Is That Kitten a Fraidy Cat – Fear Behaviors in Kittens

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Kitten with adult cat

It’s hard to resist those cute little balls of fur. If you are smitten with a kitten, how do you know if a kitten is a fraidy cat? It is unlikely that you will know the details of how they were raised. What can you do?

that kitten is a fraidy cat

Kittens that are fearful at intake into the animal shelter are more likely to remain fearful of unfamiliar people and objects when they are old enough to be adopted (Reference 1). This makes them less likely to be adopted. How do you identify the fraidy cat?

A recent study observed the responses of 46 kittens 5-8 weeks old when they were confronted with 1) a stuffed dog 2) a stuffed cat and 3) a vacuum cleaner. The researchers found that fear behaviors in kittens are similar to those of an adult cat (Reference 1).

Many rescues will adopt out kittens at 8-10 weeks of age although recent research favors adopting kittens out at a later age, 12 weeks or more (Reference 2). Many rescues will allow you to visit with an adoptable kitten. How do you know if the kitten is fearful or not?

If a kitten is a fraidy cat, watch for the fear behaviors listed below (red box). You will often see these behaviors while the kitten backs up or runs away from a person or object.  The green box lists behaviors of relaxed kittens.

that kitten is a fraidy cat

  • Crouching: the kitten’s body is close to the ground with all four legs bent and their belly close to or touching the ground
  • Tucked or lowered Tail: Tail is tucked under the body or wrapped around the hind legs
  • Ears back or sideways (airplane ears)
  • Hair on End – “Halloween cat”
  • Freezing – like a statue for 2 seconds or more
  • Slow Movements: walking slowly, cowering
  • Flinching: kitten suddenly jumps or jolts
  • Aggression: Kitten bites, swats, hisses

Fear Behavior in Kittens

that kitten is relaxed

  • Standing up – belly is held up and legs are naturally extended
  • Tail up or straight out behind them
  • Ears up and facing forward
  • Eating – this is a sign of the kitten being relaxed
  • Grooming – the act of grooming indicates that the kitten is relaxed

Positive Behaviors in Kittens

making your kitten comfortable

Whether the kitten you adopt is shy and retiring or bold and confident, it is important to provide them with an environment that the kitten feels safe in. Often, kittens are fostered in the homes of rescue volunteers to reduce their exposure to illness. A recent survey of foster care of kittens found that (Reference 3) :

  • Kittens who spend most of their time in the social areas of the home (free access indoors or in the living room) are more friendly to people
  • Kittens do better in quieter social areas
  • Kittens who spent some time alone seem happier and more interested in playing with toys

what to do

  • SET UP A SAFE PLACE: Set up a space for the kitten with a cozy place to sleep, some toys, water, and a litter box. This can be a spare room or walk-in closet in your house or apartment. You will use this area for quiet time and when there is too much stimulation for the kitten. 
  • IF THAT KITTEN IS A FRAIDY CAT: Keep the kitten in that safe place (spare room, walk-in closet) for the first few days after you bring them home. Supervise them as they first start to explore the house.
  • IF THAT KITTEN IS A FRAIDY CAT:  Visits to the social areas should be short at first.  Start with a quiet room and work up to a normal noise level; start with one or two people and work up to a full house. Your “thermometer” is the kitten’s body language (see above) – if they seem anxious, return them to their “safe place”.
  • KITTENS NEED QUIET TIME: Just like human children, kittens need to spend some time alone, away from housemates and people. Think of “quiet” time in kindergarten. The “safe place” gives kittens an opportunity to sleep and to play with toys on their own. 

Be sure to handle the kitten in a gentle, predictable way.
The international cat rescue, ICatCare, recommends  following a “five second rule”, where you play or handle the kitten for 5 seconds than assess if the kitten is still enjoying the interaction (Reference 4).
You can count slowly to 5, then see how the kitten is doing. Watch your kitten’s body language!

Experts recommend several weeks for animals to acclimate to a new environment – zoos and animal parks may take up to 30 days to allow animals to adjust to their new home, surroundings, and interactions with other animals (Reference 5).  Plan to give your new kitten time to settle into your home – a gradual introduction to the household works best!

It is important to identify when that kitten is a fraidy cat and adjust socialization appropriately. Consider printing and posting the infographic of fear behaviors in kittens  to refer to.

 

references

  1. Graham, C., Khalife, S., Pearl, D. L., Mason, G. J., & Niel, L. (2024). Tell-tail fear behaviors in kittens:Identifying the scaredy cat. Animal Behavior and Cognition, 11(4), 361-392.https://doi.org/10.26451/abc.11.04.03.2024
  2. Finka, L.R. Conspecific and Human Sociality in the Domestic Cat: Consideration of Proximate Mechanisms, Human Selection and Implications for Cat Welfare. Animals 2022, 12, 298. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12030298
  3. Gemma R. Campbell, Elizabeth R. Arnott, Courtney Graham, Lee Niel, Michael P. Ward, Gemma Ma, Impact of early socialisation in foster care on kitten behaviour, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Volume 276,2024,106306, ISSN 0168-1591,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106306.
  4. the icatcare-kitten-booklet for care, feeding and housing of your new kitten. See https://icatcare.org/resources/icatcare-kitten-booklet-2024.pdf
  5.  DeGroot, Jen. “Ask the Expert: How do you acclimate an animal to a new habitat?”, Cleveland Zoological Society, September 27, 2021. https://www.clevelandzoosociety.org/z/2021/09/27/ask-the-expert-how-do-you-acclimate-an-animal-to-a-new-habitat

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Cats Playing with Toys – Predatory Play?

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cat with wand toy
Zelda plays with a toy mouse on a wand toy.

One of the 5 pillars of a healthy feline environment is the opportunity for predatory play. Experts recommend 5-10 minutes of such play daily. When is cats playing with toys – predatory play?

Cats playing with toys – predatory play?

Play in domestic cats is commonly categorized as social, locomotor, predatory, or object play (Reference 1). Social play refers to the wrestling, chasing and pouncing that you see sometimes with cats who are affiliated (see social groups of cats). Object play is play with objects such as balls and catnip mice. Locomotor play involves running, jumping – the “zoomies”. Predatory play incorporates features of both object and locomotor play.

When is cats playing with toys – predatory play? Predatory play can be part of an actual hunt or a play session with inanimate objects (Reference 2).

