Cat Talk Radio

Many of you have questions - and we have answers! In this episode we answer your questions about food, toys, litter and more!

I'd guess that just about all of our listeners have experienced the loss of a beloved pet. Dr. Diane Pomerance established the Pet Grief Counseling Program for the SPCA of Texas in 2000. She has written nine books, seven of which are nonfiction about animals. You won't want to miss this great interview with Dr. Pomerance!

Many of you have asked me to do a show on animal communication and I hadn't found the perfect communicator - until now! You will enjoy this interview with Claudia Mardel. We talk about how she communicates with animals, what they say and how you can develop your own animal communication skills.

Several of our listeners asked for a hodgepodge of questions episode; so we asked for your questions and received so many responses, we're having to make it a multi-part series. In Part 1 we answer questions about cat play, product effectiveness, and a complicated intercat aggression case.

There is nothing more stressful than loading up your cat in a carrier and going on a journey. Molly and Dewey were sent an email from a listener with questions about how to make their shy cats comfortable with a two day drive/move to a new home. Listen in to hear tips on traveling with your feline!

A listener emailed and said she'd successfully introduced her cats (after listening to our podcast on that) and now wanted to be sure they would cohabitate successfully and asked that we do a podcast to address that. This is a wonderful topic because cats' relationships are very different from dogs (and other social species.) In this podcast we talk about what cats need to cohabitate fluidly toget...

You may have selected a cat as a pet because they don't need to be walked, or as much physical maintenance as a dog. But have you ever wondered if your cat needs exercise? If so, how much and in what form? Do you have a fat cat that you think might benefit from some workout? If so, this episode is for you.

Molly's mom, Toby, returns as co-host to Cat Talk Radio in this episode about selecting a new cat. They talk about information that is essential for first time cat owners - especially people who have experience with dogs. This episode was inspired by an email Molly received asking is there a place I can send the new cat to be trained prior to bringing it into the home.

It's not a common problem, but when it is a problem, you want it fixed fast! We're talking about cats pooping outside the litter box. In this episode, Molly and Dewey talk about why they do it and how you fix the issues contributing to it.

Fiber is very beneficial to our diets, but is it something that will help cats? If your cat is defecating outside the litter box, perhaps a vet has prescribed high fiber food. Molly and Dewey talk about the role of fiber in a cat's diet, how much, and what kind they need. You owe it to your cat to listen to this nutritional episode.

Ever wondered about reiki and how it's used for healing? Can animals benefit from reiki? Molly and her guest Wendy Jordan, CRM, talk about what reiki is, how it works to benefit beings, and how specifically cats relate to it. They also answer a couple specific questions listeners have asked.

Why should you care if house cats are domesticated? Because the answer to that provides information on how and why they behave the way they do - and what they need, both emotionally and physically, to thrive in your home.

Separation anxiety is rare in cats, but can happen, and can be the cause of behavioral issues. A recent study gave insight into some of the things that can help cats to feel secure while you're away. In this episode, Molly and Dewey talk about the signs of separation anxiety in cats and some of the things you can do to help it.

Several of you have asked how to deal with cats who are finicky eaters. This episode talks about some of the reasons why cats suddenly go cold on food and what you can do about it.

Prey play might be the single most important things you do for your cat. Yet many of you say, My cat's not interested. Molly and Dewey talk about techniques for engaging your cat in prey play, why it's so vitally important, how often you should do it, and a special piece about doing prey play in a shelter setting. Everyone who owns a cat should listen to this podcast.

One of the routine things I do in a behavior consult is evaluate the cats' resources. Especially in a multi-cat household, if there aren't enough resources, often intercat aggression will break out. In this episode, Dewey and I talk about what resources are and how to know you have enough.

You know them; the cats who bite people. It might be fun and cute when they are tiny kittens but when they grow up, it can be very dangerous. Molly and Dewey talk about three biting cases - two from listeners and their own current foster. They discuss several different circumstances and reasons for biting and some of the things you can do to help stop it.

One of our listeners, Alina, emailed with questions she has about living with her deaf cat. She asks, How do I communicate with my deaf cat? How is his behavior different from a hearing cat? Does his excessive purring and vocalization have to do with being deaf? Molly and Dewey dive into these questions and also discuss how to train deaf cats and more!

A listener from Italy emailed us saying she'd listened to our podcast on reducing stress for your cats and asked that we address how to reduce stress for shelter cats. She thought this topic would be beneficial for other volunteers, such as herself. We made a list of 12 things you can do to help the cats at your shelter. Whether you currently volunteer, are thinking about volunteering, or can dona...

Cat-to-cat aggression is one of the most common behavior calls I get. It is also one of the most common reasons cats are returned or surrendered to shelters. There is definitely a right and a wrong way to introduce a new cat to your cat. When the steps are not done correctly, you can have a feline relationship that is never mended. Often people will say, I just let the new cat out to see what woul...

Cats rarely show pain or stress to avoid appearing vulnerable to potential predators. So how do you know if your cats is feeling stress? Molly and Dewey talk about what causes stress in cats, signs that your cat is feeling stress, and things you can do to destress your cat.

Bored? Playing games with your cat is great fun and mental stimulation for you both! In this episode, Molly and Dewey give you 15 game ideas you can play with your cat.

Have a cat that is spraying in your home? Nothing can be more challenging than cohabitating with an actively spraying cat. Molly and Dewey talk about the differences between cats urinating out of the litter box and spraying, how to identify the culprit, and what you can do about it.

I had no idea what the effects of burning candles and incense, wax burners, and air fresheners had on my cat until Tabasco was diagnosed with "severe lung disease". I used plug in scent diffusers, timer sprayed air fresheners and fragranced wax melts not knowing the hazards. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't one of those homes that choked you with fragrance the minute you walked in, but I do prefer a l...

Fostering a terrified cat is not for the faint of heart, but it can be a fulfilling and rewarding experience if you know the right method to work with them. In this episode Molly and Dewey talk about the types of approach and reinforcements that help these cats to learn trust and come out of their shell.