Cat Training, Cat Understanding

What to Get the Cat Lover Who Has Everything

noreply@blogger.com (WereBear) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:59:00 +0000

What's the best gift for a cat lover? Stuff that makes their cats happy.

After all, cats don't have the same gift list we do; and they don't get gifts nearly often enough.

Stocking Stuffers

All cats love toys that look like mice, birds, or fish. A toy that makes the "cat go crazy" or provokes any lively response is always a hit. Curl up on the couch with a movie the cats will approve of.

Ramp It Up

If there's a kitten in the picture, the must have toy is Cheese Chase. Feliway pheromone dispenser have a scent that calms cats, and humans can't smell at all. Nap related items will be enjoyed for hours out of every day. Window perches are the kind of gift which doesn't cost much, but the effort to find and install it will also be part of our gift.

Do they love to read? These cat memoirs are famous classics.

When you're going all out this year...

Here's how to find the right automatic litterbox litterbox for anyone.

It really says I Love You.

My rec:

Did you know how much snazz you can add to your place with cat furniture? The Kitty Store Online has beautiful items at very competitive prices. Keep the human furniture looking great with one of these scratching posts a cat is guaranteed to like.

The big mistake most people make in choosing a scratching post is that it's not sturdy, and it has the wrong surface. These posts don't make those mistakes.

Enjoy the holidays, and the cats.

What you need to know about Cats and Halloween

noreply@blogger.com (WereBear) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:46:00 +0000

Should our cat stay indoors on Halloween? Read my post on Cat Safety on Halloween.

Is it true about black cats? I explore some possibilites in Why Black Cats are Shy.

Do cats know it's us in our Halloween costume? Here's why not.

I don't want to visit. They have cats.

noreply@blogger.com (WereBear) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:54:00 +0000

As the season for all sorts of holidays approaches, some of us might be dreading visits to people who have cats.

We don't like cats, we don't understand cats, and we think cats don't like us.

All of that can be fixed.

Many people just aren't comfortable with cats, and as soon as they broadcast that to the cats around them, they feel they are targeted or stalked. They are simply sending the wrong signals. What such people should do is fuss over the cat.

This will make the cat feel like we are coming on too strong, and might even try to sell them aluminum siding. They will leave.

If we want to make friends with a cat, use the technique I call Deliberate Avoidance. Look at the cat, until they start to look at us, then look away. Keep our body still. If we make eye contact, slowly open and close our eyes before looking away.

This will make us interesting and approachable.

We can think the cat doesn't like us because our overtures are getting rejected. So make an overture to the cat which cannot be rejected. Get an inexpensive toy, of the kind they like, and rub it on the backs of our necks, where our scent can be picked up. Make a fuss over leaving it on the floor, saying aloud, "And this is for Abernathy."

Abernathy will come to check it out. Even if that is after we have left. Next time, Abernathy will remember us fondly.

For more help in using these tips, see Making Friends with a Friend’s Cat.

Is it ok to discipline a cat with hitting?

noreply@blogger.com (WereBear) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:37:00 +0000

No. A million times no.

Hitting isn't good for any living creatures. But there's a particular drawback to using physical methods when trying to train a cat.

It's a fairly simple process in our minds:

We don't want the cat to do that...

So we do something unpleasant to the cat when they do that...

They will associate the unpleasant feeling with that thing they aren't supposed to be doing...

And they will stop.

Only that's not what happens.

As independent hunters, cats will only be interested in pleasing us when they want to please us, because we are their friends. We can scare them away from things, but not if we are the source of the scare.

That will only make them afraid of us.

When we suddenly appear, angry and mean and hurting, the cat is not going to connect their fear and pain with whatever they were doing. That has been driven right out of their minds. All they know is that we have suddenly gone crazy, and they will avoid us.

Then the cat, anxious and worried, will misbehave even more. They won't stop doing that thing. They just will not be our friends.

And I bet that not what we were after.

Read more about the best way to discipline cats.

Does canned food make cats more thirsty?

noreply@blogger.com (WereBear) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:36:00 +0000

No, it doesn't!

In fact, canned food makes cats less thirsty. Because water is part of the food.

But don't think this is a waste of food money. Because what it really is turns out to be dehydration insurance.

Why is this so important?

