Tag: #QuestionandAnswer

Dezi on the floor at the vets

Service Cats: 6 Tips To Keep Kitty Stress Free While Going To the VET

Published on by Service Cats U.S.17 Comments

Stop Kitty’s Peeing, Pooping & Throwing Up In The Car/Carrier:

MeOW Welcome to Service Cats and Everything Feline on Furidays. We’ve got a great topic fur ya’ today, so stay tuned. We’re runnin’ really late cuz mommy didn’t get everythin’ edited befur crashin’ last night and she had her regualr monthly doctor’s ‘pointment today. Anyways, fanks fur your patience. Furstly, we thought we needed to meow a minute ‘bout where our Tips, Tricks and Trainin’ Techniques come from. Mommy was asked this past week just where she got her ideas since she had such purrfect and well behaved kitties (we’re choosing to believe the question is genuine). Altho’ mommy thinks we’re purrfect in every way, we’re far from it. Mommy has dealt with most of the issues we write ‘bout purrsonally at one time or another. And, mommy spent years Trainin’ woofies, horses and kitties. She even Trained a pot bellied pig named Cameron. Mommy fostered bottle baby kittens who had to be taught how to be a cat. Mommy’s always had a bond with animals and still spends much of her time studying their behaviors, and tweaks her Tips as needed. And ifin she doesn’t know somethin’, she’ll research till she gets the answers. Altho’ mommy has experience with many animals, she has chosen at this time in her life to focus on kitties. We’re so fankful fur all our new and old furiends and followers and welcome any and all questions or topic suggestions you may have which can be left in the comments or by sendin’ us a purrivate email via our Contact page. Just ‘member to be as specific as pawssible when askin’ behavioral questions. As always, you can ketch up on any post you’ve missed in this series by clickin’ the links on our Training Tips and Everything Feline page from our menu. So, let’s get the “business” outta the way and get on with today’s topic.  

 

 

Raena sits posing in her tiger harness

 

 

 

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.

Dezi lays on counter at vet office

 

 

 

     We’ve been asked several questions about how to avoid Stress while transporting kitty to the VET. Some of you have kitties that throw up, poop or pee in their carriers every time they have to make that trip, and you want to know how to stop it. Since most of these kitties never go anywhere else, we’re going to focus on how to make this and other trips successfully. Let me tell you a little story about me’s self. For the first two years of me’s life, me would pee every time mommy took me to Ardmore or the VET. Because me did it at the same spot on our trips (7 miles from home), mommy says it would have been funny if it didn’t mean that me was so stressed and stink up the car so bad. However, me can now make that trip and even longer ones without emptying me’s bladder all over the place. So, how did mommy get me to stop? 

 

Dezi lays in wheelchair watching Raena inside the stroller

Step 1.

     First up, we recommend leaving the carrier/stroller out at all times. Put a towel, blanket, or a previously worn unwashed shirt in the carrier. This will allow kitty/doggy to get used to their transport and even find it comforting. Place the carrier in a quiet spot and give treats or extra loving when kitty/doggy enters or uses the carrier as a bed or hideaway. Place a favorite toy or a little catnip/silvervine in the carrier to entice kitty into using the carrier. Play interactive games that incorporate the carrier. You might also use one of the facial pheromone calming sprays to spray the inside of the carrier. Remember to refresh the scent often. In other words, make the carrier a fun place for kitty to hang out. 

 

Dezi looks over her shoulder while in the stroller outside
Check out the stroller’s tether (black strap) attached to harness.

 

 

 

Step 2. 

     As most of you know, we highly recommend harness training your kitty and tethering them into their carrier/stroller for safety. You can read our Harness Training Tips here. We also recommend withholding food before a trip especially one to the VET. However, you want to make all trips seem uniform, so all preparations should be the same whether you’re going around the block, to the pet store or the VET’s office.

 

Dezi and Lexi inside stroller in the front seat of the car.

 

 

 

Step 3.  

     Take kitty for a drive. It doesn’t have to be far, but you want kitty to get used to going out without ending up at the VET. Remember, you want the carrier to be a fun and comforting place. Speak softly and calmly to kitty while you’re out. Keep your emotions and thoughts in check. Always remember, animals feed off your energy. If you’re stressed and expecting the trip to go badly, kitty/doggy will pick up on that and most assuredly leave a little surprise for you in their carrier. Remember me’s first 2 years? Every time mommy saw the mile marker where me first peed, she would get nervous and start watching me to see if me was going to let loose and flood the car. MOL She had started carrying piddle pads and would put one in her lap underneath me. Me liked to lay in mommy’s lap while we drove down the highway. One day, mommy said enough and decided to Train me to hold it. 

