You’ve mastered cat-parenting, now it’s time for the human kind. Introducing a new member to your pride does not have to be a stressful experience. By providing a slow and steady introduction, the result can be enriching for both your cat and your child. Here are a few quick tips to make the initiation process as smooth as possible for everyone
The first step in keeping your cat off countertops and tables is to remove any opportunity or temptation. As responsible pet owners, we want to give our pets the best chance possible to behave well.
Make sure all your food items are put away or stored in cat-proof containers such as Tupperware or a bread bin.
Put a lid on your garbage can and
The most common behavior problem that cats engage in is eliminating outside of their litter boxes. It is important that you treat this problem early, as the longer the cat continues to do this, the more likely it is that it will become a habit, regardless of why it started.
The first thing you should do when your cat urinates or defecates outside
Like dogs, many cats mark places that are new and unfamiliar to them. Intact male cats are more likely to mark than neutered males or female cats. Marking behavior can be modified if you start training early. When introducing your cat to your home, be prepared. Here are a couple tricks for a marking quick-fix.
Health Check: If your cat is
Many cats enjoy being stroked– they purr, knead their paws, and lean into your hand. Sometimes it seems they quickly change their minds and bite out of the blue. Other cats only briefly tolerate petting and show no indication of actually liking it. Whatever the reason may be, there are steps that can be taken to help ease your cat’s petting-
Play biting is normal kitten behavior. For kittens, playing is really just practice for hunting, and hunting entails biting. Though she will probably never grow up and need to hunt, the play instinct is hardwired into your cat. Play biting may also be seen in adult cats that weren’t properly trained as kittens.
This type of biting usually occurs
Door dashing can be a dangerous habit for you and your cat. However, it can be easily corrected with patience and proper training. Before entering your house in any situation, be sure to take time to set down any bags and peek inside to ensure your cat is not waiting by the door and revving his engine.
Make sure your cat is properly identified
Cats scratch objects in their environments for a variety of reasons. Scratching stretches the muscles (especially after a nap), removes the outer sheath of the nail, marks the area with the scent from the gland in the cat’s paws, and sometimes, it’s just fun! Because scratching is such a vital part of a cat’s well-being (which is why even declawed
Much like dogs, and small children for that matter, cats also crave your attention. Many times cats will even misbehave just to get you to notice them. Although this behavior can be pesky at times, cats who feel ignored and are seldom handled by humans are more likely to become introverted and standoffish. Providing your cat with regular attention
Teaching your cat to come is a very nifty behavior to instill in him. Calling a kitten when it is contemplating climbing the drapes or jumping on the dog is a terrific way to prevent bad habits from forming; it also saves you time from searching every nook and cranny of the house for your hiding cat. Not to mention, teaching “Come” is so easy to
We cannot simply tell our cat to not be afraid of something. Rather, we must communicate it through our actions and our energy. With time, patience, and proper training, you can help your shy and fearful cat develop into a confident and friendly feline.
Health Check
Before anything else, it is important to consult your veterinarian to rule out
It’s a fact of life – cats meow. It is one of the ways they communicate their needs to us. If you believe that your cat’s meowing is excessive, you need to understand why your cat is vocalizing in order to change his behavior.
Overnight Meowing
Cats, especially young ones, are naturally most active late at night and early in the morning.
Ignore
Desensitization and Counterconditioning for Fear
Desensitization – a process by which fear, panic or other undesirable emotional response to a given stimulus is reduced or extinguished, especially by repeated exposure to that stimulus.
Counterconditioning - conditioning intended to replace a negative response to a stimulus with a positive
Perhaps you have been following the recommended procedures for introducing a new cat to your resident cat, but things aren’t going well. Maybe you took one of your cats to the veterinarian and since returning the other cat has been treating him like an intruder. Or it may just be that you want to go the extra mile right from the beginning when
There are a number of potential causes for a dog or cat to be afraid of people. Genetics most certainly plays a role, either exacerbating the other causes or being the sole cause itself. Lack of socialization – controlled and positive experiences with a variety of stimuli – at the proper age can lead to a pet who is afraid of new people and things
Thank you for considering welcoming this special cat into your home. This fact sheet will help to answer any questions you may have about this condition.
What is FIV?
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is an infection with a retrovirus and is only found in cats – humans, dogs, and other species cannot get FIV. Generally, it is contracted
There is a phenomenon in the cat world that seems to be foreign to humans: nonrecognition aggression. This occurs when a cat leaves the home – usually, but not always, for a veterinary appointment – and is the recipient of aggressive behavior from the cat who remained at home after returning. This can happen to cats of any age or breed and