MeOW Welcome to Service Cats and Everything Feline on Furidays. Are ya’ll ready fur the long weekend? We’ll be celebratin’ mommy’s birthday here, which means lots of huggin’, cuddlin’ and luvvin’. We purray that any of you travelin’ have a safe and uneventful trip and return home rejuvinated. Alright, we got that outta the way so let’s get back to the reason you pawed by today. We’ve got a great topic fur ya’, so stay tuned. You can always ketch up on any post in the series by clickin’ the links on our Training Tips and Everything Feline page from the menu. And ‘member to leave your questions or post suggestions in the comments below or send us an e-mail via our Contact page. There’s no stupid question, so ask away. Just ‘member, mommy’s specialty is felines; but, we’ll try to find the answer to any questions posed. And, purrlease be as specific as pawssible when askin’ behavioral questions and include any purrtinent examples.
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.
As me said, we have a very important topic to discuss today. Unfortunately, it’s a topic that often gets overlooked until it’s too late. Nobody wants to think about death, much less talk about it. We often hear things like, “That’s so morbid”, “Why do you want to talk about that?” “You’re/I’m still young, there’ll be plenty of time for that stuff later.” But, the truth is, no one is guaranteed tomorrow, no matter who you are or how old you are. And, as long as animals are classified as Property under the law, we all need to talk about it and make plans for it and for our beloved furry family members. So, Let’s talk about what happens to your pets when you die.
Property? Do I’s look like property to you? Hmmmpht
That’s right, Fluffy/Fido, your beloved fur baby is nothing more than Property according to the law. We’re just another car, china plate or piece of furniture that needs to be managed. The only difference is that we require constant care in the form of food and water and potty breaks. And of course anyone who has ever been owned by a four legged furry knows, we’re not property. We have feelings and are no doubt confused and grieving when we lose our family members. For those people who live alone, it becomes extremely important to have a plan in place for your furry children in the event of your death, otherwise, we’ll most definitely end up in some shelter somewhere, alone and afraid. Please, don’t assume that someone in your family will take care of your fur baby after you’re gone. It would be great if that were the case, but more often than not, things don’t happen that way.
Put It In Writing:
So, you’re ready to make preparations, where do you even start? The first thing you need to do is be prepared to Put It In Writing. We can’t stress that enough. No matter what plans you make, you need to have them written down and a copies given to all involved and one placed in your “important papers” drawer/file. If you live in an apartment or rental house, give your landlord a copy as well as a written notarized statement/notice that this person is allowed to enter your residence and remove the animals after your death. Include any phone numbers of this person and be sure to keep the notice up to date. As we stated earlier, no one is guaranteed tomorrow. It’s also a good idea to have a back up plan/person (trustee) in the event that things change with the named person/trustee (ie: death, disability, marriage, divorce, illness, etc.).
Example of simple permission notice
If you have a will or other legal notices, speak with your attorney about putting in a clause with your wishes for your beloved furry(s). However, because of the very nature of wills (subject to probate or contesting) it’s a good idea to make preparations for Fluffy/Fido as a separate document, such as a Trust or Power of Attorney. You might want to check your States’ laws and guidelines with regards to pets. This notice should include all pertinent information such as whether the named person/trustee will be adopting Fluffy/Fido or merely providing temporary accommodations until Fluffy/Fido can be placed in their new permanent dwelling. You should also include things like what food, treats, litter and favorite toys Fluffy/Fido need. How many times and what time(s) of day is Fluffy used to eating, or when does Fido go for walks. Include up to date medical records, and list any health issues as well as any medications and directions for giving them. List the Vet’s name, address and telephone number as well as the last time Fluffy/Fido was seen and for what. List any quirky behavior or behavioral issues Fluffy might have. Now’s not the time to hide bad behavior. You want these arrangements to work out, so be honest. This will be a stressful time for everybody and Fluffy’s new caretaker should know what to expect so they can make the transition go as smoothly as possible.
