Month: January 2024

It can take several weeks to several months for a cat to get used to a new kitten—and even longer for them to become “friends.” Some cats will learn to tolerate a newcomer, but may never be interested in playing or napping together. In other cases, the cat will take to the kitten right away. Each cat’s personality is different, so it’s hard to know what to expect when a new pet is introduced to the home.

Proper Introductions: The Best Chance for Success 

Putting two cats together and expecting them to get along can actually have the opposite effect. Instead, you’ll want to take the time to broker a proper introduction. Doing so gives you the best chance of the cats learning to get along.

To properly introduce cats, you’ll want to implement four steps:

• Isolation: Put the kitten in a room with their food, litter, and toys. That will be the kitten’s home for a few days. Place the resident cat’s food bowl just outside the door.
• Introduce through Sight and Scent: Swap the cats blankets, so they get used to each other’s scents. Prop the door open so the cats can see each other, and put one cat in a carrier and put the carrier in a room with other cat.
• First Meeting: Place your resident cat in the room with the kitten. Stay close by to break up a scuffle, if necessary. Limit the first few meetings to 10 minutes or so.
• Increase Length of Time Together: Slowly increase the amount of time the cats are spending together. If the older cat gets aggressive, give it a day or two before going back to the prior step and trying again. 

To further increase the chances of success:

• Don’t expect your current cat to share—it’s not a strong suit of felines. Instead, purchase more litter boxes (the standard is one per cat plus one additional box), another set of food bowls, bed, toys, etc…for the new kitten.
• Spend lots of time playing with the cats together and giving them treats and attention.
• Don’t rush things. It can take some cats months to warm up. If they are tolerating each other, consider that a success. 

Several foods, such as blueberries, sweet potatoes, turkey, oily fish, and whole brown rice may help in calming dogs down, but those foods alone will not fix the problem of an anxious dog. That being said, maintaining a healthy and well-balanced diet is important to your dog’s health and mental wellness, so you should discuss your dog’s diet with your vet if you’re not sure you are providing all the nutrients your pet needs.

Calming An Anxious Dog 

A change in diet won’t be the cure-all to your dog’s hyperactivity or anxiousness, but there are other things you can try to calm your dog such as:

• Increasing Exercise: Some dogs need plenty of exercise, and will be uncomfortable and anxious if they don’t get it. Provide the opportunity for at least two 30-minute walks per day on average. If your schedule won’t allow it, consider hiring the services of a dog walker.
• Calming Products: Some pet owners find success in the use of calming shirts, collars, and diffusers.
• More Playtime: Many dogs are social, so they need lots of interaction with their people. In addition to walks, toss a ball around for a bit or find other ways to play and interact with your pet.
• Background Noise: Playing classical music or keeping the television on can help to calm dogs. 

If your best efforts don’t bring the desired results, or if the anxiety is severe, contact your vet or an animal behaviorist who can work with you to help your dog be happy, healthy, and calm.  

You can calm an anxious cat by using calming products, providing more playtime, giving him a quiet space that he can have all to himself where he won’t be bothered by any people or pets like inside a nice closet or a spare room, and offering interactive toys to keep your cat’s brain busy. Some are surprised to learn that cats experience anxiety. Some cats may be naturally anxious, while others may develop anxiety following an injury or a change in routine or household dynamic. Since it can be hard to read cats, the only way to recognize their anxiety is typically through their behavior.

Why Your Cat May Be Anxious 

Even the slightest change can cause anxiety for your cat. Common reasons for a cat to feel anxious include a new family member (either human or pet), rearranging furniture, moving to a new house, or other things that are new. When possible, offering slow introductions can help reduce anxiety.

