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 recommendationsCommon feline behavior issues, including litter box avoidance and inter-cat conflictCats' sense of smell and its importance in their social interactionsCats' innate solitary nature and heightened stress responseLitter box best practices: placement, hygiene, and choice of litterThe importance of play in cats' wellbeing and the origins of Dr. Delgado's bookHow play mimics hunting, which is considered a "species-specific natural behavior" for catsPlay in kittens vs. adult catsGuidelines for feline play: make it an interactive hunting experienceDr. Delgado's 5 Golden Rules of PlayAlso on this month's show: Viral trending animal story of the month, featuring a helpless baby bird saved by a warm tortillaAnimal 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 FloridaPet Health Listener Q&ADo 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!