by Nomi Berger
 
All too familiar with frisky felines waking you at 4 AM?
 
Whether it’s to play, snack or cuddle, what’s endearingly amusing during the day is emphatically annoying at night.
 
But then, cats’ internal clocks aren’t humans’ internal clocks, and being nocturnal by nature (they’re most active from middle/late evening until the early hours of the morning), nighttime activities come naturally to them. Given their kitty druthers, they would sleep all day, rise between 8 and 9 PM, stretch, scratch and use the litter box, then spend the rest of the night pussycat prowling and “paw-tying.”

Because people are diurnal (we’re typically awake during the day and asleep at night), the only way for sleep deprived cat guardians to reclaim their much needed zzz’s is by resetting their prodding pets’ inner clocks through a dedicated program of retraining.
 
Begin by scheduling playtime during the day and early evening. Interactive toys are the most effective because they satisfy a cat’s hunting skills by allowing her to do what she would do in the wild: stalk, chase and finally capture.
 
After playing with your cat, feed her a high-protein meal – again to simulate what would happen in the wild: hunting down, killing and eating her prey.
 
Discourage all dozing off, especially in the early evening.
 
If paws-ible, adopt a kitty to keep yours company. Cats left alone during the day are more inclined to cat nap those daylight hours away. But add a second friendly feline to the mix and let the fun begin!
 
Since retraining takes time (the precise amount of time depends on each cat and cat guardian), not only are patience and persistence required, but more importantly, resisting the temptation to “cheat.”
 
The most common one is giving in to the temptation to “buy off” your cavorting and oh-so-clever kitty by playing with or feeding her when she prods you awake. This both rewards and reinforces her behavior and encourages her to persist.
 
And while frustration can sometimes lead to physical punishment – from spraying your cat with water to actually striking her – resist this temptation as well. Not only is it cruel, but it will only instill fear in her.
 
If, however, kitty’s nighttime nuisancing continues, you may have to consider literally giving the persistent puss her own space. From a spare room to the laundry room, complete with her own, comfy cozy cat bed, favorite toys, and filled food and water bowls.

by Nomi Berger
 
There’s no mystery behind the mystery as to why most cats crave catnip. An alluring plant with colorful flowers and heart-shaped leaves, catnip contains a chemical that, when inhaled, has a stimulating effect on them.
 
Usually their behavioral response and experience are pleasurable, leading them to purr contentedly, rub up against objects or their owners, and/or roll about happily. Curiously enough, the actual effect of the catnip lasts for mere minutes but it takes two HOURS for cats’ bodies to “reset” themselves, returning to their normal state. Only then can they experience the same pleasurable response as before.
 
Owners of aggressive cats, on the other hand, must exercise extreme caution when giving their particular pusses catnip since it has the potential to increase their aggression.
 
Whereas some studies have shown that 75 percent of felines flip for catnip, an estimated 25 percent of them don’t even respond to it. The reason for this seems to be genetic: the ability to be affected by catnip is a dominant trait. And so, if neither parent of the kitty in question responded to catnip, neither will she. If both parents responded to it, so will their offspring. If EITHER parent responded, it’s more than likely that their progeny will too.
 
One pussycat case in point: Most Australian cats aren’t at all susceptible to catnip. This is because domestic cats in Australia were bred from a very small original population. And since those original cats didn’t respond to catnip, neither have the generations of kitties that followed.
 
Generally considered safe and non-addictive, catnip, like anything else, should be used by prudent pet owners in moderation, and to err on the side of caution, after first consulting their vet. As with aggressive cats, cats with a history of seizures should NOT be exposed to catnip, while giving a cat too much catnip over an extended period of time may both decrease her mental ability and alter her personality.
 
If, however, your cherished companion is among the 75 percent of cats craving catnip, be prepared for a lifetime of laughter highlighted by hours of heightened and happy lovability.

by Nomi Berger
 
Few cat guardians need alarm clocks when their own favorite felines are fixated on the time. Especially early in the morning, when they crave everything from caresses to cat food.
 
