Posts

Fellow Creatures: Getting Help with Cat Behaviour

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My new post at Psychology Today looks at how to get help with your cat's behaviour issues. Photo: Francesco Ungaro/Pexels By Zazie Todd PhD We all love our pet cats, but even though all cats are perfect, it's pretty common for people to have issues with their behaviour. Whether it's scratching the furniture, toileting outside of the box, or not getting on with other pets in the home, it can be hard for you to deal with--and it's often a sign that something is not right for your kitty. My latest post at my Psychology Today blog Fellow Creatures answers the question, How can I get help with my cat's behaviour issues? It includes some tips on when to see your veterinarian, how to think about your cat's environment and whether any changes might help, and where to go if you need additional help. Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning author of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy and Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy . She is the creator of the popu

Companion Animal Psychology Book Club March 2024

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"Ever wondered why your cat won't sit on your lap?" By Zazie Todd PhD This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. This month, the Animal Book Club is reading Being Your Cat: What's Really Going On In Your Feline's Mind by Celia Haddon and Prof. Daniel Mills FRCVS.  From the publisher: "Prepare to enter the mind of your cat and revolutionise the way you see the world and your enigmatic pet. Bestselling cat author Celia Haddon and veterinary expert Dr Daniel Mills take you into the mind of your feline and, drawing on the latest scientific research, describe how your cat experiences the world. This is a unique book drawing on a wealth of veterinary science and studies, which relays those findings in a way that will amuse and delight owners. By placing you in the mind of your cat you will know what it's like physically, empirically, psychologically and emotionally to be your cat. Being You

Animal Minds and Our Favourite Fables with Dr. Jo Wimpenny

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Zazie and Kristi are joined by zoologist Dr. Jo Wimpenny to talk about her book, Aesop’s Animals: The Science Behind the Fables . By Zazie Todd PhD Watch episode 15 of The Pawsitive Post in Conversation below or on Youtube , listen below or via your favourite podcast app (including Apple , Spotify ), or scroll down to read the highlights. About this episode This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. In this episode of The Pawsitive Post in Conversation , Zazie and Kristi are joined by zoologist and writer Dr. Jo Wimpenny to talk about her book Aesop’s Animals: The Science Behind the Fables . We talk about the history of Aesop’s fables and the role they still play in society today, before moving on to wonder whether there is a grain of truth in them when it comes to animal behaviour. We consider some of the most popular fables. Are crows really as clever as Aesop suggested? Why are wolves always the villain? Do

Fellow Creatures: Does My Dog Need Behavior Training or a Private Session?

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I've got a new post over on my Psychology Today blog, Fellow Creatures. Photo: Blue Bird/Pexels By Zazie Todd PhD The post looks at the different types of dog training classes and consultations that are available, and how to choose between them. For example, puppy class is a valuable way to help meet your pup's needs for socialization. Classes for adult dogs are a great way to continue to work on manners, but a private session is better for behaviour issues. Many online options are available these days which can be a great choice. And of course, training methods must also be taken into account. Read the post on Psychology Today : Does my dog need behavior training or a private session? And if you need more advice, check out my post on how to choose a dog trainer . This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning author of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy and Purr:

Harley

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Harley Jan 2009—9 Feb 2024 Harley. Photos: Zazie Todd By Zazie Todd PhD On Friday we had to say goodbye to our beloved brown tabby cat, Harley. He was 15 and had lived with us since he was about 2.5 years old. Harley was a very affectionate cat who would start purring as soon as I walked into the room (something that ended up in a story in The Atlantic after a journalist asked me what made my cats purr ). He was also an expert at opening doors, which sometimes led to a few adventures or at least to extra treats.   Although he was an indoor cat, there would be moments when we could not find Harley anywhere. Then, after we hunted through the house, he would suddenly be sitting in the middle of the hall. It was as if he had teleported there from somewhere else. Harley had a number of medical conditions that were well managed with twice-daily insulin injections and pills. He was diagnosed with heart failure at the emergency vet about 16 months ago, but he had been doing well since and his

How Pets Benefit Our Brains with RNZ's Sunday Morning

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I spoke with Jim Mora about how pets can benefit people and other new research on dogs and cats. Photo: Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock By Zazie Todd PhD I joined Jim Mora on Radio New Zealand's Sunday Morning to talk about some recent news articles that cover research that finds that pets can have benefits for people. Or in one case that we discuss near the end of the interview, potentially have a detrimental effect (but you'll be glad to know more research is needed). Amongst other things, we talk about the way that dogs can encourage adults to get their daily exercise and can encourage girls to do more physical activity. And another study looks at the cognitive benefits of having a pet for seniors who live alone. We also talk about the lifespan of various breeds of dog and the factors that affect it. You can listen to the recording here: How pets benefit our brains . This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cos

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