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As cats age | |||
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In contrast to dogs, many cats live a relatively
uncomplicated life, particularly if they are kept exclusively indoors. It
might be assumed that, because of the simplicity of their daily routines,
little would be affected by age. However, the lives of cats require some
complex learned behaviors. |
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Most important is elimination or "bathroom" behavior. In order for a cat to successfully use a litter box, he must first register the need to urinate or defecate, then make his way to the nearest litter box and negotiate its rim or cover. As with dogs, appropriate elimination habits may be one of the first behaviors to deteriorate in elderly cats. And, as with all elderly animals, it is particularly important to exclude medical conditions contributing to an abnormal increased production of urine, for example, diabetes, poor kidney function, or hyperthyroidism. |
Understanding your cats words
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If you listen closely to your cats vocalizations throughout a given day, you might notice that she expresses far more than a clichéd meow. Along with body language and the signatures produced by marking with claws or with urine, vocalization is an important and expressive communication tool in cats. | ||
Copyright © 2002, Izyana Ariffin
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