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ssteezyy · 5 years

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Ask the Cat Behaviorist with Dr. Marci Koski: Cats Who Don’t Get Along, Marking Behavior, and More

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Dr. Marci Koski is a certified Feline Behavior and Training Professional who received specialized and advanced certificates in Feline Training and Behavior from the Animal Behavior Institute. While Marci has been passionate about all animals and their welfare, cats have always had a special place in her heart. In fact, Marci can’t remember a time when she’s been without at least one cat in her life. She currently relies on her five-member support staff to maintain the feline duties of her household.

Marci’s own company, Feline Behavior Solutions, focuses on keeping cats in homes, and from being abandoned to streets or shelters as the result of treatable behavior issues. Marci believes that the number of cats who are abandoned and/or euthanized in shelters can be greatly reduced if guardians better understand what drives their cats to certain behaviors, and learn how to work with their cats to encourage appropriate behaviors instead of unwanted ones.

Do you have a question for Dr. Marci? Leave it in a comment, and she’ll answer it next month!

Friendly female cat being ignored or hissed at by other cats

I have a female cat that is very mellow and friendly towards people as well as other cats. The problem is that the other two cats either ignore her (male) or the senior female will swat and/or hiss at her. It appears the senior female is jealous because when she comes to bed with me, she will then start swatting or hissing if the other female is on the bed. She will also have this behavior if the younger female is by me at other times. This behavior disturbs me and I cannot figure out why the younger cat is treated in this manner. – Rozanne Malaise

Hi Rozanne,

Thanks for writing in about your kitties. It’s difficult when cats don’t always get along, isn’t it? Fortunately, there are some things that you can do to smooth over relationships. I’m not worried about the relationship that your younger female has with the male cat, since seemingly neutral interactions (where one cat ignores the other) indicate a pretty good relationship (at least in my book) – no one is threatened or intimidated, and each cat is secure in their space with each other. Yay for peaceful coexistence! On the other hand, your senior female is exhibiting signs of insecurity – YOU are perceived as the resource that is being competed over, and your senior girl is not about to give that up to some young upstart. I’m curious – do the two females have peaceful interactions in your home at all, or do they avoid each other except when they are both around you?

I’d love for you to work on helping your senior female feel a bit more secure, and also improve the association she has with the younger female. First, make sure that there are plenty of key resources around the home, spread out as much as possible so that resource competition isn’t a factor. Make sure that the two girls are fed on opposite sides of the room (or even different rooms), and that they each have access to separate litter boxes in their own socially significant areas of the home. Napping spots, toys, perches, access to water, etc. are all resources that should be plentiful!

Next, let’s work on forming positive associations between the two girls. Is your senior female at all food-motivated? If so, great! If not, try to find a food item that she will eat – try plain cooked chicken breast, goat cheese (it’s a bit more digestible than cow’s milk products), the juice from a tuna can, a bit of shrimp, etc. Then, I encourage you to work with your cats so that they are in the same area as you. If you have something that can keep your younger cat occupied (or if she’s napping), sit near her and call your senior cat over. When she comes over, reward her with a high-value treat. You may have to start quite a distance from your younger kitty, or have her behind a gate. But that’s ok! We’re basically using counter-conditioning (pairing something “good” with something perceived as “not so good”) to reform the association your senior cat has to the younger girl. Work on bringing the two kitties closer to each other and reward the senior (or both!) for good, calm behavior. Eventually, I’d like you to be able to sit on the couch with each cat on either side of you, periodically getting treats for being nice to each other.

Good luck – I hope this helps!

Female cat is peeing around the house

I have four cats and the youngest is a two year old spayed female. The problem is that she is constantly marking various places around the house. How can I correct this behavior. I’m tired of cleaning. She is by far the most active of the four cats, constantly exploring and running around. Even with all that energy, she does not like playing with feather teasers and toys, so wearing her out is impossible. – Rolfe Smith

Hi Rolfe,

ok, let me just start by saying that cat urine is the WORST. So, I completely understand your frustration – it’s hard to remove from fabrics, and it smells terrible! That being said, there are a few things that you can do. First, make sure that you’ve taken your kitty to a veterinarian and that she’s been tested so that medical causes for her behavior can be ruled out. Bladder infections, cystitis, urinary crystals, etc. can all cause cats to stay away from the litter box.

Next, make sure that you’re doing everything you can to get the urine out of surfaces where she has urinated. Use an enzyme-based cleaner. Do not use bleach or vinegar, as sometimes these will dry and leave a scent that cats will want to cover with their own. Additionally, if you have previously used soaps or detergents on fabric or carpet, make sure they are thoroughly rinsed because even residual detergents will kill the beneficial enzymes in your cleaner and make it less effective.

Then, is your cat urinating (emptying her bladder), or spraying (to mark)? Usually (but not always), you can tell the difference by where the urine is and how it shows up. Urination for emptying the bladder usually occurs on horizontal surfaces and shows up as a large pool. Spraying us usually on a vertical surface – you’ll see a line of urine on the wall, dripping down to the floor, with a small puddle. Also, spraying frequently occurs near doors and windows, where foreign smells can enter the home or she can see cats outside.

To remedy this, it NEVER hurts to have a great litter box setup – check out these guidelines that Ingrid posted on The Conscious Cat. If your cat is urinating near the boxes, that’s often a sign to me that there’s something she doesn’t like about the litter box! And, even if your kitty is spraying, having a great litter box nearby can help.

