This section is dedicated to articles that will help readers to better understand and train their cats.  Articles will be added on a regular basis.  Please scroll down to find what you are looking for.

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The "Secret" behind Successful cat training

Training your cat is easy, fun, and practical!  Then why do people think it's so hard--or even impossible?  Mainly, because they think of cat training in the same way they think of dog training.  Yet, the two species are very different.  First of all, dogs are "pack" animals.  This means that they are programmed to live within a hierarchial society, and in most cases the owner is clearly more "alpha"  than the owner. Dogs are softwired to obey this alpha owner.  But what about cats?  Do they have strong emotions?   Does understanding feline emotionality help in training them?  Absolutely.  As a lifelong animal lover, and dedicated cat trainer for the past 15 years, I am very aware that cats show love and affection as well as many other emotions.  In fact, studies have shown that based on brain receptors, cats are cats are emotionally similar to humans.  The following two suggestions will be helpful in training your cat.

• The secret to effective cat training is bonding.  You bond with a cat the same way you do with another human--by spending time together, interacting, playing, sharing fun and adventure--and simply enjoying each other's company whether awake, listening to music, or sleeping together. 
• With cats it is vital to avoid all negative reinforcement. It does not work, and it creates more harm than good.  You must simply accept that your cat is your equal!  He or she accepts this reality unconditionally, and for a truly happy cat/human relationship, you must, too.  In addition, the happier you are, and the calmer your environment, the easier it is to train your cat!

Happy Cats

Well trained cats are usually exceptionally close to their owners.  They are also happy and affectionate. 

Cats purr when they're happy.  They also purr when they're sick, in pain, or dying.  Experts believe that purring generates endorphins. 

The fofllowing link will make you smile and your cat purr.

http://kittytraining.blogspot.com/)

A happy cat is a healthy cat.  When it comes to veterinarians, I have found that a holistic vet is an excellent choice.  I recommend  Dr. Anna  Gardener.  She will do phone consultations  which is a big help.  Her website is  www.petsynergy.com. 

Is Your Cat Fat?

Please don't be offended if he or she is.  Most indoor cats are to some degree "overweight and undermuscled".  This is a problem that can lead to serious health issues down the road.  Vets sometimes tell me it's the most serious health problem a cat can have.  To be quite honest, even my precious Kit Casanova is a little on the plump side.  He's just over a year old, and my husband and I have been making excuses for his ever-enlarging lower abdomen.  "It's just baby fat," we tell ourselves, and "sooo soft!" (Hey, who are we kidding?) 

Cats are obligate carnivores.  This means that they  need to consume primarily animal based proteins for their nutritional needs to be met.  Dry foods contain mostly plant-bas4ed protein, consisting of cereals and grains.  Well, protein is protein, right?  Nope.  Protein from meat is considered to be complete, meaning that it contains all the essential amino acids necessary for proper metabolism and protein systhesis.  Plant protein does n ot contain all the essential amino acids cats need.  Even if supplements are added, dry food, which is high in carbohydrates, often leads to obesity and disease in many felines.  Cats who eat only dry food often drink only a portion of the water they need, leading to chronic dehydrationover time.  The urine becomes concentrated, predisposing cats who eat only dry food to urinary tract infections, causing painful urination and related signs of distress (such as not using the potty or litter box.)

When I brought Kit home at 4 months of age, he was used to eating a lot of dry food, so I continued it.  By the time he was 8 months old, he suddenly stopped using the toilet and began urinating on the floor.  It took me awhile to figure out what was going on.  Today, he eats primarily raw food with added supplements and just a little dry food on the side.  I analyze the pH of his urine weekly by catching a small amount of it in a cup when he's going potty on the toilet.  If the urine goes above 6.8 or 7.0, I give him fluids and a bit of natural cranberry extract.  Within hours he is fine, and back on the potty.

Obesity is as dangerous in cats as it is in humans.  Fat cats are four times as likely to develop diabetes mellitis, and much more likely than their normal counterparts to develop lameness, non-allergic skin condiitons, and even emotional disorders.