Posts tagged “Tug Ropes”

A cat loaf pretty much looks like what it sounds like: a loaf of bread that’s compact and rectangular in shape but with rounded edges. “When cats loaf, they tuck their paws in and curl their tail around their bodies so you really only see the body and their head—a cat loaf!” says Stephen Quandt, CFTBS, founder of Stephen Quandt Feline Behavior Associates, LLC, based in New York City.,My cat will sometimes sit with her legs all tucked under herself. I heard this is called a “loaf.” Why do cats loaf? She is eating, sleeping and drinking fine and seems healthy otherwise. Is this normal?

What makes your darling, sweet cat companion switch from snuggly to snarly when visitors arrive? Why is it your friends and family never see the “real” kitty you live with? And, is there anything you can do to change it? Many cat owners keep their pet indoors at all times to keep them safe and healthy. By staying inside, cats are protected from predators, vehicles and diseases — which is a great thing. But one potential downside to the situation is that indoor cats may live in a small “territory” with very little variety from day to day. We all get used to standard things in our environments, and expect some consistency. Some of us are more accepting of change, and some are not. Cats are no different. We know one reason for differences in acceptance of new things is being exposed to new things (scientists and animal trainers call these “novel stimuli”) during certain periods of development when the animal is more “open” and accepting to learning. For kittens, that period is the ages between 3 to 8 weeks. Kittens who are kept away from people and do not get early exposure may start life with a deficit for accepting strangers. Additionally, past experiences with people will have an effect — pleasant experiences make cats think people are good, and less happy experiences may make cats afraid of new people. Not all kittens are given opportunities for multiple safe encounters with people at that early age. Consequently, many cats are undersocialized, which means they are not comfortable with new or unusual things. A cat who lives with just one, two or only a few humans may find several new humans very frightening.

Cats are obligate carnivores—that means their bodies are designed to thrive on a meat-based diet and they need it to survive.    So, an animal-based protein isn’t only important for cats, but it’s also essential. And choosing the right high-protein cat food can make a big difference in their health and well-being.