Signs Of An Anxious Cat 

Some cats spend most of their day snoozing under the bed, and that is not necessarily a sign of an anxious cat—although hiding can be a symptom. Others spend hours darting back and forth from one end of the house to other. Again, that doesn’t necessarily mean your cat is anxious, but it could be a sign. The following behaviors are signs your cat may have anxiety:

• Failing to use the litter box
• Aggression towards other household pets or people
• Excessive meowing
• Hiding
• Excessive cleaning (often resulting in bald spots)
• No social interaction
• Destructive behavior 

Note that these behaviors can signal something other than anxiety but, no matter the cause, they shouldn’t be ignored—especially if the behavior came on suddenly.

If you suspect anxiety, the first stop should be to your vet to rule out an underlying medical cause. Once that’s ruled out, you can move on to finding a way to help your pet overcome their anxiety. Methods that may bring success include:

Spending More Time with Your Cat

If your cat is a social cat who enjoys interacting with you, spend time each day brushing your cat, playing with him, and cuddling him. This quality time ensures your cat is getting enough exercise and mental stimulation—both of which may help with anxiety. 

Improve The Cat’s Environment

Does your pet have a kitty condo and other place to escape to either up high or under something, and plenty of escape routes from rooms so he doesn’t feel cornered or trapped? Does he have lots of toys, and his own litter box (rule of thumb is one box per cat plus one additional box)? If not, adding these items can help with anxiety. 

Calming Products

Many pet owners have had great success with calming collars and diffusers, which can be purchased at most pet supply stores.

Medication

In extreme cases and when nothing else works, your vet may suggest a medication to help alleviate your cat’s anxiety.    

You may need to involve your vet or an animal behaviorist, but the good news is that with a little patience and some trial and error, you’ll likely be able to find a solution that works for your pet. 

Studies have been done that concluded that dogs can detect cancer, but only anecdotal evidence exists that cats can smell cancer.

How Is It Possible For A Cat To Smell Cancer?

If it turns out that cats can actually detect cancer, it will likely have to do with their sense of smell. While dogs have a far superior sense of smell than cats, a cat’s sense of smell is nothing to sneeze at – it far surpasses that of a human.

One theory is that this keen sense of smell allows them to detect changes in the body. Some experts believe cats could be trained to detect cancer and use their powerful noses in other useful ways as well.  

My Cat Keeps Pawing At A Spot On My Body – Should I Worry? 

Probably not, but if your cat (or dog) seems particularly interested in one side of your chest on more than one occasion, it wouldn’t hurt to mention it to your doctor. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time a cat helped save their owner’s life by alerting them to a tumor. 

You may be allergic to your cat if you notice symptoms such as swelling and itching around your nose and eyes, congestion, or a rash on your face, neck, or chest. An allergist can diagnose a cat allergy with a skin test. While it is bad news for a cat owner to be allergic to their pet, the good news is that, in most cases, there are simple treatments that will allow you to keep your feline friend in your home.

It’s Not Just The Fur 

You could be allergic to your cat’s fur, but that’s not the only thing that can cause cat allergy symptoms. Your symptoms may also be triggered by:

•  Cat Dander
• Saliva
• Urine 

It doesn’t take a lot of exposure; breathing in or touching pet dander may be all it takes to set off your allergies.

I Think I’m Allergic: When to See a Doctor 

Self-diagnosis is never a good idea, and Dr. Google has led many people astray with either misinformation or improperly applied information. The symptoms of a cat allergy are very similar to those of a cold or other allergies. Rather than rushing to judgement and blaming Fluffy, make an appointment with an allergist. If you are allergic to your cat, the doctor can likely prescribe something to bring you some relief.

If the cat isn’t to blame, the allergist will be able to help you pinpoint what is making you miserable.

Common treatments include:

• Antihistamines
• Corticosteroid Nasal Sprays
• Cromolyn Sodium
• Allergy Shots 

DIY Treatment 

Many people are opposed to taking prescription medication. If your symptoms are fairly mild, it’s possible to treat your cat allergies by rinsing your nasal passages with saline water or taking over-the-counter decongestant sprays.

If you suspect an allergy to your cat, don’t panic. Visit your doctor to be sure that’s what you’re dealing with, and then work on treatments that allow you to keep your pet without suffering with allergy symptoms. For more help, check out Tips to reduce allergies to pets on our blog. 

