Petside Items: Animal Planet from guest Blogger Jo Singer

It is no secret I am addicted to animals. Television shows, which feature anything feline, are, of course my favorites. Always enchanted by which feature the "big cats", I eagerly look forward to every new episode. It is fascinating how similar my two Oriental Shorthair's stalking and marking behaviors are to theirs. Trouble, my white cat enjoys snuggling close to me while he watches their activities. Every once in awhile he will actually jump off the couch, where he is snuggled next to me enjoying the show, to paw at the screen. He has even has been known to try to get behind the TV, since he is certain that the cat he is seeing resides there. My husband and I are greatly amused when he displays this courageous behavior. I thought I had pretty much seen it all. However, while flipping through the channels this past Saturday morning, a brand new series on Animal Planet caught my eye. "Housecat Housecall" is a "reality" show, featuring families who share their homes with cats who display some quirky behaviors. In the first show, the Australian In the first episode, veterinarian, Dr. Katrina Warren, visited the homes of three perplexed cat owners. One of the cats enjoyed attacking visitors’ legs. Another would drink water only out of a faucet, neglecting her water dish and delighted in jumping into the shower with them. The last of the recalcitrant felines displayed glee while vigorously licking the arms and legs of her owners and additionally shredding their furniture to tatters. In consultation with two other expert veterinarians who specialize in feline behavioral issues, Dr. Warren was able to offer these owners excellent advice to redirect and change their cats' destructive and potentially dangerous behavior. I found the program enchanting. I was highly impressed with the manner by which Dr. Katrina interacted with these three families. I was especially delighted with the way she became involved with the cats. It was obvious to me that cats are special to her. She presented instructions in an enjoyable and informative way, which left me eager to watch future episodes. I do hope that she will present a cat with an issue similar to Trouble’s, who recently has begun to urine-scent mark our bed. The show airs on Saturday mornings on Animal Planet at 9:00 AM E/P. If you miss an episode, it repeats on Sundays at 7:00 AM E/P. Cat lovers will enjoy watching this delightful program while at the same time learning some fascinating facts about feline behavior. I give "Housecat Housecall" a big paw's up.