tender spots, a tendency to favor one or more paws when walking, reluctance to walk at all, listlessness, discharge from eyes, ears, or nose, etc.

Any one of these cat behavior problems may merit a prompt visit to a veterinarian to make sure needed treatment is started as soon as possible. Solving the cat’s health problem usually also solves the problem meowing behavior, too.

2. Most cats meow when they want you to do something for them.

And most cat owners recognize this type of meow. It is usually loud and insistent and can mean, “I want food and water,” “My litter box is full,” “I want to go outside,” or “I want to come inside.” When you fulfill the “command,” whatever it is, the meowing usually ends—at least until they want you to do something else for them.

3. A cat may meow to alert their owners that something is amiss.

Not all cats pay attention to anything beyond the 4 walls of the house they live in, but some act almost like “watchdogs” for their owners. As soon as a neighborhood cat, dog, raccoon, or other intruder (even a two-legged one) comes anywhere near the house, “Watchdog” cats begin to meow.

Some even growl. Unfortunately, they seldom stop until the intruder leaves the premises so you might as well leave that comfy easy chair and venture outside to take care of the problem if you want any peace and quiet for the rest of the evening. Intruder gone-cat behavior problem of excessive meowing solved.

4. Some breeds of cats are noted for meowing more than others.

If you have a Siamese cat (as I did at one time) you are probably in for being treated to more meowing than with most other breeds, but you still need to check for causes that may indicate trouble. Siamese cats are noted for not only the frequency of their meowing, but also for the loudness, so if excessive meowing is a problem for you, try for a breed that is not noted for being so vocal.

5. Cats are basically social and meow when they just want attention.

Most of us become cat owners in the first place because cats are so appealing. They are cuddly creatures who love to be held and petted, and are great company. All these things are true, but there is one problem. Most cats want to cuddle, to be held and petted, and to share their company with you on their schedule, not yours. And, if you happen to be busy when they decide it is time for some of this attention from you, their response is to meow until it is forthcoming.

If this happens too frequently at your house, and you feel your cat is already receiving sufficient attention, try short periods of banishment from your presence. Put the cat in another room or even in the garage for a short time as soon as the meowing begins, and it won’t be long before your cat learns there are certain times he or she needs to be a quieter companion in order to remain in close proximity to you.

Those are five of the most common reasons cats meow too much, and you could probably add a few more from observing your own cat’s behavior. Since there are so many causes for excessive meowing in cats, it seems that no one solution to the problem will apply to all. Each of us needs to determine what is behind the excessive meowing of our own particular cat, and then decide where to go from there.

Jeanne Gibson is a math and English teacher who lives in Springfield, Oregon with her husband and an 8-year-old cat named Snoopy. For more Solutions to Cat Behavior Problems, check out her Squidoo lens.

We have always been fascinated by what that cat tail is doing, from the question mark shape it makes to swishing side to side or standing bolt upright.

Did you know that when you see your cat’s tail, swishing from side to side, means that it is extremely angry.  I for sure know, that when I’m curled up watching a film and my cat gets petted the wrong way, that tail will start moving from side to side.  Talk about a short fuse!

How To Read A Cat’s Tail

Upright tail:
A friendly greeting to another cat or human, that are feel no threat.

Upright tail with the tail tipped:
A greeting, but the cat may have some reservations.

Gentle Downward Curve but the curve tipped up:
Total relaxation and contentment.

Tail is still but the tip is actively twitching:
Very irritated and annoyed.

Upright and fully bristled tail:
Aggression or defense from another cat.

Fluffed out and lowered tail:
Fear and trying to avoid confrontation of another cat.

Tail downward and tucked between the legs:
Submission or defeat.

Tail is wrapped around the body:
Contentment or slightly defensive.

So just when you think you may have it all figured out, watch out, because the results may shock you; keep yourself well informed before you decide to pet your cat, and reach out that hand.  Trust me, because I had to learn the hard way!

Cats are mysterious creatures indeed, but with time and experience we have certainly developed some clues towards understanding what they are thinking.

By Madeleine Innocent

Caring for your cat is easy when you try to remember her origins. Being domesticated doesn’t mean you should abandon how she would live in the wild. Cats have evolved in the wild over millennia. They have been domesticated for a mere trifle in comparison.

This means that their nutritional and emotional needs remain identical to those of their forebears. In attempting to provide the best cat care means looking at these needs. Lets look at their nutritional needs first.

Wild cats hunt on their own. They hunt small animals, sometimes up to about their own size, but mostly smaller than themselves. They rarely eat anything other than freshly killed meat. Contrasting this with a typical domestic cat’s diet of dried pellets and you realise how off the mark commercial pet food is. Even if dried pellets were made with the best cuts of meat (which they aren’t), the meat is still not fresh or raw. So, if you’re trying to provide the most complete cat care, what should you feed your cat?

In my opinion, the best cat food is raw meat and bones. You can’t completely duplicate a wild cat’s diet, but you can come so close as to not compromise her health. Cat care starts with food as this is consumed daily. Something done daily has much more impact on our health than say something that only happens once a year.

When a cat eats her prey, she will eat all the meat, including the bones. Bones are the best source of calcium for a cat. And meat can only be properly digested when it is consumed with bones. After all, all carnivores eat meat with bones. Not only that, crunching up on bones is the best way of keeping her teeth and gums healthy, as long as they’re not too big. No dried pellets can do that as well, despite the promises on the label.

Some think that giving a cat raw meat will trigger their hunting instinct. In my experience, it does the exact opposite. Because raw meat is nutrient dense, your cat will be satisfied and won’t feel the need to supplement her diet as when fed a nutrient deficient diet.

Natural cat care also means providing your cat with her basic emotional and physical needs. Cats are intelligent and inquisitive. They need visual stimulation. This is best served by being outdoors, where nature provides an abundance of stimulation. If it’s impossible or too dangerous to let your cat outside, do make sure she has access to safe stimulants, perhaps in the form of toys. Make sure you play with her to ensure she gets adequate exercise.

Sun is an important aspect of good cat care. Cats love the sun and it is essential to good health for all of us, not just your cat. Regular outdoor access will allow her to choose for herself. For confined cats, make sure there are times when you can open a window (safely) to allow the sun’s rays in, unhindered by glass or plastic.

Easy cat care really means allowing your cat the freedom she desires. Confining cats indoors is going against good animal husbandry, I am also of the opinion that declawing cats is not only painfully inhumane, it deprives the cat of the natural joy of stretching. If you are considering declawing your cat, maybe you should also consider having a cat is not for you. Cats have already adapted a great deal to live with us. Putting them through an unnecessary, inhumane and painful operation is purely for your benefit, not your cats.

Cats provide us with an abundance affection, love and enjoyment. To provide even adequate cat care, we should at least do the same for them.

If you liked this article, then I invite you to sign up for my free, weekly ezine on how to improve your health and that of your family, including pets, naturally. Included is a complementary ebook on how to have a healthy cat, starting today. Visit http://www.naturallyhealthycats.com

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