43. Play With Your Cat: How to Keep Your Feline Happy and Healthy with Dr. Mikel Delgado

AMC's Dr. Ann Hohenhaus interviews Dr. Mikel Maria Delgado, a certified cat behavior consultant, animal behavior scientist, and author of the new book Play With Your Cat: The Essential Guide to Interactive Play for a Happier, Healthier Feline. Tune in as they discuss: Dr. Delgado's career path in feline behavior "Catios," and indoor vs. outdoor cat recommendations Common feline behavior issues, including litter box avoidance and inter-cat conflict Cats' sense of smell and its importance in their social interactions Cats' innate solitary nature and heightened stress response Litter box best practices: placement, hygiene, and choice of litter The importance of play in cats' wellbeing and the origins of Dr. Delgado's book How play mimics hunting, which is considered a "species-specific natural behavior" for cats Play in kittens vs. adult cats Guidelines for feline play: make it an interactive hunting experience Dr. Delgado's 5 Golden Rules of Play Also on this month's show: Viral trending animal story of the month, featuring a helpless baby bird saved by a warm tortilla Animal news, including: a miniature poodle saved by NYPD, AMC, and the ASPCA; new research on dogs' response to human emotions; "cocaine sharks" off the coast of Florida Pet Health Listener Q&A Do you have a pet question for Dr. Hohenhaus? Email [email protected] to have your question answered on Ask the Vet's Listener Q&A. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter!