Well, it’s time fur another Service Cat Monday posty. Are ya’ll gettin’ tired of these? We ask cuz we’re not gettin’ many questions, and comments seem to be down.? You know, we blog to keep a journal of our lives, but we also blog to educate and entertain. We recently posted a couple “play date” postys that a lot of ya’ seemed to enjoy, so ifin you’d like to see more of those, or even join us fur a virtual play date, purrlease let us know. Me does wanna let everypawdy know, we are in purrime storm season here in Oklahoma. Those of ya’ that have been with us fur a while knows what that means, but we do have a lot of new furiends that have joined us recently that don’t. Furst, fank you fur joinin’ our furmily. You’re only a visitor once, after that, you’re furmily. Anyways, storm season means lots of thunder, lightnin’, hail, rain, wind, tornadoes, fires and/or floods. And that means mommy won’t let us on the catputer as much, so we may get behind in our visitin’. Just ‘member, even ifin we don’t make it by to visit ya’, we’re thinkin’ ‘bout ya’ and purrayin’ fur ya’. And we’ll be by as soon as weather purrmits.
Now let me get the business pawrt of this posty out of the way, so we can get on with it. Our Service Cat posts aren’t meant to be a step by step trainin’ manual, as trainin’ is all ‘bout Repetition, and Rewards. In other words, it can get kinda borin’ to read ‘bout. All the tips, tricks and techniques described are things mommy has developed or discovered in her many years of training animals, especially cats. As with all our educational posts, the followin’ will be written in human English fur translator and reader ease. Ifin you’ve missed any of the posts in this series, you can ketch up by clickin’ the links at the bottom of this or any Service Cat post.
Today we thought we’d address a couple of things that keep coming up. The first is training cats in general. For many years people really never gave a thought to training a cat to do anything. Cats got and still get a really bad rap. We’re often thought to be aloof, self willed, solitary animals. But that just isn’t true. Most of us love our humans, and like dogs, just want to be a part of the family and please you. Contrary to popular belief, we don’t act out or misbehave to get back at you or out of spite. We can live long, healthy, happy lives and never need to go out side and wander around. Some of us might even enjoy being trained to roll over, play fetch, or shake your hand, but really, we’re so much more talented than that. Looking back over history, there’s one thing that stands out to mommy, as it regards training a kitty. Most of you have seen those toilet training contraptions for kitties, right? Guess what? Mommy even bought one, once. Well, the first time she had to really go and forgot to remove the kitty catcher…yeah, the kitty toilet training contraption went into the trash and the litter box reappeared.
That being said, many kitties around the world have been trained to use the human toilet. We even know a few of them. And until recently, mommy thought that was a great idea, just something she wasn’t interested in training. It certainly deals with the issue of a stinky litter box. And it surely shows that kitties can be trained. However, after watching sis Lexi get weaker that last year of her life, having trouble jumping and start leaning on the side of the litter box to balance herself when she needed to relieve herself; mommy has changed her mind. Altho’ we kitties are very smart, and will no doubt learn to compensate, we weren’t really intended to balance on the side of a toilet to pee. As we have pointed out many times, training should keep in mind and be based on the animal’s natural abilities and instincts. Our massaging mommy, is based on a kitties innate drive to knead. Our calling for help is based on our curiosity drive as is our driving the wheelchair. Mommy can’t explain why we want to help her in the shower, but chalks that one up to our love for her. The bottom line is, kitties can, and want to be trained. Just remember to keep in mind, our size, natural instincts, and think long term. After all, if a kitty’s part of your life, you want him/her to live a long, healthy happy life. Aging and sickness are not always kind to the body.
The next thing we’d like to talk about today is photos, videos and social media. If we’ve been asked once, we’ve been asked a million times, for a video of us driving the wheelchair. Of course before we got our computer, this issue never came up. Now, we get at least one email/comment every week about it. First you need to understand that all this technology is new to mommy, and let’s face it, she’s definitely not a pro. MOL Secondly, we rarely drive the wheelchair without mommy in it. Mommy uses the wheelchair in the morning’s when she can’t walk and her muscles are kind of “locked” up. In the last couple of years, she’s also began to use it to take out the trash and check the mail. But most of the day, it sits parked and usually charging.
So let’s look at when we drive. When mommy wakes up and can’t move, we give her massages to get the blood flowing and start the warming process for her muscles. Her arms wake up first. So once in the chair, mommy puts one hand on our (whoever is driving) back and one under our tummy to stabilize us as we drive. We don’t take a camera to bed, but as you can see, there’s no free hands to work a camera. And think about it, what are you wearing and how do you look when you crawl out of bed in the mornings? Let’s just say that mommy’s totally inappropriate for viewing. We may wake up looking like divas, but mommy…Not. MOL
Now let’s get to the “social media” part of this. How many times have you seen a video or part of a video compiled into one of those “funniest”, “craziest”, or something “est” videos in your social media feeds? Unfortunately, there are a lot of people out there that continue to steal photos and videos to use as their own and in ways not intended by the original poster/owner. What we do is NOT a trick. And altho’ we sometimes make funnies, it’s not intended to be part of anybody’s funniest video compilation. So altho’ mommy is trying to figure out a way to get us on video, she isn’t thrilled at the aspects of posting such a video. So we can’t say when or if you’ll be seeing a video of us driving mommy in the wheelchair.
Me’s gonna wrap it up fur now. As me said earlier, we decided to cover these things as we do get questions and emails about them from time to time; and mommy says ifin one purrson’s askin’, there’s 10 more wonderin’ the same thing. ‘Member, ifin you’ve missed any of the posts in this series just click the links below to check them out. We welcome any questions, comments or suggestions you might have on any topic including training. We’ll be ‘round to visit as weather purrmits. We hope you’re all enjoyin’ sunshine and daisy’s.