 

 Raena models the new sling carrier

 

 

 

Step 4.  

     Mix things up. What this meant for me, was that mommy put me in a carrier for the last 10 miles of the trip. She chose a small carrier that didn’t allow me room to move around. This step is only temporary, so you don’t need to invest in an expensive carrier, just something small enough to keep kitty from moving around an leaving deposits behind. Kitties are very clean animals. The last thing we want to do is lay in our own pee or poop. If your problem is that kitty is leaving deposits in the carrier, you might want to hold kitty in your lap instead of the carrier. For the first couple of times, you might want to have a piddle pad at the ready. Remember to speak calmly to kitty. Make each outing longer and longer and expose kitty to new and different things. Carry a wand toy/feathers on a stick to help distract kitty from the things going on around them. Keep an eye out for signs that kitty is about the pee/poop/throw up and distract them with the wand toy or feathers on a stick. Obviously this step is much easier with two people, but one can do it in a pinch; after all, mommy has to do it by herself. If she can do it, anybody can. Make stops at the park, pet store or a drive through (ie: bank, fast food, etc.) and reward kitty with treats or extra loving during the trip and after you return home.  

 

Raena looking around at the vets

Step 5.      

     When the time comes for the trip to the VET, don’t let your stress affect kitty. Remember to always keep your own emotions in check. Keep positive thoughts and treat the trip as if it were any other trip kitty’s been on. Be sure to take along some treats or a favorite toy to distract kitty. Wand toys or feathers on a stick work great for this. You can even take a little bag of catnip for kitty to sniff is you have a nip fiend. Any time you see kitty showing signs of stress, wave the wand/feathers/bag of nip to get kitty’s attention. Praise kitty during the visit. No matter what happens at the VET or what kind of news or health updates you may get, keep your thoughts and voice positive until after you return home. Continue to keep an eye out for stress so you can redirect any unwanted behaviors like peeing/pooping/throwing up on the trip. 

 

 Sling Pet Carrier

Sling/over the shoulder pet carrier

 

 

 

Step 6.    

     Once you return home, remove kitty from carrier and give them treats or extra loving along with praise about how much fun the trip was. One thing we didn’t mention earlier, is that mommy likes to put a little nip or silvervine in our carrier/stroller before trips. It’s a ready made distraction that we can’t escape. Once kitty has made 2 trips without the offending behavior being present, you may return to kitty’s normal carrier. Altho’ the smaller carrier may not give kitty room to move around, kitty is okay. Kitties actually like tight spaces, they make us feel safe. We thought you might like to know a few of the things mommy has used as a “tiny” carrier over the years. Mommy has used her purse, an overnight bag, make up bag and shoebox. You might want to look into a sling carrier that would allow kitty to rest over your heart. This type of carrier can be extremely soothing to kitty as they are next to your heart and feeling the warmth of your body. It also encloses all but kitty’s head, so there’s less opportunity for kitty to move around and squat.

 

Dezi lays with arm hanging over edge of the liberty cat tree while Raena bathes on the shelf below her.

Well, we do hope this helps those of you dealing with this purrticular problem. Fankfully, me no longer pees in the car, carrier, stroller or mommy’s lap. Me actually looks forward to trips these days. And, me luvs the new sling carrier mommy got us almost as much as me luvs our new stroller. Ifin there’s somethin’ you feel we’ve left out, or you have further questions on this topic, purrlease say so in the comments below or by sendin’ us a purrivate email via our Contact page. And, as always, you can ketch up on any of the posts in this series by clickin’ Training Tips and Everything Feline from our menu bar above. Befur we go, we wanna link up with Comedy Plus fur Feline Furiday. Join us next week fur another in depth look into the world of cats.

 

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

 

 

 

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses 

 

Deztinee and RaenaBelle

Service Cats: Am I Training My Cat Or Is She Training Me

Published on by Service Cats U.S.13 Comments

MeOW Welcome back to Service Cats and Everything Feline on Furidays. We wanna fank you all fur your patience while we try to get caught up from our week off. We’ve been dealin’ with a small flood here in our apartment fur the last couple of days, so we’re still behind. However, t’ween the flood and a couple of emails we received this week, we’ve decided to take a look at the lighter side of Training this week. Me will tell you more ‘bout that in a minute. We’d like to remind you that 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. You can submit your questions or post suggestions by leaving a comment or sendin’ us a purrivate e-mail via the form on our Contact page. Purrlease ‘member to be as specific as pawssible when askin’ behavioral questions. Now, let’s get the business outta the way and get on with our posty.

