Introducing Cats to Cats

by Michael Douglas

Introducing a new cat to existing cats in the home can be painless if you follow these simple steps, take your time, and let the cats set their own pace.

The key requirements in bringing a new cat into your home where another cat or cats are already well established are patience and a gradual approach. First, allow the newcomer to explore the house without coming into any contact with the feline inhabitants. The reason for this is that behaviourists have found that where a cat is on unfamiliar territory and meets a strange cat which is familiar with it, the former is far more interested in first investigating its surroundings than in checking out the other animal. Territory is of supreme importance to cats.

Next, put the new cat in a room alone with its own food and water bowls, litter tray and bed. Begin feeding the new cat and the other cats on either side of the door, putting their dishes near, but not too close, to the door. Gradually, over a day or two, move the dishes closer to the door.

Now, open the door a crack, just sufficiently for the cats to be able to see one another while they feed, and wedge it. Also, exchange the bedding of the newcomer and the residents so that they become familiar with each other's scent. Some experts actually recommend spraying both lots of bedding with one of the cat scent pheromones, such as Feliway, that are now available. Once the newcomer is eating and using its litter tray regularly, allow it out from time to time to explore the house again, still without meeting the other cats face to face.

Finally, you can open the door wide for a while so that the cats can mix. Do it gradually, extending the contact time more and more as things settle down. There may well be some moderate displays of aggression and fear with some growling, hissing and spitting at first, but unless they are severe, these almost always tend to diminish steadily. If you see either cat becoming distinctly aggressive or frightened, separate them, not by charging in but by throwing a large towel over each of them and carting them off so that they can reconsider things. You will then need to begin the introduction process once again. Make sure you have a litter box for each cat plus one extra. During the 'getting to know you' period, which can last weeks, it is best to keep the cats separated when you go out.

Throughout the process of introduction, it is vital that you continually boost the confidence of the resident cat. It should receive more attention, more fussing over, than the new arrival. Of the two cats, it is the one to feel affronted, and it will be on the lookout for any sign that your affections have been transferred to this Johnny-come-lately. Of course you must make friends yourself with the newcomer, play with it, stroke it and talk to it, but in the initial period you should do this only when the resident cat is not present. Whenever you are with the cats, keep talking, always quietly in an upbeat, encouraging tone of voice, never shouting or scolding.

This familiarization by separation technique, of introducing animal strangers to one another is essentially the same as that used in zoos and safari parks for tigers. In their case there is more visual contact, as the two animals are on each side of a gated mesh barrier. There is of course no question of human beings going in with them, let alone holding them on laps. With tigers, the two individuals get to know one another well, but without bodily contact, over a much longer introductory period of at least one year. When, at last, it is considered time to open the gate and let them mix, it is always an event of high tension for the zoo staff, even though for months the animals may have behaved impeccably towards one another.

A tranquillizing dart rifle is loaded and ready, just in case, although most tiger introductions pass off without trouble, but it is not very uncommon, as the two big cats at last come face to face with no weld-mesh between them, for one suddenly to pounce and, within the twinkling of an eye, deliver the classical, lethal neck bite. No time for tranquillizing darts then. The cause of the tragedy, once again, is probably territorial.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Visit http://www.catfactfiles.com for tips on cat training, preventing and solving your cat behavior problems. Extensive information and FAQs about pedigreed cat breeds, cat health and general cat care tips.

Dania
www.silvestorskittyblog.blogspot.com
www.rockysdoggieblogstore.com

Strong Bounds Between Cats and Humans

by Rudy Cote

There are a lot of experts out there who say that cats are strictly independent animals. These very same experts state that cats have chosen to associate with humans due to their strategy of survival. Although many argue with this statement, there are many who agree as well – although those that agree are normally those in the percentile who don’t agree with cats.

Anyone who has owned a cat will tell you that cats are great at bonding with people, although they are very particular. Normally, a cat will choose someone in the home that he bonds with. You’ll know when a cat wants to bond with you, as he will hop on your lap seeking attention or snuggle up to you at night when you are sleeping. Purring is a strong sign of affections, especially with cats that are looking to bond.

Although many experts have tried to figure it out, no one really knows why cats choose a particular person whom they will bond with. It could be the individual’s manners, voice, or simply how that person treats the cat. Perhaps it may be the individual is really gentle, or maybe a little more forceful – bringing the best out in the cat.