Your cat may be suddenly chewing on everything due to anxiety, a medical condition, or even just because he realized it’s an activity he enjoys. While adult cats don’t usually chew as much as dogs, it is a normal behavior. Still, depending on what they chew, it can be annoying to you and dangerous to them. That’s why it’s important to redirect their chewing away from harmful objects.

My Cat is Chewing Stuff. Now What? 

If your adult cat was never a chewer and the behavior has manifested suddenly, it’s a good idea to pay a visit to the vet just as you would with any other change in your cat’s habits. Once a medical issue has been ruled out, you can focus on trying to prevent inappropriate chewing.

Redirect the Chewing

When you notice your cat chewing, offer him a toy instead. Many times, the toy will bring out the predator in your cat, and he’ll be happy chewing on their “prey” instead of your belongings.

More Play Time

Your cat could be chewing out of boredom. Try spending more time with your cat playing with and/or grooming him.

Provide Stimulating Toys

Puzzle toys and other interactive options can keep an active cat entertained and prevent boredom. 

Protect Your Pet 

Some items can cause harm to your pet. Until you find a way to curb the behavior, you’ll need to protect your pet from, for example, chewing on wires or items that could cause gastrointestinal upset or electrocution.

Doing so could be as simple as keeping items out of reach, or may be a bit more involved, such as wrapping cords in rubber covers. You can also try bitter sprays and other deterrents (like tin foil) to keep your cat away from items he shouldn’t be chewing.

Also note that if the chewing is obsessive, it could be due to anxiety. In that case, you may try calming products such as collars and diffusers. If that doesn’t help, a chat with an animal behaviorist would be the next step.  

Is your cat aggressive, urinating outside the box, and exhibiting other behaviors of which you’re not a fan? “How do you fix cat behavior problems?” is a question asked by many pet owners. While it may seem impossible to change the conduct of your feline family members, there are often simple options, such as adding an extra litter box, which will make a difference. If not, a professional can usually help you get your misbehaving cat back on track.

 Common Problems. Simple Solutions. 

Some of the most common complaints from cat owners include:

Urinating in Inappropriate Places 

If your cat has started urinating outside the box, try adding an extra litter box. As a general rule, you should have at least one box per cat plus one additional one. Even if you only have one cat, adding a box may help the problem. You should also be sure that you are scooping your cat’s litter box at least once per day and replacing litter monthly. If this behavior started suddenly, it is likely due to a medical condition such as a urinary tract infection or potentially a blockage. See the vet right away. Usually once the infection clears up, the behavior will stop. 

Scratching Furniture 

Cats are going to scratch, so it’s up to you to provide plenty of appropriate options. Put a scratching post in each area of the house where your cat spends time. If they don’t seem interested, sprinkle some catnip, or use catnip spray, to entice them to use the scratching posts rather than your favorite sofa. You can also put soft vinyl nail caps on your cat if they continue to scratch furniture.

Aggressive Behavior 

If the aggressive behavior began suddenly, there is a good chance the cause is a medical issue. When cats are in pain, it often manifests as aggression, so a trip to the vet should be the first order of business. If the vet doesn’t find anything wrong, she may be able to refer you to an animal behaviorist. Introducing a new pet can also bring about sudden aggression. Proper introductions can go a long way in helping the two cats get off on the right paw.

Partying All Night 

If it seems like your cat waits until your REM cycle is fully realized to start embarking on loud antics, you’ll need to find a solution that helps to redirect his playtime to more appropriate hours. Try feeding the biggest meal just before bedtime, as cats like to sleep after a good dinner. Also, make sure they have plenty of toys to keep them active throughout the day, and try to engage in play with them, so they will be ready for a nap at night.

If your cat is behaving badly, a solution can usually be found. If the home remedies don’t work, turn to your vet for guidance. In most cases, you’ll be able to curb the behavior you don’t like.