The Good Cat

Cats are cuddly and adorable, but they are often misunderstood. Sadly, many cats are relinquished to shelters or rehomed due to normal behaviors that are incorrectly treated or mishandled. In this book, Elite Fear-Free and Low-Stress Handling Certified author Alana Linsay Stevenson empowers cat parents and teaches them how to address and modify challenging feline behavior.
You will begin by learning basic kitten care and feline developmental stages; how cats differ behaviorally from group animals, such as dogs and people; feline body language; and how cats handle stress. Alana provides concise instruction on how to gently handle cats: how to pick up and carry them, acclimate them to carriers, the use of towels, alternatives to scruffing, and how our body language affects cats. Packed with photographs for visual reference, this book offers clear guidelines and easily implementable strategies for resolving feline behavioral problems, such as:
failure to use the litter box
play aggression
petting aggression
inter-cat aggression
furniture scratching
jumping on counters
obsessing about food
night wailing
fear of people
aggression to strangers
The content is organized by topic for easy access to information, as you need it.
The Good Cat Parent’s Guide to Feline Behavior Modification is for anyone who likes cats and wants to learn more about them. Whether you are a veterinary professional, a volunteer or shelter worker who regularly handles stressed cats, or a cat parent who simply wants to understand your cat, you will find helpful and useful information at your fingertips to give cats a better quality of life. No cat parent should be without this book!
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Alana Linsay Stevenson, M.S. is a professional animal behaviorist and dog trainer. She helps clients resolve dog and cat behavioral problems, including fearful and aggressive behaviors, in a humane, science-based way.
Alana has a Master of Science in Biology Education and a bachelor’s degree in Biology. She is an Elite Fear-Free Certified Professional and certified in Low Stress Handling for Dogs and Cats, as well as certified in small animal massage therapy.
In addition to this book, Alana is the author of Training Your Dog the Humane Way (2011). She is the creator of the webinars; Feline Fundamentals: Humane Handling Basics and Behavior, Body Language, and Communication, and Canine Fundamentals: Behavior and Body Language. Alana created standard operating procedures (SOPs) for animal shelters on Humane Feline-Handling and the Use of Dog Harnesses and she is on the Cat-Friendly Practice Advisory Council for the American Association of Feline Practitioners.
She can be reached through her website AlanaStevenson.com.

Contents:
Cover
Half Title Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Table of Contents
Preface
About the Author
1 Kitten Basics
Kittenhood
Kitten Stages
1–3 Weeks
Kitten calls
Food preferences
Socialization Period
Nature vs. Nurture
Male vs. Female Kittens
Sexual Maturity
Social Maturity
Maternal Behavior
Nutrition and Stress on Maternal Behavior and Kitten Development
Weaning
Bottle-Feeding Kittens and Kitten Care
Feeding Position
How to Hold and Handle Kittens
The Importance of Spaying and Neutering
Feral or Stray – Why It Matters
References
2 Basic Feline Care & Enrichment
Feeding
Water Bowls and Playing with Water
Activity
How’s the View? Location
Vertical Territory and Climbing
Plants
Scratching
Declawing
Self-Grooming
Hairballs
Elimination
Hunting
Indoors vs. Outdoors
Bringing an Outside Cat Indoors
Lost Cat Behavior and Tips to Find Your Cat
Tips for Getting Your Cat Back
Where to Leave Food and Set Traps
3 Body Language & Communication
Eyesight
Hearing
Scent
Spraying
Allogrooming and Allorubbing
Bonded Cats
Slow Blinking
Vocalization
Hissing
Body Language
Ears
Eyes
Looking vs. Staring
Tails
Tail Up
Tail Tucked
Tail Wrapped
Tail in Line with Body
Tail Twitching or Flicking
Wagging
Puffed and Fluffed
Fluffed Up and Arched Tail
Body Posture
Content or Happy
Bread Loaf
Freezing
Fearful
Aggressive
Halloween Cat (Arched Body and Tail Down)
The Cat Gets Puffy (Piloerection)
4 Emotional Bonding and Your Relationship with Your Cat
Our Relationship & Preventing Behavior Problems Basics
Stigmas and Stereotypes
Individual vs. Group Behavior
Bonding with a Cat
Do Cats Prefer Women?
