They combine a sweet and trusting nature with an uncertainty about how to manipulate our mutual environment.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

The key to happy Gammas is support. If we can provide enough understanding, attention, and adoration for our Gammas, they will be devoted, and delightful, “children.”

There are great advantages to Gammas:

Leaving our stuff alone. They are the best cat for not messing with our things.

They stay kittens longer. Gammas are the most dependent cat types. They also stay mentally dependent for longer. It can seem that Gammas are slow to grasp something, when that’s not true. They have a slower thinking style. They “get it” but don’t want to commit right away.

Very focused on relationship. This is wonderful for us if we can match that level of interest. Gammas need that coming back, too.

This is why I think of them as the “rabbit cat,” since they are so low-key and cuddly. Gentle Gammas are easily provided for, yet require our small attentions more, than other cat types.

Because there are cautions regarding Gammas:

Need maintenance. We cannot rely on them to let us know they are hungry or thirsty or have an upset; not quickly. Gammas prefer to suffer in silence. We can’t let that happen.

Must have routine. Least flexible with environmental stress, especially since they will leave things alone and don’t even have the stress relief of trying to fix it.

Least of the greeters. They will meet friends; not strangers. Getting from one to the other takes some hanging around and being open, but not pushy. Still, anyone who comes by often can be friends with our cat.

If we want a “living doll” these lovely and loving cats are a wonderful experience.

Look for these breeds & breed characteristics:

Look for the short nose, broadset ears, thicker paws, and stocky bone structure that indicates Gamma traits. A wide-eyed expression, a quiet acceptance of the situation, and a close interest in details of their environment can point to Gamma mental traits in any cat. They come from colder climates and are the least active cat type.

Persians, and their combinations, are the core Gamma heritage.

Read more about the Gamma cat type.

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They combine great social skills with an ease about asking us to manipulate our mutual environment.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

The key to happy Betas is friendship. If we can provide enough companionship, interactivity, and social possibilities for our Betas, they will be compassionate, highly-invested, community contributors.

There are great advantages to Betas:

Easy going. They are the hardest to unruffle or tip over. But they are the best to notice where improvements can be made, and so do not have their tolerances tested as much as other cat types.

Easily amused. They have the driest sense of humor, and find it more often, than other cat types. Their forgiving nature smooths out grievances, even ones they were not involved in.

Social, social, social. Maybe not the life of the party, but definitely the soul of the house, Betas will work at everyone getting along. Their delight in any other friendly creature is infectious.

This is why I think of them as the “dog cat,” since it is so easy to be friends with them and make them happy. Betas are born with the most innate trust of humans.

Still, there are cautions regarding Betas:

Loneliness. The worst thing you can do is leave them alone; some suffer with more grace than others, but it’s an unnecessary stress on this kind of cat. Since they get along with other cats so well, starting off with two Betas is the best way of covering their needs for interaction.

Right toys. Betas must have the prey cycle in their play. It’s not wearing them out so much as satisfying their need for a daily hunt.

Target for distress. We are so important to our Beta that their efforts to get needs met will target their people. They will need our attention to focus on them at such times until the difficulty is worked out.

They want to be our best buddy.

Look for these breeds & breed characteristics:

Betas tend towards round heads and body type known as “medium,” with neither the long slenderness of Alphas or the stocky big-boned builds of a Gamma. They have prominent facial structures, adaptable personalities, and a high interest in prey behavior.

These are the great mousers and ship cats and sailor companions who spread all over the world because people loved to have them around. And it was mutual.

Shorthair is the core Beta heritage, and can appear in the most unlikely of places.

Read more about the Beta cat type.

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They combine ceaseless curiosity with an ease about manipulating our mutual environment.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

The key to happy Alphas is enough. If we can provide enough attention, play, and diversion for our Alphas, they will be amusing and delightful comrades.

There are considerable advantages to Alphas:

Forever kittens. If we worry about “not enough play” and “they grow up too soon” we must consider an Alpha.

Endless fun. The status won’t be quo for long with an Alpha investigating.

Friendly and approachable. Guests love the Alpha, and the Alpha loves them back. While not as available for stranger-petting as a Beta, they are the most likely cat type to appear and do interesting things for the guests to enjoy. This line started as “temple cats” and continue in many countries to this day.

Demanding. We never wonder where we stand when an Alpha loves us; and loves us some more. Alphas have deep roots in Determination and Confidence, but this can backfire on us if we don’t handle it correctly.

