Creature Comforts Pet Services, LLC

Compassionate care for your friend

Archives for May 2024

Cat Communication

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Cat Tails

It is always a good idea to get to know what your cat is thinking. Most of us intuitively understand them, but it can help to know the various ways a cat can communicate. Keep in mind it is a good idea to note the context in which a cat is displaying certain body language to fully understand what they are communicating.  They communicate visually through body language, auditorily through vocalizations, tactile (touch), and through scent.  Overall communication can be put into 3 categories:  distance increasing (antagonistic), meaning the cat wants to get away.  Distance decreasing (affiliative) meaning the cat wants to be nearer a person or object.  Or simply neutral with neither a desire to get away or move closer.

I will start with visual communication, beginning with the details, then putting it together with whole postures.


Tails

Cats’ tails are quite effective in helping a cat to balance, but they also say quite a lot with their tails.  


A neutral tail is generally horizontal or slanting slightly down, this can indicate the cat is confident and relaxed, yet alert.  

An aroused cat will have a twitching, waving, wagging or flicking tail.  Arousal could mean agitation for a number of different reasons such as fear, aggression, or playfulness.  Sometimes a cat can exhibit arousal while stalking prey with almost complete stillness except for a tiny twitch at the tip of the tail.

It is a good idea to approach a cat with a thrashing tail with caution as this indicates extreme arousal that could result in attack.

They can communicate excitement with a quivering tail, of course this can also indicate spraying urine.

A tail tucked close to the body or between the legs indicates fear. Although relaxed “loaf” cats will also hold their tails close, it is often not pressed against the body tightly.


A standing straight up, puffed “bottle brush” tail is a show of fear or defensive aggression.  

While a hooked L shaped tail indicates offensive aggression (ready to attack).  

A tail held high is a confident and friendly greeting, particularly if it is in the shape of a question mark.  A high quivering tail is excited to see the person or object.

Pet Food Guidelines

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When it comes to pet nutrition it boils down to what works best for your particular animal, that includes what is tasty and interesting, and nutritionally appropriate. There is such a huge variety out there these days it can be hard to choose.  For the most part, any of the major brands out there will provide adequate nutrition for your pet, so there is no need to stress over it.   Here are a few pointers to help.  Keep in mind that quality and price are not always equal.   

First look for high quality protein listed as the first ingredient.  For this you will want to see the specific name of the animal ingredient (i.e. chicken, beef, lamb).  For instance, “Poultry” could mean chicken, turkey, or duck. Also “meal”, as in Chicken meal, could mean non meat items such as beaks, feathers, and feet are included and counted as protein.  If your pet has special food needs or allergies, it is important to know exactly what you are getting.

Second, just like with human foods, avoid ingredients that you can’t pronounce, as well as dyes. Many dry pet foods use grain ingredients to act as binders and fillers.  Wheat, soy, and corn are common, but better choices are brown rice, lentils, oatmeal, and quinoa.  

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) have established guidelines that pet food manufacturers need to follow and these can be very helpful in understanding what you are getting. 

  •  Look for  “Complete and Balanced” on the pet food label.  This means the contains all the required nutrients and they are in the correct ratios.  Foods that are listed as “intermittent” or “supplemental” are not nutritionally adequate for a healthy animal.
  • A pet food containing the word “with”, such as “Super Cat Food with Chicken”, has to contain at least 3% of that ingredient.
  • Words such as “Premium”, “Gourmet”, and “Senior”  are allowed, but have no technical definition and most likely will mean you will pay more and that is about it.  
  • However, kitten and puppy foods do have the required ingredients for growing animals.  Look for “Puppy”, “Kitten”, or ‘Growth” on the label.  “All life stages” is appropriate for young animals, as well as gestating/lactating females.

Cats and dogs have different digestive tracts from ours and require food that is specific to their species.  

Cats do well on multiple smaller feedings of wet food in a day, similar to eating several mice per day.  They are obligate carnivores meaning they require animal protein at each meal.  Cats do not do well if they stop eating for more than 24 hours, so if you notice this in your kitty have them checked by a vet right away.  Cats also get quite a bit of moisture through their food.

Dogs, on the other hand, have much more hardy digestive systems, designed to occasionally withstand a fast and even manage on somewhat old meat.  In their wild past they may not have had any luck on the hunt and have to go hungry for a day or two.  Their intestines are much shorter than a human’s and cannot digest plant fiber very well.  Again, in the wild, most of their “vegetables” would have come from the partially digested contents of a prey animal stomach.  So any plant ingredients need to be cooked and finely chopped.

There are other factors related to eating besides just nutrition to consider.  Kibble size should be appropriate to the size of animal you are feeding.  Very large kibble could be a choking hazard for a smaller dog.  It is best for your pet to chew their food for the maximum absorption of nutrients. There are a whole lot of possibilities for slowing down a fast eater, from simply tossing the food over an open area to be picked up one piece at a time, to one of the many food puzzles available.  How much to feed comes down to breed, and exercise level.

Nutrition in pets can be a complex science, but does not need to be a source of stress for you and your animal companion.  Fortunately we do have AAFCO guidelines to help regulate the industry and make it clear what our animals are eating.