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| On YOur BesT BehaViOr T hou Shalt... 2. not exPect catS to Get alonG Cats are social, but their societies are insular. If a cat is raised individually and then brought into a group of cats, management of social interaction is more difficult. Typically, introductions go more smoothly if cats are: • Brought into groups as juveniles • Introduced in pairs (similar ages; preferably related or already familiar with each other), which allows the pair to interact together, reducing the chance the newcomers will aggravate the other cats. The occasional hiss, growl, and tussle—which are common behaviors and part of the normal feline social repertoire—are expected and normal. However, if one cat begins stalking another or a cat starts hiding and is reluctant to emerge for food, attention, or litter box use, behavior problems may ensue. 3. Provide food Free-roaming cats reportedly eat up to 13 small meals a day,2 most of which involve hunting. It makes sense, therefore, to incorporate this natural behavior into the lives of household cats, which can be done by: • Having the owner distribute food bowls throughout the house—at various levels that make the cat jump or climb to reach them • Providing a variety of food puzzle toys that challenge the cat both mentally and physically to extract the kibble. While "free feeding" can be a concern in overweight or obese cats, research has shown that meal-fed cats tend to be more aggressive and less cooperative than those fed free choice.2 As always, the goal is to strike a balance, such as free feeding smaller amounts of food and using automatic feeders that provide food throughout the day. The latter keeps the cat "grazing" versus consuming all available food at once. 4. Provide Water By adulthood, the average cat requires approximately 200 mL of water per day, which is usually acquired from 3 sources: drinking water, water in food, and water from nutrient metabolism of fat and energy.2 In some cases, cats: • Tend to drink more if the water dish is separated from the food source • Particularly prefer water from a tall receptacle, such as a sturdy flower vase. Research has shown that cats:3 • Prefer a flowing water source to Figure 4. Cat drinking from one that is still; a small fountain therefore, providing a fountain—whether designed for cats or humans—in the home is recommended (Figure 4). • Like to use faucets to access flowing water as well. 5. Provide oPPortunitieS for Play Everyone agrees that kittens play—often very roughly, and play is also an important part of the daily lives of adult cats. This play includes interacting with each other and/or "their" humans. The opportunities cats had as kittens to engage in "appropriate" play may determine how they behave as adults. A study demonstrated that hand-reared kittens were no more likely than queen-raised kittens to develop behavior problems or display human- and conspecific-directed aggression and fear.4 However, the hand-reared kittens did have another cat in the household and at least 1 wand-type toy for interactive play. In a multicat household, the owner needs to provide a number and variety of interactive cat toys (Figure 5) that the: • Owner can use to play with the cats • Cats can use to play with each other • Cats can use to play on their own. cats Going Green Figure 3. A pot of Cat grass and catnip planted cat grass provide natural options for feline treats and entertainment. • encourage owners to keep fresh cat grass (typically a mix of oat, wheat, and rye) in large, sturdy pots around the house (figure 3). it takes about a week for grass to germinate and it is edible for 2 to 3 weeks. • Fresh catnip is usually available at nurseries; dried catnip can be found in toys or loose. it can be sprinkled onto throw rugs for cats to roll in. 68 Today's Veterinary Practice May/June 2013 Figure 5. A "toy box" filled with a variety of cat toys