Month: September 2013

Click like if…

Tired of Facebook status updates about going to the gym or pictures of someone else’s lunch? Have we got a Facebook page for you! Click the “like” button on the Adopt-a-Pet.com Facebook page and then make sure you click  the like button again to get the hidden menu! (Click “more” at the end of this paragraph to see a screenshot of how the menu appears when it is unhidden, below.) On the like button menu you can select “All Updates” so that all the wonderful photos of our Five O’Clock Cuteness pets for adoption, and our motivational and fun message images similar to the one you see here on the bulletin board, will fill your Facebook newsfeed with adoption and pet-loving happiness!

Why Does My Cat Bite Me? Understanding Cat Behavior

Does your new cat like to bite? Learn more about aggressive biting and what you can do to change their behavior.

Cat bites are not fun! This article is to help you with knowledge and tips for avoiding future cat bites from your pet cat. If you are reading this because you just got bitten by a cat, please know this is not an article about the medical care you may need. Instead, please go immediately to our “Cat bites are serious!” article right away! If you have a feisty young kitten (under 6 to 7 months old) who is play biting you, so not inflicting hard skin-puncturing bites, we suggest you first read our Is your kitten biting you or playing too rough? article. However, if you are here because your tame, usually friendly cat has suddenly tried to bite you, possibly more than once, and would like some tips to avoid being bitten, you’re in the right place! Read on…

Tame adult pet cats bite people for many reasons. The three most common reasons for indoor cats are overstimulation, fear, and anger/stress. Less common reasons are maternal, status, redirected, disease, or pain. It can be just one of those reasons, but sometimes is a combination of two or more. Understanding the causes can help you remove or counteract them, and reduce the chances of being bitten. However, figuring out what a cat is feeling is no easy task! This article isn’t a comprehensive guide to why cats bite, but can give you some tools to increase your understanding and reduce a cat’s biting. We highly recommend working with a professional cat behaviorist in addition to reading this article.

Below are examples of the three most common reasons cats bite, followed by what to do tips for each reason. Below that, we suggest one better way you can react the moment your cat tries to bite you, and finally one way to positively reward good behavior to further reduce biting behavior.

  1. Overstimulation. Often a cat who enjoys being pet, but then suddenly bites. 
  2. Fear. Examples include a cat that bites when picked up, when restrained (like for having his nails trimmed), or when woken suddenly.
  3. Anger/stress. Most commonly from territory changes or challenges, changes in their routine, or illness, but can be from other causes too.

If your cat bites you because he is overstimulated, you will need to try to learn what causes him to be overstimulated, and at what point the overstimulation causes a bite, then carefully avoid approaching his limits. So if your cat bites you after you’ve pet him five times, you may only be able to pet your cat one or two strokes. If he gets wound up after 5 minutes of playing with a toy on a string, you may be only able to play for 1 minute. This seems simple, but when your cat is acting affectionate or having fun, stopping can be really hard! Some cats will tolerate neck scratches without biting, but will bite if their back is pet.

Each cat is an individual, so you’ll need to carefully determine his individual limits. Closely observe your cat for any pre-bite warning signs – such as tail swishing, ears going back flat, body stiffness, growling/hissing, pupils dilating – and stop whatever activity you or he are doing immediately. You’ll also have to make sure all other humans that come in contact with your cat obey the limits you determine. Often “don’t pet the cat” is easier for other people to understand and abide than “only pet him three times” or “only scratch his neck.” Give visitors a feather toy on a string to let them play with your cat safely that way instead.

If your cat bites you due to fear, you will need to do you best to avoid fearful situations for your cat. Declawed cats often bite out of fear, having had their first line of defense removed (yet another reason never to declaw a cat). Fear biters can be challenging when it comes to nail trimming, so you may need the help of a professional groomer or vet tech to learn how to humanely, safely, and in the least-stressful way possible restrain your cat and trim their nails. If your cat likes treats or canned food, rewarding him after the fearful experience can sometimes make him forget more quickly the fearful experience he had to endure for his own health.

