Cats Cuddle When they are Cold

 

Cats are finicky and overall they do not like other cats but when it’s cold an amazing thing occurs. Cats will cuddle with each other, they will even cuddle with cats they don’t get along with.

This photo is of three of my rescued cats.  Oliver is in the center and he is the special needs kitty,  Frankie is the oldest at age 15 and he is to the right of Oliver. Frankie is temperamental, wanting his own space and not into togetherness.  I suppose it's due to his old age. But as you can see that doesn't seem to matter because cuddling makes a cat feel cozy and warm.

Cats like to cuddle when they feel cold

I have observed this phenomenon with my indoor cats and with the stray and feral cats that take shelter in my shed. 

The indoor cats could be bickering with each other one minute and the next minute they are cuddling with each other on the dog bed that is located next to the heat vent. My guess is they are cold and know to come together for warmth.

Frankie and Hairy cuddling on the dog's bed

On another day these two don't get along, but today was cold so they cuddled 

Stray cats will be fighting one day over who is sleeping in the cat house in the shed. Then the next morning I will find the two cats that were hissing at each other are sleeping together. This is why I say that cats cuddle when they are cold. I guess their instinct tells them to do this.

Why is My Cat Marking my Sofa

Normally cats do not mark the sofa however when a cat feels anxious or is under stress they will mark the sofa and other areas of your home.

I used to rescue cats that were abandoned and bring them through the house to my safe room. Well, that was enough for my pet cats to feel threatened. They would immediately start marking everything. They certainly got my attention and I knew they were not happy, It was their way of telling me that the cat was not welcomed.

Any changes made to the home can cause your cat to become agitated and feel stress. Your cat may roughhouse with the other cats or the family dog then feel stress or anxious. New visitors to your home may upset your cat. If you have a quiet home and the noise level has changed such as more people making loud noises, yelling, fighting, or even loud music.  If the environment of your home changes in any way it will have some effect on your cat.

When a cat marks the sofa, the door, the bed, or anywhere else in your house they are marking their territory. As if to say this is mine, mine, and mine. You can prevent territory marking by using Feliway room diffusers.

A new pet may cause your cat to feel anxious.

Buy Feliway and plug the diffuser into your electrical outlet 10 days before you bring the new pet into your home. This will allow your cat to feel the effects of the diffuser and will calm your cat. Cats will then be more welcoming to the new pets or people. Feliway is a great product to calm an anxious cat. For best results buy, only Feliway cat products, do not mix them with other products and I recommend shopping at Chewy.com (best price for this product)

NOTE: If there are no changes in your home that would trigger your cat to mark then your cat is telling you that it is sick, Cats will mark or pee outside of their litter box when they are ill, It is how they communicate with you. Don't yell at your cat for doing this as it will frighten them. I would recommend taking your cat to the veterinarian for a wellness checkup

Also, it is imperative that newly adopted cats go into a home that has a Feliway diffuser in the outlet.  All newly adopted cats suffer from stress/anxiety and the Feliway will help them to adjust to their home.

Why Do Cats Sleep on Your Pillow

Ever wonder why your cats sleep on your pillow or around your head? Know that it is not because they want to be close to you and they are not lying on your pillow because it is so comfortable. The real reason for the attraction is because sleeping on your pillow is a way for a cat to keep warm.

Yes it is true and you can put this to the test, note when your cat sleeps on your pillow, I bet it is when your bedroom is cold. (leave me a comment below with your findings)

All of my socialized feral cats sleep on my pillow next to my head and a one will lie on my head making it hard on my hair and I put on a hat. The hat on my head was a deterrent so my cat will sleep on my husband pillow or in a self-warming pet bed on the floor.

Even kittens are heat seekers, this is Hairy and he loved to sleep under the blankets

Never underestimate a cat because if they are cold they will go to the place on your body that emits heat. Okay, it is safe to say that not all cats will sleep on your pillow. Some cats will sleep under the bed blankets next to your feet. Why, because feet put off heat.

Know that any part of your body that is exposed to the cold more than any other part has the potential to lose heat and your cold cats will lie closest to the body part. If you would prefer your cats to be off your bed and away from your pillow then buy them a self warming bed. I did and the cats love them so much that they rarely sleep on our pillow, but do occasionally sleep at the end of the bed.

Gracie sleeping on her Purr Pad.  An inexpensive self-warming bed

Ways to Stop Kittens from Biting

When my darling kitten turned two months old she began to play rough with me. Okay, it is totally normal for kittens to play at this age, but unfortunately, along with their play, they do not realize that they need to bite something other than their person. My husband thought she was hungry but learned quickly that it was not the case, because the darling kitten was biting his toes while he was making her a bowl of food and after she at a few bites she gleefully resumed her biting.  Through trial and error, I learned the best way to put a stop to the biting. 

The best way is to distract your cat when they begin to play rough or bite you is to introduce them to a cat activity.  .One way that works is to spray their scratching post with natural catnip then pick your cat up and take to the post. Set their paws on the post, once your cat picks up the scent of the catnip they will forget about biting you.

Another way to get your cat to stop biting you is to address the biting as soon as your cat begins behaving badly. Introduce them to cat toys. It is best to have the toys in a pet room or other room that is away from you.

I have often suspected that my kitten may be anxious or bored and this is why she bites me and plays rough with me. So I bought her a cat tree and sprayed the entire thing with catnip. She loves it and when she starts to bite and play rough I will pick her up and take her to her tree. 

* I recommend setting the cat tree next to a window so kitty can climb to the top. It is helpful to hang an outdoor bird feeder close to the window so your cat can watch the birds. Watching the birds eat at the feeder is more enjoyable than biting their human.

What to Do When Cat Opens Carrier / Crate

In the photo, you view a sweet 7-week old kitten that we rescued with his four siblings when they had been put in cardboard box and taken to our woods. All kittens are developing their personalities, however, this little orange and white cat is like Houdini, he can escape all crates, cages, carriers, and slides under the safe room door. Keeping this cat confined has been a challenge but we did find ways to keep in his crate, cage, and carrier.

We keep the kittens is a safe room away from the other pets in the house. This room we have all that they need including toys, beds, litter boxes, cat tree with a scratching post, pet crates and kitten food and water bowl. The room is 9 x 14 so the kittens have plenty of room to play. All of the kittens are adjusting to their new surroundings except the orange and white one, he does not play with other kittens because he is too busy trying to get out of the room.

At night we put all of the kittens in a large cat cage that has a bed, water, kibble food, hammock, and litter box. The latch to secure the cage works properly, but we discovered that no latch was going to keep the orange and white kitten inside the cage. He broke out of that cage in no time and all the kittens followed him. Now we must tie the cage shut with rope.

When I say nothing keeps this cat in one place I mean it. We put the orange and white tabby cat in the carrier to go to the veterinarian's office, then put the carrier in the car, covered it with a pet blanket (to keep kitten calmer while riding in car) and I have no idea how he got out, but he was out of the carrier and running all over the car.

Thank goodness the Amazon.com sells soft-sided carriers that zip open and close as he has not figured out how to get out of them. As for the cat cage at night, we keep the kittens in with the latch and we used twine to tie it closed with a double-knot.

This kitten will be a good match for a family with kids because he will have them laughing constantly. We will be putting the rescue kittens up for adoption in 2 to 3 weeks. 

Therapy for Cat with Behavior Issues

My husband rescued an older cat that had been abandoned in our woods a few months ago. This cat is a nice with people but is not crazy about any other animal. The veterinarian confirmed that this cat has arthritis and suspect that this is the reason for his bad behavior as well as the anxious behavior from being abandoned.

Know that it is difficult to find adopters for mature cats with health concerns and bad behavior. This cat will undergo therapy for its behavior, then be placed with a animal foster or we will keep the cat.

We tried the usual therapy for cats with behavior issues; feliway diffusers and rescue remedy treatment for drinking water. They helped some but this rescue still suffered from not being able to go outdoors. (Meowing loudly, scratching on the side door and becoming aggressive when not let out of the house)

The cat wants to go outdoors and we have been reluctant due to the coyote that reside close to our home. Fearful that this rescue cat would become an afternoon snack for the predators that cross our side yard to get to the pond in the woods.

I decided to teach rescue cat to walk on a leash. I bought him a cat harness and a leash and took him outdoors. Talk about a happy cat, he rolled around in the grass, did his nails on the bark of the oak tree. Marked his territory and yes walked me around the yard.

Know that taking a cat for a walk does take practice. I presently walk this cat 4 times a day. I also walk him on the leash to my greenhouse. I do not have to worry about the cat in the greenhouse as he has his routine and the door is shut so he can not go outdoors. He stays with me while I garden.

The outdoor activities has greatly improved the rescue cats behavior The cat seems to get along with our cats and dogs. His territorial behavior is under control thanks to outdoor exercise. By allowing this cat to go for walks and be outdoors was the right therapy.

Note: We are still using the feliway diffuser as it is a good way to lessen cat stress overall.

Here is a video of cat walking on a leash.

Choosing the Right Scratching Product for Cat

For the last couple of days I have been watching the rescue cats to determine their individual scratching needs. I found that they all scratch different. One of the kittens likes to lie on their back and scratch under the sofa, then the other one likes to sit in front of the sofa and scratch, the smallest kitten likes to scratch with paws stretch to an object above her head like the wood trim that goes around the doorways or my drapes. All of the kittens claws have been clipped so they have not damaged anything, but my observation was needed to determine their scratching habits.

Once I figured out my kittens scratching needs, I knew that a single sisal post was not going to entertain them and a cat that lies on back will not use the upright scratching post. I needed to shop at PETCO.com and choose the right scratching post or tree for the cats. 

I have also found quality cat trees and scratching posts at Petsmart.com and Bizrate.com and overstock.com  If shopping online pick out a tree with many stars and read the reviews.

TIPS

1. Getting the right scratching post is a way to provide the cats with entertainment for hours, tons of fun for the felines. They can scratch according to their needs and play in the carpet covered cubes.
2. Know that cat trees can be expensive but I think they are worth it because once you set up the tree the cat goes to the tree without hesitation. It is their special place where they can climb, scratch and sleep. 
3. If you buy a less expensive cat tree that is not sturdy, then I would recommend that you attach it to your wall and to the floor so that it is permanent. Make the cat tree a permanent structure that does not move around and your cat will be safe and happy. 
4. Buy a quality tree that will not fall over and may hurt your cat, especially if they are older and cannot move fast. 

Cat Marking on Furinture - Behavior of Cats

Cats will mark their territory by spraying urine onto the sofa, a wall, your favorite chair or even the pillow on your bed.  Cats usually do this when they feel anxious, stress, or their litter box needs cleaning.  

Bad behavior is usually the result of something changing in the cat home and the kitty needs to get their humans attention.  So they will display bad behavior; snarl, hiss, bite, scratch, and mark your favorite chair. 

Why Cats Mark - Spray


There is a reason why cats display bad behavior and the pet owner must determine why.  Is it lifestyle, a new kitten, a new baby, a new arrangement of furniture, or is you kitty telling you that they are sick?

Cats do not like change.  

Some cats are okay with minor changes however this is not the case when it comes to their sleeping routine.  If I lay a finger on the kitty bed I will hear a hiss from across the room. If I launder the kitty bed, then I have a a kitty with an attitude.   

My 14 year old Maine Coon cat will go from a sweet kitty to a cat who is ready to rumble to defend her turf. She will dare the cat and dog to cross her imaginary line and if they do, then they will cross a kitty with bad behavior. 

When a cat displays bad behavior it is usually due to territory or a change in their routine.  The cat will react by becoming anxious or stressed and they will hide in the closet, refuse to use the litter box, mark their territory, hiss, snarl, show off their claws, and be aggressive with the other humans, cats or the dogs.  

Remedy the Cat Marking on Furniture

Aggressive Cat attacks Pit Bull

Prevent your cat from being in an uncomfortable situation by spraying their territory; bedroom, cat tree, carpet, scratching post, cat toys, sofa, chair, and areas that they mark with Feliway Behavior Modifier.  

Feliway is for cat behavior; stress and anxiety.  The formula mimics the cat’s facial pheromone.  Feliway behavior modifier will calm the cat and control aggressive cats that fight as well as prevent the cats from marking their territory and furniture.  When I spray my home with this product I am able to wash the cat beds or move the furniture to vacuum without any kitty drama.  

Why do Cats Leave Home

Cats leave their home because something in their home life has changed and they are no longer comfortable.  You can change some things in a cat’s home but you cannot change many things without causing your cat stress and anxiety. 

In February of 2011 a Bombay cat left his home and came to hang out in my yard with the feral cats for 21 days.  He spent most of his time in the winter shelter; an old shed with cat beds and a window heater. The cat had an identification tag on his collar that informed me that his name was Shadow. He was someones cat or maybe he was abandoned there was no way of knowing as there was no contact information.

Shadow outside the shelter with neighborhood cat

I called my neighbors to ask about the Bombay cat with the blue collar and I learned that he lived in the neighborhood in a house that was three blocks away. I also learned that he visited many neighbors for cat food.  My neighbors told me not to worry; Shadow would go home eventually.

Shadow stayed at my cat shelter for five days and on the sixth day he went home  I did not see Shadow for two months and then in April I viewed him walking down the street.  When he arrived at my street corner he stopped, slowly turned and then without hesitation he ran all the way down the hill. When he came to my sidewalk he ran up the sidewalk, past the side porch and when he reached the patio where I stood with my dog, Shadow stopped and approached my dog’s water bowl.  He sat to drink and when he quenched his thirst he came to me and rubbed his body on my legs and then he rubbed on my dog. 

I did not know it at the time but Shadow was living in my yard, sleeping in my shelter and eating from the feral cats food bowl. I thought he was going home at night or during the day, but he wasn't   Shadow hung out in my yard for 42 days and then on the 43^rd day the cat owner came to get him.  

The pet owner told me that Shadow was an indoor/outdoor cat.  He was permitted to eat at all of the outdoor food bowls, stay outside for as long as he wanted. The pet owner told me where they lived and suggested that I bring the cat home if he overstayed his welcome.

Here is a poster I created from a photograph of the black cat that came to live in my garden for six months.  

 

Bombay Black Cat Print Print by Susang6
 

Shadow goes home for a Family Visit:

A child came to get Shadow for a family visit.  Shadow was gone for a few hours and then he left his home again. Before arriving at my home, Shadow the Bombay cat stopped at my friend’s house to eat from her outdoor cat food bowl and then he continuing his journey to my house.   Shadow walked three blocks and crossed two streets to arrive at my home. 

Why do cats leave home?

1. Some cats will leave home because there is new pet, person, or the household has changed from peaceful to turmoil.  If the cat is no longer comfortable then they will leave their home for long periods of time. 
2. In Shadow's case it is due to improper socialization of the new cats that were brought into the home.
3. Other cats wander away from their home and get lost.  If they are found and have no identification then the finder will not be able to contact owner.  Many cats do not intentionally leave their home, they forget how to go home.To visit with other cats.
4. To eat from another homes outdoor cats bowl.
5. Unaltered cats will leave home to mate.
6. To find peace and harmony.
7. Some cats will leave their home they are suffering from stress and anxiety.
8. Many cats leave home because they are being neglected or mistreated.
9. Outdoor cats leave their home unintentionally because they get lost in the neighborhood. 

I learned from the pet owner that Shadows was uncomfortable with the new queen cat that the family  had adopted.  The new cat had kittens and the queen cat was aggressive with Shadow.  He was not welcome in the home or in the yard.  It took only a few cat fights for Shadow to leave his home.  I also learned that the pet owner was remodeling their home.  Cats do not like change and will leave the home if they have access to outdoors.

 

Shadow chose my yard to be his other home. He lived at my cat shelter and in my lily garden for the entire summer from April to October 23, 2011; he was with me for six months.   In that time he visited his family 4 times.

On October 23, 2011 Shadow went back to his home, his pet owner came to get him because the weather was turning cold.  I never saw Shadow again. 

You can bring the cat home and think that the cat is yours but the truth is the cat chooses the person that they want to be with.

 
_____________________________

Norwegian Forest Cat Waits for Master's Return

Many cats are abandoned by their masters; left behind when they move or put out the house and forgotten. Some cats are rescued and adopted into other homes and other cats wait for their masters to return.

Bob is a cat that was left at the side of the road several years ago, he is waiting for his master to return .

In March of 2008 a car pulled up in front of my home and out the passenger side came a Norwegian Forest cat, the cat tried to get back into the car but the door was closed and the driver of the car backed up the hill and drove away.  The cat sat on the sidewalk most of the day, looking up the hill, watching and waiting for his master to return.

Children approached the abandoned cat and he greeting them lovingly.  He wrapped his tail around their legs and allowed them to pet him, the children walked away and the cat sat back down and waited patiently for his master to return.

I slowly approached the cat to see if I could take him inside.  The cat was friendly and did allow me to sit next to him and pet him.  I picked him up and he was okay with that too, but as soon as I walked toward my home he became agitated, he leaped from my arms.

The Norwegian Forest cat ran into the forest and was not seen for the rest of the day.  I called my neighbors and the caregivers that I work with to ask them to watch for the abandoned cat.  We all put out a bowl a food and water and we opened up the kitty door in our garages to allow this cat shelter.

The following morning the cat returned to the sidewalk and he waited and watched for his master to return.  Many people think that cats have no feelings and that they will adjust.  Cats love their masters and they never forget them.

This Norwegian Forest cat cat got lucky, as he was abandoned on my block.  My neighbors and I watch out and care for the feral and stray cats.  We trap them and take them in for medical care: tests, shots, vaccination for feline leukemia, pest control, wormed and spay or neuter.  Then we release them to a controlled colony that located on private property.  These cats have thicket shelters, insualted wood shelters, KH outdoor insulated cat houses and daily feedings with fresh bowl of water.

We named the abandoned cat Bob.  He is easy going and does not fight but he does love the queen cats.  He will meticulously groom them and I swear if he was human he would be a hair stylist.  He is also a bit of a lover boy, as he is always kissing the queen cats. Bob joined the colony and visits me three times a day.

Bob's daily routine:

1. Arrive at 5:30 am to the sidewalk where he was pushed out of the car and waits for his masters car to return.
2. Go to my neighbors house at 9 am for a bite to eat.
3. Visit with his cat friends at the colony.
4. Head over to my feeding station at 1:00pm
5. From 1:00 to 5:00 he is unaccounted for
6. 5:00 pm shows up at my other neighbors deck
7. 6:00 pm arrives at my feeding station
8. 9:00 pm after neighbors go to bed Bob stretches out on their heated porch

Bob got lucky he did not need to forage, or seek shelter.  He did not have to worry about feline leukemia, worms, or parasites.  Because he gets his routine shots and is treated monthly with Merial Frontline Plus Flea and Tick Control for Cats. I am the one who usually brings Bob in for his annual wellness exam and vaccines and my neighbors who love Bob, chip in to pay for veternarin bill. 
.

The abandoned cat that we call Bob gets plenty of human attention as everyone who meets Bob immediately loves him. Bob is making due, filling his time but he is still waiting for his master to return.

Update 1/28/2012

Bob is approximately ten years of age and he has chosen to spend his time with my neighbor that helps me care for the feral cats.

Bob can be viewed sitting on my friends porch, or following her around her yard.  He will also spend time with me and I can count on him being in my yard or sitting on my front porch six hours out of the day.

This winter he has camped out in my shed/shelter and has allowed me to bring his food and water indoors to him.  He will stay in the bed rather then hide from me in a dark corner.  He also enjoys a thicket den I created for him out a wheelbarrow, wood logs and four feet of straw.

Here is a card I made at my zazzle shop that shows the winter den that I made for Bob.

 

Feral Cat in Winter Note Card Greeting Cards by Susang6
 

Bob's life is simple, as he has a routine, we all feed the feral and stray cats the same food so there is no stomach upset and he has a warm bed to comfort him throughout the winter months.

 He has cat friends that come to my yard to visit with him and they all lay in the ornamental grass garden by the back pond and groom each other.

But you should know that Bob waited for his master to return for 3 years, he sat on the sidewalk every day and stared up the hill.  He watched the cars pass him by, no car ever stopped.

Bob's master never returned.