The Cat Behavior Answer Book - Arden Moore [82]
A Move over, Rover! Dogs don’t have a monopoly when it comes to demonstrating their athletic abilities in public. Agility is all about running an obstacle course in a timely fashion. This relatively young sport is starting to catch on across North America, especially among athletic cats with outgoing personalities. In general, Siamese cats do quite well in agility because of their intelligence and, dare we say, dog-like nature when it comes to learning.
Feline agility consists of a timed obstacle course. Cats compete one at a time in runs that include carpeted steps, weave poles, hoop jumps, tunnels, and hurdles of various heights. Some competitions also include ladders, tables, and ramps. Handlers motivate the cats by having them follow a lure or target through an obstacle course.
As you know from your canine competitions, accuracy is more crucial than speed. Competitors earn points for successfully conquering obstacles in a prescribed order. Your chances for winning decrease if your cat does not perform an obstacle or takes them out of order.
FELINE FACT
Household cats are capable of reaching speeds up to 30 miles per hour. Their wild cousin, the cheetah, can zoom up to 70 miles per hour.
Some cats may be great agility athletes but prefer to be homebodies. If that describes Simone, you can create an indoor agility course for her by using household furnishings that include dining room chairs, tabletops, ottomans, and sturdy plastic boxes with lids. Be imaginative — you can use a hula hoop to act as a tire ring jump for your cat to leap through. Whether you travel to public competitions or just play in the privacy of your home, agility provides your cat with great exercise and a great chance to show off. Let the fun and games begin! (See Masters of the Ring, page 302, for more on agility.)
One and Only
Q We love our cat, Polly. We named her that because she often perches on my husband’s shoulder like a parrot. A lot of our friends have two or more cats. Some remark that Polly has to be lonely being the only cat in the household. We think she is just fine. How can we tell if she is lonely or if she likes being an only pet?
A Please don’t be pressured by your well-intentioned friends to add another pet to your home. There’s nothing wrong with having a single cat. A lot of people enjoy having only one pet to lavish with attention and affection. The trick is finding the right cat and knowing the signs that indicate he or she is quite content without a feline pal.
My friend Debb has a two-year-old Siamese named Kri who rules the roost. Debb works long hours, but when she puts the key in her front door, Kri is there waiting with his favorite plush toy, Mr. Lion, in his mouth. Debb immediately greets Kri and plays with him for a few minutes before even taking off her coat.
When Debb travels, she arranges for Kri to stay at a friend’s house. This cat’s world revolves around one person and that is just perfectly fine with him. He doesn’t need or want feline companionship because he receives plenty of love and attention from Debb.
Some cats are better off being the one and only in the house. Likely contenders for single-cat status include older cats, those with sensitive health issues, those who are FIV-positive, those who are territorial, and those who are very shy or nervous. Cats who have been raised with littermates or who have lived happily with other cats are more likely to enjoy having a feline housemate.
Unlike dogs, solo cats rarely, if ever, display the classic signs of separation anxiety. You won’t find your home-alone cat clawing the front door or digging up the carpet — common behaviors exhibited by anxious canines. There are ways, however, that a cat who is overly attached to a person