  • Part of the actual hunt: instead of immediately killing the captured prey, the cat “plays” with it, letting the prey escape and recapturing it, tossing it up into the air…
  • Play session with toys:  the cat “goes through the motions” of hunting/killing on a toy or other inanimate object

In the wild, a “hunting sequence” can mirror the preferences of the individual cat and/or be determined by the prey they are hunting. Often, the cat will stalk the prey, hide in wait for the prey to come out, then pounce at an opportune moment. The hunting sequence ends with the cat catching and eating their prey.

benefits of predatory play

Taking the recommendation of the experts that the kind of play our cats need is the “predatory” kind, what are the benefits of this type of play?

Pet cats are increasingly kept indoors; some cats live exclusively indoors. Wild or feral cats spend most of their waking hours in search of food. Our indoor pets do not have this outlet for their energy and curiosity and this can result in boredom and problem behaviors.

Recent studies show that play is associated with improved welfare. The more play and the more variety of games initiated by the cat or their owner improves the relationship between the owner and the cat. When play is absent, cats suffer distress and behavioral problems such as overgrooming, house-soiling, scratching furniture, and aggression (Reference 3).

Cats playing with toys – predatory play

Predatory play focuses on those skills the cat would use when hunting. How can we mimic predatory play indoors? Which toys are effective at stimulating hunting behavior?

Wand/Chasing toys: 

These are a perennial favorite, allowing the owner to vary the speed and location of the toy to mimic the behavior of a mouse or insect moving along the floor. Some cats enjoy jumping and catching the toy while it’s in the air.

A recent study found that 5-10 minutes of daily play with wand/chasing toys reduced the numbers of mammals (mice, rabbits, voles…) captured and brought home by indoor-outdoor cats (Reference 4). The study participants also provided the cat with ‘mouse’ toy filled with bubble wrap to catch and bite and kick after the play session to complete the hunting sequence (Reference 4).

Laser light toys

Many cats enjoy chasing laser light toys – stalking, chasing, and pouncing can be part of this. However, being unable to complete the “hunt” can give rise to frustration. Give your cat some needed reinforcement intermittently to keep them playing the game – use the laser pointer to point to a treat when ending the laser tag session.

Using a laser pointer to target a treat
The laser guides Gus to a treat at the end of the play session.

 

GAMES WITH FOOD – FEED THE NEED TO HUNT

Treat toss

A fun way to feed the need to hunt is to toss your cat his dry food or crunchy treats and watch him hunt them down. This game works best with larger kibbles like those from dental foods, where 10-15 pieces of kibble are about 30 kcal. Tossing the kibble allows your cat to use their senses of hearing and smell, like they would when chasing live prey. See Your Cat is a Born Hunter : Feed the Need to Hunt

Food Puzzles

Food puzzles can mimic the foraging behavior shown by cats in the wild. Although a study aimed at reducing predation in outdoor cats found that food puzzles increased the number of prey animals brought home (Reference 4), these puzzles can keep cats mentally engaged, reducing boredom and controlling food portions to help with weight loss. See  Cats at Work : Cats Using Food Puzzles

ELECTRONIC TOYS

As Artificial Intelligence enters the pet market, there are more and more adaptive toys aimed at entertaining your cat. Take a careful look when deciding to purchase these toys:

  • Does the toy stimulate hunting type behaviors – stalking, pouncing, chasing?
  • Are there elements of frustration embedded in the toy – will your cat be able to complete the hunting sequence?
  • How repetitive is the motion? How quickly will your cat become bored with the toy and stop playing with it?
  • Can you easily rotate the toy in and out of the daily play sequence?

When is cats playing with toys – predatory play? In predatory play, indoor cats carry out the hunting sequence on toys.  Current research shows that daily predatory play can impact your cat’s welfare positively and improve the cat-human bond. The need to hunt defines who your cat is – this is what they were born to do.  We need to provide our cats with an opportunity to hunt – whether it is fishing kibble out of a food puzzle or chasing a stuffed mouse at the end of a wand toy.

references

  1. Mikel Delgado, Julie Hecht. A review of the development and functions of cat play, with future research considerations.
    Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Volume 214, 2019, Pages 1-17, ISSN 0168-1591,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2019.03.004.
  2. Muhzina Shajid Pyari, Stefania Uccheddu, Rita Lenkei, Péter Pongrácz. Inexperienced but still interested – Indoor-only cats are more inclined for predatory play than cats with outdoor access, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Volume 24, 2021, 05373, ISSN 0168-1591, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105373.
  3. Henning J, Nielsen T, Fernandez E, Hazel S. Cats just want to have fun: Associations between play and welfare in domestic cats. Anim Welf. 2023 Jan 27;32:e9. doi: 10.1017/awf.2023.2. PMID: 38487456; PMCID: PMC10936385.
  4. Cecchetti M, Crowley SL, Goodwin CED, McDonald RA. Provision of High Meat Content Food and Object Play Reduce Predation of Wild Animals by Domestic Cats Felis catus. Curr Biol. 2021 Mar 8;31(5):1107-1111.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.12.044. Epub 2021 Feb 11. PMID: 33577746

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Do Cats Have Emotions? Do Cats have Feelings?

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Do cats have emotions? Do cats have feelings? Although the words emotions and feelings are often used interchangeably, emotions strictly refer to neurological responses to an event. Feelings on the other hand, are a conscious recognition of these physical sensations; feelings are generated from our thoughts.

do cats have emotions? Do cats have feelings?

Neuroscience shows that all mammals experience 7 basic emotions: SEEKING, RAGE, FEAR, LUST, CARE, PANIC/GRIEF and PLAY. Cats being mammals certainly experience these. But do they respond like we do to emotions? There will be differences in the types, durations and intensities of feelings experienced by cats and humans. We can’t know exactly what cats feel but we certainly can observe the emotional event and see whether it results in a positive or negative response.

“…affective neuroscience strategies now provide the needed “weight of evidence” indicating that animals do “feel” although, admittedly, we cannot be very precise about the experienced nature of their feelings, above and beyond several distinct forms of good and bad emotional feelings” (Reference 1).

How does this affect how we treat our cats? Traditionally, animal welfare has been focused on negative states such as pain and suffering, with the goal of keeping animals healthy and treating illness. This one-sided approach ignores the importance of positive experiences and emotions on health and longevity (Reference 2).

Recognizing Positive and Negative Emotional States in Your Cat

We can recognize positive and negative emotional states by observing cats’ body posture and facial expressions. These can be challenging to sort out. A cat with half-closed eyes may be painful, fearful or starting to relax.

