The Cat Behavior Answer Book - Arden Moore [38]
To contain the mess, forget placemats. They are simply too small. Opt instead for a large plastic drain board with a rim to prevent food from spreading across the floor. Or supersize your protective area with a plastic tablecloth that you can place on the kitchen floor during mealtime. The tablecloth can be easily taken outside to shake out excess crumbs and cleaned with a sponge. Then just fold it and tuck it in the pantry or closet until the next meal.
Finally, pay attention to what you serve the meals in. Some cats have definite preferences. Some like ceramic or steel better than plastic, which can impart an off odor or taste. Some like bowls with wide enough openings so that their whiskers don’t touch the sides when they eat. Try serving Chloe’s food in a wide-mouthed ceramic bowl if you are now using a plastic one. It may turn her into a neater eater.
FELINE DRINK TIP
Automatic drinking fountains for pets usually feature a charcoal filter to keep the water fresh and to absorb odors. The sound of the moving, circulating water attracts some cats. However you serve it up, water is necessary for your cat’s overall health. Make sure there is always plenty of clean water available.
Drooling with Delight
Q I call my home “the house of drool.” Not only do I have Jimbo the bulldog, but I also have a cat who starts to drool when I pet him a lot. Bogart is a tabby I adopted a year ago from a local animal shelter, where he showed up as a stray looking for food. We think he is about three years old. He drools so much that I have to keep a washcloth within reach so I can wipe his mouth when he sits on my lap and purrs. Why does he drool?
A We know cats purr when they are content, but some felines also drool when they become relaxed and happy. Why they drool remains one of those feline mysteries in life. Just like Pavlov’s famous dogs who drooled when they heard the dinner bell, Bogart has become conditioned to drool when he receives a certain type of affection. In your case, that is when he is on your lap and enjoying wonderful, loving petting from you. Count yourself fortunate that Bogart views you as a trusted ally, someone who lets him be his complete contented self — dripping drool and all.
Being stimulated on certain areas of the body may trigger his salivary response. Most likely, he drools when you massage his head, chin, and neck areas. Experiment by just petting those areas the next time he jumps on your lap. See if he starts to drool and for how long. Next time, restrict your petting to his back. Talk sweet to him. You may discover that he drools less when a less sensitive area is petted. You are smart to keep the washcloth handy to wipe his chin to keep the drool from dripping on your lap or your recliner — this is a hard behavior to correct. In some instances, however, drooling is due to a medical condition, so mention it to your veterinarian.
Counter Commandos
Q When I come home in the evening, I always have to shoo Salt and Pepper, my pair of Persians, off my kitchen counters. I hate the thought of their litter-coated paws walking on counters where I do my food preparation. It’s embarrassing when guests witness my cats jumping on the counters. They are great cats in so many other ways, but how can I break them of this disgusting habit?
A Salt and Pepper do belong in the kitchen, but in your spice rack and not on the counters. Feline counter surfing is an annoyance for many cat owners. I agree that it is unappetizing to think of dirty paws trespassing on eating surfaces. In addition, it can be quite dangerous. A curious cat can leap up on a hot stove or land on a sharp knife on a cutting