 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
I would like to purchase a barking deterrent for our dog; however, since it is supposed to correct the bad behavior with a specific sound heard by the dog, I'm worried the "sound" will also bother our cat. (more) |
|
|
|
|
I have two cats, a mother (Alison - 13) and her daughter (Julia - 12) both are easily frightened cats, but Julia has not let me touch her since she was a little kitten. I can feed her treats by hand and maybe touch her for a second while she is distracted by the treats. She usually stays under my bed and hisses if I come into the room when she is not under there, or when I peek under the bed. I would love to be able to be closer to her, and have her be less afraid. Her mother is super vocal and super affectionate. (more) |
|
|
|
|
About a year ago, one of my cats started chasing and attacking another. They have lived together for seven years without any problems. We don't know what has changed. They have cat furniture all over the house but poor Monkey will not leave the top of the entertainment center in fear that Shadow will attack her. When she does, she stays close to the walls and watches over her shoulder. We have tried frosting our windows, in case it was caused by the sight of an outdoor cat. We have tried behavioral medicine for Shadow. We tried Feliway. The Veterinarian says there is nothing medically wrong with them. We tried separating them when we are not home but no matter what we do, Shadow will stare her down and attack. There have been a few occasions that warranted ER care. Our cats are indoor cats and we have six but this has never been a problem until about a year ago. We don't know what happened but now Monkey stays in 1 room and the others run and play from one end of the house to the other. What else can we try to get them back to being friends? (more) |
|
|
|
|
I have two cats that I have only had a couple of months, both were previously strays. They mostly stay outside in our backyard but come inside occasionally, although they seem to vastly prefer being outside. They are very slow to warm up to new people, so far. My husband and I will be having a party soon and the smokers in the group will be using our outdoor patio. We have a very large cage that would accommodate both cats easily and which both of them were confined in when, separately, we first brought them home, while awaiting their shots and spay/neuter. We are wondering if it will be disturbing to them to have so many strangers around and if we should confine them to the cage, in our garage, for the evening or, just allow them to be free and hide, or not, in a place of their choosing. (more) |
|
|
|
|
What or why does my cat eat lint off the floor? (more) |
|
|
|
|
|
Q: I would like to purchase a barking deterrent for our dog; however, since it is supposed to correct the bad behavior with a specific sound heard by the dog, I'm worried the "sound" will also bother our cat.
|
|
|
Answer:
The bark devices that employ an ultrasound noise as a deterrent would indeed be heard by the cat and might bother the cat. Barking by a dog certainly can be annoying and while a bark correction device might work, it is more efficient to understand the motivation for the barking and change that instead. Dogs often bark because they are excited, anxious or engaging in territorial responses. Once the reason is known a behavioral treatment plan can be designed that would diminish barking. Your veterinarian may be able to help you with this problem. |
|
back to top
|
|
|
|
|
Q: I have two cats, a mother (Alison - 13) and her daughter (Julia - 12) both are easily frightened cats, but Julia has not let me touch her since she was a little kitten. I can feed her treats by hand and maybe touch her for a second while she is distracted by the treats. She usually stays under my bed and hisses if I come into the room when she is not under there, or when I peek under the bed. I would love to be able to be closer to her, and have her be less afraid. Her mother is super vocal and super affectionate.
|
|
|
Answer:
Many cats are timid and shy and when they have been that way for some time their behavior may be difficult to change. The first step is not to increase her anxiety by attempting interactions when it is clear they are unwanted. Using treats or play time is a good way to bond with a cat. It may be that this cat prefers this type of association over petting and close cuddling. |
|
back to top
|
|
|
|
|
Q: About a year ago, one of my cats started chasing and attacking another. They have lived together for seven years without any problems. We don't know what has changed. They have cat furniture all over the house but poor Monkey will not leave the top of the entertainment center in fear that Shadow will attack her. When she does, she stays close to the walls and watches over her shoulder. We have tried frosting our windows, in case it was caused by the sight of an outdoor cat. We have tried behavioral medicine for Shadow. We tried Feliway. The Veterinarian says there is nothing medically wrong with them. We tried separating them when we are not home but no matter what we do, Shadow will stare her down and attack. There have been a few occasions that warranted ER care. Our cats are indoor cats and we have six but this has never been a problem until about a year ago. We don't know what happened but now Monkey stays in 1 room and the others run and play from one end of the house to the other. What else can we try to get them back to being friends?
|
|
|
Answer:
Often in a multiple cat home there are many factors that affect the social relationships between the cats. These can include distribution of resources (the placement of food bowls, litter boxes, climbing towers etc.), the personalities and temperament of the cats involved, available space and the number of cats. In some cases the home can be divided into groups of cats that get along and those cats kept together while segregated from the other cats. A referral to a veterinary behaviorist might help elucidate other treatment options that may increase the harmony within your home. |
|
back to top
|
|
|
|
|
Q: I have two cats that I have only had a couple of months, both were previously strays. They mostly stay outside in our backyard but come inside occasionally, although they seem to vastly prefer being outside. They are very slow to warm up to new people, so far. My husband and I will be having a party soon and the smokers in the group will be using our outdoor patio. We have a very large cage that would accommodate both cats easily and which both of them were confined in when, separately, we first brought them home, while awaiting their shots and spay/neuter. We are wondering if it will be disturbing to them to have so many strangers around and if we should confine them to the cage, in our garage, for the evening or, just allow them to be free and hide, or not, in a place of their choosing.
|
|
|
Answer:
You are right to be concerned about how your cats will feel with visitors to their space. Although allowing them to hide on their own is one option, they also could decide to escape and not return if they really feel the space is not safe. It might work better if they were confined to a safe location a few hours before the party and kept there until the guests have left. This location should have food, water, litter boxes and be very secure. While a crate may be used, it might be a bit small for long confinement and a garage would need to be inspected to be sure that no dangerous items were accessible to the cats. Another alternative would be a bedroom within the home where the cats would be comfortable, could hide under something and wait until the company has departed. |
|
back to top
|
|
|
|
|
Q: What or why does my cat eat lint off the floor?
|
|
|
Answer:
Many cats are quite interested in materials that they find on floor and will usually sniff at them and perhaps lick them. However, they don’t often eat them. If a cat is chronically eating lint and material off the floor, it might be a signal that there is an intestinal problem that is cause some discomfort and thus the cat is seeking something to calm the stomach. If that is the case a veterinary visit is needed to determine what is going on. |
|
back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| View our list of the most popular questions. |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| If you suspect that your cat is urinating in areas other than the litter box but aren't sure where, try using a black light to detect the problem areas. The urine spots will glow. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
Site Map