Cats are fussy about their water supply because, in the wild, there were few water sources in the desert. Cats grew used to taking care of their water needs by eating fresh prey. So while giving cats access to fresh water is important, getting them to actually drink it can be difficult.

When we feed canned food we make sure they are getting the water they need, when they need it. And there's lots of other reasons to feed canned: high protein, low carb, and twice the taurine of dry foods.

Find out more about the best way to feed cats.

How do I make my cat like me?

noreply@blogger.com (WereBear) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:20:00 +0000

It seems difficult to make friends with our cats, until we remember the Golden Rule. We must treat the cat... the way they wish to be treated. NOT how we wish to treat them!

Maybe we are making one of the Three Big Mistakes of Cat Friendship?

Thinking they are a dog. Patting them firmly on the head, rough-housing with them, and expecting them to come when called every time; these are dog things. Not cat things.

Cats don't like being patted; they like being rubbed. Cats don't like to play rough; it's not that they like it, it's that many of them will not back down if they feel threatened. Cats will come when called; if we only call them for good things.

It doesn't make any sense to bring home a pint of chocolate fudge ice cream, and then complain it doesn't taste like bacon. Cats and dogs are two totally different kinds of pets. And they act like it.

Not seeing their signals. When cats peek at us from around a corner, or walk slowly through a room we are in, or go to sleep in our chair, what they are saying is they like us. They want to be near us and our things.

They are noticing us. Will we show friendship by noticing them back?

Cats are often subtle in their ways of showing friendship because they aren't sure about the reception their efforts will get. And if we don't realize they are making efforts, they feel hurt and neglected.

Wanting them to make the first move. Cats may not trust right away, especially if they had some bad experiences before they lived with us. Even kittens can want us to act more mature as they become cats and act more mature.

The biggest key to a cat's heart is to show that we want the cat's heart!

So seek them out when we come home, call them for treats or playtime, and make fools of ourselves over them. No one else is watching, and the cat won't tell.

Once we fuss over the cat, the cat is compelled to fuss over us.

Then they sit back to see if we can fuss more than they did. If we do, they will have to up the ante, too.

There's no end to love when we play that game.

There's many ways to make friends with our cats. Read more about getting the cat to love you.

What is the cat's name?

noreply@blogger.com (WereBear) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 09:11:00 +0000

We must have a good name for our cat, because their name will shape their relationship with us.

Do we enjoy saying their name? Does it make us smile? Can the cat hear the pleasure in our voice when we say their name?

If not, we are already signaling our own indifference with a careless, lightly chosen, or even derogatory name.

Names like "Blackie," "Fluffy," or "Kitty" are not distinctive or delightful, are they? We know that; we do not say them with the proper happy tone.

At least putting something else there, like "Mister Blackie," "Princess Fluffy," or "Miss Kitty" makes them sound more important. Then the cat will feel more important.

While childhood names like "Stinky" or "Annoyance" seem funny at the time, we are not going to say these names with a lot of enthusiasm. Better to keep them as nicknames for use at the proper times.

It seems like a lot of trouble to go to, but that is exactly what our cat is looking for. They want to know we have gone to some trouble for them. That we care enough to go to some trouble.

An official name which reflects the cat's personality will be a reminder of the cat when they are not there, a way of showing affection when they are there, and a way to call them for good things.

A good name makes us, and the cat, happy.

Find out more about the power of cat names.

How cats make us do their bidding

noreply@blogger.com (WereBear) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:37:00 +0000

We obey the cat.

If we want to have a happy cat.

This isn't a bad thing at all. Haven't there been many times we wished we knew what the cat wanted?

We want a happy cat. Because a happy cat is a charming cat.

And who doesn't want to be charmed?

There is something wonderful about becoming the object of a cat's devoted attention.

Otherwise, so many people wouldn't enjoy doing it.

We can have a cat who greets us at the door, behaves themselves, and snuggles with us.

This is humorously expressed as "doing what the cat wants." Some people become uncomfortable when they realize getting affection from a cat is more challenging than a dog.

That instead of giving orders, we negotiate a mutually agreed upon strategy for each other's maximum satisfaction.

What else is a relationship for?

For more about what science has discovered about how cats really do enjoy bossing us around, see Why we do what cats want.