 

Raena posing in her harness on the small cat perch

 

 

 

 

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.

Dezi looks full on at the camera while sitting ion the stroller outside

 

 

 

 

 

     We often receive comments like, “I’d love to train my cat, but, he/she trained me.”, or “My cat does that, but…”. As you know, mommy says all Training should keep the animal and it’s natural behaviors and size in mind, and to be realistic in your expectations. All of mommy’s Training Tips/Techniques involve things cats/dogs do naturally and just tweaks them a bit to accommodate the human need/desire. Mommy says a cat’s curiosity makes us the perfect animal for Training, just as the dog’s desire to please. We cats also want to please our humans, we just don’t show it the same way a doggy does. So, it’s up to you, our human to understand our language for the gratification you’re looking for. Since we’re cats, we’re going to focus on cats today, but as always, most of our Tips can be used for other species.

 

Dezi cares for Raena atop the Liberty cat tree

 

 

 

     Most people know that we cats communicate with other animals through scent, rubbing, nose touching, etc.; we reserve most verbal communications for you humans. The more interaction you have with us, the more vocal we will become and the more we will interact with you. The more cat-like you interact with us, the more cat-like responses you will get from us. We’ve told you in earlier posts, that mommy plays the “Scent Me Up” game with all her kitties. It helps us to form a stronger bond with her. It’s also mommy using natural cat behaviors to communicate with us. Let me refresh your memory: Mommy rubs her cheeks, chin and forehead against our faces, chin, ears and forehead in an exchange of scents. This is how we cats would greet one of our family members or beloved housemates; even our larger wilder cousins do this. Our face contains all the good feeling scent glands, so this exchange brings us kitties pleasant and calming feelings. It also makes us very receptive to Training. But, what kind of Training and who’s doing the Training?

 

 Raena lays in mommys lap and starts to massage

 

 

 

     Let’s take a look at what mommy calls “Massage”. Kitties knead (make biscuits) naturally. We do it the minute we’re born. It helps move our mother’s milk into the teat so we can suckle and eat. Kneading makes us feel good by bringing up good memories. Kneading is most often accompanied by purring and a form of closed or open mouth suckling. So, mommy takes an innate behavior and makes a few adjustments such as where we knead, Training us to keep our claws sheathed and to knead on demand and it becomes a kitty massage. For Training Tips on Kitty Massage click here. 

 

 Dezi kneads and suckles the cat bed

 

 

 

     As most of you know, one of the most beneficial Tasks we perform for mommy especially when she’s out and about, is alerting before she passes out. We often get asked just what we do. Mommy says our alerts have become more refined through the years, as she’s learned to read them and her desire to bring less attention to the whole thing has lessened. You know, no need for everybody to know what’s happening. Anyways, as me said before, us kitties typically reserve our verbal communication for you humans. When we first sense that mommy’s going to pass out, we paw at her to get her attention and then we do a little turn when in our stroller, or meow to get her to follow us to a chair when at home/loose. And, if at first you don’t succeed…try, try again. If mommy doesn’t respond the first time, we get a bit more vocal with our next alerts. Meowing and chuffing until mommy complies. Again, mommy’s using a cat’s natural abilities to her benefit.

 

Raena reaching out from the perch to alert mommy
Raena Alerting to Syncope incident

 

 

 

     A mother cat will chuff at her kittens to call them to her. Chuffing can also be used to alert others to one’s existence or whereabouts as an alarm, such as a male lion or tomcat defending his territory from intruders. A cat or dog wanting another to follow them may touch noses and turn around excitedly in an attempt to get the attention of the other. So, this is a perfect action for us to use to alert mommy to the need to sit down so she doesn’t pass out and hit the floor.

 

Dezi atop the cat tree looking down

 

 

 

     These are just a couple of examples of our natural abilities being honed to accommodate mommy’s needs as a disabled person. So, to answer the question of Who’s Training Who, we could say a little of both. No doubt your kitty/doggy has Trained you to know when they’re hungry or need to go to the potty. By watching our behaviors, you too can learn how to hone those behaviors to accommodate your needs. We always say every kitty/doggy can use a little Training, even if they’re not going to be a Service Animal. Bonding with your anipal makes both your lives better, and Training helps to form a stronger bond. And, there are plenty of studies to show that cats only enrich the lives of their owners and help their humans to live longer happier lives. 