Actions sometimes give us a better idea of what a cat is feeling.  “Obviously, we can only ask if animals experience something by seeing if such states matter to animals. Will they choose to turn these states on or off? Will they return to or avoid locations where such states were artificially evoked (conditioned place preferences and aversions)?” (Reference 1).

If a cat approaches and rubs against you, he has made a choice to come to you. Presumably, his emotional state is positive. In contrast, when you bring the cat carrier out, your cat may hide, choosing to avoid the negative emotional state associated with going in the car to the veterinarian.

Do cats have emotions? opportunities for positive emotional states

Research conducted at the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home tested a simple set of guidelines (CAT) that aims to make cats more  comfortable when they are interacting with us (Reference 3).

C – Allow a cat to CHOOSE whether or not to interact with you
A – Pay attention to the cat’s body language and behavior
T – Think about where you are touching the cat

C is for CHOICE:

Provide cats the opportunity to exercise some control over their environment and make pleasurable choices when possible. For example, if you need to move your cat, consider using a target or some treats to direct them to another place instead of picking them up.

A IS FOR ATTENTION:

How we handle animals has direct consequences on their welfare. Pay attention to to your cat’s body language when handling them. Get your cat’s attention before interacting with them. Start with a brief interaction and see how your cat responds. If they accept it, go for a bit longer. Be attentive to your cat wanting to end the interaction – turning their head or moving way from you.

T IS FOR TOUCH:

Consensual touch between individuals can communicate safety; such touch activates neurotransmitters such as oxytocin and ultimately dopamine. Oxytocin and dopamine are primarily associated with positive emotions, thus social touch is rewarding to the participants (Reference 4).

Friendly cats usually prefer being touched at base of their ears, around their cheeks, and under their chin. Watch for signs that your cat is done with being touched.

Collaborating with your cat

We can go one step further with these guidelines – start a conversation with your cat. Studies have shown that cats recognize their owners’ voices and learn the names of their companion cats. A recent study found that cats associated verbal words with pictures faster than human infants (8-14 months old). This study suggests that like apes, parrots and dogs, cats can learn human vocabulary (Reference 5).

Vocabulary for Your Cat

It is useful for your cat to know the words for the parts of his body, particularly those that may be touched. My cats learned the words “head”, “chin”, “cheeks” and “back” in 2-3 sessions. This allows you to ask, “Can I pet your head?”, giving the cat the choice to accept stroking to the head or to avoid it by turning their head aside.

Do cats have emotions? feelings?

Do cats have emotions? Feelings – the answer is yes. 

In James Cameron’s movie “Avatar”, the sapient inhabitants of the planet Pandora, the Na’vi, greet each other with the phrase “I see you”. In the movie, this simple phrase is more than just physically seeing the person in front of you – it is also a spiritual kind of seeing – recognizing, seeing into, and understanding each other.

Your cat can learn much more than names of the parts of their body – they can learn to collaborate in their medical and physical care and become a treasured and valued companion. But, first, you must “see” them as having emotions, and able to mentally process (think about) those emotions, to have feelings.

references

  1. Panksepp J. Cross-species affective neuroscience decoding of the primal affective experiences of humans and related animals. PLoS One. 2011;6(9):e21236. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0021236. Epub 2011 Sep 7. PMID: 21915252; PMCID: PMC3168430
  2. Browning H, Birch J. Animal sentience. Philos Compass. 2022 May;17(5):e12822. doi: 10.1111/phc3.12822. Epub 2022 Mar 17. PMID: 35859762; PMCID: PMC9285591
  3. Haywood C, Ripari L, Puzzo J, Foreman-Worsley R, Finka LR. Providing Humans With Practical, Best Practice Handling Guidelines During Human-Cat Interactions Increases Cats’ Affiliative Behaviour and Reduces Aggression and Signs of Conflict. Front Vet Sci. 2021 Jul 23;8:714143. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.714143. PMID: 34434985; PMCID: PMC8381768.
  4. Ellingsen Dan-Mikael , Leknes Siri , Løseth Guro , Wessberg Johan , Olausson Håkan. The Neurobiology Shaping Affective Touch: Expectation, Motivation, and Meaning in the Multisensory Context. Frontiers in Psychology, Vol. 6, 2016, http://10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01986
  5. Takagi, S., Koyasu, H., Nagasawa, M. et al. Rapid formation of picture-word association in cats. Sci Rep 14, 23091 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-74006-2)

 

 

The Pros and Cons of Owning a Robotic Cat – Are Robotic Cats Part of Our Future?

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What are the pros and cons of owning a robotic cat? Are robotic cats part of our future?

Artificial intelligence is developing rapidly and among the applications are robots that can walk the dog, cook dinner, and teach the kids (Reference 1). So, it is not a surprise that robotic pets are being offered as companions.

Consider the MarsCat made by Elephant Robotics:
“You will never know what MarsCat will do next because it is like a real cat, fully autonomous. MarsCat acts independently without any instructions. MarsCat walks, runs, sleeps, sits, stretches, bites nails, kneads, and even buries litter although she won’t produce any waste. It may express different emotions by different meows or gestures” (Reference 2).

The Pros and Cons of Owning a Robotic Cat

We’ve all heard about the benefits of owning a pet. Pets provide companionship, keep us from being lonely, reduce stress and anxiety, give you unconditional love, lower your blood pressure, and increase the survival rates from heart disease and cancer.

But what if you are not able to own a live pet? Perhaps your mobility is compromised or you suffer from memory loss or you are living in a care facility?

I get it – owning a robotic cat, there are no litter boxes to scoop, no worries about feeding your cat and him eating too much, no worries that he will scratch you because you mishandle him.

Robotic pets have been found to reduce agitation and aggression in older adults with dementia. Conversations and social interactions are easier for older, compromised adults when they have a robotic cat – after all, the cat would be a conversational icebreaker.  Studies have found older adults feel less lonely with a robotic cat, that they can hold and pet (Reference 3).

One of the popular robotic cats for the elderly is the Joy for All Cat. This kitty features hypoallergenic fur and responds to touch by purring. You can actually feel this cat “purring”. The cats contain touch- and light–activated sensors so that they can respond to a person by vocalizing or moving. For example, the robotic cat will roll over to have their tummy rubbed. These pets come with a standard program and cannot be reprogrammed.

Of course, before caregivers use one of these robotic pets, they need to consider the preferences of the individual user, the older adult or person with dementia who will receive the pet. A robotic pet may not be appropriate for a person who did not like animals when they were young and not compromised. Or maybe the recipient would prefer a robotic puppy or seal as opposed to a cat (Reference 3).

