Hiss & Tell: Cat Behavior and Beyond

Cat Anxiety, Aggression & Medication with Dr. Sagi Denenberg

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2319549/fan_mail/new] Cat aggression, overgrooming, and litter box “problems” are easy to label and surprisingly hard to solve, especially when we treat the behavior as the diagnosis. We sit down with veterinary psychiatrist Dr. Sagi Dennenberg to get underneath the label and into what’s actually driving the cat’s behaviors: fear, anxiety, frustration, learned patterns, pain, and even underdiagnosed skin disease. We talk about why behavior and physical health are inseparable in cats, including how stress can skew vital signs and lab results and why “my cat is not herself” can be an early warning sign before anything obvious shows up on an exam. Sagi explains what a true behavioral diagnosis looks like, why home observation and video can reveal subtle pain, and how clinicians can avoid the trap of calling something “psychogenic” too quickly. Then we demystify psychoactive medications for cats. We cover what meds can realistically do (normalize biological behaviors and lower emotional intensity) and what they cannot do (teach skills or replace behavior modification). You’ll hear how diagnosis guides medication choice, what to expect from SSRIs like fluoxetine, how to think about timelines and tapering, and why many “side effects” are actually a return to normal sleep and eating patterns. We also get practical about dosing challenges, including when transdermal medications may help and when they can backfire, especially in multicat homes. If you’ve felt unsure about cat behavior meds, worried about side effects, or stuck with an ongoing behavior issue, this conversation will give you a clearer framework and more confidence in your next steps. Subscribe for more, share this with a fellow cat person, and leave a rating or review so more listeners can find the show.

Cat Body Language & Stress Signals with Dr. Serenella d'Ingeo

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2319549/fan_mail/new] Your cat is “telling you” what they feel. The problem is that most of us are listening with the wrong cues. I sit down with Professor Serenella d'Ingeo, an animal physiology and behavior researcher, to unpack what the science of feline communication actually says and why humans routinely miss stress signals that are right in front of us. We talk about why cats can seem aloof or unreadable compared with dogs, including their different domestication history and the fact that cats are facultatively social. From there, we dig into research findings that are a little uncomfortable but incredibly useful: people are only slightly better than chance at identifying whether a cat is relaxed, tense, or fearful, and the observer’s characteristics and experience can matter more than the cat’s behavior itself. If you live with an indoor cat whose environment depends on you, that gap in understanding has real consequences for welfare, chronic stress, anxiety, and behavior problems. Then we get practical with cat body language and petting consent. We break down what to watch across the whole body, how pupil size can be an early indicator of arousal, and why “staying still” during petting is not the same as enjoying it. I also share an easy tool for cat parents: record your petting sessions on your phone and replay them to catch the tiny moment your cat says “enough” before it turns into petting aggression. We also explore multicat household dynamics and when to intervene, plus one of the most fascinating studies on cat scent and brain lateralization, including a nostril preference linked to stress processing. If you care about cat behavior, feline stress signals, and building a calmer home, hit play, subscribe, and share this with a fellow cat person, then leave a rating or review so more listeners can find the show.

How to Help Your Cat Live Longer with Dr. Kevin Toman

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2319549/fan_mail/new] Your cat isn’t “fine” just because they’re quiet! Cats are built to hide pain, and that’s exactly why so many chronic issues like kidney disease, dental disease, arthritis, hypertension, and even heart disease get missed until they explode into a crisis. I sit down with veterinarian Dr. Kevin Toman, who has 40 years in practice and now focuses on pet longevity science, to talk about how to help cats not only live longer but live better. We dig into the subtle at-home signals that matter most, why litter box changes often point to medical problems, and how simple diagnostics like SDMA, urinalysis, blood pressure checks, and the Pro-BNP test can act as an early warning system. If you’ve ever wondered whether your cat’s “aging” is actually treatable pain, this conversation gives you a practical framework. We also tackle the confusing stuff: supplement hype versus evidence, nutrition marketing that targets humans instead of feline biology, and the most reliable longevity lever most households can actually implement: calorie control paired with better enrichment. Then we get into hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a condition Dr. Toman says may affect up to one in six cats, and what’s changed recently with rapamycin and other prescription longevity drugs. We close with clear, actionable steps and the kinds of “why” questions to ask your vet so your cat’s care fits their real risk. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share the episode with another cat guardian, and leave a rating or review so more people can find the show. What’s one health topic you want us to go deeper on next?

How to Find a Lost Cat with Cat Detective Kim Freeman

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2319549/fan_mail/new] Your cat is missing and everyone has advice, but a lot of it can make things worse. I sit down with Kimberly Freeman, a professional lost cat finder who has reunited cats with their families across nearly every state and more than 24 countries, to lay out what actually works when a missing cat disappears into stress mode. We dig into lost cat behavior: why cats often hide in silence, why they may not come when called, and why a friendly cat can still hiss or bite when you finally find them. Kimberly breaks down the biggest myths in the lost pet world, including putting a litter box outside, relying on social media alone, and assuming a cat is dead after just a few days. We also talk about how far indoor-only cats typically go, why some cats get trapped in basements, garages, and sheds, and the surprisingly common “transport” scenario where a cat rides under a car and jumps out miles away. You’ll hear a practical, science-based approach to searching: how to profile your specific situation using indoor vs outdoor history, personality, weather, and neighborhood layout, plus the real clues most people miss like fur, paw prints, fence marks, and patterns of movement. We clear up microchip misconceptions (it’s ID, not GPS), compare GPS collars, RFID, and AirTags, and share what to do in the first hour, including how to avoid lost pet scams. If you want a calm, systematic missing cat search plan you can act on immediately, this conversation is for you. Subscribe for more cat behavior help, share this with a friend who loves cats, and please leave a rating or review so more cat parents can find the show.

Inside the Science of Cat Happiness with Dr. Zazie Todd

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2319549/fan_mail/new] “My cat is being difficult” is one of the most common lines I hear as a clinical feline behaviorist, and it’s usually pointing to something deeper than “bad behavior.” I’m joined by Dr. Zazie Todd, psychologist, animal behavior expert, psychologist and author of Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy, to unpack what’s really going on when cats swat, bite, hide, scratch the wrong things, or seem moody and unpredictable. We get practical fast: how to set up your home for feline well-being with simple hiding spots and perches, how boredom shows up in indoor cats, and why choices and control matter so much to cat welfare. We also dig into reward-based training and clicker training, including how to teach a cat to feel safe in a carrier so vet visits don’t turn into a wrestling match. Along the way, we talk about why punishment and dominance myths harm the human-cat bond and can increase fear, anxiety, and aggression. Then we zoom in on communication. We break down the body language that people miss, why the “belly flop” isn’t always an invitation, and what to watch for when petting turns into overstimulation. If you live with multiple cats, we cover how to tell real fighting from play by looking for role swaps, loose bodies, pauses, and whether claws are out. We also share where feline behavior research is growing and what we still need to learn, especially about kittens and socialization. If you want a calmer home and a happier cat, listen, share it with a fellow cat guardian, and please subscribe and leave a rating or review so more people can find science-based cat behavior help.