The Way of Cats

A reader writes:

My eight year old Persian has started howling for no reason I can figure out. He gets along with the other cat and the four dogs and the vet says he has no physical problems. Yet he will, at any time of day or night, go to a corner or the front door or kitchen, anywhere really, and begin to cry a very primal howl. He seems completely unhappy about something and I can’t, for the life of me, figure out what it is.

more animals

Dear Readers,

Kudos to the cat person who wrote me; she was smart enough to check for medical problems, which can be why a cat asks for help. But if the cat checks out okay, what else could the problem be?

Persians are almost always Gamma cats. These cats have many attractive qualities, especially for the newbie cat person. They tend to not get into things, their play is less rowdy, and as adults they are laid back, even shy.

But these attributes come with a price. Gamma cats are not designed to demand attention, even if they need it. Their person must be willing to seek out the Gamma, be attuned to their mild ways of requesting things, and react with calm delight to any overtures their Gamma might make.

Gammas try to lead a life with the volume turned low because they are so sensitive to muchness. Play, discipline, and affection practices that other cats either shrug off or eat up can be too much for the delicate Gamma. We must always be gentle with them, whether we are warning them away from the computer or greeting them on our arrival home. The biggest risk a Gamma runs is not knocking things over; it’s withdrawing and not being pursued by their person.

I figured that was what had happened to my reader’s cat. With other pets in the household more at ease with demanding what they wanted, her Gamma was inadvertently being ignored. It’s like the punchline of the old joke, “Everything’s been fine up to now!” True to his nature, the cat just suffered in silence, until he couldn’t be silent any more.

I suggested my reader start making a fuss over him twice a day, with sweet talk and petting him while his feet are on the ground, the ways Gammas like. She reports the difference has been dramatic. It is our 1st night in two months without a howling episode and I am loving having my boy back.

This makes me very happy, too.

Got here from a Link or Search?
There’s more ways to care for our cat with The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See all of my posts on CAT CARE.

A reader writes:

My cats won’t play unless I play with them. So, are they lazy, or what?

more animals

Dear Readers,

These are not cats who cannot be playful. What, then, is lacking? It might be energy. It might be imagination.

A cat without interests might need a checkup to make sure their thyroid is still firing on all cylinders, especially if they are overweight. Keeping the cat on a Catkins regimen will help prevent weight and health issues which can interfere with our cats enjoying themselves. But if these are not problems that need to be addressed, we might ask ourselves what kind of cats they are.

Gamma cats are notable for such quiet interests, while Alpha cats will be downright elderly before they quiet down. Puffy, settled into middle age and passive as a beanbag chair, enjoys different windows to look out of, and batting at whatever is in the puzzle box, along with a daily stint on someone’s lap. It may not be much, but it is something. Anything less, and I would start to worry.

A kitten can play with a discarded grocery receipt for two hours. They have energy to burn. The older cat doesn’t have the same drive to keep busy physically. They should, however, be busy with something during their awake hours, and keep up their expected level of affection. A sudden drop in their usual activities, or hiding and withdrawing from social interaction, can be a sign of illness.

It could also be that they are bored. After all, there are toys that need us to activate them, and toys that encourage the cat to use their imagination. It can be as simple as putting a toy in a box, letting the cat see us do it, and let their curiosity take over.

We could talk to the cats more. Posing questions, even if we don’t expect answers, engages the cats curiosity by encouraging them to try to figure us out. Delay dinner and see if they notice or ask for it. Move their bowls to a different spot and see what they do. Cats can get in a rut, just as we do.

Maybe it’s better for both of us that we watch out for such.

Got here from a Link or Search?
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.

A reader writes:

One of the things I love about my significant other is our mutual love of cats. When we move in together, how can we make it one big happy family?

more animals

Dear Readers,

This is a question with so many possible combinations that each will be unique. But there are considerations that apply to any situation.

