Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Expert Profile

Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

Experience in the area

Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

Education/Credentials

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Awards and Honors

* One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *

What do you like about this subject?

To be able to to help owners have a better understanding about their cats and their cat's behavior. And to be able to turn an owner's anger and irritation at their cat into understanding and compassion.

What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?

A person never stops learning, especially when dealing with cats and their behaviors.

Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:

Unfixed males and females are the most common 'behavior problem' and that is easily remedied by getting your pet spayed or neutered. Kittens can be spayed or neutered as young as 8-10 weeks old now. It is not necessary to wait 6-7 months as you did previously.

Something controversial or provocative about this subject

Please find an alternative to declawing! Did you know to declaw a cat the vet has to amputate the cats 'fingers' up to the first knuckle? It is a very painful operation, and a very slow and painful recovery, and some never recover. Would you like to dig in the dirt with chopped off fingers? Painful!