Category Archives: Cat Behaviour

The Cat’s Purr – Talking about Good Vibrations

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A cat’s purr is surely one of the best things about owning a cat – there is nothing quite like snuggling up with your cat and feeling its contented vibrations thrumming through its body.

Most people think that a cat merely purrs when it is feeling contented. In fact, there are a whole lot of reasons that a cat will purr.

Reasons for a Cat’s Purr

There are many different reasons that your cat may purr:

  • When they are relaxed and happy.
  • When they are scared – a cat will often purr when it is trying to self-soothe while under stress.
  • Mother cats often purr when they feed their kittens as a way to communicate and transmit their affection for their young.

Physiology of the Purr

The cat’s purr originates in the feline’s voice box (larynx) when the vocal chords and diaphragmatic muscles work together to create a continuous vibration as it breathes in and out.

Cat’s purring noises measure between 25 and 150 hertz and there is evidence that this noise can be used therapeutically.

Many people have positive results when using the purring of a cat to aid sleep disturbances or difficulty falling asleep.

Some people now even use artificial cat’s purr white noise apps to fall asleep!

The Thera-purr-tic Effect

There are various potentially therapeutic effects of a cat’s purr. There is evidence that the gentle vibration of the purr:

  • can aid healing of soft tissue injuries to ligaments, tendons and muscles
  • reduces stress levels
  • reduces blood pressure
  • boosts immune system function
  • calms nervous anxiety.

A cat’s purr is a truly soothing sound that can bring a sense of tranquillity both felines and cat lovers alike.

Behaviour Management 101 for Naughty Cats

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Naughty cats can be just like children and need help to learn limits and the appropriate behavior.

If you have a cat that is providing some challenging behavior, then you might like to consider time outs as a useful tool.

Signs you May have Naughty Cats

Time outs might be required for naughty cats when you are experiencing any of the following behaviour:

  • Biting
  • Scratching
  • Aggressive play
  • Hissing
  • Bullying behavior towards other pets.

However, it is not an appropriate behavior management tool in order to deal with:

  • Anxiety
  • Phobias
  • Toileting issues.

How can I Use Time Outs with Naughty Cats?

Giving naughty cats time outs is a simple process – all you need to do is to place the cat in an isolated location for a period of time.

A laundry or bathroom is usually the best option.

When you put the cat into time out, you must do so without playing, petting or chatting to it.

If you do so, then you are potentially rewarding the cat for bad behavior.

Another key point is that you must not chase your cat into the time out area as they will perceive it as being part of a game.

Ten minutes is generally an ideal amount of time to leave naughty cats in a time out.

Following this period of time, they will have made a connection between their action and the punishment.

It would be counter-productive and unkind to your pet to leave it in isolation for an extended period.

Any longer and your cat may become stressed and their behavior will deteriorate in the time out space or once they are let out.

Use time outs for naughty cats consistently and you will soon begin to see marked improvements in their behavior.

Tips for Introducing a New Cat into the Home

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Cat at Blue Front Door

Introducing a New Cat into your Home

Introducing a new pet to your home is exciting, but a new cat comes with responsibility too.

A new cat may feel nervous and ill at ease in its new surroundings.

Fortunately, there are many things that you can do in order to make the transition easy on the new cat, you and any other family members or other pets.

By helping a new cat to settle into your home and become accustomed to the sights, smells and people, you will all have an easier time and develop a close bond.

How to Get Your New Cat Settled

  1. Do it one room at a time – set aside a space for the cat with its food, water, toys, litter tray and bed.
  2. Go slowly – let the new cat become accustomed to new rooms and spaces little by little at their own pace.
  3. Keep other pets away from them for the time being.

How to show your New Cat Love and Affection

Start by spending some quality time with them in their space, cuddling and playing with them, which will establish a bond between you.

If you have other animals, you need to also ensure you pay them attention, otherwise feelings of jealousy may cause problems later one.

A new cat requires extra cuddling and attention in order to feel welcomed into the new environment.

Introducing a New Cat to Other Animals

Cat Sitting Front DoorIf you have other pets in the home, then you need to be careful about how you introduce them if you want them to get along.

If you have several other pets, introduce them one at a time.

It is usually best to introduce a new cat to the older animals first, since they tend to be more calm and relaxed.

Sometimes the new cat may not be interested in interacting with other animals.

Don’t try to force the situation, simply accept their reaction and try introducing them again a little later.

Gradual and relaxed introductions will help to ease the transition for both the other animals and the new cat.