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Copyright 2009 Frania Shelley-Grielen
Earlier this week I asked for questions, comments and suggestions for future topics. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. I loved hearing what you had to say and knowing more of what people want to know more about. Here are some of the cat questions I received and my answers (I also included a question and answer from a previous cat column).
Barbara says: My cat does not pay any attention when I call his name. I know he can hear and he responds when I get his food bowl. How can I get him to recognize his name?
If you want your cat to respond when you call his name try using his name more often especially right before you get his food bowl. Call his name first, than ask him if he wants to eat (obviously the point is not to wait for the cat to respond but to simply speak to him using his name) then feed him. The idea is to address him with his name more often especially in a situation he likes, such as prior to eating or before a caress. Short sentences beginning with his name linked to a positive experience are a good way to get your cat to acknowledge your use of his name. It is also helpful to greet him with his name when you enter a room where he is. Do this often and give it a bit of time-- both you and your cat will enjoy the process and the result.
Rebecca says: I share my life with a cat, is it possible to get a bird also? I do not live in a big house, rather a small apartment. Can a bird and a cat live under the same roof together? My husband says no and I think perhaps yes.
Cats are natural predators where birds are concerned. In a free living situation a cat would attempt (and probably succeed) in hunting available birds among other quarry. All things considered it is probably not a good idea to try and get these species to live together. Of course, people do keep cats and birds together and in some rare situations it probably works. But in those situations there are a lot of conditions. For instance, certain macaws can weigh up to 4 pounds and if well adjusted and living in a stable well-supervised situation, can probably intimidate a young kitten into keeping a respectable distance. But look at the conditions, a cat young enough to learn boundaries from a bird physically large enough to defend itself in a stable environment. Pet birds are a tremendous responsibility in and of themselves; they require a great deal of care and attention add a cat in the mix and your bird now needs a bodyguard, referee and bird babysitter. Now another cat would be ideal…
Nancy says: I'm considering combining my family of dogs (2 and 1 yrs) and cat (about 7? Yrs) with my boyfriend's 2 cats (about 14 and 5 yrs). Do you have any suggestions for making the introductions?
The good news is that your dogs are still puppies and very trainable and they already share you with a cat. Your boyfriend's cats are older and it sounds like they don't live with a dog. Older cats like older people are set in their ways so transitions have to be extra smooth.
Cats seem to be more attached to place than dogs. So make sure to move as much of whatever furniture, bedding, favorite blankets, and toys along with the cats. The older cats should be installed in a separate room (bedroom, den or office) with their old belongings and a litter box. Do not attempt to introduce the animals at first. Let them get used to their new surroundings. You will notice that in a few days the cats will attempt to make contact with each other by sniffing at the door and reaching a paw under the door. Let this continue for at least a week. Leave the door ajar and let the cats come and go.
Initial encounters may be scarier for you than for them. Animals use a lot of posturing to determine hierarchy. However, keep a close eye on your puppies. Be preemptive and make sure you teach and enforce "off" and/or "leave it" at the very first initial sighting of the older cats. One of my cats was formerly feral and still slinks past my dog (a behavior that no doubt served him in the outside world). This slinking seems to entice my dog to chase the cat. I would love to give the cat another behavior to substitute but the easier fix has been to simply tell my dog to leave the cat be when it approaches.
I would also recommend keeping two litter boxes in your home. Cats will frequently express displeasure with litter box issues. Two boxes, both kept as clean as possible will help the situation.
Good Luck!!!
www.examiner.com/x-4246-NY-Pets-Examiner~y2009m3d30-No-parrots-please
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