Till the next time………………………………….Be Blest!!!
Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses
Deztinee and RaenaBelle
Service Cats U.S. 
We know someone whose cat uses the toilet and her litter box, she was not trained to she started it on her own. What a surprise it was to her family. We enjoy your training posts when we get to come and read them. Your reasons for not taking videos is totally understandable. You should see our Mumsy when she gets up of a morning…her hair looks like Bozo the clown’s hair, for real. Love, hugs and nose kisses
LikeLiked by 1 person
MOL Fank you fur your unnerstandin’. Altho’ we bet your mom doesn’t look like Bozo. We think our humans are much more vain than us, and don’t look half as bad as they think. MOL But alas…Big hugs fur all.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
LikeLike
You know, a long time ago Mommy had a cat then used the toilet. He just jumped up there one day and went to the bathroom! He used the litter box, too, but he did like the toilet. We haven’t gotten around much to visit but we’re getting back into it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I still love your service cats posts (that’s what first brought me to you) but I’ve been really stressed with work lately so I’m slow to keep up. I have considered asking about training a puppy when you’re on crutches/in a wheelchair, I’m struggling to balance everything so I end up taking her out without anything and hurting myself.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fank you. We’re sorry, but you’re gonna have to be a bit more specific with your question. What kind of trainin’ are you wantin’ to do with da puppy and what size and age is it? You fur sure don’t wanna get hurt when you should be enjoyin’ time with da pup. Big hugs
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
LikeLike
Thank you. Our biggest struggle is teaching her to heel when I can’t have my hands free to reward her position and with the wheelchair I’m still experimenting with how to keep her from running into the wheels. She’s a 15 week old collie so at least I don’t have to bend down too much. On a side note Eva is doing well with the new addition but didn’t appreciate her growing 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aaaaaaaaaaaw We’ll try to cover this more in depth in a posty. But in da meantime, heel is an action da puppy should learn while standing still. Therefur you you could give her a reward after the action is completed. She must hold the heel fur at least a 30 second count befur receivin’ rewards and befur movin’ furward. You can increase da time of da heel as she learns by 5 second increments. As fur da wheels, your tether may be too short. She should be allowed to walk in front of you by the length of her body. Similar to followin’ a car by a cars length. Good luck.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
LikeLiked by 1 person
I so agree with you… so many people think it is not possible to train a cat… but with your posts I can see that it is sure possible… with love&patience :o) …. btw: have you seen the cat theatre of moscow? it is breathtaking to see the performances, but I’m not sure if the cats really like this kind of circus, think probably not..:o(((
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fanks Phenny. We’ve not seen dat, we’ll have to check it out. Big hugs
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
LikeLike
We try to come by whenevfur you make a post. We really enjoy them.
We get bad storms here in Michigan, too…but not as many. Petcretary was out in the back of our yard today…and she discovered a tree that had come down in one of our recent wind storms and it just missed our fence. Phew! So we will have to get the neighbors to help get it away from the pathway its blocking. Good thing it was way out in the back, you wouldn’t want that on your den.
We don’t even know how to get our video clips off the confuser let alone post them in our blog, MOL! Sometimes petcretary sees pictures of us or ones she made for others, like birthday cards, etc…on google images. Sheesh. Well, she has our ‘signature’ in the corner of all of them.
Hope you have a storm free week!
Purrs & Hugs
LikeLiked by 1 person
I cannot think of any words to express my heartfelt thanks for the condolence and sympathy you have extended. I am thankful to you and appreciate your love at this time of the loss of Nellie.
Thanks and Love
Barb
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi guys! We hope the storms don’t effect you too terribly. I lived in Texas for a few years and remember the storms; although, I’m sure they’re even worse in OK. It’s understandable that you may choose to not share a video. I read the above comment. I would think people would just love a therapy kitty at a psychologist’s office or anywhere really. That would be so comforting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fank you gawjus. Dat’s cool dat ya’ lived in Texas. Mommy’s originally from Texas, and says da storms are worse in Oklahoma, but they can get bad anywhere these days. And fanks fur your unnerstandin’ ’bout da video. We totally agree a therapy kitty would be pawsum any where. Big hugs
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
LikeLike
Sorry your comments are down. I like everything you write about. XO
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fank you awnty Ellen. We think it may have more to do with our lack of visitin’ due to mommy’s health and da storms, but we just wanted to make sure peeps are still enjoyin’ da Service Cat posts. Big hugs
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
LikeLike
Lots of good points today! It would be hard for an older cat to use that toilet thingy. And I can understand not wanting to share a video, even if you were able to capture one. I’ve definitely seen photos and videos taken out of context and spread around on social media.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fank you awnty Rachel, fur bein’ unnerstandin’. Mommy’s been wrestlin’ with herself ’bout this fur a while now. She’s so purroud of us, but she doesn’t want it to be made into somethin’ it isn’t. Big hugs
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
LikeLike
There is some talk here about making Scooby a service cat as he is so good with people. He would be in a psychologist’s office. I have mixed feelings about the idea. It will be some time before this happens–if it ever does.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Do you mean a Therapy cat? Ifin he likes peeps and would enjoy bein’ ’round them and bein’ luvved on, dat would be pawsum. We double as Therapy kitties at Christmas fur da old folks home and it’s great fun. Big hugs
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
LikeLike
Yes, that is the word–therapy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s fur sure nuffin’ to be scared of. ‘Specially ifin he has da tempurrment fur it. And it can be so beneficial fur peeps. Mommy says we really seem to enjoy it, and ifin we get stressed out, she just removes us and gives us extra luvvin’. Altho’ we only do it at Christmas, it really is fun. Big hugs
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
LikeLiked by 1 person