Myths about Cats

noreply@blogger.com (WereBear) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 09:50:00 +0000

There are many myths about cats.

Cats are aloof, don't feel affection, are a poor pet choice.

All myths.

We can have an adoring, and adorable, companion. We simply need to understand cats.

The three biggest ways people mess this up:

1. Treating cats like dogs.

Now, most people treat their dogs well. But even the well-meaning make this mistake with cats. We cannot train, discipline, or treat our cat the way most people handle dogs.

We don't need to be the cat's boss. We shouldn't yell at them or hit them. (Or dogs, either.) We shouldn't look for signs of the cat showing affection the way a dog would.

They are different animals. That's the point.

2. Expecting the cat to always make the first move.

Even if we raised them as kittens, we can wonder where the cuddles went. It was because kittens are all give. But as they grow older, they want give and take.

So take the initiative with your cat. Be glad to see them. Then they will have a reason to be glad to see you.

3. Ignoring the cat's efforts at communication.

When the cat is in our way, what do we do? Ignore them, or even tell them to go away? How can they figure out when there's a good time to approach us if we never tell them what that is?

If we've been ignoring the cat all day, then settle on the couch and want cuddling, why are we so upset that we don't get it? If we treated a person this way, they would not be open to our overtures, either.

So notice the cat whenever they appear. Then they will be open to returning the favor.

Myths do no one any good; when they are wrong.

See more misconceptions about cats in cat myths.

Are cats stubborn?

noreply@blogger.com (WereBear) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 09:02:00 +0000

Yes, they are.

There are two reasons, though.

The main thing the cat is stubborn about is how they want to be taken care of. They can't help that. Their instincts are hard for them to ignore, like hunger, sleep, and thirst.

Often we think a cat is "misbehaving," but a lot of the time, the cat is just asking for what they need. If the cat seems to be focused on their food, water, or litter needs, maybe those needs should be met in a better way.

Constantly scratching the couch means they are asking for a scratching post that is not flimsy or has a similar surface.

Cats can't help but be stubborn when their instincts are demanding satisfaction. They can't help it.

Other ways cats can be stubborn are also communication clues.

Hiding means the cat is not yet comfortable with what they can expect from their house. Refusing to be petted means the cat does not trust us enough to share this close contact.

Any time a cat is stubborn about something, we are getting an important clue about what the cat wants, and what the cat needs.

Which is often the same thing.

Find out more about what cats are communicating.

Why do cats get fat after fixing them?

noreply@blogger.com (WereBear) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:45:00 +0000

It's not that cats don't, sometimes, get fat after being altered.

It's that cats getting fat don't have much to do with them being altered.

We generally "fix" the cat at a young age, when their bodies are still growing, and they eat a lot to fuel that important growth. But just about the time they start maturing, they no longer need that much food. If they are eating too much, they will get fat.

And people blame it on the altering.

They reach this wrong conclusion because it's much more common to see a fat, altered, housecat than it is to see a chubby stray who is still reproductively active. But that's not their hormones. That's their circumstances.

That lean stray probably isn't eating enough. It's one thing for a cat to live in the wild and hunt small rodents, as they are designed to do. It's quite another for a cat to try to make it on our city streets.

The real reason housecats can become fat is that they are being fed the wrong food. This is even more important than exercise, which cats should also have. But most commercial cat foods have grains as the first ingredient on the label.

Go ahead, check the label.

Why is this so bad? Cats are hunters. They don't eat grains. When fed grains (sprayed with a meat sauce to make them think it's food) they get fat. Because they don't have the enzymes to digest grains.

All it does for them... is make them fat.

So we certainly shouldn't blame altering for making our cat fat. It was us.

We can stop the cat constantly asking for food by feeding them properly. Read more about how to slim down a fat cat.

Why do cats like to be close to your face?

noreply@blogger.com (WereBear) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:05:00 +0000

Closeness, for people or cats, is all about vulnerability. When we feel close to someone, we express it by moving our faces closer and closer together. By sharing each other's most sensitive spaces, we communicate how much we trust each other.

It's the same way with cats. When a cat rubs their cheeks or forehead on us, they are marking us with their scent. They are saying we are "theirs." But when the cat rubs cheek or forehead on our cheek or forehead, they nudging us to declare that "they are ours."

