| Usually your kitty gives you a special calm and inner | | | | could accidentally get water in her ear, which can |
| peace by showing her love and trust for you when | | | | cause kitty to get an ear infection and a trip to the |
| she curls up in your lap and purrs herself to sleep as | | | | vet. |
| you gently stroke her body. She makes you laugh as | | | | Your cat needs to be shown what to do. You need |
| she plays with her ball, runs through the house or | | | | to teach your cat what behavior you'll accept but |
| becomes immersed in her own little kitty game. | | | | temper the lessons with love and patience. You need |
| But there can be some days…Days she does | | | | to begin to understand the basic nature of cats and |
| everything she's knows not to do, like when she | | | | their instincts. The "reason" for their behavior. |
| scratches your furniture, sneak attacks your ankles, | | | | The first step to finding out why kitty is acting like |
| stops using the litter box, knocks over your plants, | | | | she is is to take her to the vet for a check-up. Once |
| insists on getting into things and places she's never | | | | you have the vet's OK on your kitty's health, you |
| bothered before or other strange and frustrating | | | | need to ask yourself has anything changed in the |
| behavior you just know she's doing to get back at | | | | home. |
| you for some reason. Then, unbelievably, you're | | | | The best way to stay in a close relationship with |
| looking right at her when she does something else! | | | | your cat is to have patience and perseverance. Have |
| Of course, your first thought is to discipline your cat. | | | | you added something new to the house, changed |
| Let me tell you right now that a cat doesn't respond | | | | the furniture around, changed cat foods, changed the |
| to discipline by learning in a positive way. | | | | location of the litter box, changed the litter, added a |
| For one thing, grabbing hold of your cat to begin | | | | new pet, added a new baby or had a change in the |
| administering the punishment will only result in kitty | | | | social situation of the house? There are so many |
| fighting back. She has no idea that she has just done | | | | things that can upset kitty that it's hard to know |
| something outside of her set boundaries. All she | | | | where to start and what to look for. Start putting all |
| knows is that right now, her other Mama, that has | | | | the clues together until the puzzle is finished and you |
| always been kind, is holding her against her will. | | | | know the "why" for her actions. There will always be |
| Rubbing your kitty's nose in the piddle she just left | | | | a reason why kitty is acting out. In the end, kitty will |
| will probably get you bit or scratched but will also | | | | thank you for doing this for her instead of giving up. |
| start a feeling of resentment and mistrust in your cat | | | | Studies have shown that most pets are given to |
| that will be there forever more. | | | | animal shelters or, worse, dumped along the roadside |
| A common form owners use to get their cats to | | | | for behavior problems their owners didn't want to |
| mind is a squirt bottle. PLEASE STOP doing this! All | | | | take the time to fix or didn't know how to solve. |
| you're doing is creating fear and mistrust in your cat | | | | Once you understand why your cat is behaving the |
| that takes you from the "TRUST" category to the | | | | way she is, you will be able to fix the problems and |
| "Can't trust her anymore" category in your cat's mind. | | | | have your loving friend back again. |
| You're building a fear of water in your cat plus you | | | | |