 

 Raena stands on scratcher with paw lifted

Who could resist this face?

 

 

Well, we hope you enjoyed today’s post. Altho’ Training is a very serious matter, remember to keep it fun and natural. Using your cat/dog’s natural abilities will make Training more successful. Don’t forget you can ketch up on any post in this series by checking out our Training Tips and Everything Feline page. We love hearing your questions and post suggestions and look forward to answering more of them in a future post. We have some great posts coming up, so be sure to meet us here each Furiday fur a new topic. You never know when it just might be something you’re wondering about or the answer to your question. Me so furgot to link up with Comdey Plus fur Feline Furiday, so me had to come back and edit me’s posty. Sorry ifin ya’ got it in your email twice. But, check out all the feline fun here. We’ll see ya’ soon.

 

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

 

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses 

 

Deztinee and RaenaBelle     

Dezi looks full on at the camera while sitting ion the stroller outside

Service Cats: Should I Use Flea Prevention On My Pet

Published on by Service Cats U.S.35 Comments

MeOW Welcome to Service Cats and Everything Feline on Furidays. Every Furiday we focus on answering questions ‘bout the furry purrers in your house. We’re here to offur Trainin’ Tips fur the frisky feline and answers to any question you may have ‘bout behavior, nutrition, health, and anythin’ else you can think of. Just leave your questions in the comments or send us a purrivate email via our Contact Page. We do ask that you be as specific as pawssible, includin’ any relevant examples, when askin’ behavioral questions. Purr request, we’re no longer statin’ the names of those who ask the questions. Your anonymity is safe. Just remember, there’s no stupid question. And, ifin you’ve missed any of the posts in this series, you can check them out on our Training Tips and Everything Feline Page in our menu bar. We got some great questions last week and we’ll be addressing them shortly. Now, let’s get the business outta the way and get to today’s topic. 

 

Dezi laying in cat tree in new harness

 

 

 

 

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.

 

Raena sits in tiger kitty holster cat harness

 

 

 

 

 

Last week we meowed a little about kitty going outside of the home. Whether on a leash, in a stroller, going to the VET or a fun trip to the pet store, park or drive thru, kitty should be protected at all times. That includes protecting kitty from any and all parasites that kitty might encounter. We were asked, “How do you feel about flea and tick protection?” Fleas and Ticks are those bloodsucking parasites that can cause all kinds of problems for us anipals and even our humans. For those of us in the South, they can be problematic most of the year. As much as we complain about the weather, it never truly gets cold enough, long enough to kill off many of the insects and pests that carry diseases or want to make a meal of you and your furry friend.

 

Flea life cycle
Flea Life Cycle Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

 

 

First, let’s take a look at the flea life cycle: Egg, Larva, Pupa and Adult. The whole life cycle can last anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months. However, the adult flea can lay up to 40 eggs a day. So, if you see one flea, no doubt, there’s more. Fleas are crafty little jumpers and will hitch a ride on pretty much anything to find their next tasty blood meal. So, for those of you who say, “My kitty never goes outside”, first we’d say, Why? We’ve given you lots of Tips for safely allowing kitty to check  out all their surroundings, including the big outdoors. But, more importantly, fleas can hitch a ride on you, your clothing, or any other pets you may have that do go outside. They’re also the teeniest of creatures and can enter your home thru minute cracks in windows, under doors, etc.. Once the flea has found it’s preferred host, your kitty, the life cycle begins anew.

 

 Raena's adorable face close up while sitting in stroller

 

 

 

The most common problem caused by fleas, is Flea Allergy Dermatitis ( no photos, they’re very graphic). Symptoms can include, lots of scratching, head shaking and biting at areas of the body where the fleas are, fur loss and hot spots. Another common health issue fleas can cause is Tapeworms. Trust me, you don’t want these nasty critters. Symptoms can be seen by examining your furry pals poopy. if Tapeworms are present, you’ll see lots of little white rice sized worm segments in the poop and possibly around kitty/doggy’s anus. And yes, humans can get Tapeworms from animals. If you see signs of Tapeworm in your pet, Treat them ASAP!!! These things won’t go away on their own. Because the Flea consumes blood, your pet may also become Anemic. Symptoms include, really pale gums, lethargy and possibly low body temps. Anemia is nothing to play around with. If you suspect your anipal is Anemic, see the VET immediately. Anemia left untreated can cause many health issues, including death.