Example of an instruction sheet
You’ve checked the laws, spoken with an attorney, and are ready to make your plans…what’s next?. It’s always a good idea to check with family and friends. Fluffy/Fido might already be used to them and the transition might be easier with familiar people. This is going to be a stressful time for everyone including Fluffy/Fido, so anything that can make it less stressful is always best. Just remember, Put your wishes In Writing, even if the person taking custody of your beloved furry is your husband, wife, adult child or some other friend or family member. This document can be something as simple as a notarized written and signed statement to a legal trust or power of attorney. If you are able, it’s also nice to allocate “Care Funds” to be used by Fluffy/Fido’s new caretaker. This should also be written down with any instructions needed to access those funds.
Care Funds:
“Care Funds” can be allocated in a will, but remember, those funds may not be available immediately, so you may want to check out other options, such as a Trust or Savings account. You can list a POD (pay on death) on the account when you open it with your bank. That means the person you name cannot access those funds until after your death. But, unlike a will, those funds can be accessed immediately. Fluffy’s going to need to eat before the probate court finishes with your will, so a trust or savings account may be the better option for you. Mommy says anyone willing to take on Fluffy/Fido should be willing to take on their expenses as well, but we also understand some animals have a little more ‘baggage’ (chronic illnesses, old age, etc.) than others and therefore require more financial care. So, Yes, anytime a Care Fund can accompany Fluffy/Fido it will make things easier in the long run.
Example Adoption Contract, courtesy of petrescue.com/library
Adopted with a Return Contract:
Another thing to consider when planning for Fluffy’s life without you is where Fluffy came from. Did you adopt from a shelter or rescue? Or, did you purchase from a breeder? Some rescues and breeders have clauses in their adoption/sale contracts that state that Fluffy/Fido must be returned to them if you can no longer care for them. If this is the case, you will need to have someone responsible for contacting the rescue/breeder so that Fluffy/Fido can be returned. This person should should be listed on any notices required to access your home or apartment to remove Fluffy and return him/her to said rescue. The notice should also list the rescues’ name, address, phone number and contact person. When returning Fluffy/Fido to the rescue/breeder be sure your trustee knows to send the information about Fluffy’s likes, medical records and any favorite toys to make the transition go easier.
What happens when friends and family can’t take Fluffy:
You’ve asked friends and family, and no one can take Fluffy after you die, what do you do now? You might want to check with your Vet, they may know of an organization that can help. There are a few organizations in both the U.S. and U.K. that will take on Fluffy/Fido after your death and let them live out their lives with the rescue. However, most of these places require a substantial “donation” accompany said pets. Unfortunately, this is not a viable option for many pet owners. However, mommy says it never hurts to ask, all they can do is say no. If they do agree to take Fluffy after your death without that substantial donation, GET IT IN WRITING!!! Make a copy for your records and theirs and let the person/trustee you chose to transport your beloved furry to their future home know. Your trustee will need to know who to contact and what kind of arrangements have been made for getting Fluffy to the organization/their final destination. The trustee should also include the information about Fluffy’s likes, medical records and any favorite food and toys to make the transition go as smoothly as possible.
Euthanization as a Last Option:
Another thing one needs to consider when making arrangements for Fluffy’s future without you, is Fluffy’s overall health and age. Rehoming or returning to a shelter or rescue may be too hard on Fluffy in the first place. You may have to consider Euthanasia as the best option. However, this is probably the most controversial option. But, at the end of the day, nobody knows their pets as well as the person who spends every day with them. In other words, you and only you know what’s best for your beloved furry. And, as long as the law sees animals as Property, it’s up to you to make the right decision for them. If this is the option you choose, make certain the person you have chosen to to see this through is willing to uphold your wishes…PUT IT IN WRITING and make sure they sign it and know this is the best option. If this is your choice you should put enough money aside to pay for this and let your “trustee” know where to find it. You may be able to carry a credit with your Vet to cover this expense when the time comes, you’ll just need to check with their office. Be sure to keep up to date on your Vet’s policies and prices with regards to euthanization.
Miscellaneous Money Options:
There are a few options one might consider to provide funds for Fluffy’s future without you. You might want to take out a life insurance policy on yourself and list your trustee or rescue organization as the beneficiary. If you do this, you need to make sure all family members are aware of this so they don’t try to contest it’s validity when the time comes. Money can make people mad, and we don’t mean angry. You might want to take a CD or Bond at your bank. Again, you can list your trustee/organization as the POD (pay on death). Whether you can provide money for Fluffy’s continued care after you’re gone or not, shouldn’t be the deciding factor in who will take care of Fluffy. We suggest making a list of the things you think are most important to the daily care of your beloved furry and then evaluating the people you know based on that list. Once you’ve narrowed your list to those that you think would make the best care giver for Fluffy after you’re gone, open the subject with them. Try to be patient, they may need some time to consider your request before agreeing to take on your beloved. And you might be surprised at who says no. But, don’t give up.
