Posts Tagged ‘kittens’
Carrier comfort can reduce cat stress
February 18th, 2009 | 
Author: February 18, 2009
My name is Ginger and I am a lovely feline here at the Second Chance Humane Society Shelter.
I am very excited for the day, (will it be today?!?!?), when my new family walks in the shelter door and chooses me for their new lifetime companion.
I don’t necessarily look forward to the having to get into cat carrier for the ride home, but I don’t know any cats that particularly care for that experience.
Thus for this week’s pet column I would like to share some secrets with all cat parents for making the travel experience more pleasant for your feline friends.
Often times the stress of just seeing a cat carrier can set many cats off and it becomes a battle of wits and patience for a cat parent to coax their cat into it. And if it were an emergency and you were trying to leave the house in a hurry, good luck. So the best practice is just that, to practice and allow your cat to Read the rest of this entry »
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Clicker training may warm up skittish cat
By Steve Dale
TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Question: Our cat, Ref, has been with us for two years now but remains very skittish. We call him our "Nazi cat" because as soon as we pick him up, he pins his ears back and is ready to bolt. If we keep holding on, he scratches and bites. He also doesn’t like company; he disappears when people come over. Please don’t tell us to just give him more time; this is useless rhetoric. We need something more.
— S.J.M., Las Vegas, NV
Answer: "This is the perfect situation for clicker training," says certified cat behavior consultant Marilyn Krieger, of Redwood City, Calif. "Begin by purchasing a clicker (available at pet stores and online) and click, then reward (your cat) with food or treats. Click your cat when he’s calm, then give him a special treat. The cat will learn that the sound of the clicker means, ‘This is right, and now I get something good."’
Click when you touch the cat for just a moment, before he pins back his ears. Gradually, attempt to touch the cat longer and longer. If he still pins those ears back, you’ve done too much too quickly. Clicker training takes time but it will pay off.
"One sort of side effect of this clicker training is that will enhance your bond with your cat, and increase your cat’s trust and confidence," says Krieger.
However, let’s be real here. Not all cats like to be snuggled. You need to adjust your expectations. For many cats, it’s also perfectly normal to shy away from people they don’t know. This is particularly true of cats who weren’t socialized at a young age. When you do have visitors, toss yummy treats in your cat’s direction.
With effort, you can mold your cat’s demeanor to some degree. But Krieger also suggests, "Be more accepting and adjust the expectations you have for your cat. Perhaps previous cats have been more outgoing. Remember, some people are shy and so are some cats."
Steve Dale hosts the nationally syndicated "Steve Dale’s Pet World" and "The Pet Minute." He’s also a contributing editor to USA Weekend.
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Taking Your Cat For A Walk!
Why should dogs have all the fun? Many indoor cats would love to go outside and enjoy the sun but it is often far too dangerous to let them simply wander about as they please. Busy roads, large dogs and careless people are hazards many of us don’t want our cats exposed to. So why not teach him to walk on a leash?
But cats don’t walk on leashes! That’s the sentiment many people have when the idea is first introduced. It’s true that some cats will absolutely have nothing to do with the whole business. They apparently think it is entirely beneath them to be seen out of doors on a leash. What would the neighbors think! Fortunately, there are other cats willing to entertain the idea and some who actually come to like their walks. There really isn’t any way of knowing which way your cat will turn out unless you try. Let’s get started.
The first thing you will need is a Read the rest of this entry »
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Raising Kittens
Your cat is expecting kittens. How exciting! Raising kittens can be a highly rewarding and enjoyable experience. What should you expect? What will you need to make sure the little tikes grow up happy, healthy and strong?
Let’s start from day one. Most likely, you walk in and find your cat already nursing her new litter. As there will be a bit of a mess where she is, you will want to move her and her kittens somewhere clean and safe. Mother cats prefer a darkened den, so putting a blanket over her box and lining it with nice clean bedding will do nicely for a nursery. The nursery should be set up in a quiet area, away from traffic. Too much noise and light can upset a mother cat and she may try to Read the rest of this entry »
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How Kittens Learn to Hunt
Cats have been famous for hunting mice and rats for as long as cats and people have been together. As strange as it may seem to some people, cats are not born knowing how to hunt. It is a skill they learn from watching their mothers. If the mother cat is a good hunter, then her kittens will learn to be good hunters. Interestingly, kittens seem to learn the best from their mothers. They do not seem to learn as well or as quickly from watching other adult cats.
At about five or six weeks of age, a mother cat will begin teaching her kittens how to hunt. At first she brings dead mice to the kittens. She will eat some of the mice in front of the kittens. In this way she is showing them that mice are their prey and that they are good to eat. As time goes on the kittens begin to play with the dead mice their mother brings them. Before long the kittens are flinging the dead mice around and pouncing on them. It’s a good idea to stand clear of them when they’re at this stage. You might get smacked by a flying mouse if you don’t!
After awhile, the mother starts bringing mice that are still half alive and releases them for the kittens to practice. Very soon the kittens are leaping on and flinging these mice around as confidently as they did the previous dead ones their mother brought them. Then, mother starts Read the rest of this entry »
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