How to Play with a Cat
Playing with Declawed Cats
Special Considerations for Playing with Declawed Cats
Cat Allergies
Approach
In the Home
For Those with an Allergy
Moving
For Car Travel
References
5 Humane Handling
Introduction
Why Our Attitude Matters
Alternatives to Scruffing Cats
Approach: Be Quiet, Speak Softly, and Watch Your Body Language
Towels
Touch, Handling, and Restraint
What Are You Listening To?
How to Pick Up and Carry a Cat (Who Doesn’t Like It)
Picking Up and Carrying a Fat Cat
Getting Your Cat Acclimated to a Carrier
The Right Carrier for the Cat
Putting a Cat into a Carrier
Removing a Cat from a Carrier
Transferring a Cat from One Carrier to Another (or from a Trap to a Carrier)
Examining a Cat in a Carrier
Controlling a Cat’s Movement
Placement and Housing of Cats in Carriers and Cages
Approaching a Cat in a Cage
Removing a Cat from a Cage
Giving Pills and Oral Medications
Hold and Practice with a Pill Gun or Syringe
Pre-handling Practice Exercises
Giving the Medication
Liquid
Pills and Tablets
Injections and Subcutaneous Fluids
Pre-practice Exercises on a Stuffed Cat
Pre-practice Exercises on a Cat
Giving the Injection or Fluids
Injection
Subcutaneous (Sub Q) Fluids
Clipping Claws
Pre-practice Exercises
The Clippers
Touch & Handling
Clipping the Nails
Cleaning Ears
Approach
Wiping and Cleaning Eyes
Approach
Cats and Harnesses (Walking)
Approach
Vet Visits & How to Be Your Cat’s Advocate at the Vet
6 Behavior Problems
Introduction
How Cats Learn
Behavior Modification
Prevention and Management
Desensitization
Counter-conditioning
Socializing Feral & Frightened Cats and Kittens
Approach
Tips for Fostering or Taking Care of Kittens
Introducing a Fearful Cat to New People and Guests
Approach
Jumping on Counters and Furniture
Approach
Running Out the Door
Chewing
Approach
Furniture Scratching
Attention Seeking
Approach
Waking You Up at Night
Approach
Play Aggression
Approach
Petting Aggression & Dislike of Handling
Approach
Aggression to Guests
Approach
Introducing Cats
Designate a Room
Add Feline Resources to the Home
Scent and Exploration
Visual Introduction
Face to Face Interactions and Meetings
Troubleshooting
Inter-Cat Aggression and Conflict
Signs of Aggressive Behavior
Steps & Approach
Is It Play?
Integrating Older, Timid, and Sedentary Cats with Young, Active Ones
Approach
Cat Returning from the Vet
Approach
Redirected Aggression
Approach
Overgrooming
Approach
Babies, Children, and Cats
Approach
Introducing a Dog and Cat to Each Other
General Approach
Tips for Your Cat
Tips for Your Dog
If Your Cat Is Aggressive to Your Dog
How to Resolve a Litter Box Problem
Get Your Cat Medically Checked
Do Not Punish Your Cat!
Cleanliness
Size
Litter
Style of Box
Number of Litter Pans
Locations
How to Clean Stains or Soiled Locations
Changing Associations – There’s No Need for Tin Foil!
Reference
7 Geriatric, Aging, and Unwell Cats
Introduction
Environmental Considerations
Handling
Handicapped Cats
Blind Cats
Deaf Cats
Deaf-Blind Cats
Cerebellar Hypoplasia
The Three F’s: Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), Feline Leukemia (FeLV), and Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)
FIV
FeLV
FIP
Interstitial Cystitis (Inflammation of the Bladder)
Herpes Virus (Conjunctivitis)
Feline Calicivirus
8 Societal Concerns
Food for Thought
Cats in Shelters & Rehoming
TNR (Trap-Neuter-Release)
The Benefits of TNR
Challenges
Criticisms and Controversy
Solutions
Glossary/Behavioral Terminology
Index