Artificial Intelligence and the Robotic Cat

Artificial intelligence (AI) can look for patterns in data (input), uncover insights, and improve the results of just about any given task.

The MarsCat mentioned above does have some adaptive learning capabilities. The more you play with it and interact with it, the more it will adapt its behavior to be more responsive and seemingly “attached” to you. (Reference 2)

It is interesting that AI seems to mimic how biological organisms learn. Robotics labs have found that robots learn faster with positive reinforcement, similar to the way you can train a live cat or dog.

At Johns Hopkins University, Spot the robot learned to focus on constructive actions. It earned “points” instead of treats for stacking blocks; when it knocked over a stack – it was not awarded any points.  Researchers found that reinforcement accelerated learning – what used to take Spot weeks to master, would now happen in days (Reference 4).

At Stanford University, robo-dogs with vision-based programming were able to scale objects, leap across gaps, crawl under things and squeeze through crevices that they had not seen before. The robo-dogs got rewarded  (numerical “points”) for actions that allowed them to accomplish the challenge (Reference 5).

The pros and cons of owning a Robotic Cat – is a robotic cat right for you?

These pets are increasingly popular in Japan particularly among the elderly. If you are busy or have other conditions that would preclude owning a live pet, robopets can fill the gap.

However, as cute and charming as they are, owning a robotic cat differs from owning a real, live cat in a number of ways. In addition to needing to be fed, have the litter box scooped and going to the vet from time to time, live cats are sentient creatures with emotions. There will be times your live cat will not want to be stroked or sit on your lap and you might get scratched if you persist. Petting-induced aggression will not happen with a robotic cat, making these cats more suitable to the elderly and people with dementia.

Although live cats like their robotic counterparts learn through reinforcement techniques, their emotional state can complicate interacting with them. This makes the interaction changeable from day to day.  This is another reason that robotic cats may be more appropriate for dementia patients.

Working with your cat and helping them manage their emotions forms a bond that is unique to you and your cat. Although the more advanced robotic cats will adapt to you and your style of doing things and seem to be attached, your live cat will have their own plans that can change daily. Until your robotic cat becomes not just autonomous but sentient, it will in a sense, be a mirror of you.

references

  1. Optimus (Tesla Bot). Robots:IEEE Spectrum, ©2025. https://robotsguide.com/robots/optimus, viewed 3/25
  2. Companion Robots in the Post-Pandemic Era – Marscat. The World’s First Bionic AI Pet Cat. 3/17/2022.  Elephant Robotics. https://shop.elephantrobotics.com/blogs/news/companion-robots-in-the-post-pandemic-era-marscat-the-worlds-first-bionic-ai-pet-cat. Viewed 3/25
  3. Koh WQ, Ang FXH, Casey D. Impacts of Low-cost Robotic Pets for Older Adults and People With Dementia: Scoping Review. JMIR Rehabil Assist Technol. 2021 Feb 12;8(1):e25340. doi: 10.2196/25340. PMID: 33497349; PMCID: PMC8082946
  4. Rosen, Jill. Dog training methods help JHU teach robots to learn new tricks. HUB Science + Technology. 10/26/20, https://hub.jhu.edu/2020/10/26/positive-reinforcement-for-robots/, viewed 3/25.
  5. Myers, Andrew. New dog, Old Tricks: New AI approach yields “athletically intelligent” robotic dogs. Stanford Report. 10/04/23. https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2023/10/ai-approach-yields-athletically-intelligent-robotic-dog. viewed 3/25.

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Feeding Your Cat in 2025 – Trends in feeding cats

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Finicky cat with food choices

Cat ownership is on the rise. The pet food industry sees the cat food market as a place for potential growth. How will trends in the pet food market affect feeding your cat in 2025?

feeding your cat in 2025

How do cats owners choose cat food?

A survey done by the market research company Packaged Facts found that cat owners primarily choose foods that their cats will eat. 

  1. My cat likes it 64%
  2. I trust the brand 51%
  3. Price 38%
  4. Veterinarian recommendation 26%
  5. packaging nutritional information 25%

(Cats:US Pet Market Trends and Opportunities, 2nd ed. Packaged Facts; September-October 2023 (numbers do not add to 100% as multiple responses were allowed.  (Reference 1))

Feeding Your Cat in 2025 – My Cat Likes It

The old dry food stand-by is not as popular with us and our cats these days. Sales of dry cat kibble have dropped from 93% in 2021 to 79% in 2024  (Reference 2).

Cat owners value variety in their cats’ diets and are more likely to feed both canned and dry foods to their pets. Canned cat food sales have increased by several percentage points in the past 2 years (Reference 1). Look for increasing varieties and formats on both canned and dry cat foods.

Feeding your cat in 2025 – health concerns

Fresh Cat Foods

In spite of the limited choice of fresh refrigerated or frozen cat food (products for dogs outnumber those for cats), sales of these foods are increasing as cat owners worry about the healthfulness of highly processed pet foods (Reference 2).

Senior Cats

Senior cat diets may be next in line for an update. Many of these foods were formulated before recent research showed that age-related physiological changes such as immune function and cognitive changes can respond to nutritional intervention (Reference 3).

Energy requirements increase as a cat passes the 12 year mark. Reduced gastrointestinal function, dental disease, and cognitive changes can affect a cat’s food intake. Digestibility becomes paramount. Look for foods designed for senior cats  featuring highly digestible protein, increased calories per serving and added supplements including antioxidants, B-vitamins, carnitine, and specific amino acids such as arginine (Reference 4).

Feeding your cat in 2025 – keep him busy and happy

Cat experts recommend using food puzzles to mimic the foraging behavior of wild cats, keeping the indoor cat busy and portioning out his food.  A brief Internet search will turn up a plethora of puzzles and remote feeding systems.  Food puzzles range from silicone slow-feeding mats and  treat balls the cat rolls around to fleece snuffle mats and puzzles cats have to manipulate to uncover the food.

However, food puzzle use has remained unchanged from 2018 to 2024 – a survey in 2018 (Reference 5) found about 30% of cat owners surveyed used food puzzles; a 2024 survey found that 29% of participants used food puzzles while 21% hid food around the house for the cats to find (Reference 6).

Keep tension low in your household by preventing competition for food. The survey done in 2024 found that most owners (60%) provided the same number of food bowls as cats (Reference 6). Go one step further – give each cat his own food bowl and feed him separately.

