43. Play With Your Cat: How to Keep Your Feline Happy and Healthy with Dr. Mikel Delgado

AMC's Dr. Ann Hohenhaus interviews Dr. Mikel Maria Delgado, a certified cat behavior consultant, animal behavior scientist, and author of the new book Play With Your Cat: The Essential Guide to Interactive Play for a Happier, Healthier Feline.

Tune in as they discuss:

• Dr. Delgado's career path in feline behavior
• "Catios," and indoor vs. outdoor cat recommendations
• Common feline behavior issues, including litter box avoidance and inter-cat conflict
• Cats' sense of smell and its importance in their social interactions
• Cats' innate solitary nature and heightened stress response
• Litter box best practices: placement, hygiene, and choice of litter
• The importance of play in cats' wellbeing and the origins of Dr. Delgado's book
• How play mimics hunting, which is considered a "species-specific natural behavior" for cats
• Play in kittens vs. adult cats
• Guidelines for feline play: make it an interactive hunting experience
• Dr. Delgado's 5 Golden Rules of Play

Also on this month's show: 

• Viral trending animal story of the month, featuring a helpless baby bird saved by a warm tortilla
• Animal news, including: a miniature poodle saved by NYPD, AMC, and the ASPCA; new research on dogs' response to human emotions; "cocaine sharks" off the coast of Florida
• Pet Health Listener Q&A

Do you have a pet question for Dr. Hohenhaus? Email [e-mail] to have your question answered on Ask the Vet's Listener Q&A.

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