Cats Like, People who don't like cats !

Why oh why are cats attracted to those people who are, at best, indifferent to their feline charms.
We have a particular friend, a lovely chap, who just cannot warm to cats ( I try not to hold this against him !). When ever he pays us a visit he invariably draws the attention of our cat Sophie, like a magnet. Now, Sophie has always been rather an aloof cat, even with us. However, as soon has our friend enters the room, Sophie will make a bee-line for him. Poor man, his very best attempts to ignore her advances are met with flagrant flirting. And she will not rest until she has negotiated a way on to his lap, much to his obvious unease (and my amusement).
What is going on here ?

There is quite a simple explanation for this, and one we could all learn from.
People who like cats will often try to stroke or pick them up, even if the cat doesn't want them to!
On the other hand those not fond of cats will try not to encourage them, and will ignore them.
This is seen as non threatening behaviour by the cat and they approach these people on their terms. In cat language they are sending out friendly signals.
So, if you want to get close to a cat ignore them.

Of course i am not going to let my friend in on this secret, it will spoil the fun !

Jenny.

Smudge update

Just an update on the condition of smudge. Glad to say he is much better now, phew !
He’s almost back to his normal cheeky self. Poor little chap had feline acne. This is quite a common condition and fairly easy to treat. I must take some responsibility for this so, in order to make some form of recompense for my neglect, what follows is a brief insight on ways to prevent this condition.

Feline Acne

Feline acne generally occurs around the mouth. It is believed that bacteria from food and milk may accumulate around this area. Plastic food dishes have been found to be a major factor in causing this condition. To prevent an outbreak it is simply a matter of changing from plastic to either ceramic, stainless steel or glass dishes. Unfortunately I had plastic dishes, needless to say these have now been changed !

It is important to always keep your food dishes clean.

Cats can also get acne though one or more of following:

• Poor diet. We should always ensure that our cats get a healthy and well balanced diet, one suited to a cat. I say this because I know of some (if you read this, you know who you are!) who feed their cats more or less what they eat, and that includes curry. Wrong, wrong, wrong !
  

• During spring and autumn a cat sheds. Part of a cats natural cleansing process this is a common time for an outbreak, try to keep the area around the mouth clean during this period.
  

• As an allergic reaction to something. Try to find out what causes the problem then keep it away from your cat.

There are many products that can help to keep the area around the chin and lips clean such as antibacterial soaps and creams. Do not try to use the same treatments as those used on humans. Cats need specialist products uniquely suited to them. However well intentioned, administering treatments used on humans could lead to complications.

Consult your vet for advise on suitable products.

Remember prevention is better than cure.

It’s a lesson that even a massive cat lover like myself has had to learn the hard way. Fortunately a course of antibiotics has put smudgie back on track. But a big slap on the wrist for me for putting the little chap through it!

Other underlying factors may also contribute to this condition, so it is most important to take your cat to the vet as soon as an outbreak occurs.

p.s. Sorry Smudge !!

Lets Get Personal

Its time I introduced my cats.

Smudge is a tabby, he just turned up one day and decided to stay . Despite asking around the neighbourhood and putting adverts in the local shops, he was never claimed and so he adopted us (note, not adopted by us). He’s great fun, always up to something, but very lovable.
He is a bit poorly at the moment. We think he has been involved in a fight and may have a wound on his face but he will not let us close enough to check him out. We hate to see him this way. He normally wakes us every morning, crawling onto the bed and rubbing against us. We knew something was amiss when this routine was broken and his food was left untouched. This normally placid and sociable cat turned quite aggressive and withdrawn. An appointment with the vet should hopefully put things right.

Sophie is a princess and rather aloof . A long time member of the family, she has endured the affections of both my children and now my grandchild with a great deal of grace and patience. We love her to bits. Affection is given on her terms, but when given it comes with great enthusiasm. She accepted Smudge with very little fuss. Once she assumed the role of matriarch and order was restored, after some little posturing and one or two chastising swipes of her paw, things settled into a warm friendship.

I hope to update you on my cats in future blogs
Jenny

Clicker Training

I have already given my opinion on training cats to do tricks, its not something that I personally want to do. Its not that I believe it to be wrong or cruel, it is just down to my individual preference. Some cats may even enjoy it, in fact I would say they almost certainly do, have you ever tried to get a cat to do something it didn’t want to?!
However, one aspect of cat training that could be very useful is Clicker Training especially when used to train a cat away from unwanted behaviour.

Let me say right from the outset that I have never tried this, but the reports I have heard seem very positive and it seems to work effectively on older cats. It is based upon using positive reinforcement and rewarding good behaviour.

Apparently the art is to find something that motivates your cat. Mostly, but not exclusively, this would be food.

Initially you need to “charge” the clicker. You do this by pressing the clicker and follow this by giving your cat a treat. This can take some time for pussy to work out that clicks means treats.
But when the cat has picked up that clicks are positive, you can go on to build and mould positive cat behaviour by clicking when your cat does something right.

Clickers can be bought, but anything that clicks will do, even a biro pen!

Child/Cat Bonding

I have two children, both grown up now, and a grandson. I have never considered it too much of problem bringing an animal into the family. The problem arises with irresponsible pet owners/parents who view the animal addition as little more than a toy for their child to play with. Needless to say this is a recipe for disaster for both the child and the animal.

There are many who would recommend that the child be at least 6 years old before bringing a cat into the home. Whilst I can see justification for this, I feel that, providing due care and attention are given , the introduction of a kitten for a younger child can bring great benefits for both.

The child/cat should introduced to one another very slowly and gently. Sit your child on the floor and allow the cat to come into the room. Any sudden moves could startle the cat.
Allow your child to feed pussy some treats and stroke his/her coat very gently for a few minuets, then let the cat rest.

Get into a routine of do this each day until a mutual respect and bond has been built . Be careful with very young children. A swipe from a playful cat/kitten could make the child fearful, this could last for some time.

Include your child in the cleaning and feeding chores and set up times for play, showing your child how to do this safely, with care and importantly how to stop.
Be very careful of other children. Although you may have taught your children the correct way to treat animals many parents do not. Do not be afraid to gently inform the child and parent that the cat is not a toy.

As I have already stated, child/cat bonding should not be a problem if done correctly . To encourage a positive and respectful attitude towards animals bring great benefits to a child and , I feel sure, helps them to grow into better adults.

Nasty neighbours (or nasty human behaviour)

Cats have a licence t roam. True. But what happens when your cat strays into a neighbours garden and scrabs up some prized petunias or poos in a flower pot?

One thing we must understand as cat lovers is, that not everyone shares our enthusiasm. Now I know this mat come as a shock, but it is true none the less. So we must always be aware that our cats can sometimes offend, however unintentionally.

Many years ago my family (including cat) and I moved into a new house. After some time we settled in to our new surroundings and got to know the people in the area. I got chatting with my neighbour one day and he mentioned that my cat had been straying into his garden and inferred that “if he got his hands on it he would throttle it”
Now, I was much younger and much more fiery in those days so lets just say that my response was far less than diplomatic ! Needless to say the conflict worsened and a few weeks later my cat was found dead in a waste bin.

Sorry to bring this blog down but just want to emphasise the fact that there are many out there who regard cats as little more than vermin.

My advise would be, try and understand that there are many, many reasons why some people will go to almost any extreme to stop your cat invading their space. Always try where possible to reach a compromise. Maybe offer to clean up any mess or repair any damage and try to be sympathetic to their concerns.

Of course there will always be those who will not want to talk and who threaten drastic action towards your cat. If you have the misfortune to come into contact with these type of unfortunate people, you have my sympathies. Try to keep your cool and remind them of the penalties given to those who are wilfully cruel to animals.

It is always a good idea to have your cat neutered for a number of reasons, but it will also help to stop the straying too far.
Jenny

Cat Aggression

Yet another trait well know to most cat lovers. There you are, happy to relax with your little friend, content in each other company. Cat purring as you gently stroke and caress it, totally unaware of the turmoil that is about to be unleashed as the previously angelic feline turns psychopath in an instant !
Ok, a little dramatic but you know what I mean.

The causes for feline aggression can be many and varied and may need careful examination. One thing is known for sure. A severe reprimand, which may work for your children, will not work on a cat and may even make the problem worse.

All living creatures come with a fight or flight mechanism built in. Its how we have managed to survive for so long. It is instinctive cats behaviour to try to run away when threatened, but, like most animals, it will lash out if cornered.

Cats have a tendency to redirect their aggression. So, if something startles them and makes them feel threatened or vulnerable they may refocus their aggression on you.

Look out for aggression that may be brought on by some form of discomfort. If you are petting and pussy suddenly hisses or snarls, it could be due to a number of physical conditions. Get this checked as soon as you can with your vet.

So what about the aggression alluded to at the beginning of this piece, why does a seemingly contented cat lash out during petting ? This well known aspect of cats behaviour is just part of feline fickleness. It could be down to early socialisation patterns. It could be because cats have very sensitive skin and we may have inadvertently caused some discomfort. It could be that cats can become over stimulated.

Once a bond is built with your cat you generally get to know the signs, and know when to back away (usually), but it can be a rather steep and painful learning curve.

Red in fang and claw!
It is almost certain that at some stage during your relationship, pussy will attack ! What to do?

Cats tend to bite whilst at the same time grabbing with its front claws and raking with the back.
The worst thing to do is pull your hand sharply away . Keep calm, don’t shout or smack this will make things worst. Gently talk to the cat at the same time rub its paws very gently with your free hand until it releases its grip. Do not pet it, let it rest where it is until calm. If it is on your lap, gently try to move it and then leave cat well alone for a while to calm down fully.

That’s the theory, sounds easy does’nt it. Truth is you will probably act like most of us and instinctively pull away. Don’t feel bad about this, it takes some time to get use to leaving your hand to be mauled by this, suddenly gone mad, ball of fluff tooled with fang and claw !

Neutering may be a solution as this has the tendency to calm an aggressive tom. It is also recommended to help reduce cat overpopulation.

Also appreciate that not all biting is a sign of aggression, it may be a sign of affection. That said, it is not too difficult to spot the differences between these types of behaviour!

If aggression becomes too much of a problem, as always, consult your vet who should be able to advise on the best way to combat this aggressive cat behaviour.