Behaviour & Training

What is Your Cat Trying to Tell You? Even when cats are silent, they’re always giving off signals of their current moods. Is your cat feeling playful? Does she want to be approached? Is she fearful? Relaxed? Understanding how your cat’s non-verbal communication differs from that of people and dogs is a simple step you can take toward strengthening your bond. What Your Cat’s Body Language Says About Her Mood FRIENDLY A friendly cat’s eyes will be alert and blinking, and her ears will be pointed forward while she holds her head up and fans out her whiskers. If you hear meowing, she may be looking to interact. Keep in mind that how you interact should be based on the personality of the cat and the context of the situation. FEARFUL You may have to look closely for indications of fear in your cat, because while her posture may appear calm, a closer look at her face and tail may show distress. A fearful cat may have dilated pupils and flattened ears, and her tail may be held downward, close to her body, while she flattens her whiskers and presses them against her face. Try to minimise sudden or rapid movements when your cat seems fearful, as they may amplify her discomfort. PLAYFUL When a cat is standing with her tail curled, rolling side-to-side or belly up, she’s likely looking for contact and play. Her ears may be pointed forward, as well. Just make sure not to touch her on the stomach, as you would a dog, because this will elicit reflexive, defensive or predatory behaviours that might make her claw or bite your hand. RELAXED You can tell if your cat is relaxed by looking at a combination of cues. Make sure you examine her facial expression and body language, as a crouched, relaxed position can look similar to fear. Her ears will be pointed forward, and her tail will be visible, rather than tucked or curled, while her whiskers will remain slightly fanned out, rather than pulled back against her face. NEGATIVE When a cat is showing negative body language, she is most likely not open to contact. It’s probably best not to try to approach or pick her up, especially if the cat is hissing or growling. Her pupils may be dilated, and her ears will be flattened against her head. She may arch her back, and the hair on both her back and her tail may be raised.

Cats Help Improve Our Moods and Help Us Deal with Stress Do you know just 15 to 30 minutes of quality time with a cat can calm your nerves and boost your mood? There’s even chemical evidence. When you spend time with a cat, your production of serotonin, a chemical that boosts feelings of well-being, goes up, and your cortisol levels go down. Cortisol, along with high blood pressure, is a result of stress, and can lead to high cholesterol and hypertension. This means that spending time with a cat can keep you healthier in the long run. DID YOU KNOW? A 20-year study found that people who owned a cat were 40% less likely to die from a heart attack. J Vasc Interv Neurol. 2009 January; 2(1): 132-135. PMCID: PMC3317329 Detecting Seizures More and more stories are cropping up about cats that can tell when their owners are about to have seizures and will do their best to warn them. While scientists suspect this ability has something to do with detecting biochemical scents, how it works remains a mystery. BBC News, “Pet cat ‘senses’ Bournemouth owner’s epilepsy.” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-12740040. Pets Can Be Good for Our Children • When kids imagine how a pet feels, it may help them learn to empathise with their peers and take their feelings into account. • Teaching children to confide in their pets as if they were friends may help children recover from trauma. • Children who own pets may have higher self-esteem. • Teaching kids to care for a cat may make them more cooperative and willing to share. The New York Times, “HEALTH; Children and Their Pets: Unexpected Psychological Benefits.” http://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/11/us/health-children-and-their-pets-unexpected-psychological-benefits.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm.<

Let's Adopt a Cat! Now that you know what you’re looking for in a cat, it’s time to decide where you should go to start your search. Some people looking for a specific breed may want to go to a breeder. If you’re looking for a cat based on personality, you have many options. You can visit a shelter, a rescue organisation, a foster home or a pet shop. Wherever you choose to get your cat, we hope we’ve helped you find a companion that will make your life richer, more loving, and more adventurous. DID YOU KNOW? There are many systems in place that often work together to help all kinds of cats find lasting homes. Still deciding where to go to find your new cat? Here are some of your options. Shelters, Rescues and Foster Homes Rescue organisations and shelters are dedicated to pet welfare. Rescue organisations often care for animals through a network of private foster homes rather than in an animalshelter. Foster homes provide temporary, in-home care for one or more animals through the auspices of an animal shelter or animal rescue organisation. Foster caregivers may be either volunteers or staff members of animal welfare organisations or a local council, and may foster animals for a number of different reasons. For example, foster homes are often needed for pets that are not yet ready for adoption (sick, injured, recovering from surgery, not yet weaned, needing socialisation or other behaviour modification, etc.) or pets for whom there is not enough space in the shelter. Some rescue groups operate completely via a network of foster homes.