While cats have many ways of showing affection, from purring to kneading our lap, having our faces close to each other is the way we share closeness with our cats that is the most similar. We smile, they blink. We laugh, they roll on their backs.

But face closeness is one language we both share.

So we should take the opportunity to share face closeness with our cats. If we are afraid to get that close to them; we don't have the trust and friendship we really want.

So be friends to our cat. Treat them with respect and gentleness, and they will return those feelings.

Then we can have a good friend who shows how much we mean to them.

Read about cats and the Vulcan mind meld.

How long do cats sleep?

noreply@blogger.com (WereBear) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 17:35:00 +0000

Cats spend two thirds of their life sleeping. But they usually sleep only a few hours at a time. They also spend considerable time in "cat napping." This isn't a reference to the length of the naps, but their depths.

Cats can spend hours in a dozy state, alert to changes in their environment. This is often when they spend time near us, even if we are engaged in activities that are not about them.

When cats sleep away from us, they are signaling they want deep, undisturbed, sleep. So this is not a time to pet them and say their name. But when they are sleeping in our activity areas, we can acknowledge them with a chin rub or some sweet talk without disturbing their resting posture. After all, they are hanging with us to get attention. Give them some.

Kittens "cycle faster." Their sleep times, and wake times, are shorter and more numerous. But any cat, of any age, is always either charging, or discharging, their energy. Cat naps are their in-between state which makes them available to us while keeping their energy on tap.

To understand a cat's sleep behavior, we must remember that a cat survives by catching prey. Since they are not the biggest predator on the block, and they hunt alone, the cat must outwit and ambush their prey. Patience is the cat's secret weapon. They have the ability to wait for hours for the right moment; and then explode into blazing action.

So cats have the ability to store up a lot of potential energy, and then unleash it in a few seconds. This is an amazing ability; and requires certain behaviors of the cat.

So they don't have the "run all day" energy type of the dog. They spend of lot of time being ready for quick moves, and quick thinking. That is why cats are successful predators.

They aren't lazy. They are waiting.

Find out more about cat sleeping habits, and how they can mesh with our own.

Are purebred cats better?

noreply@blogger.com (WereBear) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 15:59:00 +0000

No. Purebred cats are not "better" cats by any measure. We can get a mixed breed cat who is as smart, affectionate, healthy, and well-behaved as a purebred cat.

Or not.

Because these things depend on the individual cat and how they are raised.

That's the short answer. The long answer is what "purebred" means.

The purebred cat comes with papers saying they are a certain breed, and so were their parents, and so were their parents, as far back as the "breed standard" goes.

Which can be as far back as the dawn of time or as recent as a decade ago. The Cat Fancy organization has certain rules about what makes a breed, and then it's a breed.

That's what it means. And that's all it means.

Here are the plusses, and pitfalls, of getting a purebred cat.

The good news:

What purebreds offer is predictability. If we want a devoted, talkative, and active cat with a long, lean body and a face, feet, and tail of a lovely contrasting color, we can get a Siamese kitten, and know it will grow into a Siamese cat. If you grew up with a Siamese and adored him or her, your chances of getting a similar cat is greatly increased by getting another Siamese.

This is how breeds of cats get their fans. People know they can get more of their favorite kind of cat. They also know if they want more than one cat, the chances of the cats getting along are increased if they are the same kind; with the same traits and preferences.

Or maybe you are allergic, and need to get a cat known to be less likely to trigger allergies, such as a Sphinx, Cornish Rex, or Siberian. That's also a good reason to get a purebred cat.

An ethical breeder will provide prenatal care to their mother cats, and raise the kittens "underfoot," with good socialization and other early training. This can be important to people who don't know how they would handle a cat with an uncertain past.

There's certainly nothing wrong with wanting, or getting, a purebred cat. As long as you avoid the Purebred Picking Mistakes.

The bad news:

There is no shopping for bargains with purebred cats. Many people look into a certain breed, then draw back with "sticker shock" over the price tag. Then they discover they can get the same breed from someone else for half that price. Doesn't that mean they found a great deal?

I'm afraid not. There's a better than 90% chance you have actually overpaid for a living nightmare.

