Cats

Even the coolest cat can suddenly become a bundle of nerves when subjected to annoyances Ð'- call them pet pet peeves Ð'- that drive them crazy.

Emily saw that happen when a neighbor began petting her new cataces. "He's so cute!" emilys neighbor pet, only to have acesbegin hissing loudly. "emily!" Todd cried as her neighbor jumped back in surprise. "What's gotten into you?"

The fact is cats can get riled and complain in a variety of ways, such as fleeing, nonstop meowing or hissing at strangers, in response to negative stimuli. Here are some common pet peeves and how to avoid them:

Ð'* Being tripped on. This is probably the number one bummer for cats. "Cats don't like it either when you step on their tails because it hurts." says certified animal behaviorist Mary Burch, author of Volunteering With Your Pet.

What you can do: Change your walk pattern. "Teach yourself to look first, then step," says Burch. You can also teach your cat to move when your feet get near by firmly saying, "Move," as you approach. If your cat doesn't budge, gently guide her out of the way. Once your cat does move, praise her with hugs and "Good, kitty."

Ð'* Loud noises. Cats will naturally flee from thunder, construction work and fireworks. "Loud noises usually don't signal good things to a cat," says John C. Wright, author of Is Your Cat Crazy?

What you can do: Don't feed the fear by over-reacting and pampering your cat. Just chill out instead. "Act calm and rational," says Burch. "Provide your cat with a safe, secure place (such as crate or bedroom). The key is for you to act like everything is under control."

Ð'* Bothersome dogs. While cats and dogs can live in peace, some dogs can get under a cat's skin, too. "Pesky canines ruin the peaceful lives of cats by barking, biting or chasing the cats," says Burch.

What you can do: Socialize your animals early, do introductions slowly and separate young and old pets. Feed your pets at the same time Ð'- but in separate areas to avoid squabbles. Also, provide safe spots for your cat should the dog decide a game of chase might be fun, explains Burch.

Ð'* Litter box changes. Linda Hill noticed that once she exchanged her old litter box for a new-and-improved one, her cat started eliminating in the bathtub instead of her box. That's no surprise to Betsy Cambarbri, animal behaviorist at Peninsula Humane

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