Behavior

Most catfights occur between two females, followed by two males rather than male to female. The causes vary but most often center on coveted boundaries and possessions, with vertical spaces like climbing trees and sturdy shelves being especially valued.Whatever the reason, the safest way to break up a fight is the same: Keep your hands off both combatants. Instead, intervene with a disruption or barrier. Drop a pot on the floor, wedge a rigid, flat object like a baking sheet between them or pop an empty cardboard box over one of them.Protecting yourself is paramount because cats have an arsenal of sharp teeth and claws. When paired with their flexible spines and acrobatic ability, they can cause serious puncture wounds. If the wounds become infected, you can land in the hospital with cat scratch fever, an infection caused by the bacteria Bartonella henselae, found in cat saliva. People with compromised immune systems are at the greatest risk for the infection.

You open the door for an unexpected visitor and your cat flees. Its frustrating for you, potentially dangerous for your escape artist - and a possible sign that its time to add stimulation to his daily life.Cats adopted from a shelter may have been free roaming, with wide territories to explore, play and hide in. Now theyre confined at home to keep them safe from speeding cars and potential fights with stray cats and wildlife that can maim or kill, says Tracy Kroll, DVM, an animal behaviorist in Fair Lawn, N.J.

Meowing can be endearing, but lets face it: When our cats meow to excess, it can sometimes drive us crazy. The same sort of meowing that is not a problem at 6 p.m. can be a huge problem at 4 a.m. when the owner is trying to sleep, says behaviorist Katherine A. Houpt, VMD, Ph.D., professor emeritus at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. What cat owners consider excessive meowing in cats depends largely on what time of day it is.

They lie in wait around corners, ready to pounce on your ankles. They hunker in the outer reaches of closets, eyes gleaming in semi-darkness, or they stake out favored spots under the bed, in the clothes dryer, and in bags, boxes, mattresses and easy chairs.

If you have a cat who fails to use the litter box consistently, you may want to alert his veterinarian to a new set of guidelines for preventing and treating the problem.

They lie in wait around corners, ready to pounce on your ankles. They hunker in the outer reaches of closets, eyes gleaming in semi-darkness, or they stake out favored spots under the bed, in the clothes dryer, and in bags, boxes, mattresses and easy chairs.

If you have a cat who fails to use the litter box consistently, you may want to alert his veterinarian to a new set of guidelines for preventing and treating the problem.

You may have been amused when your kitten or newly adopted cat first playfully pounced on your ankles or delivered love nips to your hand. But now, his swatting and biting have intensified, leaving you with deep scratches and broken skin.

Chibi was a therapy cat, placid and friendly. She visited senior homes and was sociable around dogs, other cats, even doves and a guinea pig. Imagine her owner’s surprise when she saw a large red warning banner on Chibi’s chart at the veterinary clinic.

At some point in a bid for your attention, your cat may silently hover over your desk so close to your computer keyboard that your elbow bumps him. He may nearly trip you with figure-eight moves between your legs as you head for the kitchen. He may indulge in a marathon of loud meows at the foot of your bed two hours before your alarm clock is set to ring.

An intriguing trend has developed among singles in the U.S. Single people — men particularly — are becoming pet owners at rates greater than families. They’re “turning to pets for love and a sense of family,” according to a survey by the American Veterinary Medical Association. In a five-year period, pet ownership among the never married, widowed and divorced grew 16.6 percent. Excluding people who never married, growth in pet ownership among singles rose 17.7 percent during this same period.

A study published earlier this year that found free-ranging cats annually kill an estimated 2.4 billion birds and more than 20 million mammals drew heated responses from both wildlife and cat advocates.Lost in the controversy was the plight of outdoor cats themselves. They suffer from exposure to extreme weather and more injuries caused by cars, dogs, other cats and wild animals than those who live indoors, says Bruce G. Kornreich, DVM, Ph.D., Associate Director for Education and Outreach at the Feline Health Center at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.