If your cat bites due to anger/stress, you probably have some detective work to do to figure out all the causes, then see how much you can reduce or remove them. Often you can’t do much directly, like if a new barky dog moves in next door.  Creative thinking helps! Sometimes confining the cat to a small room such as a quite bedroom or bathroom for some or even all of the day for a few weeks can let them get used to the new situation more slowly, on their terms, which could be less stressful. But some cats are more stressed out being locked in a room. Each situation is so unique, if your cat is biting you because of anger/stress, we highly recommend consulting with a professional certified cat behaviorist.

Why a behaviorist and not your vet? It is rare for a regular vet to have a degree in feline behavioral medicine. According to the American Association of Feline Practitioners, “most veterinarians never received education in veterinary school about feline behavior, and do not have the time and resources to study all the latest research and develop behavior protocols.” However, don’t hesitate to ask your regular vet for a recommendation of a certified cat behaviorist. A good behaviorist will often work closely with their clients’ veterinarians, especially if anti-anxiety medication is indicated, and to rule out any possible underlying medical causes. 

HOW TO REACT IF YOUR CAT TRIES TO BITE YOU

The best way we’ve found to react to a cat who’s tried to bite you, no matter what the cause, is to calmly back away from the cat. (Sometimes upset cats will go after your ankles if you move quickly, or turn your back to walk away.) Leave the room, or if you live in a studio or loft leave your home, shut the door behind you, and give the cat a time-out alone for 5 minutes. If you are upset, take the time to calm down and forgive your cat, so you can re-enter as if nothing untoward has happened.

HOW TO REWARD GOOD BEHAVIOR

Does your cat like treats? Canned food? Playing with a toy? If your cat is an overstimulated biter, and let you pet him for his allotted time with no bites, you can reward him with his favorite treat, food, or game. Rewards are building blocks for long-term, positive behavior.

*IMPORTANT: Never respond to a cat biting you with a physical reprimand or punishment. PUNISHMENT WILL MAKE YOUR SITUATION WORSE. Cats respond to negativity with negativity. If your cat bites and you “tap” his nose, forcefully push him away, yell, squirt him with a water bottle, or respond with any other negative punishment, you almost guarantee the cat will try to bite you again, and likely try harder – or become scared and avoid you and a broken trust bond with a cat is very hard to repair.

We hope this article helps you with your biting cat!

Are You On Instagram?

Adopt-a-Pet.com has officially joined the Instagram community and we can’t wait to see your best pet pics and share ours with you!  We’ve posted 46 photos so far, and we’re just getting started. We’d love for you to follow us here: @AdoptaPetcom and we’re looking forward to following others who are passionate about helping pets get adopted too!

Action-Packed Puppy Rescue Leads to Action-Packed Puppy Cam

What’s better than a puppy cam, you ask? How about a puppy cam where the stars of the show have a rescue story that reads more like the plot of an action film? That’s exactly what you’ll find when you check out this live-stream of Luke, Elliot, Raven, and Logan – 4 precious adoptable pups who are named after the X-Men super heroes because they had somewhat of a super hero rescue! You can check out the live stream and read their amazing rescue story! 

Losing Your Best Pet Friend

The loss of a pet is one of the most difficult situations a pet owner and animal lover will need to endure. Never is the comfort and constant companionship a pet provides more evident than when it is no longer there. When you lose a pet, you don’t just lose an animal; you lose your best friend. No matter how old or how sick your pet may have been, death shocks the senses. The feeling of grief may be overwhelming immediately following your friend’s death and may linger for months or longer. It takes time to recover emotionally from such a profound loss. Below are some tips for helping you cope after losing your best friend.

Photo credit: BrittneyBush via photopin cc

Give Yourself Time

People widely accept that the grief process is different for everyone when it comes to mourning the loss of a person, but grief-stricken pet owners are sometimes frowned upon. Well-meaning friends and family may ask insensitive questions like, “Are you over it yet?” Even with pets, the time a person grieves varies from one person to the next. For some, it may last for a couple of weeks. For others the grieving process can take months or longer. Don’t rush yourself. Instead, allow yourself to experience the natural sadness that comes with loss. It’s necessary for healing.