If your cat is spraying, you can try a few things. If it’s outdoor cats who are setting her off, try putting opaque window film on windows or doors where she can see the outdoor kitties. Then, try providing her with alternative ways to “mark” the areas she’s been spraying with urine. You can spray Feliway in these areas, or use cheek rubbings (use a soft sock to rub her cheeks to collect her friendly facial pheromones and her personal scent) to deposit her scent on places that have been sprayed. Try putting a scratcher nearby (cats leave scent marks from their paws when they scratch) or place bedding that has her scent on it in the area. Or, you can try to change the perceived use of those areas – for example, cats don’t like to eat or sleep where there is urine. Try putting a food bowl or food puzzle in one of the soiled areas, or bedding. Or have a play session there, too!

If this problem is stress-related, making sure that your kitty has good relationships with other cats/animals in the home is key. I know you said she doesn’t like feather toys, but do try a long wand toy – my favorites are Da Bird, and the Wiggly Wand by Dezi and Roo because they are both long and you can put different lures on the ends. Trust me – your cat WILL go after these, since she’s two years old and energetic! Play is a huge stress-reliever, and I can not overstate its importance for maintaining a low-stress and confident cat. I hope that this helps!

Integrating a new cat into a family of 16

I have had cats all my life, and for the past 22 years my husband and I have had up to 35 indoor/outdoor rescue cats (all fixed). So I am rather experienced with cats. Yet now, I am at the end of my wits. Three of our 4 existing tomcats don’t get along with 2 tomcats we adopted last November and will fight until blood is flowing, whenever they have a chance. (We have to rotate the 2 groups of tomcats between our house, the guest room, the garage, the sun room, and the outdoors, several times a day. That’s quite a task!) I wrote you a letter asking for help, a few weeks ago, but this letter never showed on this website. It must have landed in the abysses of cyber space.

Yet now, we have an even worse problem: One of our tenants found her cat, Gates, missing last December. She was overjoyed to find a picture of him on Facebook, posted by a local Cat Rescue Organization. She picked him up, and everything was fine and dandy, except that Gates, who had always been friendly to the very lively huge puppy, now suddenly was “mean” to him. And then, 2 days ago, the real Gates came back (after having been missing since early December, when our tenant first moved into our property). The cat she had picked up at the Cat Rescue had been a look-alike of her cat.

Even though, the two Gates (after first hissing) seemed to get along with each other, our tenant cannot keep both cats for a number of reasons. So she asked us to adopt Gates II. We had met Gates II before and had found him an exceptionally friendly and affectionate cat, and I had spent quite some time petting him while my husband had been busy repairing the furnace of the duplex-apartment.

My husband and I are in our late 70s. We were now down to 16 cats. And we no longer adopt more cats (except when one walks in or gets dropped off). But with this cat we made an exception because we had found him such an adorable cat (and also because we wanted to be helpful to our tenant). So I picked up Gates II, last night. And now there is disaster!!!

As we had done before, when we adopted a new cat, we put the opened pet carrier with Gates II into a huge dog cage in our living room, so that he could see our other cats, while being in a safe place. Some cats came over to greet the newcomer, but Gates II remained in the pet carrier, within the dog cage.

Some time before we went to bed, we moved the pet carrier with Gates II to our guest room (which, since last November, had been the main refuge for the, then, newly adopted 2 tomcats, Ginger, and Link). Since Ginger is a very mellow cat, we left him in the guest room (on a tower of boxes), while my husband and I sat down on the futon trying to coax Gate II out of the pet carrier with a selection of cat food. Gates II finally emerged, ate some of the food, but the exchanged glances between Gates II and Ginger were anything but friendly. So we removed Ginger from the room.

This morning (while I was still asleep), my husband entered the guest room, and Link (the other cat who had considered the guest room his main refuge since last November) dashed in right behind my husband. Before my husband could make any move, Gates II attacked Link fiercely, and after my husband had managed to get Link out of the room, Gates II attacked my husband’s legs and left injuries, even though my husband was wearing jeans and long johns underneath.

When I got up, several hours later, my husband and I entered the room again (without any other cat around), and we talked to Gates II and petted him. He seemed to wish to “apologize” to my husband for the attack he had landed on him several hours earlier,. He liked being petted, and he brushed against both of us.

I eventually picked up Gates II and put him over my shoulder (careful not to get him close to my face). He seemed relaxed. Then I walked 2 steps with him and put him down softly on the little desk by the window. (This window is on the 2nd floor, and there is nothing to see from it but vehicles–no cats in sight.) The moment I had put him down, he turned around and put his long claws into my left hand, deeper than I had ever been clawed by any cat. (I, right after, applied antibiotic ointment, but where one of his claws hit a vein, my hand is swollen now and might have infection.)

I could somewhat understand that seeing Link (a huge cat) come into the room, this morning, Gates II was so upset that he attacked my husband’s legs, but shouldn’t he have simmered down after several hours being in the nice, bright room by himself, with no other cat in sight? Is there any chance that he’ll adjust and get along with the other cats of Happy Cats Ranch? (And remember, we already have trouble between 2 groups of tomcats.) We live 10 miles from town. And our cherished vet, who lives 20 miles from us, has retired 15 months ago, and is now only rarely available. The remaining 2 vet offices in town are difficult to get appointments with. Thus, if a cat gets injured, we do have quite a problem.

Can Gates II even be adopted out by the local shelter or the local Cat Rescue Organization? Even if there were no other animals around, I would not trust him with children. (Most people in our area have children and/or grandchildren. We don’t.) I am afraid that if we return Gates II to our tenant (who will have to return him to the local Cat Rescue Organization or to the local shelter), he will end up euthanized (or he will get adopted out and hurt somebody).

