SAVANNAHGANS® Magazine Savannah Cat Blog
WHAT THE “F”?
(Facts, Filial, Fraud, Fur, Food - Any “F” word applies!)
BREEDER INTERVIEWS
BEHAVIOR
All species have innate behaviors meaning they’re born with specific “wiring”. These are the actions our pets’ feral or wild counterparts must perform to survive, thrive, avoid predators, eat, and reproduce. Though perfectly natural behaviors for a kitty, sometimes they’re a nuisance to us humans; such as clawing objects or behaviors that are difficult to express in the limited environments we provide. Because cats have strong biological and emotional wiring that drives these needs, these behaviors are not very changeable and unresponsive to behavior modifications like punishment or medications. They are part of who your kitty is. If not given appropriate outlets for these species-specific needs, cats end up expressing these needs in ways we don’t like resulting in a state of chronic stress that leads to behavioral or medical problems such as lower urinary tract disease and chronic stress associated with an environment that lacks enrichment opportunities. —Jenny Biehunko, DVM; Resident ACVB
