Amy Shojai

What Cat Lovers are Asking this Week…

• Q:

  What is the best way to introduce a dog to a blind cat? The cat is ten years old and has constipation so he's getting lactulose, and canned food with extra water because he won't drink water. The cat has lived with dogs previously since he has been blind but is much more nervous and jumpy now. I want to get a Golden Retriever puppy (or dog). Not sure if I should even try.

  A:

  I would not recommend a puppy, but an adult Golden Retriever that has had good relationships with cats could be a fine fit. Puppies need lots of training and are naturally curious, play-monsters with no off-switch. A youngster would pester the blind cat and potentially cause great stress. But an adult dog that already is used to cats and respects them—and has basic obedience so can be managed—could do well.
  
  The best way to introduce a new dog to your blind cat would be to separate the newbie initially to one room. Allow the pets to meet via scent and sounds at first. Although the cat is blind and unable to stress at the sight of the dog, he’ll still be upset by unexpected encounters. Your blind cat uses a mental map of the house to navigate safely, so isolating the dog to one room/area allows kitty to mentally label the “dog area” and avoid (or approach) at will.
  
  Cats identify safe people and animals by shared scent. Grooming each other and cheek rubs transfer kitty cologne to the other animal, in sort of a olfactory name tag. So you can speed up this process by rubbing a hand towel on the cat (especially the cheeks), and then transferring the scent by petting the dog with the towel.
  
  It’s also important to monitor all interactions. Since the cat has no sight, rather than starting with a solid door you could use a baby gate so that the dog can also get used to the cat’s presence. Turn the cat’s appearance into an opportunity to reward the dog with a special treat. That way the dog identifies the kitty with good things for him, and also begins to turn to YOU rather than considering chasing the cat.
  
  After the cat has begun to approach the dog’s area or (very positive!) interacted through the baby gate with a minimum of hissy behavior, open the door. Keep the dog on leash for first meetings, and don’t make a big deal of this. Allow the cat to approach and don’t force interaction. Ignoring the dog is a GOOD thing! You’ll want to supervise all interactions for the first several weeks, until confident the cat doesn’t feel threatened and the dog has acted well.
  
  Make sure the dog wears a collar with a jingle bell or some other noise-maker to help the cat keep track of his whereabouts. It can take a few days to several weeks for the intros to result in tolerance-to-love, and there’s no way to predict. It’s positive that kitty has had good relationships before with dogs, and adopting a cat-friendly adult dog could be the beginning of a wonderful relationship. Good luck!

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• Q:

  I have had my two year old cat since she was five weeks old and about a year ago my cat was behind me when I was cooking at the stove and I tripped over her and yelled at her. She started growling and hissing and attacked my leg. Ever since then she periodically does the same thing for no reason. I carry a squirt bottle with me to spray her if she gets into that mood. She is an indoor cat. How can I help her get over this?

  A:

  Wow, I’m so very sorry you must deal with this issue. Cats always have a reason, we just don’t always understand what it is.
  
  Your experience demonstrates very well why corporeal punishment doesn’t work with cats. I know that the tripping was an accident, but all the cat knows is that discomfort came from contact with your feet, accompanied by scary shouting. In this situation, cats don’t think—they simply react with fight-or-flight. Kitties learn very quickly, and a single experience may result in the cat generalizing to expect pain/fear in any similar circumstance. For example, if a cat becomes injured or scared by a man the kitty will be more likely to fear/avoid ALL men thereafter.
  
  Therefore, I’d suggest that you keep a log of the exact circumstance of each situation. Do they happen only in the kitchen, or all over the house? Is it when you wear certain shoes or slacks? What time of day? If at the same approximate time/day, what coincides with that (garbage truck arrives? Dogs walked outside?).
  
  Once you know your cat’s triggers, avoid them. If she becomes aroused in the kitchen when food is present, ban her during your cooking and mealtimes. Should a kind of shoe prompt the behavior, consider replacing them, or wearing them only out of her sight. When you recognize the “mood swing” think about changing her c’attitude. Yes, the spray bottle can interrupt the intent, but it also has a negative connotation. Why not try tossing a favorite toy or treat to the cat? If she’s otherwise engaged grappling a catnip mouse or gnoshing a tidbit, she can’t use teeth and claws on you.

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• Q:

  How much time a day do I have to spend with a male kitten?

  A:

  Spend as much time as you can with any age kitten or cat! You get back from the relationship what you put in, and any cat that’s ignored will return the favor. It doesn’t have to be a time-sink with hours spent in one setting. Several short periods of attention throughout the day work just as well.
  
  Look at your schedule and see where you can fit in cat-attention-time. For instance, many cats enjoy the morning ritual when their human brushes teeth or shaves. My cat Seren has a bowl of water on the vanity next to the sink, and we “talk” to each other. Mealtimes are another great opportunity to bond with your kitten. Don’t just fill the bowl—fill the kitten’s heart with attention by talking to and petting him while he eats. Watching the evening news offers another great opportunity for lap-sitting or toy-tossing interaction.
  
  Remember that kittens especially are sponges that absorb information and lessons they carry with them the rest of their life. If they learn that humans are fun, and the source of all-good-things, they’ll treat you accordingly. Kittens that don’t have proper interaction or outlets for learning (translation: play-play-play-eat-sleep-poop-play-some-more!) they’ll never reach their full potential as happy companions. It’s not the quantity of time, but the quality that’s important. You can train a kitten to walk on a leash within five minutes for example.

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