Why

Get some answers about that little bundle of furry four-legged fun

NICK KRUG/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

Mixed-breed shorthaired kitten

By Heather Jones

THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

That little ball of fur and energy is full of mystery. We'll try to tackle some of the questions about that purring, meowing cuddly kitten.

Do cats like to chase birds?

Carrie Stockton, a registered veterinary technician at West Ridge Animal Hospital, 2147 S.W. Westport Drive, said, "Yes, cats are natural predators to birds. It is complete instinct --- basically they're chasing what's moving."

Do cats learn from other cats?

"Not really, when cats are younger they are more impressionable, but as they mature, it won't apply," said Chris Hamilton, of Petland, 2139 S.W. Fairlawn Plaza Drive.

Can cats learn any tricks?

"It's all about repetition," Stockton said. "It is harder with cats because they are so independent. Usually a cat will pick up on one or two tricks, but not the five million a dog can do."

Why should my cat use a scratching post?

Stockton said, "They are scratching away the dead husks on the outside of their nails as well as to sharpen their nails."

Nathan Carter, manager at Petsmart, 2020 S.W. Westport Drive, said cats need to scratch.

"They are doing what comes natural to them," Carter said, "and marking their territory."

If you are having trouble with your cat scratching your furniture, there are some simple things to do. First, "catch them in the act, take them over to the scratching post and make them scratch on it. When they do it on their own, tell them, 'Good kitten,' " Stockton said.

And get into the act yourself.

"This may sound a little silly, but while your cat/kitten is watching, get down on the floor and start scratching the post yourself," Carter said. "Your cat should respond to this."

"You can use catnip to attract your cat to the scratching post," Hamilton said.

What kind of scratching post does my cat need?

They need to scratch both horizontal and vertical. Scratching posts run anywhere from $10-$300," Carter said.

Why does my cat purr?

"It appears to be a sign of contentment, but they also do it when they are nervous," Stockton said. "The majority of the time, they are happy."

Here are some Web sites where you can learn more about your cat:

- www.xmission.com/~emailbox/catstuff.htm

- www.safehavenforcats.com/newborn.htm

- cats.about.com

4B

MONDAY

NOVEMBER 1, 2004

Copyright 2004
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.