The very point of a purebred cat is a restricted gene pool. You want a Norwegian Forest Cat or a Chantilly/Tiffany, and you get it; that's not the problem. But to keep such a restricted gene pool producing healthy cats, good breeders need to match their father and mother cats carefully, and monitor any bad recessive traits with medical testing. They will take problematic cats out of their breeding program. They don't sell sick, or potentially sick, kittens.

That's expensive. That's why the kittens are expensive.

Bargain breeders don't do any of that. So getting a "bargain purebred" usually means getting a kitten whose mother didn't get those prenatal checkups, whose father might be carrying a tendency to heart trouble, blindness, or blazing skin problems, and whose early life was spent in a box in the backyard to be whisked onto the market too early so the seller can take advantage of tiny kitten cuteness.

It means falling in love with a kitten who will cost their low price over and over again with vet bills until their too-early death.

Or it means not falling in love at all; bad breeding can produce a kitten who spends their life hiding under the sofa, screeching at all hours, or fighting with everything that lives and breathes.

If you've ever heard someone remark, "Oh yeah, that breed. My mom/uncle/best friend had one, and it was a horrible cat," you are hearing about a bargain breed purchase.

Horrible cats don't have fans. For good reason. But it's not the fault of the breed. It's the fault of someone who didn't know how important it is to pay full freight on a purebred kitten.

So, how do you get your dream cat?

If you meet a friend's cat and find them adorable and gorgeous, if you read up on a breed and discover qualities that sound incredibly attractive, or if you have allergies or other life style restrictions that mean you need a certain kind of cat, you still have choices.

Just make the right choices.

Here's the right way to save money on purebreds.

How many cats are too many cats?

noreply@blogger.com (WereBear) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:59:00 +0000

We sometimes see "cat hoarders" on the news. Some sad looking little house, or tiny trailer, or even an apartment, and the local humane society bringing out cat after cat, like some demented version of a cat clown car.

Now that's too many cats.

Remember that animal hoarders are mentally ill. The cats in this situation are not taken care of.

There's The Cat House on the Kings, which is a shelter in Palmer, California. They have over 700 cats and kittens; all happy and cared for.

Then there's the common saying, "Over two cats, and you're a Crazy Cat Lady." Even if you are a man.

So what is the answer to this question? The reason this question comes up so often is the intersection of two facts:

Cats are easy to take care of. Even many cats are easy to take care of and make happy.

People who find out they like cats, want more cats. Because more cats are more fun!

So the answer to the question of "How many are too many?" is simple. As long as we have enough time, money, space, and love to make each cat happy, we can have as many as we want.

Statistically, more than half of all people in the US who have cats, have more than one cat. Because they have discovered how easy, and enjoyable, cats are.

Because it's not crazy to love cats.

Loving cats is so easy, cats are now the most popular pet in the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, China, Japan, and throughout Europe. Not to mention their popularity in Indonesia and Australia.

Might make a catless person wonder... what they are missing.

To see how many cats your space can handle, use my Cat Space Calculator.

Are Cats Good for Us?

noreply@blogger.com (WereBear) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 16:01:00 +0000

Are cats good for our health?

Yes. This study suggests that cats, in particular, are good for us. ABC News: Stroke on Your Mind? Stroke Your Feline: "New research suggests cat ownership could reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke."

So there's something special about cats that makes them better for our health than other pets?

Actually, yes. Cat purring actually speeds healing. And that goes for anyone within range, like a cat's person.

This is probably how cats got the reputation of having "nine lives." Cats can come back from very serious injuries.

Just because cats have special abilities doesn't mean we should be afraid of them.

Can Oscar The Cat Predict Your Death? | Itchmo: News For Dogs & Cats: "a cat who has the uncanny ability to predict our dying days"

Many people said they were afraid of Oscar. But they shouldn't be.

It's not supernatural.

Oscar was a kitten in the nursing home, accompanying the nurses on their rounds. Because of a cat's superior senses, he was able to pick up on when a person was getting really sick; and taking it upon himself to be there for that person.

When they needed a little comfort, the most.

It's just another way cats like taking care of us. Because they do. When we are sick, the cats stick around to offer comfort. We shouldn't worry... unless we have Oscar.

And he already has a good home, and a good job.

Read more about the Ways Cats Care for Us.