Feeding Your Cat in 2025

  1. Look for high-quality and healthful foods for your cat in 2025. But before you buy, check the food label to see if the food is complete and balanced or just intended for supplemental feeding!
  2. Replace that bowl of kibble you leave out when you’re gone with some food puzzles.
  3. Give each cat a separate place at the table.

 

references

  1. Landry, Shannon. Why it’s time to pay attention to cats. Pet International Magazine, November 2024, pp. 57-58. https://view.publitas.com/pets-international-1/pets-international-magazine-november-2024/page/58-59
  2. Phillips-Donaldson, Debbie. Feeding of alternative cat foods rises with cat population. petfoodindustry.com/blogs-columns/adventures-in-pet-food/ February 12, 2025. 
  3. Bermingham EN, Patterson KA, Shoveller AK, Fraser K, Butowski CF, Thomas DG. Nutritional needs and health outcomes of ageing cats and dogs: is it time for updated nutrient guidelines? Anim Front. 2024 Jun 20;14(3):5-16. doi: 10.1093/af/vfae008. PMID: 38910950; PMCID: PMC11188961.
  4. Molier, Sarah-Jane. Nutritional needs of geriatric cats – time for a change? Pet International Magazine, November 2024, pp. 63-64. https://view.publitas.com/pets-international-1/pets-international-magazine-november-2024/page/63-64
  5. Delgado M, Bain MJ, Buffington CT. A survey of feeding practices and use of food puzzles in owners of domestic cats. J Feline Med Surg. 2020 Feb;22(2):193-198. doi: 10.1177/1098612X19838080. Epub 2019 Mar 26. PMID: 30912700; PMCID: PMC10814572
  6. O’Halloran C, Cerna P, Barnicoat R, Caney SM, Gunn-Moore DA. How and why pet cats are fed the way they are: a self-reported owner survey. J Feline Med Surg. 2024 Feb;26(2):1098612X231209894. doi: 10.1177/1098612X231209894. PMID: 38381461; PMCID: PMC10911312.

 

Your Cat Lives in a Noisy World – What do Cats Hear

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Your cat lives in a noisy world. What do cats hear? Cats have some of the best hearing of all the land mammals. They can detect sounds in a range of 50Hz to around 80kHz (Hz measures the frequency or pitch of sounds). In contrast, we humans detect sounds of 20Hz to 20 kHz – the cat clearly can hear much higher pitched sounds than we can (Reference 1).

 

Usually, larger animals are better able to hear low frequency sound due to larger sound-receiving structures like outer ears and inner ear components. However, unlike other mammals whose middle ear has a single chamber, the cat’s middle ear has two. This increases the range of frequencies over which the eardrum can vibrate, giving the cat one of the widest frequency ranges of hearing. The cat’s hearing is most sensitive between 500 Hz and 32 kHz (Reference 1).

Cats can hear the lower pitched human male voice at 90-155 Hz as well as women’s higher pitched voices at 165 -255 Hz.

your cat lives in a noisy world – what do cats hear

Henry’s Pocket is thought to help with detecting high frequency sounds. It allows the cat to fold his ears flat against his head.

Sound enters your cat’s outer ears or “pinnae”.  Most cat have cone-shaped ears that funnel sound into the middle and inner ears, amplifying the sound.  Each “pinna” has 32 individual muscles that move and orient it.  The pinnae move independently of each other and can rotate 180 degrees (Reference 1).

Distance between the ears allows the cat to pinpoint the location of his prey. Sounds reach one ear before the other, allowing the cat to compare time and intensity of the signal. The cat turns his head to orient toward the prey and his ears then move up and down to further fix on the location (Reference 2).

The nooks and crannies (corrugations) in your cat’s pinnae also are used to obtain information. Incoming sounds reflect off these structures in the ear, intensifying the sound frequencies. The cat is able to gauge the elevation of the sound source and whether it’s coming from in front or behind (Reference 1).

Being able to hear in the ultrasonic range (greater than 20 kHz) helps cats hunt small rodents. Rats, for example, communicate using ultrasonic vocalizations at frequencies exceeding 19–20 kHz (Reference 3). The pinna go into action, helping the cat find his dinner.

Your cat lives in a noisy world – health concerns

Like humans, cats can suffer damage to their ears and hearing loss from illness, toxic drugs and exposure to loud noises. (Reference 4).

Here are some loudness levels of typical appliances in the home. These levels refer to frequencies that people can hear (20 Hz to 20 kHz).  An upper limit of 70-80 dB is considered safe for humans.   In industrialized society, cats often show a significant amount of changes in the ears thought to be due to street noise, around 70 dB (Reference 4).

Loudness is measured in decibels. Decibels compares a sound with a reference sound, the threshold of human hearing. It is a logarithmic scale: 10-decibel sound is 10 times the intensity of the reference sound; a 20-decibel sound is 100 times the reference intensity, and so on. (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decibel)

from: https://www.captel.com/2019/10/noise-levels-household-sounds-infographic/

ApplianceLoudness (dB)
TV70
Vacuum Cleaner60-85
Dishwasher55-70
Food Processor80-90
Washing Machine50-75

These noise levels refer to frequencies that people can hear (20 Hz to 20 kHz). What about the intensity of sounds above 20 kHz?

Your cat lives in a noisy world – ultrasonic noise

There is an increasing interest in the loudness of sounds that we humans cannot hear. Current regulations only address human-audible sound. But many human engineered devices produce sound in the ultrasonic range, including cells phones, smart TV’s, and security cameras. Some studies have started to measure ultrasonic noise in our environment. High levels have not been found at this time but as more and more devices come online, it is important to monitor levels of ultrasonic sounds, particularly in our homes (Reference 5).

Our cats hear at these ultrasonic frequencies and  their health may be at risk.  “Inaudible sounds” (those we can’t hear) have been found to affect endocrine and cardiovascular function, sleep-wake cycles, seizure susceptibility and behavior in laboratory animals (Reference 6).  In particular, ultrasonic noise has been linked to Feline Audiogenic Reflex Seizures (Reference 7). Cats develop this syndrome around 15 years of age, it is more likely to occur in cats that are deaf or partially deaf.  Protecting our cats’ hearing may put them less at risk of developing this syndrome.

Protecting our Cats from Noise

Be aware that loud, sustained noise of any frequency can damage the structures in cats’ ears. Although there are hoods that cover cats’ ears on the market, it is wiser to set aside a quiet room for your cat in the event there will be sustained loud noises; this room should be free of electronic devices.  If you see the cat preferring to spend time in this “noise refuge”, you may want to take some extra steps to reduce electronic noise in your house (Reference 8).

