Companion Animal Psychology

A new video takes a look at some of the common stereotypes about cats--and shows what cats are really like instead. Photo: Anna Luopa/Shutterstock. Text: Zazie Todd By Zazie Todd PhD This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. In case you haven't heard, my book Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy is out now in paperback. We have so many stereotypes about cats, but Purr shows us what our relationship can be like if we recognize cats as they really are. I made a short video (complete with many cute cat photos) to look at this. Watch it here or  on Youtube .  Let me know what you think! Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy is available from all good bookstores.  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 popular blog, Companion Animal Psychology, and also has a column at Psycho

Today is the publication date for the paperback of Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy By Zazie Todd, PhD This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you   Today is the publication day for the paperback edition of Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy . Purr has a foreword by Pam Johnson-Bennett and is published by Greystone Books. I'm thrilled that Purr is now available in paperback. I also feel incredibly lucky that Purr in hardback is a BC bestseller and has been so well-received. My aim, in writing Purr , is to help you have a happier cat--and therefore a better relationship with your cat. Purr covers the science of how to care for your cat throughout their whole life, with tips on how to apply the science at home at the end of every chapter. You'll also find a checklist for a happy cat, and training plans to teach your cat to like their carrier and do a cute trick. Here's what people are sa

How cats were domesticated, whether to keep your cat indoors at night, and other cat questions answered. Photo: Anna Pasichnyk/Shutterstock By Zazie Todd PhD This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. Get Companion Animal Psychology in your inbox. On Sunday Morning, I chatted about cats with RNZ's Susan Lei'ataua. We talked about how cats were domesticated, differences between dogs and cats, whether you should keep your cat in at night, their subtle communication signals that we often miss, and more. Listen here: More cat chat with Zazie Todd 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 popular blog, Companion Animal Psychology, and also has a column at Psychology Today . Todd lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, one dog, and two cats.  Useful links: Companion Animal Psychology me

The steps you can take to teach any dog to come when called and to help stop them getting lost. The Pawsitive Post in Conversation episode 10. By Zazie Todd PhD This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. Get Companion Animal Psychology in your inbox. It’s surprisingly common for newly-adopted dogs to get lost, and for any dog to go missing at some point in their lives, even if only for a moment. How can we stop dogs from getting lost? We chat with Maria Karunungan of Fetch the Leash in Burlington, Vermont, about the steps dog guardians can take to prevent their dog from getting lost. From the best treats to use when teaching dogs to come when called, the prevention strategies all dog guardians should use, to special steps to take when your dog is new to you, this episode is packed with tips. Kristi shares the heart-stopping story of when one of her dogs went missing, long before she became a dog trainer. And we also

A new format for your favourite cat book. By Zazie Todd PhD This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. I am so excited to share the news that my book, Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy , with a foreword by Pam Johnson-Bennett, will be published in paperback in Canada, the US, and the UK, on 6th June.  This is your chance to get the paperback edition, which is available from all good bookstores. Tell all your friends with cats!! I wrote Purr to help people with their cats and I'm so delighted with the response I've had to the hardback. I know the paperback will be able to help even more people. Here's some of the feedback I've had on Purr : "Enjoyable, approachable, easy to read. Purr is a must for anyone who shares their life with a cat."--Kate LaSala, Rescued by Training, certified trainer and behaviour consultant. "Full of great science delivered with genuine warmth and he

When introducing a puppy to cat(s) already in the home, take it slow, new research suggests. Photo: Gladskikh Tatiana/Shutterstock By Zazie Todd PhD This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. Get Companion Animal Psychology in your inbox. If you’re bringing a puppy into a home with an existing cat it’s important to do gradual introductions, according to new research by Rachel Kinsman et al, published in Animals , that investigated the factors that lead to success. Overall the results of the study are promising, even though only 7% of the puppies behaved in a completely desirable way in the presence of the cat. After all, puppies are still learning, so it’s no surprise that 93% showed some undesirable behaviours at least some of the time. But more than 25% of the puppies could be calm around the cat, and less than 2% showed signs of aggression such as growling at the cat.  Desirable behaviour was defined as being cal

The chemical signals your cat leaves behind—and how they play an important role in your cat’s relationship with their environment and you. Photo: Scalia Media/Shutterstock