Aloof, uncaring, and independent. Are these three terms you would associate with cat behavior? Ask any dog lover, and they’ll surely tell you that these traits of cat behavior are the very reasons they prefer Rover to Fluffy. The difference between a dog and cat is that while Rover aims to please the Alpha of the pack (you), cats don’t feel the same desire at all. Cats hold no instinct to survive in a pack and be submissive to a leader. Their only motivation is survival, nothing else.

Don’t let a cat get away with a blasé attitude. Felines are very smart animals that can learn well. They may not be very interested in learning tricks like rolling over or playing fetch, but cats can certainly learn not to jump on the kitchen counter. You can train them to avoid using your stereo speakers or sofa as a scratching post. Domination, often used for training dogs, doesn’t work well at all with a stubborn feline. Dogs and cats respond to different training techniques though, and to train a cat, you have to think like it does, using its methods of communication to aid the process.

Cats are solitary creatures. Unlike their canine counterparts, cats can go for long periods of time without ever seeing another of its kind. Their language doesn’t have to be as complex as that of dogs. Most of the time, cat behavior and language is very straightforward. For example, there is no mistaking the message behind the classic “Halloween Cat” pose. You know right away when a cat is frightened or angry. Cats also give off certain scents depending on their mood. Of course, with a human’s limited capacity for picking up scents, we can’t smell most of these subtle chemical changes.

Along with body language and scent, cats also communicate vocally. Many cat owners will tell you that their cats “talk” to them. The classic “meow” can be interpreted so many ways. If you listen carefully enough, you can often hear question in the inflection of the sound. There’s a meow for, “I know you’re opening a can of tuna!” There are meows and soft, rumbling purrs that mean, “Are you getting out of bed yet?”

When cats get excited, you might hear them chirp. They might greet you with a trilling sound when you come home. There is the wailing of a female cat in heat and the growling of the one-night-stand going on under your bedroom window in the middle of the night. Last but not least, there’s purring when your cat is utterly content.

You may need to observe cat behavior and work at listening to the vocal communications of your pet for some time. Having an eye on what your cat does will help you narrow down what your cat is thinking. You may soon even be able to react to what your cat might try to do before he does it. Learning about cat behavior can go far in helping you to train your cat.

At times our cat thinks he’s a dog. When he first adopted us he wanted go with us when we took our dogs for a walk. Now he usually sits and waits for us to come back. In fact, at times I’m not so sure he is a cat. But he sure is a lover!

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Are you worried that have a fat cat? Obesity is a common topic in the news today and when it comes to cat health, your pet is as susceptible to obesity as you are. You love your cat, you treat it well, but you may be treating your cat a little too well. Obesity in cats has become very common and puts felines at risk for diabetes, Hepatic Lipidosis (fat seeping into the liver cells), and arthritis.

Just like humans, if a cat (or any other mammal for that matter) takes in more calories than its body can burn, the cat will gain weight. Forty percent of all cats in the United States today have a diagnosis of sedentary obesity and that percentage is growing. In the wild, a cat expends a lot of energy to hunt down and catch its prey. Cat’s bodies are designed to store nutrients when hunting is slim. A domestic cat that lives indoors doesn’t have to hunt. Food is right there waiting for felines any time they want it - the perfect environment for a fat cat.

Many people refuse to see the fact that too much food is the cause of their fat cat and its weight problem. You may not be feeding your cat many treats, but you may be feeding them too much at one time, too often, or not enough meals in a day. A cat that gets food once a day tends to gorge in case there won’t be a next meal. Veterinarians suggest that you serve your cat two to four meals a day - and think in ounces, not cups. 0.6 to 1.0 ounces per serving is plenty.

Cats were never made to digest carbohydrates. Humans and dogs have special enzymes in their saliva to break down carbohydrates in the mouth. Researchers have found that cats have considerably less of these enzymes than we do. Dry pet food can have high amounts of carbohydrates (usually in the form of flour or sugar). Dry cat food diets are not always the best for your cat’s metabolism. The carbohydrates are immediately converted to fat and the result is a fat cat. Cats need a meat-based diet with high levels of protein. Research shows that diets high in fat and protein are best for carnivores such as cats - combined with plenty of exercise.

Many pet food labels claim that they are “perfectly balanced” for your feline’s health. The truth of the matter is that they’re not.  Grains are often used as filler and to make the food look more appealing. But appealing to who? It’s highly unlikely your cat cares what food looks like. This “dressing up” practice is mainly for the owner’s sake.

Pre-packaged treats are another problem that create a fat cat. A treat once in a while is fine. However, owners make a habit of doling out treats far too much when they think the cat is restless or want to reward it for being cute. Never give your cat a treat to stop it from meowing, as this will only encourage your cat to vocalize more. In effect, you’re telling your cat “Good kitty! Keep talking and I’ll give you another one of these treats!” If you must give your cat a treat, try giving it a small piece of cooked fish or chicken, something that is high in protein and better for the cat.