  1. Switch off devices at the plug when practical (and save on phantom power draw). 
  2. Locate home media equipment in a closet or garage to isolate ultrasound as well as whine and fan noises you can hear.

Your cat lives in a noisy world.  Some of this noise we may not even hear, although our cats do. Be sure to monitor your cat’s behavior.  Take steps to protect your cat from potentially damaging levels of sounds.

references

  1. Heffner RS, Heffner HE. Hearing range of the domestic cat. Hear Res. 1985;19(1):85-8. doi: 10.1016/0378-5955(85)90100-5. PMID: 4066516.
  2. Populin LC, Yin TC. Pinna movements of the cat during sound localization. J Neurosci. 1998 Jun 1;18(11):4233-43. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.18-11-04233.1998. PMID: 9592101; PMCID: PMC6792787
  3. Boulanger-Bertolus J, Mouly AM. Ultrasonic Vocalizations Emission across Development in Rats: Coordination with Respiration and Impact on Brain Neural Dynamics. Brain Sci. 2021 May 11;11(5):616. doi: 10.3390/brainsci11050616. PMID: 34064825; PMCID: PMC8150956.
  4. D.K. Ryugo, PhD1 and M. Menotti-Raymond, PhD. Deafness in Cats. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2012 November ; 42(6): 1179–1207. doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2012.08.008
  5. Grimshaw-Aagaard, M., Bemman, B. Ultrasonics and urban greening: an exploratory study on ultrasound presence in urban spaces. Pers Ubiquit Comput 28, 677–692 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00779-024-017]
  6. Turner JG, Parrish JL, Hughes LF, Toth LA, Caspary DM. Hearing in laboratory animals: strain differences and nonauditory effects of noise. Comp Med. 2005 Feb;55(1):12-23. PMID: 15766204; PMCID: PMC3725606
  7. Feline Audiogenic Reflex Seizures. https://icatcare.org/articles/feline-audiogenic-reflex-seizures-fars, published 6/8/24, updated 7/18/24
  8. Cooley, Brian. Your home electronics could be driving your pet nuts. https://www.cnet.com/home/smart-home/is-technology-driving-your-pet-insane/ 11/23/21

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Picking Up Your Cat- Ask First -Don’t Get Scratched

Posted on by felinepurrspective_u3q4o6
Art by Kal Meyer

This post was originally published on 9/11/22.  This newer version has been updated to reflect  recent changes in handling and training cats.

Picking up your cat can be frightening for him. Imagine being suddenly snatched up by a giant from your favorite chair. You are lifted up into the air, your legs flailing as you try to maintain your balance. Scary, huh?

Some of the more exciting scenes in fantasy movies include the hero or heroine being snatched up and taken away. In the Wizard of Oz, a troop of flying monkeys swoop down and grab up Dorothy and her dog, Toto, taking them to the castle of the Wicked Witch of the West. A giant ape carries Ann Darrow up the Empire State Building in the movie “King Kong”, as the audience shrieks and squeals.

But, you say, I pick my cat up all the time and he does not seem to mind.  In certain circumstances though, he might redirect his fear as aggression and  bite or scratch you, if you try to pick him up, say, to move him away from the vacuum cleaner.

Okay, so maybe you can coax him to go where you need him to by using treats or a target stick. But there still will be times when picking up your cat is necessary – for example, you may need get him out of the way of a car. What can you do?

Picking Up Your Cat – ask first please and don’t get scratched!

Gus, a street cat caught in a live trap, would thrash and flail, biting and scratching when he was picked up. Gus responded well to training so I wondered if I could teach him to be picked up, in the same way he learned to sit and target.

Picking up a cat involves the following steps:

  1. Slide one arm under his chest and the other over his hindquarters, supporting his back legs underneath.
  2. Lift and carry.

I broke down the process of being picked up into the following steps:

  1. Tell the cat that you are going to pick him up. “I am going to pick you up” or “OK to pick you up?”
  2. Count to 3 before reaching out to touch him.
  3. Get next to the cat and slide your arms around him, like you are going to pick him up. Give the verbal cue “UP”, then say “DOWN” put him down as you release him. Say “Good” and reward.
  4. The next step is to pick him up briefly, lifting him off the ground, with the cue “UP”. Say “DOWN” as you put him down on his feet. Say “good” and reward.
  5. Increase the time you hold the cat after picking him up. Be sure to mark picking up with the cue “UP” and putting down with “DOWN”. Let kitty know he’s done well by saying “Good” and rewarding him.

Key points to take away

  • Go slowly – if your cat starts to flail or squirm, go back to the step before: hold him for a shorter period of time or don’t lift him as high.
  • Be sure to alert your cat to the fact he will be picked up. Whenever possible, give your cat time to process that he is going to be picked up – count to 3 before reaching to pick him up.
  • When training the “pick up” behavior, allow the cat a few seconds to process what has happened before lifting him higher or for longer – give him a break between trials.
  • Don’t hesitate to “talk” your cat through the process, telling him what is going to happen and what is happening. The sound of your voice and what you are saying will keep him consciously engaged in the process, instead of panicking and flailing, because he is fearful of the outcome.

Picking up your cat does not need to be traumatic.  Training Gus to be picked up was so successful that I taught all my cats this. Gus still squirms sometimes when the hold is taking him somewhere he does not fancy going… but, the biting and scratching has stopped! And he is rewarded for his patience with treats or head rubs when we arrive at our destination.

 

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Cats Grooming Other Cats – Allogrooming

Posted on by felinepurrspective_u3q4o6

Cats not only groom themselves, they will groom (lick) catnip toys, people and other cats. Cats grooming other cats is called allogrooming – allogrooming refers to members of the same species grooming each other.

Allogrooming occurs in many social species – it is a way for animals who live close together to reinforce social structures and family links, and build companionship. It can be a maternal behavior or a means of conflict resolution (Reference 1).

cats grooming other cats – allogrooming

Cats grooming other cats (allogrooming) is considered an affiliative or friendly behavior among cats (Reference 2, 3).
A cat’s first experience with grooming is when she is born. In the first 3 weeks of life, her mother cleaned her nose to tail many times a day, stimulating the kitten to void her bowels and urinate. When the kitten reached 4 weeks old, she started grooming herself, and also grooming her litter mates and mother.