Is there any chance to get this cat re-socialized and save his life? And do you have any suggestions how we can stop the outright war between our other 2 tomcat groups? (Add to this a newly dropped off tom, who is also at war with our existing “gang of three”.) As I said, we have had up to 35 cats ever since 1987 (when we got settled at our 18-acre country property, bordering federal lands), and we have never ever had such problems with cat wars (and even less with cats attacking us). HELP!!! – Lilo Huhle-Poelz

Hi Lilo –

WOW. It seems like you have a lot going on, much more than I’ll be able to address in a response for this column. But first, let’s just put things into perspective for Gates II. Consider this: he was in a shelter (and who knows what his life was like before that) for some time, presumably with all sorts of different cats, dogs, people, smells, noises, etc. that were foreign to him. Then, he got adopted by your tenant, who brought him to a new place that was also completely foreign, this time with a large puppy. Then, after a short while, he was brought to your place where he was surrounded by a lot of new kitties and people in a completely unfamiliar environment. That’s a HUGE amount of change for a cat, and I’m actually surprised that he emerged from his carrier so quickly to accept food – many cats would have waited a lot longer and only eaten when left completely alone. That says something about his personality and confidence – good things!

Yes, it is easy to understand why he attacked your husband after Link entered the room – that’s more a case of redirected aggression where Gates II was probably reacting out of fear and defensiveness (even if he did go after Link). Gates II didn’t have any sort of established territory in the home, which can cause insecurity and defensiveness to be heightened, especially when faced with an intruder (whom Gates II I’m sure recognized as the “owner” of the room through scent). It’s a little bit more difficult to understand why he clawed you when you put him down, but please do consider that he was probably already “on guard” for the reasons I listed above – he’s unsure about who/what will be coming through the door at any moment, he doesn’t have any territory to help him feel more secure (and knows he’s in someone else’s territory, based on other cats’ scent markings), and he’s being handled quite closely with people he doesn’t have a strong bond with (yet, anyway). Cats are hypersensitive to their surroundings, so where we are able to block out things like background noise, shadows, smells, etc., cats are paying attention to ALL of these things. Combine that with a cat who is in a new and unfamiliar environment (that smells abundantly of other cats) and…well…you experienced the result. It could have been just a bit of discomfort in the way he was being held, or a shadow flashing across the ceiling, that made him feel scared, resulting in him suddenly lashing out at you.

That being said, based on the limited information I have, I’m optimistic that his actions were circumstantial. Had he been more secure or more familiar with his surroundings and you, he may never have lashed out, so let’s give Gates II the benefit of the doubt for now. The more Gates II is able to get acquainted with his surroundings and “claim” them as his own (i.e., by leaving his scent through body and cheek rubbings, scratching, having his litter box in his area, etc.) the more confident he is going to be. When it comes to him interacting with other cats, some cats must be introduced very slowly, and he might be one of them. I highly recommend giving him time to adjust and slowly exposing him to the other cats with scent, then visual interactions. With each scent/visual interaction, pair with something positive (like a favorite treat) or a distraction (like a favorite toy or game) so that he can build positive associations with the other cats. You do have a lot of kitties to wrangle so it’s going to be a bit more challenging, but for a basic process, check out Jackson Galaxy’s guest post at The Conscious Cat about cat to cat introductions. This may also help you with what’s going on with your gangs of toms that aren’t getting along so well!

The longer you live with Gates II, the more you’ll learn about him, his personality, and whether he’s a mellow fellow or a bit more high-strung. Some cats just will not get along with other cats, which can be the cause of aggression. However, this does not mean that they can’t be adopted into a different situation where they might be completely happy. I’m sure that you’ll consider Gates II’s happiness in your home – he may eventually fit in, but if he’s not making any progress with getting along with others, he will probably be happier in a different home. I wish it was easier to predict how cats will adjust to a new environment, but it’s nearly impossible. Homes with a lot of potential stressors affect each cat differently, which may make it more or less difficult for cats to adjust to other feline (or canine, or human) members of the household. Fortunately, it sounds like Gates II usually has a sweet disposition, so I have high hopes for him!

Finally, it may be beneficial to hire a professional cat behavior consultant to come to your home to assess the situation and help you how to best figure out how to help with Gates II and your other tomcats. If you don’t have anyone in your area, there are many consultants who can work with clients long distance via video (which can actually work quite well in many situations). A professional will be able to take a look at the cats’ environment and resources and help you identify how to smooth out the relationships between your cats, or at least help everyone safely coexist with minimal stress. It’s so clear that you love all of your kitties and want them to have good lives – best of luck to you, your toms, and Gates II!

A note from Ingrid: Dr. Marci did not want to promote her own services in this column – she offers remote behavior consultations, and I highly recommend reaching out to her!

*The Conscious Cat is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This means that if you decide to purchase through any of our links, we get a small commission. The Conscious Cat is a member of Etsy’s affiliate program. We only spread the word about products and services we’ve either used or would use ourselves.

The post Ask the Cat Behaviorist with Dr. Marci Koski: Cats Who Don’t Get Along, Marking Behavior, and More appeared first on The Conscious Cat.

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ssteezyy · 5 years

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Review: DuraScoop®Mini Steel Cat Litter Scoop

This post contains affiliate links*

There’s no question that cleaning the litter box is one of the less fun aspects of sharing life with cats, but it’s also one of the most important ones. And when it comes to something you’re going to be doing every day, multiple times a day, having the right tool for the job makes life so much easier.

Litter box hygiene 101

Keeping you litter boxes clean will ensure that your cats continues to use them. Boxes should be scooped at least once a day, preferably several times a day. Add litter as needed. At least once a month, dump out the entire litter box and thoroughly clean it with hot water and unscented soap. Don’t use harsh chemicals or ammonia based cleaners. Replace litter boxes completely after 6 months to a year. No matter how well you clean, the porous plastic will start to break down and eventually absorb bacteria.

