MeOW  Welcome one and all to Service Cats and Everything Feline on Furidays. Step right up and get your every question answered. No tickets or green papers required. MOL Me’s just havin’ a little fun with ya’ today. But seriously, today is the day we try to answer questions asked by you, our furiends and readers ‘bout Trainin’, Health, Behavior and Anything and Everythin’ else. Mommy says that all kitty’s, just like children are much happier with a little bit of Training. We know not every kitty out there is going to be a Service Cat, but every kitty out there should be a well behaved and well luvved family member. And, that’s where these post come in handy. Ifin you’ve missed any posts in the series you can ketch up by clickin’ Training Tips and Everything Feline on our Menu above. You’ll find links to all relevant posts there as well as a contact form to submit your own questions or topic suggestions. You can also ask your questions in the comment section of this or any Service Cat post. Let’s get the business outta the way and get on with today’s topic. 

The followin’ post will be written in human English fur reader and translator ease. Our Service Cat posts aren’t intended to be an all inclusive Trainin’ Manual but rather Tips, Tricks and Techniques used/developed by mommy A thru her many years of animal trainin’, cats in purrticular. And to offur insight into your questions about Everything Feline. Always remember, Training is all ‘bout Repetition and Rewards.

We often get asked questions that don’t require a whole post, or a variation of questions we’ve already written about. If we’ve already written about a topic and there’s nothing new to add or expound on, we will direct the asker of said questions to the previously written post(s). Please don’t think we’re not taking your question seriously. We take all your questions seriously and expect you to take our response seriously as well. If we’re sending you links it’s because we don’t have anything new to offer.

 Anyways, here’s a question mommy A gets at least once a month. “Do you Train other people’s cats/dogs/etc.?” The answer is Yes and No. Mommy used to hold Training classes when she was involved with a Rescue group and lived in a larger city. She has done one on one in home Training when asked. Of course, we live in an area now where people don’t regularly teach their dogs to sit, so there’s not much call for advanced Training and certainly none for Cat Training. That being said, we’d be happy to come to you to assist in Training your beloved anipal; but the cost of travel, lodging and a meal a day would be your responsibility. Depending on the tasks you’re seeking to Train, you may be able to find a Trainer locally. Often times you can find Trainers thru your VET, the shelter or pet stores.

We’re asked a variation of these questions on at least one of our social media sites weekly: “How can you have Service Cats when the ADA says they can’t be? Where did you get your Service Cats?” First and foremost, the ADA does not say Cats can’t be Service Animals; they just don’t recognize them as such. If you’ve read Shad’s story you’ll know that mommy happened to have a cat at the time of her accident who Trained herself. Mommy then took what Shad did and developed Training Techniques to Train other cats. As for where mommy’s Service Cats come from…all have been rescued from one situation or another. There is no specific breed that makes a better Service Cat. And, other than Shad, mommy has Trained each cat herself. 

The last question we’re going to address today is about implants. Yes, we actually mentioned those neuter implants the other day because we received a question about them. The question was: “How do you feel about ear cropping, tail docking and the surgeries required to correct floppy ears and other aesthetics for animals? Do you think my male cat would spray if he had implants after his neuter?” That’s kind of a loaded question. We’ll admit there’s nothing quite so intimidating as the look of a cropped, docked Doberman or Pitty; but who is that for? Yes, a floppy eared long tailed dobie isn’t quiet as menacing as his cropped counterpart, but he/she is still the same dog. Humans are so concerned about aesthetics that they often do things to animals that isn’t medically necessary and can cause major health issues.

The neutered cat or dog doesn’t really miss his testicles. Removing the testicles also removes the high production of testosterone. It’s the testosterone that causes a male to mark/spray and not the testicles themselves. The implants don’t actually produce hormones of any kind, so one would assume there wouldn’t be any spraying. But, there is absolutely no need for Fido or Fluffy to have implants. Often times those cropped ears have cartilage breaking resulting in a floppy ear and require further surgeries and implants to make them stand up straight. None of these surgeries are medically necessary for the health and wellbeing of the animal in question. We realize that breed standards may call for these procedures, but that doesn’t make them right. People should concern themselves with the health and well being of the animals and worry a lot less about their appearance. Please spay and neuter your pets. They’re much happier and healthier, and skip the implants.  

Well there’s really no Training Tips involved in today’s post, but we do hope we’ve answered these purrticular questions to your satisfaction. These are only our opinions. We have a great post planned for next week about Planning For Kitty’s Future without you. Do you have any purrticular questions about this subject you’d like answered? What kinds of concerns do you have? Do you have a plan already in place? Don’t furget, you can ketch up on any post in this series by clickin’ on Training Tips and Everything Feline on our menu above. Purrlease leave your questions or topic suggestions in the comments below or send us an email via our Contact page. When asking behavioral questions, purrlease be as specific as pawssible. We’re also linkin’ up with Comedy Plus fur Feline Furiday.

Till the next time………………………………………Be Blest!!!

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses 

Deztinee and RaenaBelle