Allogrooming persists in family groups as the cats mature. Studies have shown that cats belonging to a family group are more likely to groom each other than cats who were not raised together (Reference 3). However, cats are “socially flexible”, and can adapt to different group living situations with other cats and other species.  So, you will find cats grooming other cats in groups of unrelated cats.

the behavior of allogrooming in cats

A study of the allogrooming behaviors of a group of neutered cats (4 male cats and 11 female cats) in an indoor environment made the following observations (Reference 4):

Allogrooming is an affiliative behavior

Cats seek out their “preferred associate” to groom – they don’t just groom the cat that is closest to them.

Allogrooming in general is directed at the head-neck area.

Allogrooming Takes Two Cats

  • There is a “groomer” and a “groomee”. Groomers are usually cats with a more dominant personality, and so are higher ranking in the pecking order.
  • Groomers typically adopt higher positions – standing, sitting upright – where groomees are often sitting, lying down.
  • The grooming session does not always end peacefully – there may be some swatting or the cats  abruptly back away from each other. One thing that can happen is that the groomer will use his/her incisors too exuberantly, chewing and nipping at the groomee. This is a tactic to work on small mats of fur or removing fleas or other parasites. This is not always acceptable to the groomee, who may abruptly end the session.
  • Groomers often groom themselves after grooming their partner.

Allogrooming and Conflict Resolution

  • Allogrooming is a way for cats to redirect potential aggression and avoid physical conflict. Cats, being solitary hunters, prefer to avoid fighting. Fighting can result in injury, making a cat unable to hunt and feed himself.
  • In urban cat colonies and in multi-cat households, the abundance of resources makes it possible for many cats to live close to each other, with abbreviated, overlapping territories.  More cats closer together increases the likelihood of  aggressive encounters.
  • Allogrooming gives cats a way to redirect aggression with a few quick licks to the head, soothing a would-be combatant and avoiding a fight.

Benefits and disadvantages of cats grooming other cats

The benefits of allogrooming to cats:

  • Allogrooming in cats reinforces social groups.
  • Allogrooming is essential to the health of kittens in the first few weeks of life.
  • Grooming is effective in reducing parasites such as fleas on a cat. A study looked at two groups of cats: one group wore E-collars, to prevent grooming; a second “control” group in the same environment did not have E-collars and were able to groom themselves.  Flea counts on cats with E-collars were twice those of the “control” group of cats (Reference 5).  The “groomer” can help remove parasites from areas that are difficult for the “groomee” to access – the head and neck.

A downside of allogrooming is that the groomee is at risk of contracting diseases such as Feline Leukemia, calicivirus and herpes virus that may be transmitted in the saliva of the groomer.

references

  1. Wikipedia contributors. (2024, November 18). Social grooming. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 23:19, December 21, 2024, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Social_grooming&oldid=1258124225
  2. Vitale KR. The Social Lives of Free-Ranging Cats. Animals (Basel). 2022 Jan 5;12(1):126. doi: 10.3390/ani12010126. PMID: 35011232; PMCID: PMC8749887.
  3. Terry Marie Curtis, DVM, MS; Rebecca J. Knowles, MS; Sharon L. Crowell-Davis, DVM, PhD. Influence of familiarity and relatedness on proximity and allogrooming in domestic cats (Felis catus). Am J Vet Res 2003;64:1151–1154, 2003
  4. Van den Bos, Ruud. The Function of Allogrooming in Domestic Cats, J. Ethol. 16:1-13 1998
  5. Eckstein, R. and Hart, B.  Grooming and Control of Fleas in Cats. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 68 2000 141–150. Accepted Janaury 5, 2000.

 

The Social Lives of Domestic Cats

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Scientists have marveled at the “behavioral plasticity” of the domestic cat – that is, its ability to adapt to new environments (Reference 1). The domestic cat can live a solitary life or in structured social groups, with other cats or humans.

The ancestor and closest relative of the domestic cat is the African Wildcat, a solitary hunter, coming together to mate and raise kittens (Reference 2). About 10,000 years ago, some of these wild cats began to cluster around human settlements. Humans were leaving their hunter-gatherer existence behind, and beginning to grow crops. Stored grain attracted rodents, providing a reliable food source for wildcats who were bold enough to approach the settlements. Wildcats who could tolerate other wildcats shared the feast. Cats began to form social groups centered around these food sources.

Aided by humans, cats spread throughout the world and today, can be found on every continent except Antarctica. They have adapted to many different environments, ranging from the Subantarctic islands southeast of New Zealand to rural and urban areas worldwide (Reference 1).

the social lives of domestic cats

the solitary hunter

Unowned cats in areas like the Subantarctic Islands live much as their ancestors did. They do not depend on humans for food. The social lives of domestic cats in these areas is basically mating. The male cat may occasionally have to defend his territory (and access to female cats) from competing males. Otherwise, these cats are spread out and don’t have much to do with each other. They have individual territories – male cats have larger ranges that often encompass the smaller territories of several female cats (Reference 1).

rural living – a compromise

Rural unowned cats also live like their wild ancestors although they supplement their diet with food from humans. Typically a male has a large territory which includes the home ranges of two or three females. The social lives of domestic cats in rural areas can be solitary but sometimes closely related cats form small groups, around human dwellings, where they are fed. The core of these groups is typically a mother cat, her sisters, and/or her daughters. These females share the care of the kittens – they nurse each others’ kittens and even help each other give birth.  These “barn” cats will still hunt rodents and other prey, a behavior helpful to the human landowners (Reference 1).

the urban colony

In urban environments, unowned cats form structured, stable groups of male and female cats called colonies. These cats may or may not be related. These colonies are typically organized around sites where human caretakers regularly put out food. The territory a colony occupies is defended by all members of the group. Over time, dominance hierarchies (“pecking orders”) develop among the male cats and the female cats in the colony (Reference 1).

The “pecking order” is maintained through social cues rather than aggressive interactions. When encountering a more “dominant” cat, a lower ranking cat may look away, turn its head away, or change its path to let the other cat pass. The “dominant” cat may stare at the other cat, assume a stiffer posture, and raise the base of the tail, while leaving the rest of tail low (like a “comma”) (Reference 2).

The cats in the colony live in harmony if each cat respects its place in the group. Within the colony, you will see affiliative (friendly) interactions:

  • greeting (nose-nose contact with tail up)
  • reciprocal rubbing
  • allogrooming (cats grooming each other)

Most colony members show aggression towards unfamiliar cats. Non-members of the group are not allowed to approach and enter the group. Both males and females will band together to protect the group, particularly the kittens, against threats from other cats or animals (Reference 1).

the pet cat

 

The pet cat lives in a human household which provides them food and shelter.  Many pet cats live exclusively indoors.  Others may be allowed to come and go through a cat flap. Still others may go on leash walks or access the outdoors in protected enclosures.

