Pam Johnson-Bennett - Think Like a Cat: How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat--Not a Sour Puss

Table of Contents

PENGUIN BOOKS

Think Like a Cat

PAM JOHNSON-BENNETT is a Certified Animal Behavior Consultant and author of seven books on cat behavior. She is one of the most well-known cat behavior experts in the world.

She is the former vice president of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and currently heads up that organizations Cat Division. She is a member of the American Humane Associations Advisory Board on Animal Training and Behavior. She is also a professional member of the Association of Animal Behavior Professionals and a professional member of the Animal Behavior Management Alliance.

Pam is the resident behavior expert for Friskies where she writes a weekly blog and answers behavior questions at www.Friskies.com . She also writes the Think Like a Cat (sm) blog at Yahoos site, Shine. Previously, she was the behavior expert at Yahoo, ivillage, and the Cat Channel. She was the award-winning behavior columnist for Cats magazine and The Daily Cat .

Pam speaks on behavior at veterinary conferences and animal welfare organizations around the country. She is also a frequent guest on national TV and radio. She is considered one of the foremost experts on cat behavior.

Pam lives in Tennessee with her husband, two children, three cats, and a dog.

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First published in Penguin Books 2000
This revised edition published 2011

Copyright Pam Johnson-Bennett, 2000, 2011

All rights reserved

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING IN PUBLICATION DATA

Johnson-Bennett, Pam, 1954
Think like a cat : how to raise a well-adjusted catnot a sour puss /
Pam Johnson-Bennett.Updated and expanded ed.
p. cm.
Includes index.

ISBN : 978-1-101-55267-4

1. CatsTraining. 2. CatsBehavior. 3. CatsPsychology. I. Title.
SF446.5.J638 2011
636.80835dc23 2011029071

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To my husband Scott, and my two children,
Gracie and Jack. I am so blessed.

In memory of my father, whose love of animals
opened the door to my dreams.

And in memory of one special cat, Ethel,
for a debt I can never repay.

Acknowledgments

A fter years of working with cats, their owners, veterinarians, and so many people in the animal care field, Ive been lucky to learn so much from everyone (two-legged and, most especially, four-legged). Being able to witness, on a daily basis, the love and commitment that owners and cats have for each other has been such a privilege. Im even grateful to all of the owners who initially viewed me with skepticism (and believe me, there were many) and to the cats who did their very best to run me off. In the beginning, some of them almost did. Challenges became opportunities to grow. Boy, have I had plenty of opportunities. When I started in this business many years ago, it was not the popular field that it is becoming today, and so I was met with many raised eyebrows when I began talking about being able to train a cat. Actually, just a raised eyebrow was one of the more polite responses I received.

When I started out, no one was really focusing on cat behavior, yet alone doing in-home consultations to visit cats and owners on a one-on-one basis to address behavior problems. Dogs were trainedcats were tolerated... barely.

Today, though, I am so happy to see that people are receptive to the idea of behavior modification for their cats and how it can truly save a cats life. Behavior specialists are easier to find these days. I will forever be grateful to the first clients I had because of their trust and willingness to think like a cat .

The veterinarians Ive had the privilege of working with over the years have been exceptionally generous with their time and knowledge. Veterinarians are truly the unsung heroes for our companion animals. They deal with patients who are less than cooperative and who often prefer to take a bite out of the very doctor saving their lives. Im impressed at the lightning-fast reflexes some doctors have developed and the patience they show toward even the most fractious cat.

Thanks to my editor, Rebecca Hunt, and my family at Penguin Books.

Thank you to the veterinarians with whom Ive had the personal honor of working with. Thank you for your support, guidance, and friendship.

A special thanks to Dr. Mark Waldrop for being an inspiration when it comes to cat care.

Special thanks to my agent and longtime friend, Linda Roghaar, for going above and beyond. Your wisdom has saved me many times.

Thank you Chris Chichuk... Im honored to call you my friend.

Thank you to Marilyn Krieger for a friendship I truly cherish.

Thank you to my incredible family, most especially my husband, Scott.

Thank you to the ever-present spirit of my greatest feline teacher, Ethel. She is the reason I dedicate my life to improving the relationships between humans and cats. Ethel taught me so many of the most valuable lessons in life: love unconditionally, express your true feelings, respect others territory, protect the family, get enough sleep, and always keep an eye open for mice!

Introduction

W hew! So much has happened since Think Like a Cat first came out over eleven years ago. Over the years Ive received so many letters, e-mails, and phone calls from readers who now have a better understanding of why their cats do the things they do. Owners developed better skills for solving behavior problems and were able to prevent future problems. Its amazing how easy it is to solve a behavior problem just by shifting your view and developing a think like a cat perspective.

In the last decade, there have been many advancements in veterinary medicine, behavior modification, cat-related products, and nutrition. So it was time to update and expand Think Like a Cat . This new version will get you up to speed on the latest information you need to raise a well-adjusted, happy, and healthy cat. Even if you already own the original version, youll find this new book is packed with many more insights, tips, and techniques.

Ive written this book so that a new cat owner can have the tools to provide what a cat needs right away. I dont want you to waste a minute misunderstanding what your cat is trying to communicate, or damaging the relationship by using ineffective training methods. The title of this book truly describes the way I approach training. By understanding your cats motivations, needs, and communication, you can so easily enjoy a close, wonderful relationship. Even if youre not a cat novice, Ill bet there are many ways you could improve your relationship. Perhaps youve been dealing with a behavior problem and have long since resigned yourself to just accepting it. This book may offer solutions that you didnt think were possible. I want to change the way you look at your cat. I also want to change the way you look at your cats environment. Instead of seeing it from the vantage point of an adult human, I want you to look through your cats eyes. What does the world look like when youre ten inches off the ground?