RECOGNIZING YOUR CAT'S EMOTIONS click to Add Your Comments It wasn't so long ago that some of the press had plenty of fun at my expense. Various newspaper and magazine articles referred to me as the world's first pet psychologist - a feline Freud and puppy shrink. reporters giggled, envisioning a pet lying on the couch, with me sitting alongside listening intently and taking notes. Some drew cartoon characters. Others even went to the trouble of setting up elaborate photographs, with one caption reading "America's first psychologist for pets." I've never been one to take offense at someone poking fun at what I do. If you're not having a good time when it comes to pets and animals, then you're in the wrong business. However, I can say that I have taken great pleasure in having the last laugh. What was virtually unheard of in the 1970's is now widely accepted. I'm extremely proud that in the early days I was right out there, in the trenches pouring out my message to anyone who would listen. click to Add Your Comments Cats are living, feeling creatures. They laugh. They frown. They can feel lonely and depressed, as well as upset and stressed. Simply stated, I believe pets are fully capable of experiencing the same - or very similar - range of emotions as their human counterparts. They may not experience it in exactly the same way, but they do experience it nonetheless. Well, I'm certainly no Sigmund Freud and I don't believe that a cat owner has to be an expert in psychology in order to recognize Kitty's various emotional states. But problems surface when owners don't believe that Kitty has mental health needs. Trouble also arises when owners do recognize Kitty's emotional range but don't know what that range includes, what precisely to look for, and what to do if there is an emotional disturbance. Kitty's psyche can be as delicate as she is but it can also be surprisingly tough. A little bit of knowledge can help you recognize her ups and downs, her highs and lows. Best of all, the knowledge will help you to intervene before Kitty gets in too deep, ensuring her mental well-being. Mental health is just as important to Kitty as her physical health. Welcome to the world of modern day pet behavior analysis Click to Add Your Comments --Warren Eckstein from "How to Get Your Cat to Do What You Want" (click to buy)