If you must use litter additives to control odor, use enzyme or probiotic based products with no added scent. Baking soda is an inexpensive litter additive that provides good odor control.

When it comes to litter scoops, not all scoops are the same. The size of the scoop, the angle, the distance between the slats, the overall design – all of these can make a difference in how well a scoop works for you.

DuraScoop® Mini

Made from solid, heavy gauge steel, and featuring a non-corrosive, powder-coated finish, these scoops are going to be virtually indestructible. Sized at about 11.5 inches long and 5 inches wide, and weighing in at 5.5 ounces, they are easy to maneuver while getting the job done.

Putting the DuraScoop® Mini to the test

I prefer a smaller litter scoop to the large, heavy duty models. I find smaller scoops easier to maneuver around corners. Despite being steel, the handle is very comfortable and feels good in my hand.

I use doggy poop baggies to collect waste before taking it to the trash can in the garage, and these scoops are the perfect size to dump waste into the baggie without having to angle the scoop.

This scoop excels at getting urine balls away from the walls of the litter box and out of corners, something my previous plastic scoops didn’t do as good a job with.

The DuraScoop® Mini comes in four colors and is available from Amazon.

*The Conscious Cat is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This means that if you decide to purchase through any of our links, we get a small commission. We only spread the word about products and services we’ve either used or would use ourselves. I received these scoops from the manufacturer. Receiving the free product did not influence my review. All reviews on The Conscious Cat will always reflect my honest opinion.

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ssteezyy · 5 years

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How the Assisi Loop Helped Luke with Recovery from Burns Sustained in the California Wildfires

This post is sponsored by Assisi Animal Health

I find it almost impossible to wrap my mind around the devastation wrought by wildfires in California. My heart goes out to all the victims, but of course, I especially feel for the cats who are lost and injured in the fires. We recently featured Buttercup, who ended up in three different shelters while her humans were displaced by the Camp Fire. Today, I’d like to introduce you to 13-year-old Luke.

Luke was rescued and reunited with his owners after the Tubbs fire. He was treated at Windsor Animal Hospital in Santa Rosa for burns, dehydration, and pain. Luke was found four miles from his owners’ destroyed home. Sadly, this wasn’t Luke’s first experience with fire – he was rescued from a fire as a kitten.

Luke’s Treatment

Treatments of Luke’s burns included lavage and wound care using gentle disinfectants and medicated creams.

To help give Luke a speedy recovery and pain management from his recent burns, the hospital staff added additional treatments from their physical rehabilitation department, including the Assisi Loop. “Cold laser and pulsed magnet therapy treatments give the wounds the boost needed for optimal tissue repair and to provide pain management,” said Kristen Hagler, RVT, VTS (Physical Rehabilitation), CCRP, CVPP, OACM, CBW. “These therapies stimulate the body’s natural pain management and reparative systems, which are most sluggish in early stages of injury.

The staff used the Loop to treat multiple burn victims. Other treatments for these cats (and dogs) included would care, and, for cats with respiratory smoke inhalation, which varied in severity, inhaled medications and oxygen.

The Assisi Loop supports healing from burns

“The Loop helped to support healing in many ways,” said Kristen. “First, it was a treatment which could be performed multiple times a day with very little stress to the cat.” The Loop can be applied over bandages and all the cats needed to do was lie there during the 15 minute treatment time. Since so many cats were affected by the fire, the hospital had volunteers helping with caring for them. “The Loop’s ease of application required very little training to use properly,” said Kristen, “Loops were placed directly over the bandages, with all feet typically being treated at once and the cat sleeping peacefully. By providing an adjunctive pain management tool also while supporting the natural healing abilities of the body, the cats treated showed accelerated healing and less need for opioids and oral pharmaceutical pain medications.”

Assisi Animal Health donated the Loops to Windsor Animal Hospital.

Luke was reunited with his family and brother Jake. They were almost identical before the fire. As you can see in the photos, Luke lost a lot of weight and muscle mass during his ordeal.

Luke has since made a full recovery. Two of his digits ended up being fused together during the process of healing from the deep burns, but they’re not affecting him negatively.

How the Assisi Loop Works

The Assisi Loop, created by Assisi Animal Health, is a non-pharmaceutical, non-invasive device provides targeted pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (tPEMF™). tPEMF, which was first studied in the 1970s and is FDA-cleared for use in humans, uses low-level pulses of electromagnetic energy to stimulate the body’s own healing mechanisms to help relieve pain and swelling. This therapy can benefits cats with pain associated with arthritis, pancreatitis, wounds, or post-surgical swelling as well as many inflammatory conditions. The Loop is well tolerated by most cats. In fact, many cats really enjoy receiving Loop treatments. Because the Loop stimulates the body’s own healing process, rather than introducing a new substance (like a medication), even a sensitive cat body can handle it easily.

Also available: the Assisi Loop Lounge

Featuring the same pain control of the Loop via targeted pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (tPEMF™,) the Loop Lounge™ is the only therapeutic pet bed backed by scientific research. Click here to read more about the Assisi Loop Lounge.

For more information about how the Assisi Loop or the Assisi Loop Lounge could help your cat, visit http://www.assisianimalhealth.com or contact Assisi Animal Health at [email protected], 866-830-7342.

Photos via Windsor Animal Hospital Facebook page, used with permission

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ssteezyy · 5 years

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How to Choose the Right Food for Your Dog

Dogs truly are man’s best friend. They are loyal, make the great companions, and they love to snuggle. If you’re a dog lover, there’s nothing more important to you … The post... Please visit the site to see the pictures and read the content in full.

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ssteezyy · 5 years

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Sunday Quotes: Your Finest Hour

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ssteezyy · 5 years

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Always in My Heart Crystal Cat Necklace Winner

Congratulations, Tracy Nixon! You won an Always in My Heart Crystal Cat Necklace from Triple T Studios.