Consider, then, the wonderfully wacky ways in which kitties capture and hold their human sleepyheads’ attention.
 
The Head Nuzzle
Marvelously manipulative, and often masquerading as affection, cunning cuties employ this “wake-up” strategy by gently pushing their heads against their humans’ faces and purring loudly. More creative ones will purr while pushing their heads against their humans’ noses and necks as well.
 
The Chest Meow
Oh-so-direct and ever-so-daring, these persistent pusses will stand on their humans’ chests and “make themselves as heavy as possible.” Precisely how remains a well kept kitty secret. To quite literally increase the pressure, they will meow incessantly until their humans awake.
 
The Stare
Subtler than the Chest Meow, more patient and laid back lovelies will stretch out languidly along their humans’ chests and stare intently at them while they sleep. Imagine opening your eyes to find another pair of eyes fixed hypnotically on yours! Is that an “Uh-oh” or an “A-w-w-w”?
 
The Face Tickle
This supremely effective strategy has “doggedly” determined darlings pressing their furry faces against their sleeping humans’ faces, ears or necks, breathing warmly and brushing their whiskers back and forth across their humans’ skin. Some clever cats even add a wet nose tap or snuffle to speed up the process.
 
The Paw Bop
The simplest and most direct approach demands little more than a single pussycat paw and a slumbering person’s face. As productive as it is pleasurable (at least for the cats), bopping their humans’ noses may be especially satisfying if it elicits a smile from their suddenly wakened owners.
 
If, however, you’re someone who prefers to sleep -- undisturbed -- until your actual alarm sounds to wake you, the solution is simple. Gently, but firmly, close your bedroom door.
 
Sweet dreams then …meow-free.

by Nomi Berger
 
Of the numerous skin disorders discomfiting to your cat and distressing to you, the most common are Feline Alopecia, Eosinophilic granuloma, and Miliary dermatitis.
 
1) Alopecia, the technical term for bald spots, causes extreme itchiness and results in affected cats biting at their hair. The reasons behind it range from a hypersensitivity reaction (an “allergy” to fleas, for example), parasites such as lice or mites, and ringworm (a fungus) to a behavioral/psychological disorder that makes frantic felines rip out their own fur.
 
Because the source of the Alopecia will determine its treatment, cat guardians whose cats are suddenly and intensely scratching themselves in unusual ways should make an immediate appointment with their vet.
 
2) Eosinophils are cells that, as part of the immune system, help kill bacteria. But in so doing, inflammation may occur. A granuloma is a swelling that forms when a large number of eosinophils gather in one area to try and kill an infection without fully succeeding. Cats suffering from this disorder will have lesions on their skin and gums, while their skin may also be red, coupled with ulcers or erosions or both. Fortunately, skin and gum lesions are neither itchy nor painful, occur most often in kittens 6 to 12 months of age, and sometimes resolve completely on their own.
 
Again, a prompt visit to the vet is recommended for both diagnosis and treatment.
 
3) Miliary, named after the small, round millet seeds eaten by pet birds, is well named because the lesions caused by this condition are tiny, round bumps. And since dermatitis refers to an inflammation of the skin, cats with this condition have small, red and raised, often crusted, lesions that appear mostly on their backs. The various culprits behind this disorder include lice or mites, an environmental or food sensitivity, a reaction to certain drugs, or even an immune-mediated component where the body recognizes some of its own cells as “foreign” and attacks them.
 
Once again, since the source of the Miliary dermatitis will determine its treatment, pet parents whose kitties present with these types of lesions should promptly visit their vet.
 
The earlier these conditions are detected, the sooner the treatment, and the swifter the results. And the first line of defense is the devoted cat owner with a dedicated grooming routine. Even the simplest “once over” – a look and a feel – will alert you to anything unsightly or unusual, making something suspicious easier to diagnose and treat, thereby allowing your precious puss to be as comfortable as paws-ible as quickly as paws-ible.