This is why I think of them as the “monkey cat,” since they are so bright and dextrous. Delightfully mischievous and deliberately stubborn, they require more managing than other cat types.

That’s why there are cautions regarding Alphas:

Demanding. Alphas want what they want very much and they’d like it now. This works better for some things than others.

Wearing them out. We absolutely must wear them out. Again. This driving energy is lively and amusing, but must be channelled properly for the health of all concerned.

Keeping them amused. They like to watch what we are doing very closely. They want to press buttons themselves; and do. They like to take things apart.

We have to keep them busy and interested and satisfied.

Look for these breeds & breed characteristics:

Alphas are long and lean, with long noses, large oval ears, and pointy paws. Verbal and intense about whatever interests them. They come from hotter climates and are the most active cat type. They are the “mad scientists” of the Cat world.

Siamese is the core Alpha heritage, and all Oriental types express these traits.

Read more about the Alpha cat type.

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Such moments are why Alpha fans put up with all the craziness.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

Make no mistake; craziness is what Alpha cats are all about. Whether it’s climbing like a monkey, racing like a greyhound, or disassembling something without the benefit of a screwdriver, Alpha cats are always busy with something.

We’d once had to rehome a delightful Alpha kitten because we could not provide the proper environment to wear him out. But with a cat tree and two other young cats; we can make it work for Tristan.

I’m not the only Alpha lover in catdom; far from it. Abyssinians, Siamese, Bengals, and Savannahs have devoted fans, to name only a few breeds where Alpha cat types dominate. It’s my theory that such cats have a lot of the original wildcat in them, and this is appealing both in looks, and in their behavior.

While those who seek a purebred might have a better grip on what they are getting, those who come home with one inadvertently will learn the hard way. Since these are “original genes” they can pop up in many different configurations, whether found in the local shelter or plucked from a barncat’s litter. Therein lies another challenge.

People drawn to their looks and antics should be aware that there’s more maintenance to an Alpha than they might realize. I mean that in every sense of the word. They need more exercise, more amusement, and more attention than other cat types. But, as I explained in my post about Tristan’s Busy Week, our exasperation melts in the sun of their passionate love for their human, and animal, friends. They demand all kinds of things, our Alphas, but when they demand some hugging and kisses on their forehead, we will oblige with happiness.

They are the cats most compelled to follow their ancestral template. While all cats are happy to see the food bowl get filled, Alphas want to figure out the can opener, the cabinets, and the recycle bin as part of their “hunting” drive. If they don’t have any small animals to hunt down, they will relentlessly search for substitutes, be it a sponge ball dropped down the stairs or making the DVD drawer go in and out.

Alphas need complex play. For Tristan, I filled cat treat balls, the Mini-Kong, and our cat puzzle box with treats and toys to keep him amused.

If our other cats are running for cover when our “Tasmanian Devil” is on the loose, consider getting another Alpha. Many a home wonders what they are supposed to do with the lively little gal or guy they brought home, when the answer is to get another one.

This is a classic case of the solution to your cat problem is more cats.

While Alphas ask a lot, they give a lot, too. Because the good side of Alphas is how much they offer amusement and entertainment and lively appreciation of everything around them. We couldn’t resist their antics as kittens or we wouldn’t have brought them home. We loved their “wild look” or their in-our-face requests or we wouldn’t have adopted them from the shelter. They are the fizz in the soda.

That’s why there are Alpha fans who keep coming back for more.

Find out more about the Alpha cat type.

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There’s more about getting the cat you dream of at The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See MORE ABOUT CAT BREEDS.

I have organized general cat tendencies into three main “types” called Alpha, Beta, and Gamma. This was inspired by the classic science fiction novel Brave New World, wherein humans are assigned societal categories at birth. Of course, I’m working with what Nature has laid down in these cats’ genetic pattern.

It has nothing to do with Alpha dogs or other hierarchical ranking schemas. It is a way of expressing how each cat interacts with their environment.

In turn, this will inform us of our best strategies for choosing, raising, and training them. Because we need very different approaches for the different types.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

When we got Tristan at the age of 3 weeks, he had the generic stubby legs, short neck, and ears on the side of his head that most kittens have at that age. But by 3 months, everything had elongated, and his behavior made it clear than he was an Alpha. When picking out RJ (4 1/2 months) and Olwyn (3 months) I easily figured out they were Betas.