Look for an email from Ingrid.*

For more information and to purchase, visit Triple T Studios.

20% Discount for Conscious Cat Readers

Triple T Studios is offering a 20% discount to Conscious Cat readers on all of their products. Simply type code ConsciousCat20 in the promo code box at checkout and then click apply. The promo code box will appear on the screen after you enter your shipping and payment information. Offer is limited and available while supplies last. Visit Triple T Studios to purchase.

FTC Disclosure: The Conscious Cat is a participant in Triple T Studio’s Affiliate Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees.

*Winners are selected by random drawing. Winners need to provide a physical address to which the prize will be mailed within 72 hours of receipt of notification e-mail or announcement of winner’s name(s) on The Conscious Cat. If this information is not received within the timeframe stated, an alternate winner will be chosen.

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ssteezyy · 5 years

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Mews and Nips: Stray Cat Sneaks into Home to Have Kittens

When a stray tabby cat walked through an open door in a house in Queens, NY, she sure picked the right house. The resident of the home saw the little cat dart into her home and of course, she couldn’t say no to the little visitor and let her stay in her basement. Two weeks later, the homeowner found a litter of newborn kittens in a shoe rack. She immediately reached out to a local rescue group, who fostered the little family. Visit lovemeow.com for the full story and adorable photos.

If you missed any of the stories featured on the Conscious Cat this week, here’s a recap: on Sunday, we celebrated Easter, on Monday, Veterinary Technician Ellen Carozza, LVT offered a thought provoking look at how your cat should be treated at the veterinary clinic, on Tuesday, we reviewed NomNomNow’s Microbiome Test Kit, on Wednesday, we shared a lovely story of how one woman connected with her departed soul cat over a catnip stuff cigar, and on Friday, we told you about the findings of a study on whether cats know their names that may also explain why they don’t always come when called. And don’t forget to enter our giveaway to win a sample pack of Raw Paws raw cat food!

The kitty in today’s video cracks me up – kitty yoga at its finest! Enjoy.

Have a great weekend!

Photo via lovemeow.com

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ssteezyy · 5 years

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Fur Babies Out of Control! Here’s How to Manage Multiple Dogs

You love animals. Specifically, you love dogs. It’s possible that lately, you have been thinking about getting multiple dogs or maybe you got a few pups and don’t know how … The... Please visit the site to see the pictures and read the content in full.

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ssteezyy · 5 years

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Study Says Cats Know Their Names, But That Doesn’t Mean They’ll Respond

I’m not sure we really needed a study to determine that cats recognize their own names, but Japanese researcher Atsuko Saito set out to test this hypothesis by observing a total of 78 house cats as well as cats living in cat cafés in Japan. Her past studies have revealed that cats can interpret human gestures to find hidden food, recognize their owner’s voice, and beg for food from a person who looks at them and calls their name—all of which suggested that cats know their names.

The researchers asked both owners and strangers to call a cat’s name, and then videotaped responses that would indicate recognition, such as ear and head movements and tail swishing. The cats showed interest not only when their owners called their names, but even when strangers did.

Dogs come when you call them, cats take a message and get back to you.

We’ve all heard that quote. And not surprisingly, Saito’s study found that cats aren’t quite as enthusiastic about responding to their name being called as dogs are. I found it fascinating that Saito suggested that some of that may be due to evolution. Dogs have been bred for centuries to be obedient and responsive, whereas cats essentially domesticated themselves as they began to follow mice and rats into human settlements.

Evolution in progress

While I don’t think any of us who share our lives with cats are surprised that cats recognize their names (and tend to ignore us if they feel like it,) I found it interesting that Saito notes that cats are still evolving. With more and more cats spending their lives inside, in closer contact with humans, a cat’s ability to read and respond to our cues may become even stronger. “Social evolution is an ongoing process,” Saito concludes.

For more information about the study, visit National Geographic.

Do your cats come when you call them? All the time? Most of the time?

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ssteezyy · 5 years

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Giveaway: Win a Raw Paws Variety Pack for You and Your Favorite Shelter

This giveaway is sponsored by Raw Paws and contains affiliate links*

A raw diet is one of the best ways to fulfill cats’ nutritional requirements. There are numerous benefits from feeding a raw diet to your cat, including improved digestion, reduced stool odor and volume, increased energy, ability to maintain ideal weight, better dental health, and better urinary tract health.

Embraced for decades by holistically oriented pet parents and holistic veterinarians, more pet parents are looking to raw feeding as an alternative to feeding highly processed food.

About Raw Paws Pet Food

Raw Paws’ mission is to make it practical, affordable, and accessible for pet parents to provide their furry family members with the healthiest pet food, treats, chews, supplements and more. All of their products are sourced in the US from responsible and ethical farms, and are hormone, antibiotic and GMO free. Their products are minimally processed and don’t contain any additives or fillers.

Raw Paws Variety Intro Pack

If you’ve always wanted to try raw, but aren’t sure what your cat will like, this intro pack of eight different flavors is for you! This introductory variety pack is the easiest way to try an assortment of their proteins. The pack contains:

1) Complete Beef, 1 lb (1) Complete Beef & Mackerel, 1 lb (1) Complete Chicken, 1 lb (1) Complete Turkey, 1 lb (1) Complete Goat, 1 lb (1) Complete Lamb, 1 lb (1) Atlantic Salmon with Bone, 1 lb (1) Green Beef Tripe, 1 lb (1) Raw Goat Milk, 16 fl oz

This pack is a one time offer and ships for free.

