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• Cat Behavior Problems: Scratching Behavior

  Scratching is normal feline behavior. Cats use their claws to mark territory, climb to safety, hunt prey, and stretch their bodies. However, this behavior may be problematic inside the house. This handout outlines behavioral approaches to help with scratching. If you notice changes in your cat's pattern of scratching, check with your veterinarian.

• Cat Behavior Problems: Vocalization

  Cats vocalize to communicate. Vocalizing can be problematic when it interferes with people's sleep. Often, the behavior develops due to unintentional reinforcement, but could also reflect underlying illness, particularly if it is a new behavior. Both a medical exam and a behavioral work-up are needed.

• Caterwauling in Cats

  Caterwauling is cat vocalization that sounds like a combination of a yowl, a howl, and a whine. This disturbing noise may result from medical problems, physical needs, hormonal stimulations, or emotional insecurities. The response to caterwauling should focus on addressing the cat's circumstances and filling their needs.

• Children and Pets

  When you bring a child into your home, it is easy to forget that your pets will need to make some adjustments, too. Fortunately, there are ways to prepare your pet for the new addition. This handout provides some helpful tips for how to make the transition smoother for your family and your pet.

• Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome in Senior Dogs and Cats

  As pets age, they may lose some of their cognitive abilities. As their physical health naturally changes, so does their behavior. Your veterinarian will use certain behavioral signs to identify cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS). This handout discusses signs of CDS and how your can help your pet.

• Comportamiento del Perro y del Gato: Causas y Diagnóstico de Problemas - Perros / Gatos

  Behavior Counseling: Diagnosing a Behavior Problem - Is It Medical or Behavioral?

  Los problemas de comportamiento pueden deberse a causas médicas, psicológicas o a una combinación de ambas. Una historia clínica minuciosa, un examen físico completo y una serie de pruebas diagnósticas apropiadas determinarán si hay alguna enfermedad que influya en el problema.

• Compulsive, Stereotypic, and Displacement Behaviors in Dogs and Cats

  Dogs and cats sometimes repeat behaviors such as licking, circling, or tail chasing in ways that seem out of context or difficult to stop. These behaviors can have physical or emotional causes, including pain, itchiness, frustration, fear, or anxiety. This handout explains the different types of repetitive behavior, how they are diagnosed, and how they may be treated.

• Considerations When Getting a Second Cat

  Cats were once considered solitary creatures. We now know that they are, in fact, social animals who benefit from interaction with their own and other species. However, not all cats are social with other cats. The personality of each cat must factor into the decision to introduce a new cat to your home.

• Crate Training and Confinement for Kittens and Cats

  A crate for a pet is like a crib, travel sleeper, or playpen for a small child. With gentle training, a crate becomes a safe area that can be associated with resting and sleeping. Cats that are calm in their crates experience less distress when they need to travel, visit the veterinary hospital, or recover from a medical procedure.

• Dexmedetomidine

  Dexmedetomidine is a sedative and tranquilizer used in the treatment of fear and anxiety in dogs (Sileo) and as a sedative and pain medication in both dogs and cats (Dexdomitor). It is also used off label (extra label) as a pre-anesthetic or tranquilizer in exotic pets.