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What's Wrong With America's Cats?

Renowned veterinary behaviorist Dr. Nicholas Dodman has said that
American cats suffer from something called ³the Hotel California
syndrome.² It¹s a nice enough place, he says, but you can¹t get out.
And not only can you not get out, but there¹s not much to do while
you¹re there. Chicago-based syndicated pet columnist Steve Dale takes
the plight of America¹s most popular pets to heart, saying, ³We don¹t
give our cats enough credit.²

³Our nation has apparently decided to minimize expectations where cats
are concerned,² says Dale, ³and to expect that when everyone gathers at
Aunt Bertha¹s house for holidays, the cat will dive under the bed every
time someone comes through the door. We¹ve adopted a perception of them
as moody, aloof, lazy, antisocial, impersonal and anxious creatures ­
and it¹s a self-fulfilling prophecy. We treat them as though they are
that way, and they become that way. I maintain that doesn¹t have to
happen.²

Lords of the Indoor Jungle? But aren¹t cats just miniature Lords of the
Jungle? Aren¹t they just born confident?

No. They¹re so different from cats, lions might as well be dogs, Dale
explains ruefully. ³That perception, however, may be why so many people
think cats don¹t need human contact. Cats may look and move like
miniature lions,² he concedes, ³but that¹s where the similarity ends.²

Lions hunt regularly, raise families, have a social life, play and
practice stalking. Dogs get played with, taught tricks and get
exercised and taken out frequently, sometimes to strange, interesting
new places. Both species get to use their brains a lot. ³In contrast,
cats,² he continues, ³with just as much brain and even more curiosity,
don¹t have nearly as much of an outlet for them. People don¹t have to
walk their cats twice a day, so that opportunity for experience and
play is lost. We don¹t interact with our cats nearly as much as we do
with our dogs.²

Raising Confident Cats Don¹t look at your pet couch potato and panic.
In fact, no matter how old your cat is, whether you raised her from a
kitten or got him from the shelter as an anxious adult, you¹ll find
instilling confidence in your cat is fun and easy; and the ³pawsitive²
effects may surprise.

Socialize them: Don¹t insulate cats from the noisy or unfamiliar
happenings of everyday life. Handle them from day one, and expose them
to as many different ­ and different looking ­ people and things as
possible. Dogs; men with cowboy hats, ZZ Top beards or Hasidic
hairstyles; small children; people with wheelchairs and walkers. Just
don¹t let them be recluses. If they don¹t like this exposure, make each
such occasion a pleasant one by accompanying it with treats.

Games, trick and toys: Play games with your cat. Hide-and-seek starts
with you hiding your face in front of your cat, down on its level. When
she reaches out and touches you, she gets a treat. Then move down the
hall or to the end of the couch and let her ³find² you, again for a
reward. ³Soon,² Dale, promises, ³you won¹t be able to hide where she
can¹t find you, because she knows there¹s a treat when she does.²

Safe, high places: Cat trees, piano tops and safe window ledges all
form vantage points which cats find essential. ³We can¹t all afford
those several-hundred-dollar trees,² Dale says, ³but height and
security are very important. If a cat feels uncomfortable, instead of
diving and hiding, it can climb to a high spot.² Multiple-cat owners
should introduce the cats to the tree all at once. ³If one cat marks it
first, the other(s) may think it¹s off-limits.² Window ledges with
locking screen windows give a cat a safely fascinating view of the
outdoors.

Raising a confident kitten involves a greater commitment of time and
energy than raising an under-the-bed diver. But the pet you get will be
a far more agreeable companion.

Excerpts taken from "What's Wrong With America's Cats?" article by
Angela Hunter Richardson in 1998 Special Issue of Pet Life Magazine