Enter to win a Raw Paws Variety Pack for you and one for your favorite shelter or rescue

For up to seven ways to enter, see the Rafflecopter widget below. This giveaway is open to readers in the United States only, and ends Thursday, May 2. Winners will be chosen by random drawing**.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Raw Paws Complete Intro Variety Pack Free Shipping!

Click here to order the intro pack

For more information about Raw Paws, please visit http://www.rawpawspetfood.com.

*The Conscious Cat is an affiliate partner of Raw Paws, which means that if you decide to purchase through any of our links, we get a small commission. We only spread the word about products and services we’ve either used or would use ourselves.

**No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook. By entering this giveaway, you understand that you are providing your information to The Conscious Cat, and not to Facebook. We will never sell, rent or share your information with third parties. Winners will be notified via e-mail. Prize winner must provide The Conscious Cat with a physical address to which the prize will be mailed within 72 hours. If this information is not received, an alternate winner will be chosen by random drawing. Winners will be announced in a separate post following the drawing.

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ssteezyy · 5 years

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Manners Matter: How to Train Your Puppy to Behave Like a Star

Your puppy was born to be a rockstar, but we don’t want them becoming Instagram famous for having done something bad. Knowing how to train your puppy is vital to … The post Manners... Please visit the site to see the pictures and read the content in full.

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ssteezyy · 5 years

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Lily and Pearl: Passing the Cigar

Guest post by Rita Atkins This post contains affiliate links*

Working at our rescue’s booth at a recent cat convention, selling items to raise money for our foster cats, I witnessed (or, rather, was privy to) a very special moment: the memory of a woman’s soul cat suddenly came rushing back to her.

At fundraisers and adoption events, people love to tell us about their cats, both past and present. Sometimes there are a few tears remembering a beloved kitty, and our eyes often leak right along with theirs as they tell us their stories. Somehow, though, the encounter with Lily’s human was different, and one I will never forget.

I came to learn that her Lily, a black cat with a little white spot on her chest and an ear crumbled by hematoma surgery, passed away some years ago. Lily’s memory, or perhaps something more, was triggered by a catnip toy we were selling: a cheeky, cigar-shaped toy loaded with high-test nip – the good stuff.

As I noticed the woman touching the basket containing the toy cigars, I asked if I could help. She met my eyes with tears in hers and remained silent.

Several minutes passed before she could start telling me about Lily, the love of her life, her soul cat. Lily had been the proud owner of one of the exact catnip cigars we were selling. She slept with it, carrying it to bed next to her human every night. It was ragged and smelled more like kitty spit than catnip, but Lily loved it, keeping it close until the end of her life.

In Lily’s memory, her human has kept that old tattered toy on her bed, in Lily’s favorite pillowcase, ever since.The woman said she had not seen these toys for sale anywhere since the day she bought Lily her cherished toy years ago. When she saw them on our table, she was instantly swept back in time, as if Lily’s spirit was tugging at her right in the middle of that noisy, crowded convention floor.

For a moment, it was just her and Lily and her favorite toy, in a time and space that was just for them.

After telling me Lily’s story, Lily’s human went on to tell me she had gone to a shelter a couple of years ago, still mourning Lily, and not intending to adopt, only to look.

“As if that every works out,” she said with a smile.”

Sure enough, a little black cat with a white dot on her chest worked hard to catch her attention. The kitty’s name was Pearl. As she looked more closely, she noticed Pearl’s ear had been tipped (most likely done as part of a TNR program) – the same ear that Lily had crumpled by surgery. That sealed the deal!

Clearly, Lily had decided her human had been missing her long enough and led her to Pearl. Pearl quickly settled right into her new home and is loving life with her new family, and they adore her! She is, of course, different from Lily, despite their similar appearance, and is carving out her own piece of her human’s heart.

And now, Pearl has her very own, brand new, cheeky catnip cigar.

Rita Atkins volunteers with Only Maine Coon Rescue. The group specializes in the Maine Coon Cat breed and rescues Maine Coon Cat / Kitten mixes from shelters and unwanted situations. All of their cats are lovingly cared for in foster homes until they are adopted.

Images are stock images via Pixabay

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ssteezyy · 5 years

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Review: NomNomNow Microbiome Testing Kit

This post is sponsored by NomNomNow and contains affiliate links*

Last week, we featured an article about the importance of the microbiome to the overall health of your cats. This week, I’m reviewing the NomNomNow Microbiome Testing Kit, a test that sequences and analyzes the microbes living in your cat’s intestinal tract.

What is the microbiome?

The microbiome is a community of bacteria and other microbes that inhabit living organisms and impact a spectacular portion of daily life. While we generally think about the types of bacteria that make us sick, the microbiome is home to trillions of beneficial bacteria that help digest food, shape immune systems and maintain a healthy weight. Our pet’s gut microbiome is a complex ecosystem of organisms that can be affected by many factors—including diet, the underlying biology of the pet, the development of the pet’s microbiome (i.e. the environment the pet grew up in and the diet they grew up eating), and other environmental factors. For this reason, there can be a lot of diversity between pets.

NomNomNow Microbiome Testing Kit

The NomNomNow Insights Microbiome Kit will test for the microbes that are present in your cat’s gut at the time the sample is taken. Once they sequence your cat’s sample, you will receive an in-depth report describing the specific types and amounts of bacteria that colonize your cat’s gut and how that compares to an average cat. The information in the report will expand as more research data from other samples becomes available.

Sample collection is easy

The steps to follow to get a sample from your cat are included in easy to follow instructions.

You start by collecting a fresh stool sample out of your cat’s litter box. Then you use the swab provided with the kit to collect a small amount from your sample. Insert the swab into the collection tube and push down on the top of the swab to immerse it in the liquid inside the vial. Cap the vial and shake. Place the vial in the included bag, apply the bar code sticker from the test kit to the vial, place the vial in the shipping envelope, seal it, and mail it back to NomNomNow. That’s it!

You will need to register your sample on NomNomNow’s website – and before you grumble about data collection and not wanting to provide your information, remember that by submitting your sample, you not only get valuable information about your own cat, you also help other cats. The more samples are submitted, the more data will be available for future research into how to keep cats healthy.

The microbiome results

Both Allegra and Ruby’s results fell mostly within the average range. Ruby took exception with being average, until I explained to her that in this case, that’s a good thing!

The report is incredibly detailed and provides lots of information about all of the microbes living in Allegra and Ruby’s gut.

Some of Allegra’s values that were outside of the reference range were on the high side. Dr. Ryan Honaker, NomNomNow’s Director of Microbiology, also known as their “Poop Czar,” explained that in this case, “high is good. ”

For example, Allegra has higher amounts of Lachnospiracea, a bacteria commonly found in animal guts, although more so in plant eaters versus meat eaters. They can break complex carbohydrates down into smaller molecules called short chain fatty acids (SCFA) such as butyrate, which can be used for energy. Some studies suggest that the butyratealso helps decrease gut inflammation and prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. Cats with irritable bowel syndrome may have lower amounts of this group. In addition, Lachnospiracea have been reported to be low in sick cats. “So having more of them than the reference range does not seem to be a negative thing, and could in fact be beneficial in some ways,” said Dr. Honaker. “However because of the individuality of microbiomes we don’t like to over-interpret any values.”

I ran the test results by Dr. Andrea Tasi, a feline veterinarian and owner of Just Cats, Naturally. “I think gathering this sort of data may prove useful over time as we better begin to understand what is normal what is abnormal and how the results actually equate to what we observe in individual cats,” she told me. “As veterinarians, we don’t have enough education and experience with these tests yet, and we don’t really don’t know what to do with the results especially in a clinically ‘normal’ cat.”

I believe that Dr. Tasi’s view supports the importance of submitting as many samples as possible so that this important research can continue.

For more information about the Microbiome Testing Kit and to purchase, visit NomNomNow.com.

About NomNomNow

Formulated by Dr. Justin Shmalberg, Clinical Associate Professor and Service Chief, Integrative Medicine, at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, all of NomNomNow’s formulas contain only fresh ingredients.

All food is human grade

Vitamins are all natural

All recipes meet AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) requirements

Recipes are made from only a handful of ingredients: meat, vegetables, healthy oils, and a vitamin and nutrient blend.

No additives, no artificial ingredients

Individually portioned meals to suit your cat’s caloric needs

Easy open pouch: simply tear open.

And best of all, it’s delivered fresh to your front door.

Read our review of NomNomNow here.

For more information about NomNomNow, and to order, please visit https://www.nomnomnow.com/fresh-cat-food-recipes.

*FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, which means that I was compensated to feature this content. Regardless of payment received, you will only see products or services featured on this site that I believe are of interest to our readers. The Conscious Cat is a participant in NomNomNow’s affiliate program. This means that if you decide to purchase through any of our links, we get a small commission.

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ssteezyy · 5 years

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Cat Friendly Handling: Your Cat Deserves a Positive Experience at the Veterinary Clinic

Guest post by Ellen Carozza, LVT

Thanks to the internet, cats are the most popular pet, yet they receive less medical care than their canine counterparts. Join me and the Conscious Cat in this two part series on what actually happens when your cat is handled in the veterinary clinic, and how you and your cat can have that positive experience you’ve always wanted.

But first I need to take a step back and explain a few things…

Handling practices for cats

One of the top comments I see in many of my pet related posts on THE CAT LVT is how so many people don’t like how their cat is handled at the veterinary clinic.

In my 20+ years of being in veterinary medicine, I’ve seen quite the evolution of animal restraint in practice. So why are our handling practices for cats still so primitive? Is it because we don’t care to gain further knowledge and move forward in our standards of care? Is it fear of the animal itself? Or is it because “we’ve always done it this way?”

As pet guardians want to be more involved in their pets’ care, and as we treat the newer generation of pets, our industry needs to make much needed changes both in terms of treating patients and to keep a practice thriving. While these changes are happening, it feels like they are happening at a snail’s pace.

As veterinary professionals, we are dedicated to providing excellent care: care and compassion that is paid for by you, the client.

Veterinary medicine is categorized as a “for profit” industry, as pets by law are considered personal property for which you elect us to provide medical care. Yet I see on many Facebook forums for veterinary professionals how anti-cat they can be. How is this possible? We all work in this field for various reasons. To see the negative comments about our feline patients can be disheartening and downright embarrassing at times.

How can we as caregivers boast of our love for animals and then speak of them in a negative manner? I see cats labeled as “demons”, “aggressive”, “awful”, and many four-letter words that don’t need to be repeated. This is not only unprofessional and abhorrent behavior on the professionals’ part, it also means that they either do not understand the language of the cat, or they really don’t want to learn and work with them.

I’m not a fan of working with dogs. I never have been and I’m not afraid of admitting it. I don’t understand their language, and their presence can be too much for me to handle physically. I grew up with dogs. My family still has them as pets. I just prefer not to work with them. So what did I do? I found a practice that was exclusive to the species I wanted to work with: cats. There is nothing wrong with admitting that you don’t prefer to work with a particular species, but if you have made the choice to work at a mixed practice, you are expected to be kind, compassionate, and understanding regardless of what species your patient is.

Understanding cats sets up a more successful vet visit

Learning how a patient acts and reacts in a clinical setting can help set up a more successful visit. We as professionals need to make sure we are prepared in advance to make sure that happens. You as a client need to be honest about how your cat has behaved at previous veterinary visits so we can anticipate your and your cat’s needs accordingly.

The feline patient has a unique body language and can arrive at the clinic already stressed out. Those of us working the veterinary field need to learn how to understand the clear signals cats give us, and adjust our behavior accordingly to be able to work with them safely. In reality, these cats are scared, and are acting out in a manner completely appropriate to a situation they did not willingly put themselves in. Once that is understood, speaking their language gets easier, and they are quite rewarding to work with.

However, we do need your help. We need to know if your cat prefers certain staff members. We need to know if your cat needs or has been given an anxiolytic (medication to ease anxiety before the visit) in the past or might benefit from such medication, or if your cat needs to be sedated to handle.

Outdated restraint and anesthesia techniques

Unfortunately, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) still requires the veterinary professional to learn outdated restraint/anesthesia techniques for companion animals. Restraint methods such as scruffing, and even worse “tanking” or “boxing”, (putting the cat into an oxygen tank and running anesthetic gas into the tank to sedate them) are not only unsafe, but are considered outdated, cruel and unnecessary handling methods. They are also unsafe for the staff performing the task.

Not only does scruffing put dangerous stress on the cervical vertebrae, it can be painful for cats with arthritis and skin ailments. It also heightens the stress response.

Tanking and boxing is one of the worst anesthetic practices, as the patient cannot be accurately monitored. It causes severe cardiac depression. The cat’s fur becomes supersaturated with an anesthetic gas that the staff handling the cats are then going to inhale. A scavenging system is not designed to protect staff from gas inhalation when used with a tank, and is actually a violation of OSHA (Occupational Health and Safety Administration) standards. If a hospital does not care to update their anesthetic protocol to safer methods for pets and staff, it speaks volumes about the medical care provided and how staff are treated.

The AVMA needs to evolve in supporting safer, better methods of restraint and anesthesia techniques for cats, and removing the unsafe and outdated techniques taught in veterinary programs, so that our next generation of veterinary professionals are prepared to provide a more positive experience at the vet office!

There are better, safer methods of restraint for the feline patient.

The International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) currently has a “scruff free” campaign which advocates for respectful feline handling in a veterinary clinic. Check out their pledge and set of links here: https://icatcare.org/scruffing for further information. The AAFP also has a set of practice guidelines for handling the feline patient and can be found here: https://catvets.com/guidelines/practice-guidelines/handling-guidelines, and as a bonus they have a search engine to help you find the purrfect feline vet in your area: https://catfriendly.com/find-a-veterinarian/

Our goal in a Cat Friendly Practice®

Our goal in the cat friendly practice is to make sure your cat gets the medical care he or she needs and deserves, and that you understand what we are doing every step of the way. There is no need to be embarrassed at how your cat reacts at the vet office! It’s normal, expected behavior – we understand they are stressed out. We want to make sure that stress level is kept to a minimum for you and your cat(s) by being prepared in advance.

I wrote an article for Today’s Veterinary Nurse on understanding feline behavior in the clinical setting. It can provide detailed insight on how we categorize and work with, not against our feline patients. This can help you understand how we train to be better prepared for working with a variety of feline patients. You can find it here: https://todaysveterinarynurse.com/articles/behavior-understanding-the-cat/

It is encouraging that many clinics are becoming Cat Friendly or Fear Free. The staff at these clinics is specifically trained to have protocols in place to ease the stress of the animals that are presented for care. Look for the Cat Friendly Practice® logo by the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) on a clinic’s website or front door, or look for the Fear Free Certified® logo, as many mixed practices are training in that method because they treat more than just cats.

You want the people who you bring your pet in for medical attention excited about caring for them! If you don’t see that, it is your right as a client to seek care at a clinic where these methods are practiced. It is OK to get a second opinion.

Currently, there are over 26,000 animal hospitals in the United States. If you don’t like the practice you are with, find a practice that fits you and your cat’s needs.

When looking for a feline centric clinic, at a minimum check for the following:

● Cat Friendly Practice© or Fear Free Certified® logo ● Staff bios on a website that state they LOVE working with cats ● Does the practice have a quiet atmosphere, or separate canine and feline lobby areas and separate exam/hospital ward that cater to your cat’s emotional needs? ● Is the clinic willing to get your cat in for an appointment regardless of his or her stress level and previous negative experiences? ● A place that will honestly tell you who is working with your pet, what anesthetics are used, how, and who they are administered by ● Do they practice updated feline medicine and work with you and your cat’s lifestyle by using practice guidelines created by the AAFP? ● Do they perform all necessary tasks such as lab work in front of you or remove the cat from the room? ● Are they using cat friendly methods of handling and restraint? ● Are there credentialed veterinary technicians on staff?

Once you have your questions answered to your satisfaction, make an appointment.

A note from Ingrid: I think it’s a good idea to make an appointment without your cat when you are evaluating a veterinary clinic. By going to see potential vets without your cat, you will be more relaxed. Ask for a tour of the hospital. If you want to speak with a veterinarian, offer to pay for an office visit. Most vets won’t charge you for this introductory visit, but offering to pay for their time sets the right tone for a future relationship of mutual respect. Come prepared with a list of questions. For more details on how to choose a cat friendly vet, watch this video.

Stay tuned for Part Two: How you can make your cat’s visit to the vet less stressful for your cat and what to expect during your visit.

Ellen Carozza, LVT is a technician at Nova Cat Clinic in Arlington, VA. You can learn more about Ellen on the NOVA Cat Clinic website, and you can find her on Instagram and Facebook.

The post Cat Friendly Handling: Your Cat Deserves a Positive Experience at the Veterinary Clinic appeared first on The Conscious Cat.

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