Category: Behavior

You can be allergic to one cat and not another. It is possible for one cat to trigger severe symptoms while another may cause a reaction that is barely noticeable. Most cat allergies are caused by pet dander, and some cats produce more than others. This means it is possible for someone with cat allergies to not suffer with obvious symptoms if they live with a cat that produces less dander.

Are Any Cats Hypoallergenic? 

In order to be 100% hypoallergenic, a cat would have to produce no dander at all. Since all cats produce some amount of dander, there is no such thing as a truly hypoallergenic cat. There are, however, breeds that produce dander in very small amounts, making them a great choice for allergy sufferers.

Some of the cats that may work well for those with allergies include:

• Sphynx
• Cornish Rex
• Oriental
• Devon Rex
• Russian Blue
• Siberian
• Bengal 

Again, these cats still produce some dander so, if you have allergies, it’s important to spend time around these cats before adopting or buying.

I’m Allergic, But I REALLY Want A Cat 

You’re not alone, and the good news is that it’s possible to live with cats in spite of allergies. Unless you have a life-threatening allergy, which is rare, your doctor can help you with a plan to deal with the symptoms while still enjoying the company of your pet.

This is good news not just for pet owners, but also for the cats. According to the ASPCA, about 374,000 cats are returned to shelters each year because the owner has allergies.

If you suspect an allergy to cats, visit your doctor to confirm. If the allergies are mild to moderate, treatment and following these tips to reduce allergens in your home may be able to help your four-legged family members remain in your home. 

While there may not be a law that specifies a certain amount of time that you can leave your dog alone, there are animal neglect and cruelty laws—and leaving your dog unattended for too long can put you in violation of those statutes. The particulars of these laws vary by state, but if you’re a reasonably responsible pet owner, it’s not likely that you’ll find yourself on the wrong side of an animal cruelty law.

How Long is Too Long? 

Laws aside, how long is too long to leave your dog? A general rule is that you should try not to leave them alone for more than four to six hours at a time. That doesn’t mean you’re abusing your pet if you have to work late, but it is a good idea to make some sort of arrangements if you know you’ll be gone for the day.

Dogs are social, and being isolated for the bulk of the day can make them lonely, anxious, bored, and depressed. Also, dogs need to be able to relieve themselves and it’s not good to force them to “hold it” for that long.

Since you may not have a job that allows you to spend all day with your pet, consider:

• Hiring a dog walker
• Dropping your pet at doggy daycare
• Installing a doggy door
• Spending your lunch break to let your dog out 

What about Leaving Them for the Weekend? 

This is never a good idea, and it’s really unfair to the dog. Will you be breaking the law? It depends on the circumstances, but leaving your dog alone for several days will certainly be walking too close to the line.

Dogs are usually most comfortable at home, so consider looking for a house/pet sitter that you trust. If not, pet boarding or someone who can host your dog at their house are other options.

Consider your dog’s physical and emotional needs when deciding how long is too long to leave your pet alone. 

If you find yourself wondering “why do my cats hate each other?”, fear is usually the bottom line. Reasons vary though, and sometimes medical issues can be a cause—especially if your cats have lived together for a while and gotten along. Thankfully, aggression issues between cats can often be resolved.

The key, of course, is discovering the reason or, at the very least, using trial and error to discover what works to calm the bad blood between your cats. If the cats have been in the same household for a while without incident, the first step is a visit to the vet to rule out medical issues. From there, you can start to search for the solution that will work for you.

Methods for Preventing Aggression Between Cats 

What may help your cats depends on the reason for the aggression. Note that these methods won’t work for every cat, but if you’re committed to keeping your cats together, you should try as many as you can.

Give Cats Personal Space 

Have two of everything: beds, scratching posts, food and water bowls, etc., so the cats won’t feel like they have to fight to keep what’s theirs. For litter boxes, the best formula to follow is number of cats +1= the total number of litter boxes you should have available in your house.

A Way Out  

Installing a cat door into a room where the passive cat can retreat may be all it takes to calm things down. You can even get a cat collar that controls the cat door – if you only put the collar on the passive cat, he/she will be able to access the room as needed.

Pheromones 

You’ve probably heard of products such as Feliway that helps cats feel calm and relieves stress through the use of pheromones. Many pet owners have had great success when using such products to calm aggression between cats.

What If Nothing Works?

 It’s important to be patient. If you just adopted a new cat, it can take weeks to months for the two cats to get along. Allowing your cats to get used to each other takes time.

The next step is to seek professional help. Animal behaviorists are many times able to help minimize or completely eliminate problems between pets. Consulting a professional will give you peace of mind that you are truly doing everything in your power to make the relationship between your cats work.