Why does the cat ask to be fed all the time?

noreply@blogger.com (WereBear) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 15:59:00 +0000

The number one reason cats ask to be fed all the time is:

They are hungry.

How can that be? we ask ourselves. Isn't there a bowl of food sitting right there? What do they want?

Unfortunately, a lot of cats get fed the wrong food. The typical dry cat food diet is full of grains.

And cats can't digest grains.

Cats lack the enzymes to digest carbohydrates. ANY carbohydrates.

That's grains, corn meal, fruits and vegetables; they may add it to cat food, but cat's bodies don't recognize it as food.

To find out what we are really feeding our cat, look at the label with our calculator handy. Add up two things from the label: Protein + Fat.

How big is that number? Because that is what we are really getting. Only protein and fat are foods the cat can digest and actually use.

Anything else is only going to make the cat fat and sick.

This makes us look at our cat food buying in a whole new way. Maybe that food is cheap, or maybe it's expensive. But if what we are getting in real food is only a fraction of what we are paying for, then we are not feeding the cat enough food.

And that's why the cat asks for food all the time.

Because the cat is hungry all the time.

So maybe it's time to rethink our cat food buying. Maybe we should use our cat food dollars to buy more actual food. Canned food is actually a better food bargain than the dry food; because it contains more food. Check the labels, and see for yourself!

Because the cat is not hungry all the time, they will actually eat less; and lose any excess weight, too. All the cat can do with those useless grains is turn it into fat.

Why are we paying good money to make our cat fat?

Getting better food can wind up costing us no more than what we are paying now, but we wind up with a healthier, happier cat.

Which saves us money in the long run, too.

When cats are fed the right diet, they aren't hungry all the time.

The Built-In Cat Instruction Manual

noreply@blogger.com (WereBear) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 15:59:00 +0000

Suppose every pet came with a built-in tutorial that coached us step by step in their proper care.

It doesn't sound possible.

Yet, cats almost have that.

Cats only require us to master one skill in order for us to train, care for, and discipline them.

If we listen, cats will be our teacher.

Yes, cats want what they want.

But this isn't a bug, it's a feature!

Cats know how to make themselves happy better than we do. Happy cats are well behaved, happy, and affectionate cats.

If we learn how to listen to the cats, the cats will tell us what we should do.

A pet hardly gets any easier than that.

If the water in the dish is getting stale, the cat will signal us. If the cat feels neglected, they will come to us. If the litter needs cleaning, the cat is doing us a favor by telling us!

The more we understand and respond to the cat's request, the more our cat will feel loved. The more the cat feels loved, the more they will communicate with us, come around for petting, and not want to misbehave.

Cats want to work with us so they take care of themselves most of the time.

They don't want to be walked, they only want us to clean the litter regularly; we can pick the time. So they can pick the time. Isn't that easy?

We can always make our cat care and training easier.

We just have to consult our in-house expert.

Find out more about Hearing What Cats are Telling Us.

Two Cats are Easier Than One

noreply@blogger.com (WereBear) — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 15:59:00 +0000

Did you know that when we decide we want a cat, we can do ourselves a favor by getting two cats instead?

Even if we already have a cat?

It's true!

People worry about their cats getting along, but two cats are always easier than one.

In almost any circumstance.

That's because if we are starting from scratch (hee hee!) getting two cats instead of one solves a lot of our cat problems from the very beginning.

Two cats can play with each other and we don't have the whole burden of amusement.

Two cats means twice the chances of our message getting through. One cat might be better at understanding humans; and then they can tell the other cat.

Two cats means the cats will behave better; one of them is likely to be more cautious than the other, and will warn the other cat they are about to get into trouble.

Two cats coming into the home at once won't get into territory disputes. They are both starting from the same territory. So we increase the chances they will not just get along, but be buddies.

This "cat math magic" works even if we already have a cat, and we worry about adding a new cat. We solve our problem when we get our cat two new cats.

The new cats come into the house as a unit. They can play together when the other, probably older, cat is not in the mood.

The new cats will turn to each other for their social needs, and allow our present cat to develop the relationship at their own pace; they won't be harassed to be friends before they are ready.

The new cats turns the situation around. Instead of our present cat getting invaded by another cat, our present cat is presented with a cat group they can be a part of... or not, as they wish. They will find their territory guarding response blunted because two cats actually feel like less of an invasion than a lone cat.

