Teaching Rescued Cats to Use Scratching Post

 You would think that scratching a cat tree or post would be natural for a cat but when it comes to a rescued stray cat that has been out on the streets the scratching post is unfamiliar to them and you must teach rescued cats that the post is where they scratch not the side of the sofa or on the wall.

 

Stray cats are accustomed to scratching on tree trunks, not a sisal cat scratching post. 

Before you teach the cat how to use a scratching post you must shop for a cat tree or freestanding scratching post. Choose the right post for the cat's size (many scratching posts are created for small cats then there are posts for large cats). 

 

It’s a good idea to buy a few to set up in areas in your home where the cat frequents.  My rescued stray cat is a window dweller so I set up a cat tree with a scratching post in my laundry room and another one in the living room.

 

Many scratching posts come with a cat toy that dangles from the top.  This toy is a good way to divert your cat’s attention. However, a cat that has been rescued and has lived outdoors is not impressed with the dangling toy unless it is scented with catnip.  

Spray catnip on the toy and the scratching post. Give it a good catnip soaking.  Then watch your cat and as soon as they go to scratch your furniture pick them up and take them to the scratching post.  Gently place their paws on the side of the post.  At that time, they will smell the catnip and will naturally scratch and rub it all over the post or cat tree.

Praise the cat for being so good “What a good kitty, using the scratching post” Positive reinforcement goes a long way. 

Stock up on catnip spray because you will have to spray the scratching posts daily.  You will also have to continue to remove your cat from inappropriate scratching places until the cats learns that the post is where they need to scratch.

How to Keep Cats off Counters

 Whenever I am in the kitchen my kitties always want to be close to me so they will hop up onto the counters and lie down.  Know that I am not a fan of cats lying on my kitchen counters and know not to scold them and tell them that they are being bad because that would only frighten them and in their mind they just want to be close to me.  

Know that training the cats to stay off the counters is not easy but when you train with positive reinforcement your cat will learn to stay off the counters eventually.

 

The first thing you should do is make your kitchen counters unfriendly and uncomfortable.  Place double-sided sticky tape along the edge of the counters and where your cat likes to lie.  Cats really do not like the tape on their paws.

You can try to repel the cats from your counter by using scents that cats do not like.  Cats are very sensitive to citrus lemon lime and peppermint.  So spray your counters with the juice of a fresh lemon and lime, then spray peppermint on top of that.  These scents should repel cats from your kitchen counters. 

Another way to keep cats off your counters is to distract your cat by buying them a cat tree and spraying that tree with catnip. The tree will then be more desirable than the kitchen counter.  Set the tree up in an area where the cat can still see you in the kitchen.  This will satisfy their need to be close to you

 

Set up a cat room that is away from the kitchen.  In the room have a cat tree, toys, food water, a litter box, cozy beds, and a window.  When it's time for you to cook then it's time for your kitty to have a time out in the cat room.  When you are finished with kitchen duties you can let your cat out of the room.

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.

Introducing New Cat to the Family Dog

Introducing a cat to the family dog is easy provided you take the steps to allow the new cat and dog to get used to each other's scent.  

Dogs are generally more accepting of a new cat.  The dog may bark and chase outdoor cats  that walk through their yard or cross their path however if you pick up that cat and bring the cat indoors then the dog's attitude is usually “if the cat is okay with my master then it is okay with me.”  

It is an adjustment for the cat especially if the cat is not accustomed to being around a dog.   Cats usually need to bond with the dog before they will be able to reside under one roof.

My dog with a new kitten

I have introduced 12 stray cats to my dog.  During the introduction, I experienced behavior issues from both cats and dogs. The dog is fine with the cats but when the cat hisses the dog will bark at the cat.  

When it comes to cats living with dogs it is best for the human to bond with the cat before they introduce the family dog.  The reason I say this is because the cat will bond with the dog and will ignore the human.

All new cats coming into the home are put into a separate room with a closed door, this room will allow the cat to get acclimated to the surroundings, and get used to the new scents. I will spend time with the cat in the room.  I will bring the cat food and water, and talk/ pet the cat.  The cat-safe space is a must as it also allows the dog to get used to the cat's scent.   

Socialize New Cat before Introducing it to Family Dog

Friends Forever Card by Susang6

Step 1

Put the cat in a pet-safe room and work with the cat on a daily basis.  Socialize the cat with its human before introducing it to other pets in the home.

Step 2

When the bonding with the human process has been completed, put the cat in a carrier and set the carrier in the middle of the safe room floor.  Invite your dog into the room and allow your dog to sniff the carrier. 

Step 3

Command your dog to lie down close to the carrier and to stay.  Doing this it allows the cat to view the dog in a non-threatening way.  Allow the cat and dog to visit with each other for an hour and then remove the dog from the safe room.

Step 4

Repeat steps 2 and 3 for four days and on the 5^th day put the cat in the carrier and set the carrier in the middle of the floor.  Command your dog to lie down.  Open the carrier door. Talk softly to your dog, and encourage your dog to accept the cat.  The cat may bolt out the door and run and hide or it may be very brave and investigate the dog. 

The cat will be defensive and will be cautious around the dog.  A dog must be well trained to not react to the cat’s behavior.  My dog Benny is afraid of a hissing cat and will sit down and whimper. 

Step 5

Supervise the cat and dog to make sure that the situation is under control.  Stop the cat should it attempt to attack the dog.  Stop the dog if it becomes aggressive with the cat. The face-to-face visit should continue as long as the cat and dog are being cordial with each other.  

When the cat walks past the dog and rubs his body or tail on the dog, it is a sign that the cat has bonded with the dog.  My dog reacts to the cat bonding as a sign that it is time to nuzzle the cat with his nose and to be affectionate; my dog will lie down close to the cat and rest with the cat or take a nap.

 

Step 6

When cats and dogs have bonded, you can now allow the two of them to live under the same roof.  When the socialization reaches this point I usually open the safe room door at night to allow the cat to investigate the home.  The cat will then be able to explore when everyone is asleep.  The cat will then hide under the sofa or will return to the safe room when the exploration of the house is completed.  

Tips:

When the cat explores the house the dog will follow the cat.  My dog Benny will stay up all night with a new cat.  In the morning the cat will either return to its safe room or they will hide in a new location.  Socialized feral and many stray cats prefer to sleep in a dark area during the day; closet, under the bed, or sofa. 

Bach Pet Rescue remedy is a natural way to relieve pet stress and calm an anxious cat. 

Helpful to spray the cat carrier with Feliway mood modifier before you put the cat in.  This treatment will calm an anxious cat.

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.

 
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