My mother's cat Ti Gris

My mother had a cat that really bounded strongly with her. He was a big gray male cat, she called him Ti Gris (Little Gray) She was a chef cook at a restaurant, and when she arrived home sometime very tired Ti Gris was always waiting for her. He would roll on his back, and let her tickle his tummy. He always succeeded in putting a smile on her face. You could see that those two really cared for each other. He would follow her around purring. My mother died suddenly one good morning my father found her dead in her sleep, after her burial Ti Gris just disappeared and was never seen again. He didn't want to stay home without my mother. Nobody knows what happened to Ti Gris.

Another interesting story about a certain cat.

After we moved from the farm we bought a new house in a small town. The heating system was from ducts under the floor coming from a central oil furnace. Somehow our female cat found her way into one of those ducts, if you put her outside she would always crawl into that duct and meowed very loud to get in. We had to remove the floor grill to let her in every time. My father got impatient with that cat. So he decided to drop her in the wood fifty miles from our home. He never told us that, so we thought that she just had died. But after two years a particular morning we heard a loud meow coming from the heat ventilation floor grill. Well, is this weird or what! The cat was back. Explain to me how on earth after two years and two harsh winters she found her way back! My mother was crying, she looked in good shape also. She amazed us so much that she made her way into our heart. We kept her and nobody ever complained about her bad habit again.

About the courage and love of life of cats.

Again this story is very unusual but true. A big yellow cat we had on the farm to keep our farm free from rodent, was doing her usual mouse hunting in the hay field. My father was cutting the hay with the tractor and the hay reaper which has a long arm on the side with moving blades. This arm drag under the hay about one inch above the ground. The poor cat just happened to be in the hay field that day, and the grass cutter cut off the tips of her 4 legs. She ran away leaving a tract of blood and hid under the grain storage building, which was about six inches above the ground. She stayed there for at least a month.

Everyone thought that she was dead. But after a couple of months she was hopping around on the tips of her cut off paws. My father tried to shoot her, because he didn't want her to suffer. He never succeeded. She became a wild cat and hated humans with passion. No one could approach her ever again, she would hiss and snarl and would surely bite your hand off if you would insist on approaching her. We called her La Chatte Maline. (The Upset Cat) Could you blame her! If somebody I trust cut my legs off and tried to shoot me, I sure wouldn’t like him or them either. We just left her alone, she lived another six years. I guess there must have been some rodents living under the grain building. She had plenty of food. But how she survived our harsh winters is something to be admired. Alone, hurt, and proud. She still loved life and proved the real courage of a regular house cat. They are more admirable that we think they are. I sure have a lot of admiration for them. They are by far my favorite animals.

What some researchers believes about cats

There are a lot of ways that researchers have tried to take this subject, one of which being psychic. Some say that cats bond with someone due to a “psychic aura” that is compatible with both the person and the cat. If a cat feels that someone is giving them a bad vibe, they will simply ignore that person. Although this can be true to a sense for some, a majority of those who own cats will tell you that this couldn’t be any further from the truth.

Even though there are a lot of theories and speculation out there, no one really knows why cats bond with humans. There’s little to no proof available as well, other than cats and their natural instinct for physical survival. Those who own cats know that cats crave attention, simply to make them feel needed. They love to be pampered by their owners, and will shower you with attention and affection if you just give them the chance.

Those who are new to owning cats may find bonding to be very different. Cats are different from other animals, including dogs, in the sense that they bond different. Different breeds of cats will bond different with their owners, although most prefer affection and attention. The more time you spend around your cat, the more he will bond with you. Over the years, you’ll find that the bond you create with your pet has grown very strong – and simply cannot be broken.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rodolphe cote is a free lance design draftsman who also wrote many internet articles about various subjects including an article about the 17 year emergence of cicadas an insect that most people do not know much about. He is now doing internet marketing. His websites is health and beauty products

There ar many who believe that cat do not really bound with people. I know for a fact that they do and very strongly. This article have a few unique stories which really happened to us on the farm. and elsewhere that proves that cats are really amazing animals. Do you know how useful cats are on the farm? Without cats your barn and fields would be crawling with rodents. Look at New York, they love dogs but not cats, that's why their city is infested with rodents. I think they should switch to cats, it would be a very wise move. But its a free world, as far as I'm concerned, I prefer cats to dogs.