So, except when cats are very young, or exhibiting uncharacteristic behaviors because of stress, we can figure out what kind of cat we are looking at; and what they will need.

It’s important to understand how each cat regards their environment:

Alpha: These are cats who feel confident about changing their own environment.

Training them consists mainly of outwitting them. These are the cats who have to have everything be “their own idea.”

With their boundless reservoirs of brains and energy, we need to keep an Alpha cat busy and amused.

Beta: These are cats who feel confident about getting us to change the environment.

Training them consists of fostering communication and negotiation. Beta cats are glad to cooperate, once they know what it is we want.

With their strong social skills and eagerness for companionship, we need to make sure our Betas are never lonely.

Gamma: These are cats who don’t know the environment can be changed.

Training them consists of anticipating their needs and letting them know how much we care. These cats hate to be a bother.

The Gamma’s retiring nature will bloom under dedicated fussing, and they must never be neglected.

Knowing the cat types are crucial for choosing and blending cats.

Explore the characteristics, observe our own cats for clues, and soon we can starting building our own Cat Civilization.

One defined block at a time.

Explore how to recognize, train, and combine the different types with all my posts about cat types.

See the different cat types with my Way of Cats video on YouTube.

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an accurately chosen-by-type kitten who meshed with barely a ripple (Olwyn)

AND

a random act-of-kindness kitten who barely manages to fit into our household (Tristan)

I encourage careful choice, when possible, precisely because we cannot regard cats as having the same “return policy” as a pair of badly fitting pants. This is of vital importance because, while we have considerable leeway in how we can train our cat or kitten, we have very little when it comes to changing indelible parts of our cat’s personality.

What do I mean? What is the difference?

Olwyn has great social skills. These work wonderfully for her in her goal of Ruling the World.

Because her way of ruling the world is letting others agree to let her.

From her earliest minutes with us, she used charm, sweetness, and clear directives to let everyone know what she wanted. Even James Bond, the toughest nut among us, cracked. She would roll around on the bed and somehow wind up with her head on his tail.

The respect and grace with which she respected his dignity, and the hero-worship she bestowed, had him melting within weeks; and then actually taking her on as his Minion.

I picked Olwyn out at the age of three months. She didn’t stare fixedly at objects, the way Gammas tend to do. She wasn’t exhibiting the constant head-tilting and trajectory-calculating Alphas tend to do. I saw that she was a calm viewer of her environment. She eagerly engaged me with eye contact and cuddling. Unlike her shy littermate, or the bouncy boy kittens around her, she had the right energy level and the right social outlook to fit into our home.

I was challenged by small rooms, a chronically ill human, and two other cats. A Beta kitten was my best bet; and that’s what I got.

Tristan was a whole other story. Getting him at three weeks meant we knew almost nothing about him; except that he loved people (he ran crying to the first human he saw, wanting help.)

While being so proactive meant he wasn’t on the Gamma side, I hoped his abundant affection meant he was a Beta. But with each passing week, I kept having to ratchet that expectation upward, right into Alpha territory.

Unlike Olwyn, Tristan actually has more in the way of social needs than social skills. He’s very bright and still incredibly affectionate, but the older he gets, the more I realize my original (perhaps wishful) assessment of him being a Beta was wrong; he’s Alpha.

Always investigating, endlessly curious, and brimming with energy, he’s the very image of the narrow-bodied aerialist that is the Alpha cat type. It was evident at the age we got Olwyn; at three months old, I could tell what we had in Tristan.

This doesn’t mean we can’t make it work. While we had to rehome a previous Alpha kitten, that was because, as his new pet parent agreed, Ordell was an extraordinary specimen. This was a cat who went all the way to the end of the spectrum; and then burst through it.

While Tristan is barely workable for us; he is workable for us. We can wear him out. We can teach him our house rules. He does work hard to be compliant.

Since we’ve gotten this far, almost to a year old, we can get him to maturity; when he will calm down and need less intervention on our part.

Of course, Alphas tend to not grow up very fast. Of all the cat types, they stay kittens, for the longest.

We’ll simply have to enjoy that part, too.

We can pick up clues about our future cat at almost any age. Read my post about Guessing What We’re Getting.

We rescued a tiny kitten, not knowing anything about him. See all my posts about Tristan.

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There’s more to raising and training a cat with The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See my CAT TRAINING TIPS.

