| Feline Behavioral Enrichment |
From "Pet Care"
episode PCW-101 |
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Zookeeper Ayessa Rourke at the Los Angeles Zoo shows some behavioral-enrichment ideas that the zoo uses with its big cats -- and that can you can adapt for your own little tiger. - Felines are very scent-oriented, so using catnip, which is available in dried form and in a spray, is a great way to get them interested in a toy -- and less interested in your furniture.
- No cat can resist a rousing game of swat-the-ball. Ball toys come in a variety of sizes; some have openings into which you can place catnip or food treats.
- If you do use food treats for Kitty's playtime, remember: The object is to get her to play, not to overfeed her.
- Cats love to chase anything that moves, and feather lures can provide hours of fun (figure A). In the Los Angeles zoo, peacock feathers are tied to the tigers' scratching post -- a log -- to add some fun to the serious business of claw-sharpening, one of the means by which cats mark their territory.
Guest: Ayessa Rourke
Zookeeper
The Los Angeles Zoo
5333 Zoo Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Web site: www.lazoo.org Web site resources for Feline Behavioral Enrichment: Cat Behavior and Training at Peteducation.com Cat Toys at Videoforcats.com Books: Totally Fun Things to Do With Your Cat (Play With Your Pet)
By Ed Shems (Illustrator) and Maxine A. Rock
ISBN: 0471195758
John Wiley & Sons
Available at bookstores nationwide and online.
Think Like a Cat: How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat--Not a Sour Puss
By Pam Johnson-Bennett
ISBN: 0140288546
Viking Penguin (2000)
Available at bookstores nationwide and online.
Wild Discovery Guide to Your Cat: Understanding and Caring for the Tiger Within
By Margaret Lewis
ISBN: 1563318040
Discovery Books (1999)
Available at bookstores nationwide and online.
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