 

Segmented Tape worm
Segmented Tapeworm Photo courtesy of wikihow

 

 

 

Bartonella, also known as Cat Scratch Fever is the last health issue we’ll cover that can be caused by Flea bites. This is something cats, dogs and humans can get. Symptoms include, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures and swelling of the lymph nodes. Bartonella is very serious and if you suspect your anipal has been infected, see the VET immediately. As if fleas aren’t scary enough, we anipals also have to worry about Ticks, Mosquitos and other parasites like chewing lice, hookworms, round worms and more, including heartworms (caused by infected mosquito bite).

 

Raena stands on edge of stroller and looks out

 

 

 

So, the question was, how do we feel about Flea and Tick protection? First we’ll say that mommy A hates the idea of putting poison on or in us for any reason. That being said, she also hates the thought of us contracting any of the illnesses these parasites can cause. When mommy saved me, me had a horrible case of Fleas and Tapeworm. Of course me got a bath almost immediately with nothing more than a mild cleanser. Mommy used a Flea Comb to remove the fleas not washed down the drain and then gave me a great blow dry. She then treated me’s Tapeworms with an all natural cure because me was too young to take the actual medication usually prescribed. When using natural remedies, one must remember that they generally take longer to work, so in the case of Taeworms, mommy had to be vigilant about cleaning the litterbox and me’s bloomers.

 

 Dezi outside in walking harness

 

 

 

Most animal parents are familiar with at least a few of the treatment options available. Treatments include, shampoos, sprays, powders, collars, edible pills and spot ons. We recommend that animals only be treated during the actual Flea and Tick season for the area they live in. Most people tend to “Treat” year round. It’s our opinion that’s not necessary, however, we do recommend checking with your VET. The most effective poisons for treating Fleas and Ticks are Fopronil, (S)- methoprene, Imidacloprid, Pyriproxyfen and many swear by Brewer’s Yeast.

 

 Close up of Dezi sitting pretty in the stroller outside

 

 

 

As much as mommy may hate putting poison on us, we use a spot on during the spring and summer months. We have a new one we’re trying out right now and will be telling you more about it soon. As most of you know, we are on a very fixed income, but please, don’t take chances with your pets life by using products just because of price. And NEVER, we mean NEVER EVER use a product intended for another species. Using a dog product on a cat could lead to death, and using a cat product on a dog could mean not enough protection. If your anipal is ill, please talk with your VET before using any treatments. Remember, the poison, whether ingested or applied to the anipals skin, will get into their system. You don’t want to over tax a sick animal’s liver/kidneys/heart, etc.. And, if mosquitos are a problem in your area, please consider treating your anipal for heartworms. Prevention just might save their life. If you are using collars or powders, take extra precautions to wash your hands before touching your face, eyes or mouth and keep an eye on small children. Remember, these are Poisons and could be toxic to the young or infirmed. 

 

 Raena walks towards the woods on her harness

 

 

 

Well, we hope we’ve helped you to better understand the Flea and protection. Altho’ mommy hates it, she believes some evils are necessary in small doses. Optimal temps fur fleas is 70-85° F and 70% humidity. That doesn’t mean they can’t thrive in other temps, but when your temps reach 70°, start thinking about Flea Treatments. Don’t furget you can check out the other posts in this series by clickin’ Training Tips and Everything Feline from our menu above. And, what questions do you want answers too? Leave questions and topic suggestions in the comments below or send us an email. Join us here each Furiday to learn more ‘bout your favorite furry purrer. We’re also joining Comedy Plus fur Feline Furiday.

 

So, tell us, do you use any parasite preventions and if so, which ones? 

 

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

 

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses

 

Deztinee and RaenaBelle  

Service Cats: How Long Does It Take To Train A Cat Pt. 2

Published on by Service Cats U.S.26 Comments

MeOW and welcome to a new installment of Service Cats and Everything Feline. Keep the questions coming. ‘Member, there’s no stupid question, we can’t all know everythin’ all the time. We do want to remind you to be as specific as pawssible when askin’ behavioral questions. We want to give you the best Training Tips to correct the unwanted behavior. Well bahaved kitties mean more kitties stay in their furever homes. And yes, a lot of mommy A’s Training Tips can be used to Train dogs, horses and other species, not just the finicky feline in your life. You can ketch up on any of the posts in this series by clickin’ on Training Tips and Everything Feline on our menu bar. There you will find the links to all our Educational posts and Training Tips. Today’s posty is a continuation of last weeks post where we began to address the question, “How long does it take to Train a Cat?” Let’s get the business out of the way and get this pawrty started.