Don’t Go Through It Alone

For some pet owners, the loss of their beloved pet results in more than tears and sadness. It may be a serious interruption in your life, an overwhelming feeling that prevents you from getting on with your daily routine. If this is the case, don’t go through the grieving process alone. Seek comfort in talking to friends or family. If you don’t feel they’d understand how heartbroken you are, talk to a counselor instead. There are therapists who are trained in dealing with and recovering from the loss of a pet. A counselor may be able to introduce you to coping skills that can help you resume your normal routine.

Remember Your Friend

One of the best ways to combat the sadness you experience after a loss is to remember all the good times you had with your pet. Look through old photos of your pet as a puppy, kitten or whatever the case may be. Create a collage of some of your favorites. Some people find scrapbooking to be a great form of therapy, and it’s the perfect way to tell your pet’s story through words and pictures. If your pet enjoyed sitting under a particular tree for cooling down, place a little statue there in his memory. Donate to a charity or animal shelter in honor of your pet. There are so many ways to remember your loved one. Do something that is meaningful for you that represents the life and legacy of your friend.

Embrace New Friends

There will come a time when you’re ready to get another pet, and that time varies according to each individual. After my Lab mix died, I was heartbroken. I rescued him after he had been dropped off on a neighbor’s farm. Yet as much as I missed him, I knew that Max would rather me save another dog than sit around sad and lonely. So three months after Max passed, I rescued a Shepherd mutt. It doesn’t mean that I’ve forgotten about Max. You never forget a pet. It simply shows that I enjoyed Max’s companionship so much, and I felt so good about providing him with a loving home, that I wanted to do that again. And I think Max would be very proud of me.

While some pet owners, like myself, find it healing to embrace a new relationship with a pet right away. Others prefer to wait until they’ve completely moved past their loss before getting another pet. Do what works for you, but there’s no better feeling than providing a safe, nurturing home for a pet in need of one.

Losing a pet creates feelings of grief that are very real. Don’t try to hide away your emotions; let yourself go through the grieving process.

Michelle Rebecca is an aspiring writer, blogger, and animal lover. She has a passion for the Internet, and loves how it connects people across the globe. She loves that blogging gives her the opportunity to voice her thoughts and share advice with an unlimited audience.

Happy Beginnings: Gimzo

I’ve been fostering dogs and cats for 15 years, and Gizmo is my first “foster awesome” dog! Foster awesome is a rebranding of the commonly used phrase “foster failure” – when a foster volunteer adopts the pet they are fostering. Eight months ago I wasn’t intending on adopting another dog, much less fostering one. That day I went to the shelter to pick up two new foster cats that I’d seen on Adopt-a-Pet.com. One of the shelter staff, who knows me well, saw me walk in and asked, “Any ideas of a rescue who could help save a little senior dog who’s time is up? His name is Gizmo.” His shelter intake photo was a tiny black blob. Thinking I’d take some photos and a video for the shelter to add to his Adopt-a-Pet.com listing so adopters could get a better look at him, I went back to meet the little old man. He looked more like a skinny mini opossum than a Long Haired Chihuahua!  His black fur was missing all along his back and tail, and he was so shy, the staff told me he mostly just sat in the darkest corner of his kennel. No wonder he wasn’t getting noticed in a shelter crowded with other small dogs! As we stood talking, Gizmo did an army crawl out from behind the desk and tried to hide behind my boot. I found myself saying, “Let me see what I can do.” What I could do was ask a local rescue if I could foster him, and fortunately they could say yes!

Gizmo had been brought to the shelter by his elderly person who could no longer care for him. He was malnourished and severely underweight, in part due to how badly they’d let his teeth go, which had made it painful for him to eat. He had most of his teeth extracted, so his tongue often pokes out, adding to his lopsided-ears and gray-muzzle adorableness. We thought his hair loss, inflamed skin and itching were due to simple untreated flea allergies… but after a weeks excellent regular vet care, flea prevention, and nutrition, when the little guy started breaking out in itchy welts that looked like hives, the rescue’s vet recommended we see a specialist.

