Favorite Kitty Lover Resources

If you had uttered the words “feline behaviorist” as little as 20 years ago, people would have looked at you oddly. Cats do what they do…because, well, they’re cats. Fast forward to today. We’re living in a golden age of feline behavior advice and guidance with many Favorite Kitty Lover Resources. Animal welfare organizations are putting more resources behind helping cat guardians better understand their furry friends. A new breed of cat behavior specialists are populating our Facebook feeds, our best seller lists, even our TV watching! There is good news about this trend. When cat owners have more insight about why cats do what they do, their bonds will be stronger and longer-lasting.

Here’s a round-up of some of our Favorite Kitty Lover Resources:

1. Cat Behavior Associates

Pam Johnson-Bennett, the voice behind Cat Behavior Associates, is a noted cat behaviorist with over 75,000 Facebook fans and 4,500 followers on her Twitter feed. She’s the author of eight books dealing with virtually every issue you might face with your cat, and her website is full of helpful articles organized by issues such as health, behavior, and the always important “litter box.”

2. Maddie’s Fund

Earlier this year, Maddie’s Fund offered a fun, interactive webinar called “How to Speak Cat.”  It takes you step-by-step through the three main forms of feline communication —vocalizations, body language and scent — and gives you the opportunity to take “mini-quizzes” and earn a certificate of attendance by taking a graded quiz at the end. The course was developed by two veterinarians and you can take it at your own pace. It’s a great way to spend an hour or so!

3. International Cat Care

International Cat Care is a feline-focused non-profit headquartered in England that is a passionate advocate of improving the lives of cats by promoting knowledge andtraining. They boast a comprehensive website, as well as an online magazine and newsletters you can subscribe to free of charge. They also offer online “distance learning” certificates for both cat owners and veterinary professionals in feline health and welfare, and feline behavior — I took the health and welfare program and it was as challenging as being back in college…but a lot more fun!

4. Jackson Galaxy

Of course, no article about cat behavior would be completewithout a shout-out for the Cat Daddy himself, Jackson Galaxy! He also spoke with Stacy on Episode 175 of the Community Cats Podcast. Jackson recently relaunched his website called “Cat Daddy Tips” with articles and blog posts about how to “get schooled” in feline instincts, diet, behavior and more. He’s translated his deep knowledge of “cat mojo” into a variety of products to help cat guardians take the very best care of their cats on their own terms.

Whether you’re a veteran cat owner or a newbie, there’s always something you can learn about making your cat happier and healthier. Check out some of our suggestions and let us know what you think!