We're already going to be putting down food dishes and scooping litter. But adding two new cats is only a fraction more work than adding just one. And adding two cats instead of one makes our work lighter, because they just get along better having a buddy right off the bat, not being lonely when we are away, and convincing a single cat that there's fun they are missing, not stuff they have to share.

So take advantage of Cat Higher Math. When we add cats; let's multiply instead.

Find out more about The Multiple Cat Advantage.

Should cats go outside?

noreply@blogger.com (WereBear) — Sat, 30 May 2009 15:59:00 +0000

It all depends... on how long you want to keep the cat.

Because no matter how savvy the cat is, or how safe you think your neighborhood is, the odds are not good for the cat, outdoors.

It's the little things. Letting cats out means exposure to parasites and disease. It means we have to keep up their immunizations and work much harder on flea control.

While most of these problems will impact the cat, they can affect us, too. We hate getting fleas. Cats who don't go outdoors won't pick up toxoplasmosis, which is dangerous for pregnant women and their babies.

It's the big things. Dogs, other cats, and automobiles are serious dangers to our cat. The cat's instincts might help them when it comes to fighting with other animals, but they can still get seriously injured. And they have no way of handling automobiles, which move much faster than anything in nature.

It's bad enough when the cat comes home injured, which leads to expensive vet bills. It's even worse when the cat doesn't come home at all.

It's the uncertainty. Every time we open the door for the cat, we roll the dice. If the cat doesn't come home, we probably will never know what happened. We can soothe ourselves by thinking the cat found another home, but that's hardly ever true.

This also makes the cat vulnerable to being picked up by the shelter authorities. If we don't get to the shelter in time, many of them will kill the cat. Collars don't help that much; they either breakaway, and might not be there. Or they don't breakaway; and trap our cat forever.

It's the horrible things. Disturbed individuals like to kill animals. Our friendly cat, who trusts and likes people, can be an easy target.

Even if we don't have a crazy person in the neighborhood, many otherwise "nice" people get upset about cats near their house. To safeguard their bird feeder or their garden, neighbors have been known to use ugly methods on neighborhood cats.

So we shouldn't ask ourselves "When is it safe to let the cat out?" When so often the answer will be, "Never."

Read more about the indoor/outdoor issues with cats.

How long before cats get along?

noreply@blogger.com (WereBear) — Sat, 23 May 2009 15:59:00 +0000

There is no set time for cats to get along. A kitten can come into a home with another kitten and they are getting along within an hour. Two older cats who have had bad experiences might take a year.

But most cats can get along. The cats who don't get along are marked "Only Cat" in the shelters. These are usually cats who were raised away from other cats, and are too nervous to change that attitude.

We can't tell if we have an only cat, though if we raised them from a kitten that's unlikely. A cat usually has to have a bad experience with another cat to develop an aversion.

The first thing we should do with two cats who don't get along is put the cat who seems to be the most aggressive about it into their own separate room. They want to be the boss of everything. Having their own room will let them be the boss of everything... in that room.

We must never hit or yell at the cat.

This only teaches the cat to be afraid of us.

The cat who has been attacked most often will relax and gain confidence. They can go through their cat routines without looking over their shoulder.

This should also stop the cats using our stuff as a bathroom, ripping things up, and trying to hurt each other.

Once we've had some peace and quiet, we can let the aggressive cat out of their space, but first see how they are handling the space.

If they are pacing and howling and generally acting unhappy, we know they are high energy cats, and need a lot more play than we have been giving. We will give them more play sessions and try to wear them out. We will get out the water bottle and shake it when they try to make trouble. If that doesn't work, only then we can squirt them.

If they make an effort to get along, we won't be as quick to put them in another room as we would if they immediately start stalking their victim again.

If they are bouncing around playing and happy, and immediately try to play with us when we come in, that is all they were trying to do with the cat who got mad at them. The other cat is just too quiet or too old to play as much as the other cat wants. And this won't change.

We should probably get the rowdy cat a kitten to play with. Having three cats who get along is a lot better and easier than having two cats who fight.

If they are lying around and acting relaxed, this means they are not cats with an aggression problem. They are cats who were so nervous with the other cat or cats, the activity in the house, the dogs or kids or noisy stereo that they couldn't think straight. Something was making this cat nervous and touchy that is no longer there.