In some cases, nothing you try will help your cats get along. If the issues are minor, such as occasional hissing or swatting, you can probably keep both cats in the same household. If the aggression is more severe, it may be kinder to rehome one of the cats. While this is a very difficult decision, it’s one that some pet owners have to make in order to prevent injuries and excessive stress to the cats. Finding a new home can be difficult, but there are tools available to help you find a safe, loving family for your cat. Rehome is a website devoted to helping responsible pet owners find new homes for their pets, and the site features many resources to help you get started.

You can get your older cat to like your new kitten by starting with proper introductions. Older cats are often less receptive to newcomers, so getting your older cat used to the kitten slowly is better than springing this hyper little kitten on her all at once. If you’re able to adopt two kittens the same age, size and energy levels, that is often the best way to help the kittens get along with your adult cat. They will be able to play fun energetic kitten games and your older cat can join in when he’s in the mood, without constantly being pestered by a kitten who wants to play all the time.

The Introduction 

You’re probably super excited about having a new kitten in the home, but your older cat is likely to be a bit less thrilled. Older cats especially like their routines, and an energetic kitten could disrupt that in all kinds of ways. If you’re not able to adopt two kittens the same age and energy levels, it will be up to you to play with the kitten long and hard enough multiple times a day to get out the kitten’s boundless energy on toys, instead of the kitten constantly pouncing on your older cat.

That doesn’t mean there is no chance of them getting along. In fact, some older cats will be happy for the company—but for the best chance of success, introduce them slowly.

Step One

Keep the new kitten isolated and feed both the older cat and kitten close the door. Over a few days, move the bowls closer to the door, so they are eating close together with just the door between them.

Step Two

Prop the door enough that they can see and smell each other. Do this for a few minutes each day for several days. During this time, swap their blankets so they can get used to each other’s scents.

Step Three

Bring your older cat into the room with the kitten. Your cat may hiss and snarl, ignore the cat completely, or be just fine. A little hissing is nothing to worry about, but you’ll need to be there in case things get physical. Let them spend about 10 minutes together during the initial meeting.

Step Four

Increase the time the cats spend together by 5 or so minutes each day. How this next part goes will depend on how the cats seem to be getting along. You may have to take things more slowly or you might realize they are ready to be proper housemates. 

With proper introductions, lots of playtime with you to expend their kitten energy, and a healthy dose of patience, your older cat will likely accept your new kitten—even if they don’t spend every waking moment together.  

The amount of time it takes a Great Pyrenees to get used to a new home will generally be between one and three months. Of course, anyone who has been around dogs knows that they all have their own personality and quirks. This means that some dogs may adjust more quickly and others might take a little longer. Your new dog’s age can play into this, as well. Younger dogs and puppies tend to adjust faster.

Below, we’ll be looking at some of the things you can do to make the process easier for you and your dog.

Make Your New Dog Feel Safe

The most important thing is to make sure that she feels safe when she comes to a new home. This is a big change for her. She’s been accustomed to a different life and different people, and now everything has gone topsy-turvy for her. It’s natural for her to be a little scared when she arrives.

You want to make sure you aren’t bringing a lot of new people over to look at her and play with her until she’s settled a bit. You might want to give this a week or two. However, you’ll want to introduce her to everyone who lives in the house, including other pets, on the first day she arrives.

Provide her with a location in the house, such as a dog bed, that can be just hers. Keep her toys and any other items that are hers in this location. You might even want to get a blanket to put over her crate, so she can use it as a den. Providing her with a safe space like this will help her stay calm.

Create a Schedule

Dogs tend to do well on schedules, much like children. Therefore, you’ll want to set up a schedule for your dog when she arrives. Get your Great Pyrenees onto this schedule for walks and feeding, etc. as soon as possible. Having a routine can help her get used to the house and her new life faster.

Be Ready for Some Setbacks

There will be days where it seems like she’s adjusting quickly and getting accustomed to things with her new family. However, there will also be some days when there seem to be some setbacks. This might include excessive barking or whining, bathroom accidents, or refusal to eat. As long as you keep to the schedule and you’re providing love and care, she’ll get used to the changes.

Remember to Be Patient

You might be lucky and have a Great Pyrenees who adjusts to your home and family in just a few days. However, that’s the exception and not the rule. You need to be patient and work on it a little bit every day. Eventually, she’ll be perfectly at home and will love you and your family as much as she did her previous owner. Just give her the time she needs.

It can take a few weeks to a few months for cats to get used to each other, but this varies based on the cats’ personalities. The answer for your specific situation depends on many factors such as the age and temperament of the cats, whether proper introductions were made, and—as is the case when humans first meet—on whether or not the cats click. While you can’t predict how introductions will go, you can take steps to make the process successful.

Properly Introducing a New Cat Into Your Household 

When a new baby enters the picture, it’s common for toddler siblings to be very jealous and act out. Though many cats would rather not be alone and thrive when they share their space with other cats, some don’t like to share. Parents often read books in order to learn the best way to introduce a new baby into the home, and pet parents should also do some rehome_research when making a new cat part of the family. Here are some steps for making a proper introduction:

• Don’t just toss the cats together and expect them to be besties. Begin with isolating the new cat to one room with a litter box, food, water, and a bed. 
• Put treats or food on either side of the door where the new cat is isolated. This will allow the new cat and the resident cat to hear and smell each other. When doing this for the first time, don’t put the food so close to the door that the cats are too upset by each other to eat. Gradually move the food closer and closer to the door as time goes on until the cats can eat calmly directly on either side of the door. 
• Switch sleeping blankets between the new cat and the resident cat so that they have a chance to become accustomed to each other’s scent. 
• Put the new cat in a carrier and allow the resident cat to smell all around the new cat’s carrier and room. 
• Make the official introduction. Slowly open the new cat’s door and observe. Having a spray bottle and blanket on hand may be helpful in case you need to intervene in a cat fight. 

Don’t be alarmed if the cats hiss and swat at each other – a little of this is normal! Providing each cat with their own bed, litter box (one litter box per cat plus one additional litter box works best!), food bowls, and toys will also help. Since cats can sometimes be territorial, the less they have to share, the better.

There is no simple answer to the question of how long it will take cats to get used to each other, but by following some of the steps above, you can help to further the process along more quickly. 

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. 

If your dog is trained and relaxed when left alone, it may be okay to leave your dog alone overnight. It is important that if you are gone for an extended period of time that your dog has the ability to go to the bathroom as needed. Generally speaking, your pet shouldn’t be alone for more than 4-6 hours without a break. It your dog experiences anxiety when left alone or is not trained to spend time alone in the house, it is advisable to hire a pet sitter to stay with your dog.

Tips For Leaving A Dog Overnight With A Sitter 

Spending the night away from your pup for the first time can be a little anxiety-inducing. Try these tips to make both you and your dog feel more comfortable:  

• Meet with the Dog Sitter in Advance: This is especially important if your dog is nervous around strangers. Have the dog sitter come to your house while you are there to meet your dog. This will make your dog more comfortable when the sitter comes to stay and give you peace of mind that your dog will be in good hands.
• Tire Him Out: One of the best things you can do before leaving your dog is to exercise him. A nice run or brisk walk before you leave will tucker him out, reduce anxiety and make him more likely to snooze while you’re gone.
• Provide Fun Toys: Treat puzzles and chew toys will help pass the time and keep him stimulated.    

Leaving your dog overnight may be an option for very well-behaved and relaxed dogs. If this doesn’t sound like your pup, you should have someone come over to spend the night with your dog. This will not only give you peace of mind, but also bring comfort to your pup while you’re away. 

There are both commercial and DIY sprays that can help stop your dog from peeing on the carpet. Of course, not all will be effective with every dog, and some dogs will continue to urinate on the carpet no matter what you spray. In those cases, you may find that retraining your dog is a better option.

Commercial and DIY Sprays 

A quick internet search will yield all kinds of options for DIY sprays including everything from lemon juice and water to essential oils. Unfortunately, some of the suggestions include items that could be harmful or irritating to your pet, such as ammonia and certain essential oils. That’s why it’s a good idea to ask your vet before exposing your pet to any ingredients you’re not sure about.

Another option is commercial sprays. Some quality commercial sprays work in two ways:

1. They contain enzymes that completely eliminate the urine odor and
2. They contain ingredients, such as cinnamon and lemongrass, which discourage further urination in that spot. 

Those commercial sprays are often quite effective not just because of the ingredients the dogs find unpleasant, but also because they eliminate the urine scent. If that scent remains, dogs are much more likely to urinate there again. It can even attract your other household pets to urinate in that spot.

That’s why, no matter what kind of spray you choose, it’s important to thoroughly clean any accidents and use an enzymatic cleaner to eliminate the scent. It can be difficult to do this with carpet since the odor can become trapped in the fibers. If the rug has been saturated, you may have to replace it to fully get rid of the scent.

What about Retraining? 

If your formerly housebroken dog has started urinating in the house, retraining may be an option, but first you need to figure out if there is a medical reason for the behavior. Diabetes, kidney disease, and bladder stones are examples of medical conditions that can cause inappropriate urination.

Once a medical condition has been ruled out, try going back to the beginning with housetraining including feeding on a regular schedule and letting the dog out every 30 minutes. Remember that it can take up to six months to fully housetrain a dog.

Also worth noting: If the accidents only happen when you’re at work—especially if you work long days—it could be because your pet has trouble controlling his bladder for that long. Consider hiring a dog walker, installing a doggy door, or asking a neighbor to let the dog out at some point during the day.