Creature Feature

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette hunting cat illustration.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette hunting cat illustration.

I have a sweet-natured male cat that is about 2 1/2 years old. He is smart, friendly to strangers and an all-around great cat. Sometimes when I walk away from him he will get this aggravated meow, chase me [and] jump on my leg with his teeth showing. He never, ever bites. I point my finger at him and tell him "no." I will walk away, and he will do it again. Is he trying to tell me something; get me to do something? Sure hope you can give me an answer.

Your cat is trying to tell you that he needs to play, plus wants a specific type of play that satisfies his natural hunting instincts. Cats are predators; without prey they become frustrated and often act out with "play aggression" such as you've described.

Stalking, ankle ambushes, overhead attacks and hand-batting all fall into the category of play aggression. Longtime cat owners Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson explain in Good Owners, Great Cats that this type of behavior is not a problem in itself, but an indication that the cat needs some type of activity that indulges the urge to hunt.

To begin with, however, handling play aggression could involve some behavior modification on your part. Instead of reacting by telling him "no" and walking away, become passive. When you hear the cat's aggravated meow, stop moving and be silent. Motionless prey (you, in this case) is a lot less interesting than noisy, active prey.

A second tactic involves startling your cat and interrupting his train of thought. Kilcommons and Wilson suggest using a device such as an air horn, a water sprayer or pressurized can of air to get the cat's attention when he begins aggressive behavior. An air horn may be more sound than you need; a blast of sound from it can make your ears ring and might create some anxiety for your cat. A water sprayer is a quieter option, but if you use one, you don't have to aim for the cat's face. Simply spritz a bit of water above the cat so that the sudden mist in the air gets his attention. Likewise, a can of air shouldn't be aimed directly at the cat. All you need to do is spray it over his head so that he hears the hiss of air escaping.

The interruption tactics don't resolve the issue of the cat needing an outlet for his hunting instincts, but that can be addressed by spending some time interacting with your cat during designated play sessions. Set aside time every day to play with your cat using toys that allow him to stalk, chase and pounce. These can be any object on a string or pole. You can buy or make "teaser toys," which have feathers or a catnip mouse on the end of a string or stick. Drag the toy across the floor and let him chase it. Bounce it above his head so he can leap for it. Also allow him to catch the toy so that he can "kill" it.

Cats also like larger, stuffed toys that they can wrestle with and bite. At the end of a play session, let the cat keep his toy for a while as a reward for his hunting prowess.

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I have a cat that's mostly white. She sheds like crazy when I take her to the vet's office. Why?

Shedding during a visit to the veterinarian is common, veterinarian Justine Lee says in It's a Cat's World ... You Just Live in It: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Your Furry Feline. Cats typically get nervous at the vet's office, shedding what seems like enough hair to stuff a small pillow. Lee explains this loss of hair as a sign that the animal's fight-or-flight instinct has kicked in.

When stressed, a cat's heart rate increases and he may start breathing rapidly. At the same time, Lee says, blood vessels and hair follicles dilate so that blood can flow to the cat's muscles and get him ready to escape whatever is causing him stress. When the hair follicles dilate, the shedding begins. But it's not a cause for concern because it will stop when your cat's back in the safety of your home.

Family on 12/07/2016

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