How to Keep Your Cat Free from Diseases with Your Quick Guide to Cat Grooming"

Even a cat that compulsively cleans itself can benefit from a little grooming from her owner. Cats rarely need a bath, but frequent brushing removes a lot of loose hair which would otherwise end up either shed around your home or swallowed by the cat, creating constipating hairballs. Grooming your cat on a regular basis also helps you monitor her health and make her easier to handle.


Long-haired cats should be brushed and combed daily; short-haired cats only need grooming about once per week. While brushing your cat's coat, keep an eye out for lumps and skin irritations. Brush along your cats back, from head to tail with firm pressure. Repeat this several times, and then switch to one side. You should brush each area 4 or 5 times Always remember to brush in the direction of the hair growth.

If you find places where hair is missing, watch your cat for the next week to determine if she is over-grooming these spots, or if the hair loss could be a skin condition that requires a vet's attention. Be sure to watch for fleas and remove them immediately using a flea comb. If you notice rice-like particles around her anus (or in her bed), she probably has worms and needs medication from a veterinarian.

The grooming session is a good time to check your cat's ears, eyes, teeth and claws. If your cat is a young kitten, be sure to frequently manipulate these areas to get her used to handling. By the time she is an adult, looking inside her ears for mites will be a non-traumatic event. If your cat is an adult, proceed at her pace. If she will let you touch her ear, but not fold it back to look inside, that's fine. Each time you groom her, try going a little farther with your examination, praising her with words, strokes, and treats for letting you handle her. If she struggles, it is best to let her go, and try again another day.

You can use a cotton ball slightly dampened with warm water to clean the inside surface of your cat's ears. Never put a cotton ball or swab into her ear canal. If she reacts and jerks, you could injure her. Dark, coffee ground-like flecks inside her ears indicates possible ear mites. If you also notice her shaking her head or scratching at her ears a lot, or notice a strong odor in her ears, have your vet take a look.

A healthy cat's eyes are bright, clear and free of discharge.

Lift her upper lip to check her gums, which should be pink, and take a look at her teeth. If you choose to brush your cat's teeth, be sure to use toothpaste made for cats, as human-type toothpaste can be toxic to your pet. Pet supply stores carry a variety of cat toothpastes, as well as toothbrushes designed to be gentle and easy to use.

When you start to clean your cat's teeth don't even use a toothbrush. Stroke the outside of her cheeks with your finger. When she becomes comfortable with that, add a little toothpaste to your finger and let her taste it. C.E.T. poultry flavored toothpaste can be used to start as cats like the taste. When the cat is comfortable you are ready to introduce the toothbrush. With a small amount of toothpaste on the brush, brush two teeth and the adjoining gum line with a slow circular motion. This will get your cat accustomed to the feel of the brush. You will then be able to gradually increase the number of teeth brushed.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pet Medication Supplies http://www.pet-medication-supplies.net can help you get the best possible supplies for your pet. Advantix, Arthramine, Cosequin, Frontline, Heartgard - find the best deals in pet medication for flea and tick control, arthritis and lyme disease. Upto 50% discount everyday on brand names.

Dania
http://www.silvestorskittyblog.blogspot.com/
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Choosing the Right Cat for You

There is such a wide range of choices when choosing the cat that you will decide to share in your life, that taking the time to do some quality research is well worthwhile.

Not only do you have to decide what type of color you prefer, but whether you want a male or a female cat and the associated characteristics that come with them.

You also have to look at your personality and lifestyle and determine how that will work in with the personality that can be expected from any particular breed.

Fortunately there are many books that give comprehensive details on the personality types of the various different breeds and while they are a generalization they are also quite accurate in most cases and can help you make the right decision more often than not.

Some breeds require a lot more attention than others, and you also need to look at your stage of life and determine how much time you will have to devote to your cat.

Some breeds will always be more suitable than others when taking into account the term of their lifespan, which can be up to 20 years in some cases.

Your decision might also be based on how long you intend to look after a cat, and you might decide that getting an older cat from an animal shelter rather than a kitten might be a better decision.

There are certainly a lot to choose from as animal shelters are generally overflowing with unwanted pets, just waiting for a home.

When choosing your cat, see how  it interacts with you right from the outset, as even in one litter there will always be a personality that stands out and shows that it wants you to be its owner.

More often than not the kitten will choose you, rather than the other way around.

Dania
www.silvestorskittyblog.blogspot.com
www.rockysdoggieblogstore.com

Can You Train A Cat?

