July 10, 2010

Why Does My Cat Do That?

Cats outnumber dogs as pets in American households, are much beloved and are mostly very easy to care for, compared to dogs needs. However they can exhibit behaviors that can frustrate and cause problems for their human companions. Has your cat stopped using it's litter box, does it attack other cats in the house, rip up and destroy much of your furniture or become aggressive with you for no apparent reason? Tune in today as Susan's guest, Dr. Debra Horwitz, an animal behavior specialist and one of the Vets on Animal Planet's Housecat Housecall answer these questions and more about cats and their often misunderstood behaviors.

Episode Segments:

Wild About Pets: Understanding Your Cat Dr. Debra Horwitz describes what an animal behavior specialist does, and identifies some of the most common cat behavior issues. She also has some solutions for cats who won’t use the litter box, or won’t play nice with their kitty friends.
Embed Code
Wild About Pets: Solutions for Your Cat Dr. Horwitz offers up some reasons and solutions for common cat problems, like clawed up furniture, not using scratching posts, or getting woken up at the crack of dawn. She will also explain how cats communicate with us, and how to understand them better. Plus, the key things that can enrich a cat’s life, and how to communicate that behavior is unacceptable to your cat.
Embed Code

Links to Related Websites:

Look While You Listen! Click here to view the photos Susan & Debra are discussing, and for more useful links!

Guest(s) Appearing on this Episode

Debra Horwitz Dr. Debra Horwitz received her DVM from Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine and is a diplomate of the AmericanCollege of Veterinary Behaviorists. In behavior referral practice since 1982 her practice is presently located in St. Louis, Missouri. She is a frequent lecturer in both North America and abroad on behavioral topics to veterinarians and pet owners and often featured on both television and radio. Dr. Horwitz is an adjunct faculty member at the University Of Missouri College Of Veterinary Medicine. She serves as a behavioral consultant for the Veterinary Information Network, a teaching and clinical resource for veterinarians. Her book, Blackwell's Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion: Canine and Feline Behavior co-authored with Jacqui Neilsonwas published in June 2007. She is an editor and contributor to the BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Behavioural Medicine 1st and 2nd edition published in October 2009. She is the behavior section editor for the The 5-Minute Veterinary Consult: Canine and Feline, third, fourth and fifth editions, and co-author of the Lifelearn Behavior Client Handouts. In 1999 Dr. Horwitz was the AAHA award recipient for Excellence in Companion Animal Behavior and the “Technician Speaker of the year” at the North American Veterinary Conference. She was president of the AmericanCollege of Veterinary Behaviorists 2006-2008. Ask Dr. Horwitz a Question at Catchow.com

Everyone with a cat will relate to this video and very funny song. "The Mean Kitty Song" Why The Printer Won't Work