James was insistent about his bedtime routine, Reverend Jim was clumsy about attracting my attention, and Olwyn really really wanted to claim the new couch. Yet they settled into compliance once we negotiated, and occasionally confirmed, our own positions.

What they wanted was not that difficult to provide. What we wanted was easily reached.

Anyone reading my accounts of Olwyn’s childhood would assume I am quite the cat guru indeed.

I get her settled within five minutes, she’s running things within the hour, and she charms everyone, cat and human, within a couple of weeks and an inch of their lives.

The few disciplinary problems are explained and resolved with all the ease and dispatch of crises in a television sitcom.

A devoted reader would be forgiven for thinking how easy I made it look; and for expecting the same smooth course with our next kitten, Tristan. That didn’t happen. Far from the swift and simple experience that was Olwyn, Tristan’s childhood is turning out to be more like a dramatic mini-series.

He was fostered in our home. We got him at such a tender age.

Unlike our other kittens, he didn’t have nearly the terrible circumstances.

He wasn’t evidence in an abuse case like Reverend Jim.

He wasn’t a “failure to thrive” survivor like Olwyn.

Our Tiny Guy was adored and cuddled and catered to from the moment he was placed into my hands at the veterinarian’s office. Humans raised him practically from scratch. He had Olwyn as a nanny, Reverend Jim as a big brother, and James Bond as a crusty old codger who secretly cares.

With such an upbringing, he should have a heart as big and tender and sweet as a whole lemon meringue pie. (And he does.) With these advantages, he should be friendly to everyone he meets. (And he is.) With such a smooth and expert road laid out for him to to travel, he should be one of the bestest cats in the entire world. (We think so.)

But, easy? Not even close.

In fact, Tristan is a lesson. He illustrates how mistaken it is to believe that getting a kitten, the younger the better, lets us dodge potential problems. It’s this attitude that keeps adult cats languishing in shelters. There must be something wrong with them.

Thinking that getting a kitten gives us a blank slate; this attitude ignores both the power of choosing and the purpose of kitten raising.

I chose Olwyn because I thought her Beta tendencies gave her the right skills to slip seamlessly into our family. It turned out that way; she became great friends to our other cats, she loves to take care of Mr WayofCats when he’s not feeling well, and she’s a cuddly sweetheart with me, too.

I didn’t choose Tristan. If I had seen his Alpha tendencies, I would have worried that he would have too much energy for our situation. I would have been right; he almost does. But getting a cat tree, having other cats to play with, and keeping him on a regular play schedule has kept that to a manageable level.

Choosing right has tremendous power; choosing Olwyn turned out to be so much easier than not choosing Tristan.

The real problem is that, despite the young age at which we got him, Tristan still has an issue: he can’t be alone. Fortunately, he landed in a situation where it rarely comes up; except at three in the morning, when he wakes up and no one else does. Out of all the things we handle with Tristan, this is the one that is most indelible and exasperating.

If he hadn’t laid in a field, traumatized and hungry and all alone, before being rescued? It would still come up; just not so heavily.

Tristan has delightfully affectionate tendencies; he wants to please us, he responds to our disciplinary efforts, he is still cuddly at the height of adolescence.

But this also means he is dependent on having these social needs met. He gets anxious when he feels alone; that would be the case no matter what his life circumstances.

He was born that way.

This is where the importance of good kitten raising comes in. With support and guidance, he’s learned to hug a stuffed animal or my arm to self-soothe. He’s learned he can stave off early morning loneliness by curling up on my feet. He’s learned that his family is always there; even when we are asleep. He can now handle himself until five in the morning. Soon, he’ll make it to the alarm.

He didn’t get this way because he was spoiled. A lot of people have told me that it’s all my fault; we did fuss over him and cater to him and lead him to expect prompt attention to his needs. However, they are wrong. Without our fussing, early on, he would have died. Later on, without our fussing, he would have never learned to handle his anxiety.

A cat cannot learn to be something they are not.

What if someone else had raised Tristan? Someone without this understanding? What if they had frustrated him and not met his needs and then abandoned him to a shelter as “too much trouble”? What then?

In all likelihood, Tristan would have still had that strong need for love. He would have reached out. He could have been brought home as an adult capable of much faster learning than he would have had as a kitten. If the person who brought him home could take care of his needs, Tristan could have wound up pretty much the same delightful boy he is now.

