behaviour

Tail sucking is a common behaviour in which the kitten or adult cat sucks or chews the tip of the tail; it is similar to thumb sucking in children. Some cats will suck their tail compulsively, which can lead to hair loss and trauma.

Why do cats suck their tail?

Sucking is a natural reflex that goes back to infancy when kittens suckled from their mother, which was comforting. Some cats will continue to suck well into adulthood. Tails aren’t the only target, others include soft toys, clothing, blankets, people and other cats.

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Why do cats chew on your hair?

Every cat lover knows how much time cats spend grooming, second only to sleeping. Cats groom themselves (auto grooming) and cats who are closely bonded will often engage in social grooming with one another (allogrooming). Many cats will also groom their human family, which can include licking their skin and hair as well as chewing and pulling the hair.

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Anybody who follows our Facebook page will have seen the many photos of our cat Norman, lying on his back. No matter how many times I see it, it never gets old. Norman will flop down anywhere and at any time on his back.

Norman will lie on his back when he is awake or asleep. While definitely not unheard of, lying on the back is less common than other positions, especially when sleeping.

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We have recently had a spate of thunderstorms and when they occur, there is an increasing number of calls for help from people whose cats and dogs have run away. The loud noises which come with not only thunder but also fireworks (which sound similar to thunder) can trigger extreme fear and anxiety in our pets.

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What is catnip?

Catnip is a perennial herb from the mint family Labiatae and is native to Southern and Eastern Europe and Asia. It has now become naturalised in New Zealand, North America, Southern Canada, and Europe. Catnip is well known among pet owners and veterinarians due to its ability to induce a high in cats. There are 250 species of catnip in the world, Common catnip (Nepeta cataria) and Catmint (Nepeta mussinii) are the most commonly used.

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Most pet professionals and pet owners know the common types of aggression in cats are petting-induced, predatory, fear-induced, play, redirected and territorial. But there is a little-known but commonly seen form of aggression by the name of non-recognition aggression.

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August 22nd is Take Your Cat to the Veterinarian Day, and what better time to write an article on why all cats need to see a veterinarian, but also how to make it stress-free for cat, owner, and the veterinarian.

The vet’s office is a scary place for cats; in fact, most cats don’t like to be taken out of the house (their comfort zone), period. But there are ways to ease the stress of the veterinary visit.

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The adult personality of a kitten is mostly determined in the first sixteen weeks of a kitten’s life. During this crucial time, proper socialisation, as well as experiences, will help to shape the personality of the cat as it moves into adulthood. What exactly is proper socialisation, and how do we make sure we are giving a kitten the best possible chance to develop into a happy and well-adjusted adult?

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