How Can Getting a Cat Change Your Life? Bringing a cat into your home is the first step in creating a bond that can make both of your lives better. From reminding you to play to helping give your children an early lesson in responsibility, we think you’ll find that a cat can change your life in all kinds of positive ways. BENEFITS OF PET OWNERSHIP What to Consider Before You Get a New Cat 1. THINK ABOUT THE BASIC CARE AND TRAINING YOU’LL NEED TO PROVIDE FOR YOUR NEW CAT How can you prepare your home to be a comfortable place for your new cat? What toys and supplies do you need? How can you ensure your cat will get along with any pre-existing pets? Good planning will ensure a smooth transition and the chance to establish a healthy bond right away. 2. ESTABLISH YOUR FAMILY’S ROLES There’s something for everyone in your family to do when it comes to looking after your cat. Ensure that all family members have a clear understanding of their roles in the care-taking and that they treat the cat in the same consistent manner. 3. PLAN FOR COSTS You’re going to want to plan ahead and budget for all the care your cat will need, including visiting the veterinarian and buying supplies. 4. YOUR LIFESTYLE AND ENVIRONMENT Did you know the reason many pets are relinquished to shelters is their owner’s living scenario changes? Whether it’s roommates, moving, landlords or just not having enough space, factors related to your living space may make having a pet more difficult than you originally thought. Make sure that you have the permission of everyone in your living space before bringing a pet into your home. If it’s not the right time for you, don’t worry – there will be plenty of pets looking for homes when you do become ready. 5. WHICH CAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU? A lot of people looking to adopt or buy want to get the same type of cat they had when they were kids, without realising that personality may be more important than breed or colouring. Some cats need more social time and attention, and some might be perfect for you if you have a busy lifestyle. 6. WHERE YOU’LL FIND YOUR NEW CAT Breeders and local shelters are just two of the many places where you can go to find the cat for you. It’s important to check that you are adopting or buying your cat from a reputable local shelter or breeder.

Has your kitten’s biting got out of hand? Here’s what to look out for, and how you can help your cat learn to play appropriately. Ouch! Some gentle “hand-wrestling” with your kitten suddenly turned from playful to painful! What happened? Why is your kitten biting so hard? The good news is, your kitten is still a kitten, and this is a very common issue. The bad news is, her bites kind of hurt! Well make sure you’re bandaged up and settled in, because we’re going to take a look at common causes of kittens biting. Just as important, we’ll cover some techniques for how to discourage and even prevent this behaviour. Instinctively Adorable At every turn, kittens are learning about their world, mostly by playing with whatever piques their interest. When you see them bat, chase, pounce, and even bite, you’re actually seeing early versions of their hunter instincts. It’s adorable and fascinating to watch, and even more fun to participate! Except for the biting. Playing with a kitten is clearly a win-win scenario, but it’s best to avoid using your hands or feet as toys. Otherwise, the kitten may accidentally learn that biting human skin is an acceptable behaviour. And two years down the road, as you can imagine, an adult cat could easily leave more of a mark. Instead of hands and feet, try using pet shop bought or homemade toys you can dangle in front of your kitten or drag along the floor. Moving objects like these are perfect for playtime, and they help kittens learn acceptable ways to use their teeth and claws. Moulding Young Minds If you’ve raised a kitten or are currently raising one, you know they can be mischievous, which includes the occasional ambush. But what if her adorable attack comes with a bite? In this case, a build-up of energy may be the reason why your kitten is biting. Try increasing playtime to keep her busy with desirable behaviours. This early one-on-one interaction is really the best opportunity to teach your growing kitten what is acceptable play and what is not. Another tip: If you’re planning on adopting a kitten, consider bringing home one or two more. Kittens naturally learn how to control their teeth and claws as they bite and scratch (and ambush) each other. And finally, if additional playtime and playmates simply aren’t possible, interactive items like puzzle toys and bouncy door hangers are good alternatives. The Warning Cat experts often talk about the risk of petting cats until they are “overstimulated,” or beyond the point of enjoyment. Coming from a kitten, it’s just another example of early, instinctive communication. So your kitten’s bite may simply be her way of saying, “Okay! Enough!” Before the bite, look for signs that she’s feeling irritated. It may be tail twitching, restlessness, dilated pupils, or ear flicking. If you see any of these, take it as a cue to slowly move your hand away and give your kitten room to regain her composure. Talk to the Doc No two cats are the same, which also applies to kittens. If you have questions or concerns about your kitten’s biting behaviours, talk to your veterinarian. He or she can help determine what might be causing the behaviour. In fact, your kitten may be biting because she isn’t feeling well, which is another great reason to ask your veterinarian. Look for any other signs of illness in your kitten, such as loss of appetite, unusually low energy, or sickly-looking eyes. A prominent nictitating membrane (the third eyelid) can be a sign of illness. Quick Recap So why is your kitten biting? She may need more appropriate toys to play with, more playtime, less petting, or a visit with your veterinarian. Whatever the cause, it’s most likely something that you can address by taking simple steps to make sure she’s happy, healthy, and learning acceptable play behaviours. Just remember: Your kitten is a great cat in the making, and you can make it happen.