If I had seen him as an adult, I would be able to know exactly what I was getting.

And I would still want it.

We rescued a tiny kitten, not knowing anything about him. See all my posts about Tristan.

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There’s more to choosing a cat with The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See my CHOOSING A CAT.

Mr WayofCats was assembling his weekly pillbox. Because of his chronic illness, he must follow a twice-a-day, carefully calibrated, routine involving both prescription medicines and nutritional supplements. In the middle of it, I called him from another room, and he made a mistake. He came.

By the time he got back, Tristan had knocked the pillbox onto the floor. As we were crawling around on the carpet with flashlights, picking up pills, we got another scare; we were finding broken pills!

Neither of us calmed down until Mr WayofCats had re-assembled all his stuff and discovered Tristan had not, after all, eaten anything. But now that we know just how far he will go to play with these interesting edible objects (normally he leaves anything on that table alone) Mr WayofCats now assembles his pillboxes with much more care.

Then he puts the box in a drawer, because Tristan also had demonstrated he knew how to open the pillbox sections, even with the child-proof lids.

This week, we had a problem one morning with Tristan wanting to get us up too early. When we are both sick and unable to get his exercise in for him, this can happen. So, as I’ve done a few times before, I put him in the bathroom.

Unfortunately, in the morning, I discovered his attempts to get out of the bathroom had resulted in him throwing the deadbolt on the door; which hinges on the inside and the window won’t open since the earthquake before last.

At least he had not flipped the section down that would have made it impossible for me to get it open; a lot of wiggling and jiggling later, (and I was doing some wiggling and jiggling of my own, as you can imagine,) I was finally able to get the door open. I’ve now taped down the deadbolt to remind me that those little paws are quite clever.

These two incidents are not unusual. They are life with an Alpha cat type.

There are incredible compensations, of course. Alphas do everything big!

Including play and affection.

He might get Olwyn hissing at him for being too rowdy, but the next minute she will forgive him anything, and pin him to the ground to have his forehead washed. RJ might take up most of the bedroom window, but the little slice he left will be filled with Tristan’s head and forepaws. Mr WayofCats might not like having his guitar tuning studied so very very closely, but then Tristan becomes a big slipper around his foot.

When I come home and Tristan staggers out from his nap, blinking and eager for a hug, it really doesn’t matter what his report card that day will say.

We think we’ll keep him.

For more about living with Alpha cats, see all my posts about the Alpha.

We rescued a tiny kitten, not knowing anything about him. See all my posts about Tristan.

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There’s more ways to understand our cat with The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See all of my posts on WHY CATS DO THAT.

But as he grows and develops, it has become clear exactly what he is.

He’s a Looney Tune.

Oh, I mean, he’s an Alpha cat type.

Same difference.

As seen here, he has the elongated body type of an Oriental cat breed, like a Siamese or an Abyssinian.

But that alone would not be enough; that’s only a clue.

What really makes an Alpha is the personality.

This is what happens when Tristan’s wishes are thwarted. And we’re getting off lightly.

When we tell Tristan “No,” he finds frustration so infuriating that he must redirect that energy into something else; something he can shred to soothe himself. He’s chosen tissues, which he can get at himself.

I can’t complain; he was scolded for fishing them out of the trash, so now he does fresh. I can deal with that. So, we let him.

For an Alpha cat, human discipline conflicts with their strong drive to do what they want. So if we were to tell Tristan he can’t shred tissues, he would be driven to find something else to shred.

While he’s good about using his various scratching alternatives, this is not the same thing; this is the urge to destroy, and of all the things around the house for him to destroy, clean tissues are our best option.

While Tristan’s curiosity, dexterity, stubbornness, and energy are Alpha level, he adds in the social skills that made me think he was a Beta at first; until he got the yard-long Muppet legs, that is.

At three months it began to be apparent that we simply had to buckle up and enjoy the ride. But we already have one of the useful prerequisites for successful Alpha raising; other cats to chase and wrestle with. Who (ahem) don’t mind.

Tristan’s best buddy Reverend Jim is the classic Beta; calm, collected, connected. The two of them form a wonderful comedy team; like the classic Laurel & Hardy, Abbott & Costello, or Dean & Jerry matchups, they are complimentary pieces of a puzzle.

If Tristan has worn out RJ, he can turn to Olwyn, who is still not two years old, and has many of the same interests. With the efforts of the two humans in the house, we all manage to tag-team Tristan into naptime on a regular basis.

