Final Up to date on: November 1, 2022 by Crystal Uys
Welcome to our common “Ask the Cat Behaviorist with Mikel Delgado” phase. As soon as, or each different month, we’ll put up a reminder so that you can put up your questions for Mikel. She’ll reply as lots of them as she will be able to every time, and I’ll publish her solutions in a subsequent put up.
Mikel is a Licensed Cat Conduct Marketing consultant at Feline Minds, providing on-site consultations for cat guardians, shelters, and pet-related companies within the San Francisco Bay Space, and distant consultations all over the world. She obtained her PhD in Psychology at UC Berkeley, the place she studied animal conduct and human-pet relationships. Mikel is co-author of Jackson Galaxy’s forthcoming guide, Complete Cat Mojo: The Final Information to Life with Your Cat, due out October 31and accessible for pre-order now (that is an affiliate hyperlink*).
A observe as much as questions on what to do when a cat goes lacking
Earlier than I get to the brand new questions, I assumed I ought to observe up on my put up on what to do when you lose your cat. I did get a couple of emails from of us who’ve some AMAZING web sites with recommendation on discovering misplaced cats – together with some utilizing know-how corresponding to wildlife cams and bionic listening to units! These websites embrace www.LostCatFinder.com and www.missingpetpartnership.org ,run respectively by Kim and Bonnie who each left feedback in my final column. I agree 100% with each of them that there are various issues above and past what I discussed that people can do to assist their cats return (simply take a look at their web sites for a plethora of concepts).
The most well liked problem of competition appears to be whether or not one ought to depart used kitty litter outdoors as a lure for the misplaced cat. Right here was the thread of responses (I attempted to place them within the order they had been left).
I’d counsel that Dr. Delgado take a look at our website when counseling individuals about misplaced cats! There’s a lot one can do to seek out their cat, however the one factor they need to NOT do is put out a litter field! It’ll draw different cats (who will declare it and your property as “theirs” and can battle your cat off it (s)he tries to return house), canine and predators. – Bonnie Wagner-Westbrook
I simply learn Dr Delgado’s response. She recommended placing some used litter right into a TNR entice – not placing out a litter field.
Tehila
(At this level, I ought to most likely additionally observe that I NEVER suggest leaving traps unsupervised!!! A lot to say in a single column, so little time! – Mikel)
Tehila, it will have the identical consequence. I’ve had circumstances the place cat guardians put out the entire field, sprinkle it across the yard, or inside traps and it attracts native strays who will battle off a cat trying to return house on his/her personal. If these cats are unaltered (and generally even after they’ve been altered), they are going to spray the realm to mark “their” new turf. I’ve heard of (legit) circumstances of coyotes and different predators being drawn to an space the place litter is neglected. Simply not a good suggestion. – Bonnie Wagner-Westbrook
I’m blissful to defer to the consultants on this regard – however the logic behind the argument nonetheless leaves me with some questions! As I scientist, my major gripe is that we’ve so little understanding of how cats navigate within the first place. But when the primary argument in opposition to putting used litter within the entice is that it’s going to appeal to different animals (together with predators), I wish to know why putting scrumptious meals within the entice wouldn’t do the identical factor? And missing lures, how do you get a cat to go in a entice?
With regard to “turf marking” by cats, a number of analysis (see Karen General and John Bradshaw’s books) exhibits that cats don’t use urine as a “hold out” message, a lot as an “I used to be right here” message. It’s additionally thought of a passive sign to discourage aggression, and cats don’t keep away from areas that different cats have marked in. The truth is, they spend MORE time investigating these areas, and a number of cats will “overmark” the urine spray of different cats. After all, this doesn’t imply a terrified, misplaced cat goes to be out and about pee-sniffing, however it’s vital to grasp how and what urine-marking communicates between cats. A current research confirmed that though cats desire a clump-less litterbox, earlier urine odor of one other cat was not a deterrent.
I agree with Bonnie. I do misplaced cat restoration full-time and advise in opposition to utilizing kitty litter in any means (aside from inside the home, in fact).
In my expertise, individuals who swear by it are being superstitious as cats who return when litter is concerned would have come again simply as nicely to a sack of potatoes on the porch. – Okayim Freeman
Now this argument makes extra sense to me! I feel it will get again to the query of not understanding WHY cats come again. We are likely to throw each potential resolution on the downside and hope that at the very least one factor helps the cat return or go into the entice! I’ve had a number of buddies, neighbors and shoppers use the litter with out issues, however in fact in addition they did different issues to assist get their cat again! That mentioned, I’ve additionally seen a number of circumstances the place the human ended up going to the cat (by setting traps the place the cat has been noticed) slightly than the cat coming house – which brings us again to your superior strategies utilizing wildlife cams and different know-how!
About discovering your cat… Not too way back some neighbors the subsequent avenue over misplaced their cat and put flyers on the entrance doorways of each home within the neighborhood. It turned out that the cat had gotten into our attic… Don’t know the way however we heard it when it was meowing, and made the connection between it and the flyer that was left at our door. It turned out to be the cat and the individuals acquired it again. If they’d solely put flyers on phone poles, and many others. we’d’ve by no means identified who’s cat it was.
Mason
Mason,
This is a wonderful level. The extra contact you may make with individuals (on-line neighborhood message boards, head to head, flyers below each door) the higher!!!
Re: sister cats and redirected aggression;
I had the identical downside once I moved the my present residence. I organized for 2 feral cats to be trapped, neutered, and returned (TNR). Finally my cats settled down. They nonetheless go barely bonkers, however the aggression in opposition to one another steadily ended. Final week, one confirmed up and my older cat simply sat and stared again at him. – Tehila
Tehila, thanks for sharing your expertise. I want all kitties would have this response! For tips about protecting cats out of your yard, see my final column, or this current one posted on Aware Cat.
Cat with a critical case of pica
Hello Mikel,
I work at a shelter and was approached by a cat proprietor who has a cat with a critical case of Pica. She owns two older cats, a 12 yo male and a 7 1/2 yo feminine -both are declawed. She then adopted a stray feminine kitten that was very playful and acquired alongside okay along with her different two cats. After she was spayed and sadly additionally declawed, she started to note her chewing conduct started.
It began with the curtain cords- she tucked these away then she moved on to sneakers/couches/dressers, toys and nearly every other merchandise that she may.
Her vet felt there have been no medical points and it was only a lack of stimulation and recommended that she undertake one other kitten. So she adopted one other 8 month previous kitten. They did and nonetheless do play collectively however the chewing conduct continued.
After discovering her chewing on the windowsills she confined each kittens to a room to cut back the harm to her residence. She has tried every kind of allowable chew toys, sprayed areas that had been off limits with anti-chew spray (which didn’t work)- bodily blocked off areas, elevated her interactive play time along with her, tried Feliway plug-ins, various kinds of meals puzzles, kitty grass, out of doors chicken feeders and many others – you title it she has tried it.
She at present has her cat on Prozac at 5 mg and is engaged on clicker coaching – The Prozac has helped just a little however the chewing continues. She shouldn’t be specific relating to her chewing and her proprietor is fearful she goes to swallow one thing that’s going to hurt her ultimately. This concern alone makes it all of the harder to complement her setting and she or he’s fallen right into a quandary.
Any ideas on the place she may go from right here to vary or cease this infinite must chew? – Karen
Karen,
Relying on how lengthy the cat has been on Prozac, she could not have been benefiting from the therapeutic results but (Prozac sometimes takes a number of weeks to “kick in”) – so she will be able to verify in along with her vet about how a lot enchancment she needs to be seeing by now.
Pica may be tough, as a result of in lots of circumstances, life-long administration is important. There’s nonetheless so much we don’t learn about why some cats are liable to it (there’s a genetic element in lots of circumstances), however the assumption is that elevated stimulation and enrichment is useful. The Indoor Pet Initiative, led by Dr. Tony Buffington, has good sources for ensuring that cats have every little thing they have to be blissful indoors. In circumstances of persistent pica like this one, I’d suggest that she work with an skilled marketing consultant or veterinary behaviorist who can do a house go to and assess the setting, in search of stressors which may not be so apparent (maybe sounds or smells?).
I’d additionally need extra data on whether or not the kitten chews on meals objects within the proprietor’s presence, the proprietor’s absence, or each. That may inform us just a little about her motivation – is it anxiousness, is the chewing being bolstered by consideration, and many others. The clicker coaching is definitely a superb method to rewarding behaviors we like, not those we don’t like!
Current analysis discovered a relationship between digestive upset and chewing on non-food objects, so it’s potential that there’s nonetheless an undiagnosed medical problem. We additionally know from a brand new research, that sadly, declawing is each bit as horrible as many people feared, with reference to resulting in long-term ache and conduct points.
Screaming tortie
I’ve a screaming Tortie and Dr. Kris informed me to ask you. We’ve had her for 4 years. She was a rescue that my brother adopted for my mother and we adopted her from Mother. She is a talker generally and may be actually candy however I’m afraid we can be kicked out of our residence. We stay in a 1st flooring 2 bed room 2 rest room and she or he has her run of the place. She is simply not allowed in our 2 closets. She refuses to drink from her water bowl until somebody comes along with her in hopes that we’ll flip the tap on. She doesn’t like me watching her drink however I inform her mommy shouldn’t be leaving till you begin consuming. She gained’t play along with her toys. We acquired her a pink scratching put up the place it’s essential to discover the ball and it has cute hanging bells and she or he would slightly watch us play with it. She does love searching the patio window watching the individuals stroll by and the children enjoying soccer on the tennis courts. However she is so needy and gained’t play along with her toys, solely eats cat meals, and desires to be with us 24-7. I gained’t even apply for a helper canine for my MS as a result of she can be so jealous if her mommy has one other child. We gained’t even undertake one other cat as a result of we can not afford 2 kitties. Her screaming is horrible. I don’t know whether or not that may be a Tortie factor or not. She does love having each a mommy and a daddy. What do I do? I’m about to drag out my hair. – Debbie Ramsey
Debbie,
In conditions like yours, I all the time marvel how a lot WE are contributing to the cat’s conduct. I had a case the place one in all my cats was having problem utilizing a meals puzzle on her personal. Guess who stepped in to assist? ME. Guess who may use the meals puzzle simply high quality when mommy went out of city? My cat who was having problem! Seems I used to be simply “enabling” her and she or he was completely prepared to have me do all of the work for her once I was round.
Studying your electronic mail, it looks as if you might be involved about a couple of issues:
1. extreme meowing
2. it appears like she likes consuming out of the tap
3. she gained’t play along with her toys
4. you wish to get one other canine however assume she can be jealous
I’ll do my greatest to handle every of this stuff!
1. Cats who meow normally meow for one of some causes: one thing is mistaken (I’m going to imagine this isn’t the case) they’re bored (potential, some cats get bored very simply!), or she has realized that meowing will get her consideration from people. See my earlier column for recommendation on “screaming cats.” If you happen to speak again when she talks to you, she could have realized that meowing is nice enjoyable!
2. For cats who like consuming out of taps, a pet fountain may be nice. You can too strive a DIY undertaking or a movement delicate faucet that can flip any sink right into a cat fountain.
3. If you’re having problem getting your cat to play, it could be due to the toys, or due to how you might be enjoying! The scratching posts with the hanging toys could also be engaging to kittens, however that kind of toy loses enchantment for grownup cats.I don’t know what different kinds of toys you have got on your woman, however I like to recommend having a wide range of interactive toys that resemble prey. A few of my favorites embrace the Cat Dancer, Da Chicken, the Cat Catcher, and Neko Flies. These are all designed to imitate the actions of prey and I’ve discovered that the majority cats reply very nicely to those toys. Remember to put them away once you aren’t supervising, as toys with string and wire aren’t secure to depart out with cats!
As to HOW to play, I like to recommend transferring in ways in which mimic the prey animals and that use what we learn about cat looking conduct. Cats are drawn to motion away from them (like a mouse attempting to get away) and rustling sounds. Alter your actions, in order that generally you progress verrrrrrry slowly, then add in some fast bursts to see what she responds to greatest and when. Do not forget that cats are stalk and rush hunters, so generally they just like the gradual actions greatest (those that people normally discover boring!), and the precise pouncing half is perhaps a really small a part of your play sequence, relying in your cat’s exercise degree.
Don’t make the play too arduous (let her contact the toy occasionally so she will get the tactile stimulation), or too straightforward (don’t poke, pet or in any other case put the toy proper in your cat’s face – no mouse or chicken would try this!). And remember to rotate toys – a earlier research confirmed that cats acquired bored of the identical toy earlier than they acquired bored of enjoying!
4. I’d not assume your cat can be jealous of a brand new member of the family – for a lot of “busy” kitties, extra family members = extra issues to maintain them stimulated! If you happen to select your new canine properly, ensure that she or he is nicely -trained, and do a gradual introduction, there’s no motive you may’t develop your loved ones! I’ve seen many households the place cats and canine get alongside fantastically.
I hope this helps!
I like this column, it’s particularly informative and really fascinating. I just like the prolonged ones, much more (trace, trace!) Thanks a lot! – VagabondMoon,
Thanks a lot for the sort phrases! I’ll do my greatest to maintain my solutions in-depth once I can!
No questions (for now!), however I simply needed to say how a lot I take pleasure in this recommendation. I volunteer with rescue cats and have realized tons! – Robert Wagers
Thanks Robert! Rescue cat volunteers are high quality individuals 😉
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