Don’t leave our future to chance. We luvs you too much.
Final Thoughts:
This is a very important and serious matter. Any responsible pet owner should have a plan of some kind in place. No one is going to live forever and none are guaranteed a tomorrow. So, planning for your beloved furry’s future without you is the responsible thing to do. None of us really want to think about it, but we must. Again we are going to stress the importance of Putting Everything in Writing. We also suggest that you place notices on any outer doors so that emergency personnel know there are animals inside, and how many and what species. Mommy keeps a photo of us on our door along with a notice. You can get the “Animals Inside” decals that alert emergency personnel from the ASPCA for free by filling out the form at the aspca.org/take-action/order-your-pet-safety-pack website. We also recommend carrying an emergency alert type card in your wallet or purse that has a list of emergency contacts and who to contact first or in the event of which emergency. We also recommend that your emergency contact have the number to the trustee you’ve chosen to take care of beloved furry family member(s) if they’re not one and the same. Another thing you can do is put a list of those contacts as well as emergency care instructions or who to call for Fluffy on the refrigerator. Most emergency workers are trained to look for those kinds of instructions on the fridge or a bathroom mirror. Just be sure this information is easily found and up to date.
Yep, this is our blooper foto entry.
Well, this sure is a long posty. But, we do hope we’ve helped some of you or at least reminded you to have these conversations if you haven’t already. Another thing mommy suggests is to review and update all the information in your ‘purrtant papers’ file yearly. Numbers change, people move in and out of your life and let’s face it, ain’t none of us gettin’ any younger; so our health and eating habits may change over the years. Mommy says the most ‘purrtant thing to ‘member is to keep everything updated and keep it in Writing. Never assume somepawdy is gonna take care of your beluvved pets after you’re gone. ‘Stead, make a plan and KNOW that they’re future is secured according to your wishes. We were asked this meownin’ ifin we would be includin’ templates fur the forms we suggested today. Unfurtunately, mommy didn’t have time to get them ready fur this post, so we will be postin’ those at a later date for you to copy and use. Don’t furget you can ketch up on any post in this series by clickin’ the links on our Training Tips and Everything Feline page from our menu. And leave your questions and post suggestions in the comments below or send us an email via our Contact page. We’re linkin’ up with Comedy Plus fur Feline Furiday and we’re also joinin’ our new furiends the Cuddlywumps fur Pet Photo Fails Bloopers.
MeOW and welcome to an unService Cat Monday on Service Cat Monday. Which, due to technical difficulties beyond our control is wayyyyyyyy late. Now that was a mouthful wasn’t it? Anyways, fur mommy’s sanity and to furee up some time, Service Cat Monday question and answer and Training tips will resume in the new year. Altho’ mommy did say that our posty today could actually qualify as a Service Cat Monday posty. So, fur that reason, the followin’ will be in human English fur reader and translator ease. Actually, mommy will be doin’ most of this posty herself. But, you know Raena and me have to have our own meows ‘bout everythin’, so we’ll be includin’ our 2 cents too. Fur now, mommy, take it away.
Disclaimer: This is a Sponsored post. We received the Litter Robot Open Air III in exchange for our honest opinion. As always, we tell it like we see it and only bring products we feel would be of interest to you, our readers and friends.
Thank you baby. As you all know this blog is all about the girls. And, as special as they are, there are still things they can’t do and require a human touch. Most of you know that I’m disabled and need help with a few things. Let me give you a little back story before we proceed. Dezi came to me as a very sick little girl at the age of 2 1/2 – 3 weeks old. She had one of the worst cases of tape worm I’d ever seen in a kitten her size. And, with all that baby fine fur, the diarrhea, and the worms exiting her little body were constantly getting stuck to her bloomers. My response was to clean the litter box and her every time she exited. I must say, it was definitely the right thing to do, but it had lasting consequences. Long after the worms and diarrhea were gone, Dezi expected me to clean the litter box the minute it got used. As far as she’s concerned, we could have 10 boxes and she would still want the one that was used to be cleaned.