The best way to train a cat is by letting it imitate you as though you were its mother.
This is easier done when it is a kitten as older cats become a lot more difficult to teach.
We all know how cats have a mind of their own and are very independent animals.

This only becomes more so as they age.

You need to get your cat to trust you and shouting and growling at it is not the right approach to do this. Speak softly and encourage and reward it when it does the right thing as this is the fastest way to get your cat to do what you want.
Cats love praise, and teaching them that they will get more from doing something that you want them to do, will ensure that they will be more inclined to obey you for the reward.

If you do have to reprimand your cat don't use its name when doing so as you don't want it to associate its name with something that might upset it.
When you are training a cat you have to remain consistent at all times and be very diligent until you get the desired results.
Expect it to take considerably longer than if you were teaching a dog but don't believe that you can't teach a cat to do many things very well.
If there are other members in your family, they can help by always ensuring that the same commands that you give to the cat are also given by them.
With the help of other people doing this you will have a better chance of training your cat a lot faster.

Cats can be a lot of trouble, and that's part of the reason why we will love them so much, but there will be times when you will need to reprimand your cat and stop bad habits.
This can be done by flicking a bit of water at it or by giving it a small fright by making a bit of noise when it does something wrong.
A trained cat is a lot more fun and as we have them for many years it is well worth the time and effort.

Dania
www.silvestorskittyblog.blogspot.com
www.rockysdoggieblogstore.com

Are You Getting a Second Cat?

Cat /Behavior Problems
Cat  Training
Ragdoll Cats Secrets



Getting a Second Cat

Cats are very territorial and often introducing another cat into the household can cause problems.

It is always a lot easier, if you prefer to have two cats, to get them both at the same time as they're likely to get on a lot better if they are introduced to the house at the same time rather than one having the run of the house first and then having to share it with another later.

After the initial few fights that the young cats might have, they should tend to get along well with each other and enjoy each other's company in play and relaxation.

When a kitten is introduced to the house of an older cat you need to make a determined effort not to neglect the older cat.

Why? 

Well, the older cat becomes jealous and will start fighting with the new member of the family.  This is very easy to forget when you've got a new kitten as because normally people love playing with kittens more than with older cats.

Other problems arise from this situation  In other words, cat behavior problems where a house trained cat might decide to start urinating in the house where it wouldn't have done so in the past, or it might go off its food and stop eating and get sick.

By considering the feelings of the older cat, not neglecting it, giving it sufficient time and letting it know that it is still special, there is more chance that the new kitten will be accepted better by the established cat.

It is made more difficult when the cats are in confined living conditions, and where possible, if there is conflict try to keep the cats apart for a while until they become used to one another.

You can put their litter boxes in different areas of the house, and also keep the food dishes apart.

Any time that one shows aggression to the other, calmly step in between and stop it going any further.

Cat Naps and Sleeping Habits

Cats are famous for their sleeping habits.   In fact, cats are one of the most laid back pets on earth and they are also one of the most relaxed animals with their ability to sleep almost anywhere at anytime of the day or night.

They will rarely sleep deeply for more than about 10 minutes at a time.  But
cats sleep over two thirds of their life.

They have the ability to sleep for a short period, commonly called a cat nap, and then awaken in an instant totally refreshed and alert.

Even if a cat is in a deep sleep, its basic senses are still highly alert to any danger that might be around them.  This allows it to wake in an instant if necessary and get out of a dangerous situation

A domesticated cat that feels protected and relaxed in its surroundings will not be so “on edge” because they have the comfort of  a cozy home all the time and will be able to sleep in a more relaxed manner.

In these situations the cat can often be a little sleepy when it awakes and even disorientated for short while.

Older cats and particularly those who have lived in the one house all their life, suffer this disorientation more often.

Once they see a familiar environment or people they are less likely to feel spooked, as this anxiety can sometimes cause them to bite or claw someone before realizing where they are.

When the cat is in a deep sleep its feet, tail and whiskers can twitch irregularly as they are in a state of REM (rapid eye movement)

If the cat is lying in a hot sunny position it can go into a deep sleep and take a little longer for it to become alert after awakening.

Usually, after awakening the cat will stretch and yawn then sit for awhile and contemplate their surroundings.  Then he will lazily move about again.

Unless there is a very good reason, the cat will never feel rushed.

Dania
http://www.silvestorskittyblog.blogspot.com/

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