All of us who have lived with a cat have at some point been perplexed by a cat.
But enlightenment is on the way. Two new books about felis catus put us on equal footing with the enigmatic ones (OK, we'll never be that advanced)—"Cats for Dummies" ($19.99) by Gina Spadafori and Paul D. Pion, DVM, and a book that could be called "Cats for Smarties"—"The Cat Who Cried for Help: Attitudes, Emotions, and the Psychology of Cats" ($22.95), by Dr. Nicholas Dodman, of Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine.
"Cats for Dummies" is the book you'll reach for when you need information fast—how to choose a kitten, whether to have an identification chip implanted in your beloved cat, or what the heck those pimples are doing on Fluffy's chin (feline acn e is pretty common). Everything from history to health to behavior to myths is included, along with many helpful tips for caring for cats. (For finicky eaters, for example, try warming food to about 85 degrees; strong scent makes it more enticing.) And al l of this reliable information is packaged, as was Spadafori's "Dogs for Dummies," in an easy-to-use format (organized well with a detailed table of contents).
Dodman, author of the well-received "The Dog Who Loved Too Much," is a medical/behavioral gumshoe who adds a twist of James Herriot to his storytelling. You can curl up with his book, and a cat or two, and read one intriguing behavioral case after another. And though your cat's antics are probably not as extreme as those recounted here (a cat who urinated on his sleeping owner!), there are plenty of insights to glean about cat behavior.
In the book, you travel case by case with this kitty Columbo, tracking the behavioral culprits that have cats attacking owners, scent marking, self-mutilating, or yowling all night. These cases are wild, but Dodman's scientific sleuthing and explanation s will have you saying, "oh, so that's why she does that!" As far as aggression is concerned, for instance, clawing is generally the handiwork of a fearful cat, while confident cats bite.
Both books have a lot to offer, so here are a few quick takes from them on some of the most common issues that come up with our cats.
Inappropriate elimination (missing the litter box; sometimes by a mile). A biggie. The books are in agreement on cures. It is, Dodman says, "the number-one behavior problem in cats." First, make sure there is no underlying medical problem causing the behavior.
Often the problem is "litter-box aversion"—a new plastic liner under the the box or new scented litter (cats hate those perfumes). This type is easy; just get rid of the offending feature. Sometimes it is the location of the box ("too exposed or too remote," says Dodman), the consistency of the litter (cats love sand), or the messiness of it (clean more often).
Sometimes, Dodman says, the issue is marking, or "urinary graffiti." Females do engage in this but mostly it's males, and neutering will prevent 90 percent of males from indulging. Stress can increase marking behavior, so alleviating it helps. Sometimes this is achieved with "pharmacologic agents" such as buspirone (an anxiety-alleviating drug).
Scratching the furniture. Both books offer the same tips — getting a scratching post covered with a rough-textured material such as sisal, or something shreddable, like burlap. You should also cover areas you don't want scratched with aluminum foil ( this repels not only cats but probably Martha Stewart too).
But Dodman always wants to delve deeper to understand behaviors fully. Contrary to the myth, Dodman says, our cats are not sharpening their claws—"would dragging a bunch of fishhooks across an armchair" sharpen the barbs? Dodman asks.
Scratching simply "feels good." And furthermore, clawing is a visual and olfactory marking system. The sight of the scratches announces the cat's territory, and the pheromonal odors released from the scent glands in the paws are a signature. What we have already learned is that stress increases marking behavior, and so a stressed-out cat will likely scratch more. Theoretically, stress response would run in families, and many people believe that when you pick out a kitten you should try for one who se parents do not indulge in compulsive scratching.
Should you let your cat go outside?
Spadafori falls in line with most animal-welfare groups. Indoor cats can live to be 15 or 20, while the lifespan for cats allowed to go outside can be half that. Cars, whether moving or just spewing sweet-tasting, poisonous antifreeze, are a danger to cats. And there are predators to contend with—dogs, coyotes, even owls. She says the issue is a matter for "your conscience."
Dodman cites the same statistics and dangers. He knows that he is setting himself up for a great deal of criticism but wonders about the growing trend to keep our cats indoors (half of America's 60 million cats stay inside). "I see many cats stressed as a result of confinement," he says. Stress can result in unwanted behavior, and Dodman points out that behavior problems are actually the leading cause of death in cats (frustrated owners have them euthanized). The incidence of these problems, he re ports, is much lower in Great Britain, where most cats are allowed to come and go at will. Dodman makes it clear that he is still pondering this question and that his own cats stay indoors—at least in part due to his wife's insistence. But even raisi ng the slightest hint of doubt, he makes clear, is considered heresy in the animal world.
Dodman does not shy away from controversy, and his use of Prozac-like drugs in his practice may cause some to question^@his approach. But, as he points out, often owners have become so frustrated that the choice is either the drug remedy or euthanasia.
Whatever the specific topic, his is a thoughtful voice in the complex world of cat behavior. Between "The Cat Who Cried for Help" and "Cats for Dummies," we should have it all figured out — well, at least Fluffy's antics might make mo re sense.