Pet cats may live with humans (children and adults), cats, dogs and other species. Within the household, cats will form smaller social groups with animals or humans they prefer to associate with.  They can exhibit affiliative and dominance behaviors similar to those of  cats in urban colonies.

About 40% of people acquire their cat from a friend or family member. About one third of cat-owning households have adopted stray cats at least once. Less than 1/5 of cat owners get their cats from animal shelters, and only 3% of cat owners get their cats from breeders (Reference 3).

As a species, domestic cats are remarkably adaptable and can change their behavior to meet the challenges of new environments. The social lives of domestic cats can be limited to mating and defending territory in the case of solitary hunter.  In areas near human homes, cats may live with other cats or in human households.

references

  1. Natoli, E.; Litchfield, C.; Pontier, D. Coexistence between Humans and ‘Misunderstood’ Domestic Cats in the A nthropocene: Exploring Behavioural Plasticity as a Gatekeeper of Evolution. Animals 2022, 12, 1717. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12131717
  2. African Wildcat. International Society of Endangered Cats (ISEC) Canada. Updated 2018 (https://wildcatconservation.org/wild-cats/africa/african-wildcat/) Viewed 12/2024.
  3. Sources of Cats in U.S. Households. © 2024 Alley Cat Allies. All rights reserved. Alley Cat Allies is a 501(c)3 organization. https://www.alleycat.org/resources/sources-of-cats-in-u-s-households/ Viewed 12/2024.

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Caring for the Coughing Cat with Asthma

Posted on by felinepurrspective_u3q4o6
A cat receives medication for asthma using a inhalation chamber.

Does your cat cough? Are you waiting for a hairball to appear? If this is a frequent occurrence – say daily, a few times a week, even just once a month – it may be time to pay your veterinarian a visit.

A phlegmy, wet, productive cough often accompanies viral or bacterial infections. A hacking cough, where your cat crouches down during the coughing episode is typical of feline asthma.

the coughing cat with asthma

Feline asthma is an allergic response to something in the environment. Untreated, asthma can result in changes in the lungs that block air flow. The coughing cat with asthma who is not being treated can end up at the ER, breathing through her mouth (very un-catlike), panting and using her abdominal muscles to help push the air out (Reference 1).

Although the asthma cough is described as “coughing up” a hairball, remember that hairballs are hair that is ingested by the cat as she grooms. Hairballs are swallowed and end up in the stomach. The cat must vomit them up. This is a different motion than the pushing done by the abdominal muscles to clear the lungs of air during an asthma attack.

the vet visit

Be prepared to describe your cat’s cough:

  • Is the cough wet or dry?
  • How frequent is the cough?
  • How long has your cat been coughing?

Other questions can include:

  • Does your cat go outside?
  • Do you deworm your cat?
  • Has your cat lost weight?

diagnostics (Reference 2)

After taking a detailed history and performing an examination, your vet will recommend some diagnostics to help rule out other diseases that share similar clinical symptoms with asthma. These include heartworm disease, bronchitis, and viral, parasitic and bacterial infections.

  • Blood work to assess major organ function
  • Chest x-rays
  • Fecal assays and heartworm testing

Occasionally, additional testing is needed.

  • Bronchoscopy – a specialist will examine the cat’s airways with a small camera
  • Samples of bacteria and cells in the airways can be collected during the bronchoscopy

treatment for feline asthma

If your vet is able to rule out viral, bacterial or parasitic infections, the next step is to initiate treatment for feline asthma.  Treatment aims to help the coughing cat with asthma breathe better by reducing the inflammation and constriction in her airways.  Untreated asthma can result in structural changes in the airways (Reference 1, 2).

The go-to therapy includes:

  • oral corticosteroids such as prednisolone
  • inhaled steroids that your cat can breathe in
  • bronchodilators to decrease airway constriction. These can be given by injection (terbutaline) or by inhaler (albuterol).

Steroid therapy is lifelong for the coughing cat with asthma. Typically, your cat will start on oral steroids. If her cough responds to oral steroids, your vet will most likely recommend transitioning your cat to inhaled steroids, given by a metered dose inhaler.

benefits of inhaled steroids for cats with asthma

Although cats in general tolerate oral steroid therapy well, there are side effects to long-term administration:

  • increased thirst and urination
  • increased risk of infections
  • weight gain
  • muscle wasting
  • diabetes

Taken by the oral route, medications are processed by the GI tract before entering the bloodstream and then going to the lungs. Inhaled steroids are delivered directly to your cat’s lungs; very little steroid enters the bloodstream, and side-effects are greatly reduced.

ADMINiSTRATION OF INHALANTS TO CATS

Unlike humans, who can place an inhaler between their lips, and breathe the medication in, the coughing cat with asthma, like young human children, must inhale the medication from a chamber.

The chamber is a cylinder with a port for the metered dose inhaler on one end and a valve with a soft, silicone mask on the other. The inhaler is actuated, the medication sprays into the chamber, mixing with the air in the chamber. The cat can then breathe in the air/steroid mixture via the mask. A valve keeps the medication in the chamber until the cat takes a breath.

Per Trudell Animal Health (Aerokat), the medication is available in the chamber for 30 seconds.  The cat must take 7-10 breaths to empty the chamber and get his medication.

training a cat to use an inhalant chamber

Training a cat to use one of these chambers is a multi-step process that may take a month or more.  The oral steroid medication will overlap this training period.  Visit “Teach Any Cat Aerokat” for a 5 step training program.

Environmental changes

Feline asthma is thought to be an allergic reaction to inhaled allergens.  Treatment with steroids is the first step, but you can also keep your cat more comfortable by minimizing her exposure to irritants such as smoke, aerosols, and dust.  Consider using HEPA air purifiers and humidifiers indoors (Reference 1, 2).

Feline asthma is a diagnosis of exclusion.  Once viral, parasitic or bacterial infections are found to be unlikely, treatment with corticosteroids and bronchodilators can begin.  These are lifelong treatments but the prognosis for a treated feline asthmatic is good.

references

  1. Garrity S, Lee-Fowler T, Reinero C. Feline asthma and heartworm disease: Clinical features, diagnostics and therapeutics. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 2019;21(9):825-834. doi:10.1177/1098612X18823348
  2. Deininger K., “Understanding Feline Asthma”. Veterinary Health Center, University of Missouri.  Uploaded 10/2016. https://vhc.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/feline_asthma.pdf, viewed 11/2024.
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