Catster

If teeth touch skin, play stops. When playing with another cat, rough play would end immediately with a hiss, a swat and walking away. The cat gets the message loud and clear that rough play ends the fun stuff.

Provide appropriate toys for play like fabric mice, food-dispensing toys, scratching areas, fishing pole-type toys. These kinds of toys, when used correctly can keep a cat busy playing appropriately instead of getting into mischief.

Miranda K. Workman owns Purrfect Paws Animal Behavior Center, LLC in Western New York.

Holly Tse is the author of Make Your Own Cat Toys. She also writes Green Little Cat, a blog dedicated to eco-friendly ideas for cats and cat lovers.

Pam Johnson-Bennett, CABC, is a certified cat behavior consultant and author of seven best-selling books on cat behavior. Her website is www.catbehaviorassociates.com.

Although the Cornish Rex looks dainty with its slim body and long, fine bones, it’s actually very athletic and agile. They can leap higher than many other cats, and they continue their kitten-like antics long after they reach adulthood.

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.

Sphynxes are not actually hairless; they are covered with a light peach-fuzz coating and sometimes have hair on their brows or heads. Still, the Sphynx can’t tolerate low temperatures because of its lack of a thick protective coat.

Because skin oils build up without hair to absorb them, the Sphynx needs to be bathed and have its ears cleaned on a regular basis. Their exposure to direct sunlight should be limited because their skin burns easily.

Sphynxes are generally outgoing, curious, very affectionate, and sometimes even silly. They love to be the center of attention and have been known to be full of mischief and energy.

In 2002, the Sphynx was accepted for competition in the Championship Class by the Cat Fanciers Association. Since then, the Sphynx has done well for itself, netting one top-25 award the Best Cat in Championship, two in the Best Kitten, and one in the Best Cat in Premiership categories in the 2008-09 show season.

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.