Dawn dish detergent, the miracle product rescuers use to clean oil-coated birds, will also work for your cat, if you use this procedure: Put the detergent on your cat’s fur before you get him wet. Massage it in for several minutes. By using the detergent before you wet your cat, the oil will get bound up in the soap rather than just causing the soap and water to slick off without touching the oil. Rinse your cat’s fur with warm water until no more suds come out.

My reader reported that this technique worked like a charm, and her kitty’s fur was clean after the first try.

Cat expert and animal communicator JaneA Kelley is the webmaster and chief cat slave for Paws and Effect, a weekly cat advice column by cats, for cats and their people.

Teething can be as uncomfortable for kittens as it is for babies. Although cats do not fuss and cry while their teeth are coming in, they may show behaviors that indicate discomfort such as chewing on inappropriate objects.

PetStages makes a chewing toy called the Catnip Crunchy Chew Stick, which can help relieve the discomfort. The chew stick can be frozen, so it provides a firm chewing surface and the cold that can help ease the pain and irritation of teething. My cats have a bunch of PetStages toys, and they enjoy them very much.

Be sure to check your kitten’s mouth every couple of days and make sure those teeth are coming in properly. If she stops eating or begins to act lethargic, get in touch with your vet right away.

Cat expert and animal communicator JaneA Kelley is the webmaster and chief cat slave for Paws and Effect, a weekly cat advice column by cats, for cats and their people.

The most beautiful feline gesture, though, is the slow blink, also known as the “cat kiss.” A cat sending you a kiss will slowly close her eyes, leave them closed for a second, and slowly reopen them.

Try giving your cat a kiss with your eyes and see how she responds. Usually if you give an eye-kiss and your cat is paying attention, she’ll give you one in return.

When you visit a home with a cat, you can try giving the resident cat an eye-kiss. He’ll probably be quite impressed with your good behavior and may even show you some affection.

Most cats won’t respond to eye kisses when there’s a lot of noise and commotion, so it’s best to practice your new kissing skills in a calm and quiet environment.

Cat expert and animal communicator JaneA Kelley is the webmaster and chief cat slave for Paws and Effect, a weekly cat advice column by cats, for cats and their people.

To get your cat out of the habit of charging outside at any opportunity, be sure not to greet your cats at the door. Instead, walk over to a place a few feet away from the door before you greet or pet your cat. If you keep doing this, your cat will realize that this is the official greeting location.

To prevent escape as you’re on your way out, say goodbye to your cat in a specific spot like his favorite bed or his cat tree. If your cat insists on following you to the door, toss a ping pong ball or similar toy. This will distract him.

Cat expert and animal communicator JaneA Kelley is the webmaster and chief cat slave for Paws and Effect, a weekly cat advice column by cats, for cats and their people.

The questionnaire is fairly long but it’s also very thorough and informative. It considers current age, weight, physical activity, diet and feeding practices, health care, behavioral issues, social interaction, possible disease and health conditions, and safety. It also provides detailed information about your answers and some interesting cat data such as the fact that 35 to 45 percent of cats are obese.

I am proud to sat that my cat Ed is 13.1 years younger than the average cat age for his breed (mixed). Considering that the average cat lives 15 to 17 years, he should be around another nine years or so, especially if I start brushing his teeth.

Kelly is a pet writer. She lives in the Boston area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat.

Some cat owners would say it’s shameful to own a cat who does these things but those of us with such cats know differently. These cats tend to be very affectionate and trainable and have a good sense of humor. Not that there’s anything wrong with the traditional feline. The seriousness of their dignity is often good for a laugh. Among the breeds that tend to act more dog-like are the Burmese and Siamese.

If your cat acts like a dog, you are not alone. There’s even a group here at Catster for those people. But, we must ponder: how do we know it’s not actually dogs that act like cats?

Kelly is a pet writer. She lives in the Boston area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat.

The best thing you can do is to block off the sides of the refrigerator. Some people duct tape a strip of cardboard (or something more attractive) down the sides of the fridge, blocking the cat’s access to the motor area behind.

Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter.

This was new behavior and I had to research it. Turns out cats sucking on cloth isn’t just annoying; it can indicate several things. First, if a cat is weaned too early, he may develop this habit. If he’s bored or stressed, that could lead to it. Or it could even signify a dietary insufficiency. Obviously, more exciting playtime could help as could a food change. Personally, I think Ed was: 1) complaining about the cutback in his food and 2) demanding an increase in adoration.

Kelly is a dog columnist and pet writer. She lives in the Boston-area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat.

It may seem obvious but sometimes we don’t consider the safety issues surrounding fire and cats. The fact is that cats are often drawn to flame for its warmth and flickering motions. If you have a fireplace, make sure you have a well-fitting screen in front of the opening and keep your cat out of the room when starting a fire.

If you’re a candle fiend, make certain all candles are out of reach of your cat or place your cat in another room while having a candlelight dinner. It’s also wise to keep cats off stoves – electric stoves can produce a lot of heat slowly resulting in burned noses and toes. With a little forethought, you can have your crackling fire and romantic evenings and keep your cat safe too.

Kelly is a dog columnist and pet writer. She lives in the Boston-area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat.

Sounds bizarre, but it works. And your cat can’t blame you for it – it’s the table that’s being sticky – not you.