You love your cat with all your heart, but does your cat love you back? Get the facts on how cats show affection and easy ways to tell if they love you back! Unfortunately, it’s not easy to ‘prove’ love exists, whether it’s between you and your cat or between two people. With that said, there are plenty of ways that cats show affection and compelling evidence that they feel love toward their owners. Cat relationships vs People relationships Cats are often labelled as unattached and aloof, but really they’re just particular about how they show affection. So when they don’t come when you call, it doesn’t mean they don’t love you. It just means they’re happy where they are. In that way, they’re more like people than dogs. A good way to think about it is how a kid will wriggle out of his mother’s grasp as she tries to kiss and hug him – not because he doesn’t love his mum, but because he’s had enough mushy stuff for the time being. Signs your cat loves you Despite their ‘couldn’t care less’ reputation, many cats develop strong relationships with their owners. You can tell a cat has a strong relationship with someone when they become physically and emotionally engaged with them, like rubbing against their leg, kneading and being affectionate. Some other signs your cat loves you are following you around the house, purring when you pet them, bringing you their toys, and wanting to sleep in the same room as you (even if they want out halfway through the night). You can also tell if your cat loves you by how they act when you’re not around. In cases of extreme or abrupt separation, it’s not uncommon for cats to show signs of distress and anxiety – like refusing to eat or hiding. In extreme cases, cats have been known to travel hundreds of miles to reunite with their families. Like in 2003, when a cat in Florida in the USA named Holly walked nearly 200 miles to find her owner. How to show your cat you love them Always be ready to pet them on their terms. As we said, cats can be very particular when it comes to giving and receiving affection, so be patient and embrace them when they’re in the mood. Also, pay close attention to what your cat doesn’t like. Cats, just like people, have pet peeves. Whether it’s having their ears scratched, having their paws or tail held, keep an eye out for their annoyances and be sure not to trigger them. Conclusion Science may not be able to prove cats love people, but we do know that devoted owners have devoted pets. So never hesitate to invest your heart in your feline relationships. Remember, love increases the more you give it away!

When we consider training, we automatically think of dogs. Dogs are trained for obedience, for work on farms or to detect drugs, illegally imported items, even cancers. Training does not generally bring up a vision of a cat obeying your every word. Yet, cats can be trained. What commands can cats learn? Cats can learn all sorts of commands – to sit, to roll over, to shake a paw. Cats like to do things in their own good time, so to train them we need to be really motivated, set aside some time and above all, be patient. Remember, cats are individuals and each one will react differently when training begins. Some will ignore you or look at you as if you are mad, whilst others will be very curious and eager. Teach one trick at a time. You can reinforce tricks your cat has mastered, but don’t confuse them by teaching more than one new behaviour at a time. How to train a cat Cats, like dogs, are motivated to do things in life that benefit them. Seeking tasty morsels of food or a cat game with a favourite toy are favourite activities. Usually it is the cat who demands these from their owners. So let’s turn it around. Use these motivators to your advantage. The sit and Hi 5 commands All cats sit, so teaching this is easy. As your cat sits, say “Sit”, then praise them, with a pat or treat. Also introduce a hand signal, such as your hand held vertically in a stop sign, to further help your cat learn. You can quickly extend this training to have your cat join in a ‘Hi 5’ with you, where they raise a paw to your hand. First, encourage any tiny movements of their paw by giving a cat a treat each time their paw moves off the ground. Then, with the treat wrapped in your fist, wait for her to use her paw to try to grab it, then give them the treat as a reward. Gradually lift your hand higher and when your cat touches your hand with their paw, reward them. Dog Tricks Everybody loves learning tricks – especially your dog! Teaching him some simple dog tricks and commands won’t just look impressive, it will give you the opportunity to spend some quality time together too. High Five! Tell your dog to sit, then give them a treat. Hold another treat out of reach (but close by), and say ‘high five’, touching one of their feet. They’ll probably paw at the treat in your other hand; when your dog does this, gently pick the paw up and let your dog have the treat, making lots of fuss of them at the same time. Repeat this sequence this until your dog associates the ‘high five’ command with touching your hand with his paw! Teach your dog to play dead For the more advanced canines, why not try and teach your dog to ‘play dead.’ It’s a great dog trick and is an easy party piece to teach your eager four-legged friend! Start by getting your dog to lie down. If you’ve moved on to this advanced trick then you’ll already have taught your dog the basics like ‘sit’, ‘stay’ and ‘down,’ so this first part should be easy. Hold a treat close to your dog’s nose and slowly pull it over to his side so he’ll have to roll over to get the treat. If your dog has already learnt how to roll over, he’ll already know how to perform this action too, making this step a walk in the park! When your dog is lying on his side, praise him and give him a treat. Then, repeat these steps several times until your dog is able to complete the action. Now add a cue word with a hand signal. Lots of people use the verbal command ‘bang’ with a hand signal in the shape of a gun pointing at your dog, although you might just want to use ‘sleep’ or ‘dead’ if you prefer, with any hand signal you like. Say your chosen command with your hand signal and repeat steps two and three. By practising this trick several times a day, your dog will soon be falling at your side and pretending to ‘sleep’ or ‘play dead.’