When you think about it, it actually makes perfect sense. I mean, would you want to use a toilet that hadn’t been flushed after it’s last “visitor”? So, as much of a chore scooping might be, I didn’t really give it a second thought. But, c’mon now, all of us kitty parents know the litter box is probably our least favorite thing about being owned by cats. As I get older and my health declines, scooping at certain times of the day gets more difficult. And with the wheelchair broken, getting to the box first thing in the morning is almost impossible. That brings us to today’s topic, Automated Litter Boxes. If you missed our post about Litter Boxes, Litter and Feline Urinary habits, you can catch up by clicking here.
Yep, that’s the right litter this time mommy.
Automated litter boxes have been around for quite some time now. So, I began my search for the “purrfect” automated box that could meet all the needs the girls have and still work for me and my budget and ideals. Ideals being no clay litters. As a Vet Tech I’d seen too many kitties come in with blockages from clay litter, to be comfortable using it especially with long haired cats that get it stuck to their bloomers. That right there, made it almost impossible for us to use one of those automated raking systems. Not to mention the actual box size available for kitty to do their business. But, today’s not about the “bads” of certain boxes, but rather the good and bad of the automated litter box we chose.
After much research, reading reviews, watching videos, and studying how and why the equipment works, we decided on the Litter Robot Open Air III. Now I’ll be honest, it wasn’t until I could actually see a video up close that I decided this was a good product. My initial thoughts were that the litter must end up in the top of the box since it rotates around to empty itself. With that thought, I couldn’t imagine why any cat would want to use it. After all, how would you feel if somebody pee’d or worse on your ceiling and you had to sit under that smell when you went to the bathroom? Thankfully, that’s not the case at all. you’ll see in the video below that the roof of the box stays free of dirty litter and smell. Before we get to the video, let me tell you what we were looking for in an automated litter box.
Covered: Raena occasionally still tries to swat Dezi’s tail when she’s in the litter box, so we have to have a covered litter box for privacy issues.
Size: Dezi is a large cat and Raena will be, so they need plenty of room to get in, turn around, stand, squat, dig and exit.
Works with almost any Litter: I’m not changing my mind and using clay litter, so the box we choose must allow for the litter we currently use: Swheatscoop and/or Garfield.
No Continued Expenses’ beyond electricity and inexpensive filters: Being on a fixed income means I can’t afford to by additional expensive boxes, special bags or trays.
Night Light: Yes I Know it sounds silly, but something happened to Dezi when our apartment flooded and she won’t go to the litter box in the dark.
Easy to Use: The girls must be able to enter and exit with ease.
Easy to Clean: Even the cleanest of kitties and “dustless” litter can eventually get any box a little dirty. But, due to my disabilities, handling and cleaning the size box the girls require must be easy.
Safe: The girls can sometimes get a little dig crazy and curious, so I don’t want anything around that could hurt or cut them.
Flexible Timer: Since Dezi will often pee and then need to poo almost immediately after, we need to be able to set a shorter timer than the traditional 15 minutes.
The Litter Robot Open Air III meets all our needs. If I had to say something negative, it would be about the Control Panel. As most of you know, the girls are Service Cats, and as such they are trained to turn on and off certain equipment. And, as a lot of you may recall, Raena’s been turning on all the power toys since she was about 8 weeks old. So, if I could, I would probably have a small door of some kind covering the buttons on the Control Panel. The thing is, there probably aren’t many other cats out there pressing the cycle button besides Raena; so I can’t really fault the Litter Robot peeps for not thinking about that.
They recently launched the Litter Robot Open Air Connect. If you already own a Litter Robot Open Air, you can purchase the upgrade equipment and install it yourself without voiding any warranty you may have or having to purchase a whole new system. The app connects your Litter Robot to your Apple iphone or ipad and allows you to monitor the waste drawer levels, usage and you could even trigger it to cycle if you have a kitty like Dezi that just peed and now needs to poo and can’t wait the 3 minutes.
