Purrfect pedigrees Siamese

Purrfect pedigrees Siamese

We are Siamese, if you please

PEDIGREE PROFILE
Breed number: 24 to 32.
Weight: males 3.8kg to 4.8kg, females 1.9kg to 4.2kg.
Temperament: Friendly, devoted, lively and intelligent.
Availability: easy.
Colours: most commonly seal point, also available in red and blue points, apricot, lilac, cinnamon and chocolate tortie and tabby.

Mischievous, intelligent, loyal and loving — you’ll never be the same again once you’ve been owned by a Siamese!

Be prepared as your life will never be the same again once you open your door — and your heart — to a Siamese!
Owners and breeders of this loud and loveable breed cannot speak highly enough of them, and promise that while a Siamese will change your life, it will certainly be for the better.
Ross Davies of the Siamese Cat Association simply adores these graceful beauties: “They are more intelligent than most other breeds — they are very outgoing, friendly and love human company.

They’re also dog-like and will even play fetch with you!”
Niki Hill of the Siamese Cat Club agrees: “There is no doubt that Siamese are very vocal and individual, often displaying idiosyncrasies which can be funny, endearing and very naughty. If you like your cats to be loyal, loving and sometimes challenging, a Siamese may be for you.”
While Siamese are very affectionate lap cats who enjoy having cuddles, they are also one of the liveliest (and nosiest) breeds. They can open doors, drawers and even windows as Ross has found, so he has taken to putting child locks on his cupboards to keep out inquisitive Siamese noses!
Niki adds: “Siamese are not cats for everyone but if you want an active, determined cat with a distinctive yowl and conversation, you may be ready to lose your heart to a Siamese — but remember, once you fall for a Siamese it can be a life time obsession!”

THE LOOK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
All Siamese are ‘pointed’, which means they have colour on their faces, tails and legs, while the rest of their body is cream or white. While the seal point is the most well-known pattern in  the Siamese, there are now more than 34 different colours and patterns in the breed, including chocolate, blue and lilac points, caramel, red, cinnamon and fawn, as well as tortie and tabby.
They are famous for their beautiful blue eyes and large, bat-like ears, with long, lithe bodies and thin, whip-like tails with soft shorthaired coats.
Traditional Siamese have more rounded faces than their modern counterparts and have shorter bodies (as seen above). Many breeders are devoted to keeping the old look going.

ORIGINS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Siamese is one of the oldest breeds in the fancy, and there are several myths and legends about them. It is believed that the cats belonged to the Royal Family of Siam and were used as guards of the ancient temples.
Siamese originate from Thailand and a British diplomat working there in the 1800s discovered the cat. In 1884 the departing British Consul, General Gould, was given a Siamese as a leaving present and the cat’s kittens were shown by his sister at the 17th Chelsea Palace Show in 1885. At that time there were four main colours — seal, chocolate, blue and lilac point — but breeders have since introduced many other colours.

HEALTH & WELFARE . . . . . .
In the past, some Siamese were prone to having lymphosarcoma, a common cancer, and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) was also detected in earlier lines. But breeders have worked hard over the years to screen their cats from these diseases.
While they may be a high maintenance breed to keep up with, to compensate they have a very low maintenance grooming routine with just a hand groom needed to keep their shorthaired coats smooth.
Niki says: “Siamese have an illfounded reputation for being delicate in constitution and in need of special food. Nowadays we know that Siamese do best on simple, good cat food, and in fact they are often better on the less rich brands.”

DID YOU KNOW?
Siamese cats have had leading roles in many fi lms, such as the feline protagonists from ‘That Darn Cat’, ‘Bell Book and Candle’ and Kit from the TV series ‘Charmed’ — not forgetting Blue
Peter cat Jason!

KITTEN TIME . . . . . . . . . . .
Kittens vary in price depending on the area of the country. Most breeders specialize in specific types and colours so you may have to travel if you’re after a specifi c colour.
Ross advises buying from a registered breeder and make sure you visit the litter in their home: “Look for outgoing, friendly kittens that show no signs of illness. Never buy a kitten that is not well. The breeder should complete any treatment before the kitten leaves home.”

 DREAM TEAM . . . . . . . . . .
Siamese have strong personalities and will dominate many other breeds, but they have a lot in common with Orientals as they have similar temperaments.

DID YOU KNOW?
Legend has it that Siamese got their crossed eyes and tail kink when two Siamese were sent to fi nd a goblet belonging to a King. The one that guarded it was so scared of losing the goblet,

he stared intensely at it and wrapped his tail tightly around the base. These traits can still be seen today, although this is a fault which breeders are trying to eradicate.

Living with a Siamese
NIKKI SMITH FROM DIDCOT, OXFORDSHIRE, ADORES HER ‘NAUGHTY TODDLERS’ — LILAC POINTED TWO-YEAR-OLD YODA AND HIS SIX-YEAR-OLD MUM LILI.

Q : Where did you hear about the Siamese?
Our next-door neighbours are Siamese slaves and had tried to warn us that Siamese are completely addictive! We already had a moggy and couldn’t see life being that different with two cats!

Q : Did you do any research into the breed?
We did a huge amount of research into breeders fi rst and foremost. We found a breeder who was about an hour away from us and we visited the breeder when Yoda was three weeks old.
I looked on a couple of Siamese forums as to what to expect and talked to our neighbours, then we went ahead and got Yoda, our fi rst Siamese... and life changed! So much so, I started
writing a blog on how time consuming a Siamese is!
His mum Lil then joined us for her retirement and now it’s like having two naughty toddlers in the house!

Q : What are they like at home?
Half the reason I did my blog is for prospective owners to read — people can tell you all day long how different Siamese are, but until you have one you can’t quite believe it.
Siamese are like little people, they talk to you, follow you around and take up all of your time! I have full blown conversations with our two!
Yoda is very cuddly. He likes being cradled like a baby whereas Lil is happy on your lap or my husband’s shoulders.
At bedtime they both come in the bathroom with us, Lil will sit on the edge of the bath and Yoda on the edge of the sink. He likes to chew on a toothbrush then he likes my husband to fi ll his hands with water and he’ll drink from them! He then runs upstairs and climbs under the duvet, and Lil will follow him up and sit on him as if to say: ‘He’s under here mum’!
In the winter if I take my dressing gown off the back of the door, they’re both round my feet and will climb all over me until I take it off and then they climb in it and go to sleep!
There’s honestly never a dull day with a Siamese! They greet you when you come home, which is lovely. I wouldn’t change them for the world!

Q : Do you have any advice for potential Siamese owners?
If anyone is thinking of getting a Siamese do your research on breeders, see mum and kittens together. Don’t try and cat-proof your house, Siamese own the house — you are no longer the owner... just a slave!

Getting a new cat can sometimes feel wrong after losing another

 

Learning to love again

Getting a new cat can sometimes feel wrong after losing another. Is it possible to work through the grief and learn to love again? Claire Newton investigates.

As cat owners, words cannot describe how distressing it is when a beloved cat passes away. Although grief is a completely natural reaction to loss, sometimes the pain can make us fearful of ever loving a cat again. The heartache can seem so overwhelming and the devotion to our cat’s memory so strong, that people are sometimes faced with feelings of fear or disloyalty if they consider getting a new cat.
In order to understand where these confl icting feelings may be coming from, it is important to accept how intense grief can be. When a cat passes away, owners can go through the same grieving process as they would for any other family member. Only pet-related grief is still not widely recognised in society, and we are often expected to ‘just get on with it’.
Sadder still, owners are sometimes faced with having to make a decision about when it is best to let their cats go, and that in itself can feel an unfair responsibility. Similarly, death can occur suddenly as a result of tragic circumstances. Is it therefore any wonder that we may have trouble processing our bereavement?

Dealing with grief
Cathy Payne, from Devon, lost her sixyear-old tortie, Rosie, in a road accident three years ago. “I remember the last time I saw her,” explains Cathy. “I was playing with my son when she trotted by and miaowed to go out. I opened the window as I had many times before; she
sat there for a moment looking back at us, and then hopped off as usual to have an adventure.
“The next morning, the phone rang and I could hear my husband asking ‘Is she dead?’ My blood ran cold as I rushed downstairs. He said simply, ‘It’s Rosie, she’s been hit by a car’. The following days were devastating. Not only did I have to carry on with work, but I had to explain to my three-year-old daughter why Mummy and Daddy were crying, and why Rosie wasn’t coming home for her breakfast.”
A logical reaction to such pain is to avoid whatever caused this hurt in the fi rst place, and sadly for Cathy, and for many other cat lovers, the idea of going through the grief again is just too much, even if years of love came before.
“Three years on, and we are still sad about losing Rosie in such a devastating way,” says Cathy. “We will never get another cat. If the same thing happened again, I wouldn’t forgive myself.”
Interestingly,  Cathy now has two Labradors. “I don’t worry about the dogs as they are walked on the lead, but I dread the day they will naturally die. Losing Rosie has reminded us to treasure every day with them.”
But what if we desperately miss having a cat in our lives, yet feel as if we are disloyal if we look for another one?

“Never feel guilty. I always say that owning again is the biggest compliment that you could ever pay your cat.”

Don’t feel guilty
Daniel Ransom, from London, recalls this dilemma when he and his girlfriend suddenly lost their eight-year-old cat, Ragamuffi n, to cancer last year.
“Ragamuffi n’s death shocked us and we were left completely heartbroken,” Daniel explains. “Our home felt empty without a cat, but, whenever we considered getting a new cat, we felt as
if we were replacing her.
“We eventually went to our local rehoming shelter and asked to see the cat who had been there the longest. By bringing home a really deserving cat, we somehow felt that we could justify the
decision. We came home with Toby, a black and white moggy, who had been waiting for a home for over a year.”
Of course, this suggests that it is not just us who may miss out on cat ownership as a consequence of grief, but also cats themselves. Celia Hammond, founder of the Celia Hammond Animal Trust which rescues and rehomes thousands of cats every year, believes that pet bereavement can negatively affect the rate of rehoming.
“We experience grief-associated guilt from prospective owners all the time.
Someone may come in with good intentions of homing a cat, but it can quickly become too much and they’ll end up in tears over how they can’t take another one,” explains Celia. “We could fi ll our shelters six times over with rescued cats. We’re so overcrowded; we simply cannot keep up with the slow rate of rehoming.”
Perhaps our focus, therefore, should be on using our ingrained love for cats for further good, and view owning a new cat as an opportunity to provide a loving home. Celia agrees, and explains how guilt, although natural, is not necessary:

“Never feel guilty. I always say that owning again is the biggest compliment that you could ever pay your cat.”

Choosing another
Yet, what sort of cat should we bring home? Should we try to fi nd one that reminds us of our old friend? “Go for one completely different,” Celia recommends. “Otherwise, the similarity will never match up.”
Daniel agrees with this sentiment: “I’d be lying if I said that it didn’t feel strange when we first brought Toby home.
He’s so different to Ragamuffin that he almost seemed like an intruder! But, two months on, we now utterly love Toby for the individual cat that he is.”
So how has Daniel learnt to love a new cat and preserve Ragamuffin’s memory? “Toby has become so warm and affectionate, and it may sound silly, but he just seems really grateful to
have a home! I think that Ragamuffin would approve.”

Why does my cat scratch the wallpaper?

Why does my cat scratch the wallpaper?

A cats scratch walls and furniture for a number of reasons, including to stretch their back muscles after a nap, sharpen claws, leave a back muscles after a nap, sharpen claws, leave a scent/visual mark, and to get a reaction from their owners!
Many cats will have a stretch and a scratch after a nap. They will use the nicest thing to scratch that is close by to where they were resting. The best solution is to provide a scratch post near to each place where the cat rests and scratches.
The surface of the post is important, as it must be something the cat fi nds attractive. Some are perfectly happy with the kind of sisal cord used on many scratch posts, but some prefer carpet, others prefer upholstered fabric, and some really love the posts made from corrugated cardboard.

Claw sharpening is a similar problem. Like stretching after a nap, most cats will need to sharpen their claws regularly. The only way to stop them from damaging our property is to provide a suitable post close to where they currently scratch.
Claw marking to leave a scent mark is more likely in multi-cat households or where non-resident cats are intruding or harassing the resident felines. In these cases, the cat will claw in a number of places that are close to where other cats come and go (for example, close to
entry/exit points). The aim is to leave a message to encourage other cats to stay away. In these cases the social problem must be resolved, either between the resident cats, or by keeping intruding cats out of the house.

Did you know? Scratching leaves a marker to communicate with other cats.

 The last cause is attention seeking. If your cat often digs his claws into the wallpaper while looking at you, and then seems quite frisky and excited when you chase him away, then it is likely that he is scratching to get a reaction from you.
In these cases, put a scratch post near to where your cat is scratching, and only give him attention when he scratches the post.
Ignore him completely when he tries to scratch the wallpaper.

In all cases, once you have provided a suitable scratching place you should protect the wallpaper temporarily using heavy polythene sheet taped over the top. This will help your cat make the switch to scratching the posts you have put in place. A feline pheromone diffuser will help reduce clawing when it is stress related or scent marking, but the problem will come back unless the underlying cause has been resolved and the cat has some alternative places to scratch.

 If cats don’t have suitable scratching facilities, they’ll turn elsewhere.

How to Train Cats to Scratch Only Where They Should

This infographic helps you guide cats away from scratching furniture and to objects made for them.

People who are into “bucket lists” usually do not include scratched sofas, carpets, and chairs as must-haves on them.

Unfortunately, some folks respond to furniture scratching by having their cats declawed or surrendering the cats to shelters. This is unnecessary and tragic. Although cats instinctually scratch, they can be trained to bypass the household furniture and focus on objects designed specifically for them.

I created an infographic that is all about scratching behaviors. It also includes steps on how to train cats to scratch the appropriate objects instead of their people’s furniture.

Infographic by Marilyn Krieger, CCBC

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Ask a Behaviorist
How to Train Cats to Scratch Only Where They Should

This infographic helps you guide cats away from scratching furniture and to objects made for them.

Marilyn Krieger  |  Sep 12th 2014  |   7 Contributions

People who are into “bucket lists” usually do not include scratched sofas, carpets, and chairs as must-haves on them.

Unfortunately, some folks respond to furniture scratching by having their cats declawed or surrendering the cats to shelters. This is unnecessary and tragic. Although cats instinctually scratch, they can be trained to bypass the household furniture and focus on objects designed specifically for them.

I created an infographic that is all about scratching behaviors. It also includes steps on how to train cats to scratch the appropriate objects instead of their people’s furniture.

Infographic by Marilyn Krieger, CCBC

Although the infographic illustrates the basics, reward-based training systems, such as clicker training, in conjunction with the suggestions in the illustration will help save your sofas and carpets -- without punishing, yelling at, or declawing cats.
Scratching is a natural behavior

Scratching is a universal behavior that all cats naturally do. Even declawed cats have to scratch surfaces. In addition to giving themselves perfect manicures, cats have other reasons for the behavior.

Here are four other reasons cats scratch:

    Cats mark and define their territories when they scratch. The bottoms of their paws have scent glands, so every time they scratch, a little bit of information is stamped on the surface they are targeting. In addition to the pheromones, or scent that is deposited, scratching leaves visual sign posts.
    Scratching is also a stress reliever -- when cats feel anxious, they will often scratch. They will also scratch when faced with choosing between doing two conflicting behaviors. A bonus is that they are marking their territory at the same time.
    Cats will often scratch when they are playing and have sudden bursts of energy. Scratching in the middle of a boisterous play session disperses excess energy and gives the cat a moment to pause while she figures out what her next move will be.
    After a refreshing nap, felines enjoy long, fulfilling stretches that are accompanied by scratching.

Cats have to scratch, but they don’t have to scratch your household furniture.
The right scratcher

Cats prefer tall, stationary scratching posts and horizontal scratchers made from material that they can sink their claws into without becoming entangled. Find posts that are tall enough that your kitties can reach up and stretch while scratching them. They also need to be stable so that they do not fall over when cats exuberantly use them. Pieces of plywood can be attached to the bases of wobbly scratching posts to ensure stability. The majority of kitties avoid scratchers that hang from doors -- they move too much while being scratched. In addition to tall posts, most cats enjoy exercising their claws on horizontal sisal and corrugated cardboard scratchers as well as creative shapes fashioned out of corrugated cardboard.

The right texture

Most kitties love scratching nubby, coarse surfaces such as sisal and corrugated cardboard, while others enjoy carpet. Carpet isn’t ideal because claws can become entangled in the loops.  Also, carpeted posts need to be a completely different texture than the household rugs and carpets. It is hard to encourage cats to avoid scratching rugs that feel the same as the scratching posts.
The right locations

Because cats mark their territories when they scratch, place scratchers strategically in the areas where cats hang out and near their entrances. Felines prefer scratchers in every room they spend time in. Do not put them behind sofas, in closets, or other hidden areas. More kitties mean more scratchers. If you live with more than one cat, give them multiple scratchers.
Encourage scratching

Many cats naturally gravitate to scratching the approved objects -- others don’t. You can also jump start cats by playing with them around the scratchers with favorite toys or by scratching the posts with your fingernails.

The antique furniture and oriental rugs can become scratch-free without punishing or declawing cats. You can train felines to bypass the sofas in three steps: Make the furniture and rugs off limits, address the reasons for the scratching, and reinforce scratching the right objects. Clicker training is a very effective method for reinforcing and building good scratching habits.

Some cats quickly change their habits; others take a little longer to catch on. Regardless, the results are long term because cats prefer to scratch the objects they are reinforced and rewarded for scratching.

What does it mean when your cat licks you?

Dogs may lick our faces -- remember Lucy from "Peanuts" exclaiming, "Aaack, dog germs!" after a kiss from exuberant beagle Snoopy? -- but cats are more refined in their public displays of affection. When your cat licks you, usually after a mock-bite or firm grab with his paws, she's doing what her mother did during the early weeks of her life: providing a good cleaning that also speaks of caring and belonging. You've seen cats licking each other, helping in the grooming ritual, especially around the hard-to-reach ears and top of the head. But why is Kitty inspired to lick your arm or toes -- or even your hair? Here's what we've discovered.

Territorial Rights

Being licked is the first tactile experience your cat remembers -- that washcloth feeling of her mama cat's tongue thoroughly rubbing her coat, ears and every part of her little body. A mother cat initially washes her babies to remove the afterbirth fluids and to stimulate the kittens' breathing. She'll also clean them whenever they return to the nest, firmly re-establishing her scent on them. For cats both male and female, licking is a social exchange as well as a rite of cleanliness. Cats groom each other to remove debris and share scents, just as cats scratch in a favorite place where the scent glands of their paw pads will mark the territory as their own. When your cat licks you, she's cleaning you up and claiming you -- just as she would for a feline friend or litter mate.

What Licking Feels Like to a Cat

Some experts believe that orphaned kittens or those weaned too early from their mothers and litter mates develop oral behaviors such as suckling and licking, and exhibit these babyish habits into adulthood. But as with so much about cats, that's a generalization. The favorite hobby of Kelsey, a 6-year-old tabby who shares a household with her mother cat, is washing people -- and Kelsey's mother still scrubs her every day. Licking is a comforting, soothing sensation to cats, and feels like the gentle stroking of your hands petting them. If a cat licks you, she's returning that favor: She figures, who wouldn't enjoy being petted and assured of affection?

Excessive Licking

If an older cat who's never shown such affection suddenly begins licking you or suckling at your clothing, pay close attention to this change in behavior. Cats that start vigorously licking themselves may be seeking relief from a skin irritation, fleas, an insect bite or an infection. Help soothe Kitty by examining her skin and fur for problems, and ask your vet to recommend the right treatment.
If your cat's licking is not linked to illness and you simply cannot tolerate the ticklish feeling of her tongue, do not punish her for this normal behavior. Try gently discouraging your cat by moving away from her when she starts licking. Spritz your arms or hand with lemon juice, an immediate feline turn-off. Offer her a stuffed terrycloth toy to lavish her affection on instead, or just turn the tables and pet her lavishly, assuring her that you love her even if you don't like the licking.

 source : animal planet

Cats Who Suckle and Lick People

Some cats like to lick or suckle on people and clothes. They often purr and, at the same time, knead with their paws, as though they’re nursing. Some cats even drool profusely as you pet them. If your cat does any of these things, you may find yourself wondering if these peculiar behaviors are normal. Persistently trying to nurse on your neck or chin or repetitively licking your arms, face or other bare-skinned areas may seem especially strange. You’re not alone. Many cats develop these oral habits. They’re comforting and reassuring—somewhat like thumb sucking is to a child—so it may be hard to discourage your cat from engaging in them.

Why Does Your Cat Do That?

There are many reasons why cats suckle or lick people excessively. Some experts believe that cats who do these things may have been orphaned or weaned too early. Ideally, kittens should stay with their mother and littermates until they’re at least six weeks old. Some studies suggest that it’s even better if kittens stay until seven to twelve weeks of age. If they’re taken from their mother and litter too early, kittens may show infantile behaviors as adults. Both suckling and licking fall into this category. Suckling and licking can also occur in response to stress, anxiety, illness or just plain boredom. For some cats, these habits simply serve as comfort behaviors to enjoy during periods of relaxation.

In rare cases, regardless of the original reason why a cat started the behavior, suckling or licking can develop into a compulsive disorder. How do you know if your cat has become compulsive about licking or suckling? A behavior is typically considered compulsive if a cat has trouble stopping, even when you try to distract him with another activity. Please see our article on Compulsive Behavior in Cats for more information.

If you have an older cat who has recently started suckling or licking you, you should have him examined by a veterinarian. Hyperthyroidism occurs in up to 30% of cats over 10 years of age, and can cause a variety of behavioral changes.

Treatment Suggestions

    If your cat’s suckling or licking is not so intense or frequent that it bothers you, it’s fine to simply accept and enjoy your cat’s affectionate behavior during your quiet times together.
    
    One relatively benign type of punishment involves taking away what your cat wants the moment he starts to perform an undesired behavior. Simply get up and walk away each and every time he tries to lick or suckle on you. Don’t be so abrupt that you knock him to the floor or scare him. Just disengage from him, lift him off of your lap if necessary, and leave the room. You may need to keep this up for several weeks or months before you notice a reduction in the behavior. For this strategy to be effective, you’ll need to act quickly and consistently every time your cat tries to lick or suckle. You can’t allow him to do it at certain times but not others. Your inconsistent response will confuse him, and he won’t stop trying to engage in the comforting behavior.
    
    For maximum effectiveness, combine the method above with efforts to establish more acceptable interactions and fun with you. Depending on your cat’s personality, you might get a toy and play with him or distract him with tasty treats whenever he tries to suckle or lick you.
    
    Does your cat’s suckling or licking seem to increase whenever he hasn’t been getting enough attention or mental stimulation? Enriching your cat’s life with more activity and play can be quite effective in reducing the intensity and frequency of unwanted behaviors. It may even eliminate suckling or licking altogether. Five to 10 minutes of exercise once or twice a day can reduce anxiety and burn calories. Play games with your cat using a feather wand, a laser light or other objects that he can “hunt.” Cat videos, bird feeders outside a window, cat grass for chewing, vertical cat furniture “trees” or “condos” for climbing, and shelf perches on windows are just a few ways to keep your cat active and entertained. Please see our articles on Cat Toys and Enriching Your Cat’s Life for more playtime ideas.
    
    Another option is to provide your cat with an acceptable object to chew or suckle instead of you. Some cats enjoy chewing pieces of thin rawhide lightly coated with fish oil or cheese spread. Others prefer chewing on raw chicken wings. (Make sure they’re raw—cooked bones can splinter and choke or injure your cat.) Only give your cat rawhide or chicken wings when you’re able to supervise him. Once you discover what he really likes, keep a supply of it handy, and each time your cat tries to suckle or lick you, quickly redirect his attention to the chew or bone. Providing cat grass, lettuce or catnip to nibble on may also give your cat an acceptable outlet for his suckling or licking behavior.
    
    If you think your cat’s suckling or licking is related to stress or anxiety, try to identify what might be provoking it. Does suckling or licking happen more often after you have visitors over? What about when your other cat is nearby, when your dog gets loud and rambunctious or when family members argue? Other common situations that produce anxiety in cats include excessive confinement, the addition or loss of other family pets, social isolation or crowding (too many animals for the available space), unpredictable daily routines, punishment and social conflicts between family pets. Once you’ve identified some pattern or predictable triggers for your cat’s suckling or licking behavior, your goal is to either eliminate the stressor or help your cat find another way to cope. For example, if visitors make him nervous, give him a safe place to hide when strangers come to your home. If it’s another cat or a dog that upsets your cat, make sure he has objects to hide under or high places on which to perch when he wants to be left alone. Please see our articles on Fear of Visitors and Aggression Between Cats in Your Household for more information about these problems.
    
    Try making yourself or your clothing unappealing. Products that are formulated to keep cats from licking or chewing include Grannick’s Bitter Apple® and Veterinarian’s Best® Bitter Cherry Spray. Some cats dislike citrus smells, so lemon oil or a citrus-scented hand lotion may deter your cat from licking your skin. (If your cat isn’t deterred, be sure to wash the oil or lotion off so he doesn’t ingest it.) Please see our article on Using Taste Deterrents for more information.

What NOT to Do

Avoid swatting, pushing or yelling at your cat when he tries to suckle or lick you. Because this behavior may be caused by stress, punishment is neither the kindest nor the most effective way to respond. You’ll just add to your cat’s stress, make him afraid of you and possibly intensify the unwanted behavior.

When to Get Help

If your cat’s licking or suckling significantly interferes with his quality of life—or yours—consult a qualified expert, such as a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB or Associate CAAB) or a board-certified veterinary behaviorist (Dip ACVB). A behaviorist can help you determine what triggers your cat’s behavior and design a plan to resolve the problem. Please see our article on Finding Professional Help to locate a behaviorist in your area.