I’ve fostered dozens of dogs from the shelter, and this was the first time I took one in that needed more vet care than I’d expected. Fortunately, the rescue’s founder knew of a wonderful dog dermatologist. After many tests, the dermatologist diagnosed that Gizmo’s untreated allergies and poor care had trashed his immune system and thyroid – well, he didn’t say exactly that, but that’s my layperson’s translation of his medical findings! It took several months of food and treatment trials, but we finally figured out what diet, medications, and bathing schedule brings the poor little guy some relief. 

After eight months of nursing Gizmo back to health, and watching his transformation, I couldn’t bear the thought of letting him go. Gizmo still has some paw itching that require topical treatment and twice weekly rinses, and he’ll be on thyroid pills the rest of his life, but now his lush coat shines and he’s a super happy and quirky little guy!  He’s won over my big grumpy dog, my bossy cats, my husband, and when no one is looking, I’ve even caught him racing around in joyful circles, barking at a toy!

Thanks Adopt-a-Pet.com for leading me (if indirectly!) to Gizmo, and his forever home.

Take our survey: Is having a pet good for your health?

Is Having Pets Good for Your Health? It’s a pretty interesting question and we want to hear your opinions about this interesting topic! How does having pets impact your health? Take our quick nine-question survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2M57C3D and let us know how many pets you have currently, (it’s okay if you don’t have any right now), rate the impact pet ownership has had on your health, the kind of activities you and your pet enjoy together, and more. We’ll share the results of the survey in a future post here on the Adopt-a-Pet.com blog too!

Dog Park Etiquette

Dog parks are a wonderful thing. For those of us who aren’t lucky enough to have a fenced-in yard, dog parks are a great way for your pup to get the exercise he needs without being confined to a leash. They’re also great for making sure that your dog stays socialized with other dogs. However, as a frequent visitor of my local dog park, I’ve learned that there are a there are rules that all dog owners should follow when they decide to take their pooch to get some exercise. Here are a few simple, common courtesy rules that my family and I have learned, and abide by, when visiting the park. 

(Photo credit: spilltojill viaphotopin cc)

Bring Water to Share

Dog parks will often have water dishes for owners to fill up with water to ensure that their pet is staying hydrated while running around in the hot sun. It’s common courtesy to fill up a jug of water and bring it with you to the park. While your dog is off having fun, walk around to the water dishes in the park and make sure each of them is full of cold water for all of the dogs to enjoy.

Clean Up After Your Dog

 It may feel as though you don’t have to clean up after your dog when he’s at the park because it’s essentially public property, but it’s nice to follow the rules and do it anyway. Dog parks can get crowded, with both people and dogs, and no one wants to be stepping in a present left by your pup. Or worse, take their dog home, only to find out that he stepped in doo-doo at the park and now it’s all over the backseat of your car.

Monitor Your Dog

Yes, the dog park is your dog’s time to have fun and let loose with other furry friends, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be watching him or her to make sure he’s behaving correctly. Dogs are easily excited by new environments, new people, and new dogs, which may cause them to be a little more aggressive, or get a little too rough without realizing it.

Is the Dog Park the Right Fit for Your Dog?

Every dog deserves to get out of the house and run free every now and then, but if your dog is antisocial, the dog park may not be the best place for him. If your dog is snarling and growling at the gate before he enters the dog park, you may want to consider taking him home and returning to the park when it’s less crowded. The last thing you want is another dog owner calling their injury lawyer because your dog bit them.

If you follow these simple rules for dog park etiquette, you and your dog are guaranteed to have a great time at the dog park. Just remember to be considerate of the other owners and dogs using the park, keep a responsible eye on your dog, and make sure you consider your dog’s personality and whether or not the dog park would be a good fit for him or her.

Last but not least, look up the rules of your local dog park and make sure you’re following their rules as well. Happy playing!

Michelle Rebecca is an aspiring writer, blogger, and animal lover. She has a passion for the Internet, and loves how it connects people across the globe. She loves that blogging gives her the opportunity to voice her thoughts and share advice with an unlimited audience.