We need to make a quiet space for this cat, just for them, and not let the other cats bother them there. In turn, this cat is unlikely to run around and get in the other cat's space.

Find out more about How to get cats to get along.

Teach Cats to Love Cuddling

noreply@blogger.com (WereBear) — Sat, 16 May 2009 15:59:00 +0000

Why doesn't our cat like hugs? How can we get our cat to accept our affection? What happened to our huggable kitten?

Whoever raised the kitten, and that could be us, might have inadvertently taught the cat to dislike it.

We can train the cat to like it again.

We start with a fist. Yes, your reaction means this is something we don't think of. But to a cat, it doesn't mean you want to punch them. It means you won't grab them.

Start the game by lying on the floor, and reaching our fists to our cat, inviting them to smell it. Cats usually love having us down on the ground and will quickly show interest in us.

We offer them our fist, and then pet them with it.

Over several sessions, we pet them more, and we learn how this particular cat likes to be petted. The cat will show us by rubbing our fist with their body part. We don't go to another spot. We pet them at that spot.

Sometimes, cats lose their enjoyment of petting when they start getting big. Then we can't pick them up so well with grabbing hands; but we keep doing it. Cats find this awkward, and we can inadvertently hurt them.

So then they don't like getting picked up, and we get upset because they don't like getting picked up.

By the time we can hug them to us on the floor, we then start getting up with them in our arms. We have to do this slowly and carefully; dropping the cat would send the wrong signal.

For more about petting, see Fist of Friendship.

For more about picking the cat up, see The Forklift Move.

How Long Do Cats Live?

noreply@blogger.com (WereBear) — Sat, 09 May 2009 15:59:00 +0000

That depends on how much care the cat gets, the size of the cat, and the random toss of genetics.

Long-lived cats can be purebred Siamese or mixed breeds. In general, cats hit retirement age at twelve. When they get into their upper teens, they are elderly. A twenty year old cat is getting to the far end of their range.

In feral cat situations, cats are breeding at six months, getting older at three or four, and rarely make it to five. They don't get enough nutrition hunting in civilized areas, and the consequences of breeding, like fighting for males and pregnancy for females, are more than they can handle for long. They are also vulnerable to accident and disease.

So when we bring a little kitten home, we should be prepared to take care of the cat for at least ten years, and possibly twice that. We must remember we have to be able to be there for them that whole time, because at this age, getting a home is the easiest it will ever be.

And they've already used up that shot.

Read more about caring for the senior cat.

Do cats know their names?

noreply@blogger.com (WereBear) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0000

Of course cats know their names. The only reason they don't come when called is that we have not always used it for good things.

Cats don't want to take a chance. Not only would that mean they would get a bad thing, like medicine or a bath, they also would feel betrayed.

We are supposed to use their name only for good things.

This is the easy way to train the cat to come when called.

If they always get a treat, a new toy, or some affection from us, they will want to come when they hear their name.

They like their name. We should never say it without a promise in our voice.

Read more about how cats learn their names.

Why do cats cough up hairballs?

noreply@blogger.com (WereBear) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0000

Cats cough up hairballs because they have to do it to stay well.

Cats groom themselves constantly, so their scent will not tip off their prey. This means they ingest some of their fur. There's only two ways to get rid of it, and hairballs is the other way.

If the fur doesn't pass through their stomachs, it will make the cat feel sick, and they will throw up their hairball and then feel much better.

So when the cat makes funny noises and throws up, they are doing something natural that is good for them.

We don't need to worry.

This activity can increase any time the weather begins moving into a new season. In cats exposed to a lot of natural sunlight, the shedding is more seasonal. Indoor cats slow down their rate, but do it more often.

Some companies put extra fiber in foods or treats to help this process along the other way. Since my cats don't care for these, I use the natural fibers in fresh grass, which has many other health benefits.

We can also give the cat a hairball remedy regularly, usually made with malt syrup and mineral oil. Look for the low sugar alternatives, because cats have a low tolerance for sugar.

Grooming the cat keeps hair elsewhere to a minimum. Read the best way to train your cat to love grooming.

Grow kitty grass to help the cat let the fur pass through their stomach.