Of course, exercise is important to avoid a fat cat. If you can’t change what your cat eats, you can at least try to help your cat burn extra calories. Unfortunately, you can’t go for walks with your cat like you would a dog. Some cats might take to leash training, but it’s rare. A typical domestic cat’s day consists of sleeping, eating, sleeping, and then waking up to sleep some more. If you have a fat cat, those habits will only increase as its weight slows it down. You need to provide your cat with toys and interesting things to do. A cat needs to chase things, play hide and seek, stalk, and do something other than take naps in its favorite sunny window! If you can, get a second cat. The two cats will keep each other busy during the day while you’re away at work.

Before starting any diet plan for your fat cat, bring the cat to a veterinarian. Your vet will give your cat a thorough physical exam and discuss with you exactly what options you have at hand to help your cat lose weight.

With my cat we have to work to get him to eat. He is a grazer and usually eats a bit before he goes outside. I believe that’s a left over from when he was abandoned and left to find his own food. When we found him he was a mess, hair matted and skinny. And to this day he still is on the thin side. But he does eat some dog treats.

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The article below really helped me understand the differences between cats. My cat looks a bit like a Maine Coon Cat. Which means he’s a long haired cat. Good thing too since we found him living under a deck next door in the dead of winter with nearly six feet of snow on the ground. I don’t think a short haired cat would have survived in that environment.

Cat breeds by Ron King

Cats are known for their independence, so it should not come as a surprise to learn that the feline was one of the last animals to be domesticated. Cats were first found in Egyptian households about 5000 years ago and they are now the most popular house pets, outnumbering dogs by more than two to one.

The earliest domestic cat was likely a Tabby, descended from the wild tabby cat. While dogs were initially bred to do specific jobs, cats have been bred for looks alone. Today, there are 37 distinct breeds recognized in the United States, although 2 basic American breeds of cat are by far the most common.

The “American Shorthair” was originally known as the Domestic Shorthair, until renamed in 1966 to better represent its “All-American” character and to differentiate it from the other shorthaired breeds. Ideal American Shorthairs exude symmetry, with the breed standard calling for them to be slightly longer than tall. The face should be full-cheeked with an open expression. Eyes are medium to large in size and mostly round with an almond-like curve at the top. American Shorthair coats come in a variety of colors and designs; however, the classic silver tabby is perhaps the best known.

The American Wirehair breed is uniquely American. It started as a spontaneous mutation in a litter of upstate New York farm cats in 1966. American Wirehairs sport an extraordinary coat, with each hair bent or hooked, producing a dense, springy fur, with whiskers of the same texture. This breed was developed from the American Shorthair, so other than the coat, the two share many similarities.

Cats of these common breeds and others have distinct personalities. For example, Sphynx, Rex, British Angora and Siamese cats can be mischievous as they are energetic and may seem to be looking for trouble. Of course, this can also be quite entertaining.

Some breeds of cats such as Siamese, Burmese, and Korat are much more vocal than others and can be quite noisy. Many cat owners enjoy their “chatty” felines, while others are looking for some quiet company. The American Curl, Scottish Fold, and Somali cat breeds dont seem to have nearly as much to talk about.

Not all cats enjoy being held and cuddled. These breeds tend to want nothing to do with humans. Other breeds want the attention and are especially great for children. Snowshoe, Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Abyssinian, Tonkinese, and Himalayan Persians are known to be affectionate, while the reserved breeds include the Nebelung, Russian Shorthair, and Norwegian Forest Cat.

Persians are one of the most well-known of all cat breeds, probably because of their long coat. Potential owners should know that their coat demands a daily grooming program, but they have a very gentle temperament.

Exotic cat breeds include the Bengal (a relatively new breed; a cross between the Asian Leopard Cat and the American Shorthair), Scottish Fold (its ears are folded forward and down), Egyptian Mau (resembles ancient Egyptian cats) and the California Spangled Cat.

As with dogs, the desired physical traits that are bred for often carry with it undesirable defects. For example, Manx cats can be born with malformed urinary tracts, Persians can have lethal defects of the eyes, nose and jaws, Persians and Siamese have a high incidence of cleft palate, and blue-eyed white cats are often born deaf, and may be sickly in general.

While there are many different domestic cat breeds, less than 3% of all cats have pedigrees or are pure breeds. The rest of the cats fall into the two main groups - American Shorthair and American Wirehair.

Visit New Cat to learn more. Ron King is a full-time web developer with New-Cat.com.

Copyright 2007 Ron King.

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Funny cat video starts when you have a feline and a camera. Movies of your cat or kitten will be something that you can view over and over. I’ve watched some of the cat videos over and over and still find them entertaining.

That’s because cats are born comedians. They can take a simple game and make into a Hollywood epic. Get two kittens together on camera and you’re not sure what will happen. But you know that your movie will have some great footage. Watch this series of short takes showing felines in the best form.

The best part about movies is that you can watch them as often as you want. And you probably will laugh each time you watch.

Watch this funny cat video now.

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