Whose territory is going to be colonized? If everyone will be in a new place, this will create a situation which is new for everyone. Each group of cats will get a room in the new home, where they can venture out, to discover there are new cats here! This will allow everyone to feel equally entitled to the new territory, and the two groups will mingle without existing territory disputes. Each group will have “their room” to retreat to.

Even when moving one group into another’s territory, this same principle will be useful. Set off a room for the new cats to live in during the transition period. This new room should have an air of mystery and anticipation to it before the new cats arrive. This will let the home cats wonder what it going to happen in there; when something does, this will trigger their curiosity more than their fear.

The new person should be introduced to the other’s cats and relationships established before serious relocation proceeds. Just as introductions should always be in steps, the people involved should have as least neutral status with each other’s cats before blending is attempted.

We should also consider the range of personalities in this new group of cats. Blending a bunch of laid back Betas is much easier than combining one person’s traumatized rescues with the other person’s group of high energy Alphas. The greater the range of the cat personalities in question, the longer the introduction process.

In some ways, groups of cats are easier to introduce than only one. The likelihood of finding a similar cat to be friends with is greater, as is the social support each group of cats has already established for each other. With space and patience, blending the cat family does not have to be a traumatic event for anyone.

As long as each member of the family gets enough time to adjust, and support during it, the dream can be realized.

For more about introducing a new cat to the household, see this page.

Got here from a Link or Search?
There’s more about multiple cats in The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See more posts on the MULTIPLE CAT ADVANTAGE.

A reader writes,

I wonder if my cat isn’t lonely when I’m at work all day. I’d love to get her a kitten, but what if they don’t get along? I have a small apartment and I’m afraid to take this step.

more cat pictures

Dear Readers,

There are many cats who would enjoy having a cute little sidekick as much as we would enjoy getting them one. The problem is figuring out if our cat falls into that category.

Getting a kitten can lower our risk of cat conflicts, because adult cats recognize kittens as the goofballs they are, and will not be as likely to regard them as territorial interlopers. This makes our introduction process easier.

How can we tell if our cat would appreciate kitten companionship?

• The age of the cat. The younger the better, since we are talking about kittens. Past the age of ten, cats tend to value their peace and quiet more than opportunities for play.
• The activity level of the cat. If our cat, of whatever age, is still looking for intense play, they would be likely to love the recreational opportunities of a kitten. If we notice they have been looking for ways to amuse themselves while we are gone, they are asking for more stimulation.
• The social outlook. We must consider how our cat reacts to new things in general, and living things in particular. Are they interested in visitors, of any kind? Do they hide when things get lively? Do they seem content with our company, or do we see signs that they wish to be busy beyond that?

As much as a kitten occupies our time and attention, the effect is even more so on our cat. Kittens will be constantly approaching the cat for play and cuddles, modeling their behavior after theirs, and interfering with their routines. The advantages must outweigh the disadvantages for the established cat.

Ironically, it is often the kind of cat who is least likely to welcome a kitten that can trigger a person’s wish to get them a companion. Cats who keep to themselves, don’t play much, and appear between long intervals can seem “lonely.” But they are not. They are happy and contented, and would view the constant play invitations of a kitten as harassment.

Loneliness in cats is not when the cat is quiet. Such cats are displaying their natural state, and once grown, they have a reduced ability to deal with the disruptions of kittens, who are impervious to rebuffs and don’t have the social ability to take no for an answer. These cats can’t get the kitten to leave them alone, and the kitten, seeing only one other cat in the house, can’t leave them alone. Strange as it may seem, these cats will react better to two kittens than one.

A lonely cat is an active cat. The kind of cat who is always looking for play opportunities, who requests activities, who is curious about visitors and doesn’t mind changes in the routine; these are the cats who would welcome a kitten of their own. Figuring out what type of cat we have now, and getting a kitten of that same type, is the best way to ensure harmony.

This is how cats become buddies. Shared outlooks and shared temperament builds the bonds between cats.

Got here from a Link or Search?
There’s more about multiple cats in The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See more posts on the MULTIPLE CAT ADVANTAGE.