Even with these new developments, we feel confident this isn’t going to be another Ordell situation.

We’d previously had to rehome another kitten because he was so Alpha. But everyone who has encountered this cat all agree; we’re talking a “Force Ten from Navarone” kind of cat.

They didn’t just break the mold with Ordell; they know who broke it.

Tristan, on the other hand, is a lower level sort of Alpha; able to be worn out, amenable to behavior suggestions, and very cognizant of the impact of other beings. He’s less single-minded, and thus, we have the “wiggle room” to help him get what he needs in our small apartment.

We also have the appreciation of what he brings to our family.

We rescued a tiny kitten, not knowing anything about him. See all my posts about Tristan.

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There’s more to choosing a cat with The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See my CHOOSING A CAT.

There are some cats who take this already important interest and turn it up to eleven.

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One of the characteristics of the Gamma cat is attention to detail. This is a survival instinct in the wild, when picking up on small clues would let a cat outwit their prey, or another predator. Gammas are meant for such important activities as being easily amused, sweetly affectionate, and highly decorative.

So we have some trait concentration going along for the ride, and this creates cats whose attention to detail can a bit strong for maximum survival in the wild. It can also create cats who are misunderstood by their people.

The detail oriented cat wants their bowl set down in the same place every time. They hate it when we come home late. When their pillow is vacuumed, they want the same side facing up. Did we fold a blanket on the bed for them? How nice. Could we possibly get that wrinkle out of it?

We can be baffled that our usually easygoing cat will come up with odd details to get obsessed over. This mental trait shares some characteristics with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in humans, in that it seems to bestow the ability to notice small details.

For both cats and humans, the tripping point is how they interpret these small clues that seem to thrust themselves into their observations. What we can do, as Cat Appreciators, is help our detail oriented cat understand what these details mean.

To us, it’s nothing. To our cat, their brain is urging them to notice these small details, because it is tripping their survival instincts. In the wild, a dislodged pebble or broken leaf can mean life or death, for someone.

Our detail oriented cat is at the mercy of this instinct in two ways:

The best thing we can do for such cats is notice (or pretend to notice) it ourselves, and then reassure them that this doesn’t mean anything bad.

Wrinkle in their bed or blanket? These small things are not small to our cat. Because of the way they see, cats can interpret a shadow as fundamentally changing an object’s shape or dimensions in a way a human cannot.

If our cat is avoiding their usual spots or objects, crying about something, or trying to draw our attention to something, the cure can be as simple as fussing with whatever it is, and then acting happy. Our leadership on this important matter might be all our cat needs.

Was it moved to a new spot? If we need to redecorate or rearrange our living quarters, such terraforming offers a challenge to any cat. For our detail oriented cat, we might as well have ripped out the entire room. All the little cues that told them they were home have vanished.

If we can, we should preserve the essence of their terrain by putting back the same blankets or beds, and creating similar spots. Give the cat reassurance by using scent cues before and after. Use fresh catnip or pungent treats to mark their stuff before, and after, the change. Scent marking will connect directly to the emotional centers in their brain, and provide them the cues they need.

Is it (the horror!) a replacement item? While our detail oriented cat is a pushover when it comes to new toys, new beds or food dishes create the opposite reaction. That’s because the tiny changes which fascinate in a new crackly or sparkly toy send off not-the-same signals when they are connected to food or safety.

If possible, juxtapose the new item with the old so some of the qualities can rub off on each other. If that’s not possible, as in the case of a broken food dish, see if we can involve our cat with the process. Sharp shards and food on the floor will trigger our own need to get it cleaned up as soon as possible, and the crash probably sent our cat scrambling out of the room.

But if we can at least show our cat the aftermath, or the clean up process, our cat will grasp that the broken dish won’t be showing up again. The new dish should be presented with especially tasty food and/or some fuss and fanfare.

Validation will communicate both that we understand it has changed, and that the change is okay.

These are the concepts our detail oriented cat struggles with, agonizes over, and needs help interpreting. These are concepts any cat has in some degree. These are concepts that many people find annoying because they don’t realize what prompts them, and, even more importantly, how they can deal with this anxiety, and shut it off.

Once we grasp the procedure, we have another fun way to communicate, and play, with our cat.

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There’s more to raising and training a cat with The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See my CAT TRAINING TIPS.