 

Dezi laying in cat tree in new harness

 

 

 

 

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.

Raena sits posing in her tiger harness

 

 

 

Last week we explained that we couldn’t really put an exact time table on Training because there are a lot of factors to be considered, such as age, breed, abilities/disabilities and personality. But, all kitties/cats can be Trained and actually enjoy Training. We briefly told you about how long it took Shad, mommy’s first Service Cat, to Train herself. You can read all about Shad here. We then moved on to Lucky and sis Lexi,  mommy’s first “driving” (wheelchair) kitties. The greatest thing you have when it comes to Training, is an animals’ curiosity and desire to please their human(s). A Bonded animal will go to great lengths to get their human’s approval and love.

 

 Lexi lays in wheelchair

 

 

 

So, let’s take a look now at how long it took sis Lexi to learn to drive mommy’s first wheelchair. As we mentioned it took about 3 months for Lexi to get over her fears of the wheelchair. You have to remember, a wheelchair isn’t just a big chair, it’s a big, heavy moving piece of furniture. Unfortunately, many a kitty has probably had their tail run over more than once by someone in a wheelchair. Unintentionally of course, but me’s sure it hurts just the same. So, we left off with Lexi trying to push the joystick one morning after having watched her brother move the chair the night before by doing just that. Altho’ the chair was plugged in and wouldn’t operate, mommy praised Lexi for her attempts and told her how proud she was. Once mommy was in the chair herself, she held Lexi in her lap while letting Lexi rest her front paws on mommy’s driving hand (mommy could still move her upper body well in the morning’s at that time). As mommy’s hand and Lexi’s paws pushed the joystick forward, mommy continued to praise Lexi and say “Good girl. Let’s go to the potty room.” yes, the first thing mommy ever needs to do in the morning is hit the bathroom. Seems everybody including the kitties all have to take advantage of the facilities first thing in the morning, so Lexi had jumped out of the chair and after using the litterbox took up her watchful place on the bathroom sink’s vanity.

 

 Lexi's signature pose

Mommy did well under the ever watchful eyes of sweet Lexi.

 

 

 

The next stop mommy always makes is the kitchen to prepare a kitty feast. Again, Lexi sat in mommy’s lap with her front paws on mommy’s driving hand as they headed to the kitchen. And again, mommy praised Lexi and said “To the kitchen, it’s time for brekky.” Yes, mommy’s always used a lot of baby talk with us. This pattern was repeated off and on during the day for the next several months. Training sessions lasted about 15 minutes each time for each kitty, Lexi and then Lucky. Remember, Training is ALL about Repetition and Rewards. In this case, taking kitty for rides and praising them throughout each session. Lucky caught on much quicker than Lexi and was driving without mommy’s hand in about 4 months. Lexi took her successful, no help from mommy drive about 2 months later; for a total of 6 months Active Training. That means a total of 9 months passed from the time the wheelchair entered the house to the time Lexi successfully maneuvered it by herself. When we say “by herself”, we mean that mommy’s hands were no where near the joystick. However, mommy did and still does use her hands to steady and support us on her leg.

 

 Dezi checks out the new Powerchair

 

 

 

The joystick extends anywhere from 6 to 12 inches from the arm. The wheelchair’s arm is approximately 2 to 3 inches wide, so there’s technically not enough room for us to stand, lay or sit on the arm and drive. We must remain in mommy’s lap and stretch/lean forward to connect with the joystick. This “stretch” makes us a little unsteady, especially when the chair is in motion. Because the chair can continue to move slightly even after pressure on the joystick stops, means that it can be extremely dangerous if we were to fall, thus the need for some support from the rider/mommy.

 

 Baby Dezi looks up at Lexi laying in the wheelchair

35mm camera image

Hey sissy, how’d you get up there? Me wants to be just like you.

 

 

 

Let’s move forward a bit to the time me joined mommy, and sis Lexi. By this time, sis Lexi was 10 years old and pretty much everything was old hat to her. