Advice from the Cape Cod Cat Lady

From the Cape Cod Cat Lady, who had a store in Hyannis until  her retirement -  Here are a few articles on cats and cat care.

Do Cats love you?  Or are they just using you?

A lot of  'experts'  say that cats are strictly independent and aloof.   They claim that  cats have chosen to be with humans simply as a  strategy of survival.  Some people agree with this position, but most cat owners know that it is a bunch of B...S..T.

At her store, the Cat Lady had several cats in house,  that would mingle with the customers.  One in particular, a little red haired cat named Henry; was so loveable that he would wrap himself around people's shoulders, like a live 'mink stole'.

The iconic 'Cat Country' store left Hyannis almost ten years ago, but Henry lives on in retirement in  a house on a quiet lane not far from Main Street.  He is still a 'love bug' and still is friendly to everyone he meets.

Henry is an exception because many cats, and perhaps even most of them, like to bond with just one or two people.  Anyone who has owned a cat will tell you that cats are great at bonding with people, although they are very particular.

 Normally, a cat will choose someone in the home that he bonds with.  You’ll know when a cat wants to bond with you, as he will hop on your lap seeking attention or snuggle up to you at night when you are sleeping.  Purring is a strong sign of affection, especially with cats that are looking to bond.

No one really knows why cats choose a particular person with whom to bond.  It could be manners, voice, or simply how the individual treats the cat.

Some researchers try to ascribe a mystical element to feline attraction to people.  They say that a cat may bond with someone who gives off a certain 'pyschic aura' that is in alignment with the cat.  The plain truth is, cats are very intelligent.  They can tell if a person does not like cats and will steer clear of such an individual.

One thing everyone agrees on.  Cats are different from other animals.  Your cat may love you every bit as much as your dog; but will demonstrate it differently.  Purring and lap sitting are two examples by which cats show their owners love.


Those who are new to cats may find bonding to be very different.  The more time you spend with a cat, the deeper the bond gets.  Over time, people find that their friendship with a cat is every bit as deep as the one they have with their canine friends.  

If only your cat had an Iphone.................

Think what a great world it would be if cats communicated with cell phones.  Life would be a lot more pleasant for cat owners, but sadly the felines of the world talk to each other in a smelly way.  They spray.   They spray seemingly everywhere.  The Cape Cod Cat Lady reports that spraying isn’t a litter box problem, but rather a problem with marking.

Cat urine that is sprayed contains pheromones, which is a substance that cats and other animals use for communicating.  Pheromones are much like fingerprints with humans, as they are used to identify the cat to other animals.

When a cat sprays something, he is simply marking his territory through his urine.  The spraying is  the cat’s way of letting others know that the territory is his.  Even though it may make you angry. Yelling at the cat will not help.  It actually may worsen the problem.

Cats that are in heat are attracted to the odor of urine.  For cats in heat, spraying is more or less an invitation for love.  Often times cats that spray while in heat results in a litter of kittens that are born in just a few short months.  Keep in mind that cats not only spray during heat, as some will also spray during encounters with other cats, or when they are feeling stressed.

Although spraying is a way of communicating for cats, the smell  is horrible.  Luckily,  most cats will do a majority of their spraying outdoors.  If you have an indoor cat that never goes outside, spraying can indeed be a problem.  If you’ve noticed spraying in your home, you should take action and do something about it immediately.

The most effective and also the easiest way to stop spraying is to have your cat either neutered or spayed, which of course depends on the sex.  Most male cats that have been neutered will stop spraying the same day they have the surgery.

For cat breeders, the spaying and neutering thing is not a viable option.

The best thing to do in this situation is to talk to your veterinarian.  He or she, will be able to give you advice, and possibly even solve the problem without having surgery.  There may be a medical problem present that is causing the problem, which your vet can identify.