The Litter Robot Open Air III sells for $449.00, with the Connect upgrade it’s $499.00. Trust me, I realize that’s a lot of money. I don’t make this recommendation lightly. But, after all the research I’ve done, and after having the unit in our home, I must say, the Litter Robot is worth every penny. The company sells replacement parts for the entire unit, so that you can replace only what may break or wear out in the future. They do sell reconditioned parts and units as well, so that may be another avenue to consider. Yes, it’s an investment, but, aren’t your cats worth it? Aren’t you worth it? As cat owners, most of us scoop the litter box without even thinking about it, but it’s really nice not having too. I definitely give the Litter Robot Open Air III 2 thumbs up. I’ll let the girls tell you how they feel.
Fanks mommy. Me luvs PB. It’s pawsum to always have a clean pawtty no matter the time of day or what you might be doin’. It’s an all paws up from me.
Is it mine’s turn now? Well it’s a bout time. I’s luvs, luvs, luvs PB the Litter Robot. I’s luvs to ride the rim sometimes. It’s so much fun. I’s still tryin’ to figger out how to make sissy go ‘round and ‘round like a ferris wheel. Fur some reason, it won’t cycle with her in it?. Other than that, I’s give it 4 paws up too.
(Dezi shakes head.) That’s a safety feature Raena. Fankfully, PB has better sense than you do. Cuz guess who’d be getting’ the whacky paw ifin you did send me ‘round and ‘round?. Anyways, we sure are glad PB’s working in our house. Ifin ya’ have any questions, thoughts or comments, purrlease leave ‘em in the comments section. And, any purchases thru the links in our posty mean we make a few green papers. Our Blessin’ today fur the Blessing Train is Health. We have been blest with good health. Yeah Raena’s eyes might be a bit purroblematic, but overall she’s healthy and we’re both happy.
Welcome to a brand new Service Cat Monday. We were really surpurrised by the variations in comments we got last week ‘bout “Designer Cats”. And, we think some of you were surpurrised by our view on the subject. Either way, we really ‘purreciate the discussion. As we said last week, Service Cat Monday has really taken on a life of it’s own and not only covers Service cat stories, but also general Trainin’ Tips/Tricks/Techniques as well as health, behavioral, and well, all things cat. That really excites us. As with all our Service cat posts, the followin’ will be written in human English fur reader and translator ease. Ifin you have any questions, purrlease leave them in the comments or send us an email. All Trainin’ Tips, Tricks and Techniques have been used/developed by mommy throughout her many years of animal trainin’, cats in purrticular. And, not intended to be a step by step Trainin’ manual. Ifin you’ve missed any post in this series, you can ketch up by clickin’ the links below.
First up this week, we want to speak just a little more about those “Designer Cats”. Our sweet friend Pipo thought he was one of ‘em. Truth is Pipo, Siamese, at least the traditional robust apple headed Siamese Cats, are a naturally evolving breed. Now, the Siamese in show rings today are a whole other story. Although technically not “Designer cats, they have been selectively bred to create a kitty that looks far different than their origins. But, the Traditional Siamese isn’t going anywhere. The DNA for the Traditional Siamese traits are in the genes of all Siamese cats today. As for us Ragdolls, again, we were a naturally occurring mutation from the pairings of a non pedigreed white alley cat and her cohorts. Seems Josephine, the mother of the Ragdoll breed, ain’t meowing (telling). Altho’ Josephine wandered the alleys, she actually had an owner. The owner shared an alley with a breeder that thought some of Josephine’s kittens were pretty remarkable and purchased several of those non pedigreed kittens and set out to create a breed she called, the Ragdoll. Unfortunately, disreputable breeders continue to cross breed, and call them “Designer Cats”. Cross breeding is no longer necessary, desired or allowed by the cat registering organizations.
Photo courtesy of PipoandMinkiandMrJackFreckles.blogspot.com
Raena, the result of a Ragdoll to Ragdoll pairing, is a prime example of poor breeding practices and the resurgence of some of those “undesirable” DNA traits. Me is stocky and boxy, with a heavy set of bones, per breed standard. Raena is long, tall and delicate. The Persian cat traits in her DNA have surfaced and resulted in a more smooshed face with those nasty tear duct issues and a longer than normal neck ruff. Her body type is most likely due to the Oriental cat DNA in the breed. This is why even reputable breeders of all breeds have what they call “Pet” quality and “Show” quality. You can’t change DNA, and at some point, kittens will be born with traits resembling some of those in past cross pairings which do not meet the so called Breed Standards. Now, please understand, we LOVE Raena and wouldn’t change her for the world. But, we do wish people didn’t try to play God.
This profile foto shows Raena’s more smooshed face.
Now, We covered a lot about “Aggression” recently in our Calming the Tiger in Your Cat posts (links at bottom). But, our friend Valentine asked, why/how can littermates not get along?. There were no specific issues listed. Naturally, we just assume littermates will be the best of friends for life, right?. Obviously, that would be ideal. But, the reality is that all kitties experience life differently. Two kittens born to the same mother and raised in the same house, will have different personalities and experiences. Even mommy, who is home with us 99% of the time, doesn’t see everything. The possibility exists that something traumatic happened between the cats, or their world that has caused a rift in their relationship. The runt of a litter will often get picked on and/or ignored by his/her littermates and even the mother.
Get back here sissy. I’s gonna be da Alpha Cat.
Two dominant cats may have trouble getting along. Outside intruders, or changes in their household can also cause kitties to not get along. The good news is, that no matter what has caused the rift, it can be changed. With a little love, patience, investigation and training, littermates and housemates can become the best of friends. It may take re-introducing the cats and starting fresh, but you can have a happy and peaceful home. The Tips and Techniques we laid out in the Calming the Tiger in Your Cat posts (links below), will help you reach that goal. Val, we wish your friend the best of luck and are happy that despite the issues, they have kept the kitties instead of turning them in to a shelter.
Oh yeah? We’ll see who da Alpha is!!!
We’re gonna wrap this up fur now. We’ve got a lot to do befur mommy’s dentist ‘pointment on Fursday. We hope to tackle a new question next week regarding Operant and Clicker Training. Be sure to join us fur that. And ‘member, ifin ya’ have any questions, let us know. Purrlease be as specific as pawssible when askin’ ‘bout behavioral issues. The better we unnerstand the purroblem, the better we can help with the correct answers and tips. And, as always, you can ketch up on any Service Cats posty you missed by clickin’ the links below.
Welcome to another Service Cat Monday. We so totally furgot that mommy had an early ‘pointment today. And, that today is Boxing Day here in the blogosphere. That bein’ said, we’re not gonna leave ya’ hangin’. Let me get the business outta the way so we can get on with it. As with all our Trainin’ posts, the followin’ will be written in human English fur translator and reader ease. Our Trainin’ posts aren’t meant to be a step by step manual, but rather, Tips, Tricks and Techniques mommy has used/developed throughout her many years of animal training, cats in purrticular. Ifin ya’ have any questions or trainin’ questions, purrlease leave them in the comments or send us an email. Purrlease be as specific as pawssible when askin’ behavioral questions. Ifin you have missed any posty in this series, you can ketch up by clickin’ the links at the bottom of this or any Service Cat Monday posty. And always ‘member, Training is all ‘bout Repetition and Rewards.
Well, the last several Service Cat Monday posts have been about dealing with the “Aggressive” Kitty. As we stated last week, that topic is almost unending, but we felt we had covered the issues that had been presented to us and were planning to move on this week. But alas, our sweet friend Valentine left a comment after last weeks post that requires an almost immediate response. The one thing we won’t do, is leave a topic when a kitty or it’s human are in danger or being hurt. And, the reason we’re addressing this here instead of an email is our belief that if one person’s asking, there are more wondering.
After our apartment flooded, we were all packed up and livin’ in
inches fur months befur the remodel was finished and we could get back to livin’.
Let me explain the situation and question as posed to us: A friend is having their house remodeled and one of the 3 indoor kitties is having a very hard time of it and has become “Aggressive”, going so far as to bite and scratch her human. Kitty has been shut in a back room to allow her to decompress, but it’s not really helping. There may also be an outside factor, as there is a family of strays living under the porch. Apparently, kitty has also attempted to escape to the great outdoors.
Fearless sis Lexi cautiously floats on the carpet after the flood while
the noisy fan dryers were blowing.
Well now, sounds like there’s a few problems here, right? The first issue we have, is that we wouldn’t call this kitty’s behavior “Aggressive”. Nor, are we surprised this is happening. As we stated in our previous post, Cats Do Not Like Change or Loud Noises. Having lived through a flood, move, apartment remodel, new roof, new a/c, new hot water heater, and more stranger’s traipsin’ through me’s house than me cares to remember, me’s here to tell you that can really stress a cat out; even one as laid back as us Ragdolls. This is one of those situations, where more information is needed to determine the exact problem. But, we’re going to do our best to help with what we have. Based on the fact this is a remodel and the kitty in question wasn’t presenting this behavior beforehand, we feel pretty safe saying, the feral family under the porch probably isn’t a problem. However, it wouldn’t hurt to feed them a bit further away from the house. We also don’t know exactly where this person lives, but we do suggest providing shelter for the ferals’ away from the house as well. You know, gotta take care of our ferals.
Now let’s get to the heart of this problem, the Remodel. This noise is kind of like the carpet monster (vacuum cleaner), you can’t get rid of it until the job is done. That means, kitty is going to have to learn to live with it. Thankfully, it’s only temporary. Now me knows some of you just said to your selves, What? Your mommy wouldn’t do that to you?. Well folks, let me tell ya’, sometimes, life just isn’t perfect and everybody/kitty has to adjust. What we don’t know, that would really be helpful, is why and when is kitty biting, scratching and trying to escape. A scared kitty will often react with claws and teeth, and that’s what we suspect is happening here. The good thing is this can be fixed.
(While me’s at it, let me give you an example of a “specific”. The workers are in and out and my kitty is trying to run out the door. Or, the workers are hammering and making a lot of noise and my kitty went running crouched down and I grabbed her to put her in the decompression room and she scratched and bit me.)
The Decompression room needs to be a kitty oasis until the remodel is over and the human needs to remain calm and positive when dealing with kitty. The room needs to have a litter box, food, water, cat bed, covered box or cat carrier (with the door open or better yet, off), a few favorite toys, and a well scented piece of clothing. And not the shirt you’re wearing during that fight with the contractor. (MOL) Leave a piece of clothing you were wearing during a time of no stress and happiness. Remember, cats are all about the smell. And trust me, we know happy smell and mad/upset smell. A small perch or cat tree placed near a window would also be good. Before the workers come in the morning, kitty should be taken to the Decompression room for a quick play session and a bite of breakfast. Maybe even a few of those extra special favorite treats you only buy at Christmas and birthdays. Now’s the time to buy them. It would also be good if you could put on some calm music or one of those white noise machines. Or, if you have kitties like us that like to watch teevee, turn on the boob tube (television).
As long as all the cats are getting along, all 3 should be in the Decompression room together. Believe it or not, their presence will help “Scared” kitty to be more relaxed and secure. Make sure there are several hide outs (covered boxes or carriers) available, so all kitties can hide if they need too. If this room is a bedroom, leave the closet door open. Mommy says to please remove any expensive or treasured clothes or quilts. Can you believe we’re not allowed in the closet at all? Anyways, this would be the exception to that rule. And as silly as it sounds, think positively. Yeah, we said it, think happy thoughts. See all of this as a good thing. Tell kitty how wonderful everything’s going to be when all this is over. And each day when the workers leave, let kitty explore and get used to her new territory. Remember, it’s kitty’s newly remodeled home, you just pay the bills. MOL
As for the “trying to escape”, we really don’t have enough information to even guess at a solution. We seriously doubt it has anything to do with the ferals’ under the porch and more likely trying to escape the noise and strangers in her home. But again, we just can’t be sure. It would be irresponsible for us to give a specific answer about that.
We hope we’ve helped a little, and we’re sorry we can’t offer more. The friend is welcome to contact us directly, and we’ll do all we can to help her and kitty. A happy peaceful home is our desire for every kitty in the world. As always, we welcome your questions, comments and post suggestions. And, ifin you’ve missed any of the posts in this series, you can ketch up by clickin’ the links below. As me said earlier, mommy has a ‘pointment today and one tomorrow, so we’ll be ‘round to visit as soon as we can. In the meantime, have a great Boxing Day. Hope you enjoyed our boxing day fotos and a little blast from the flooded past. (See, we can laff ’bout it now).
Service Cats U.S. 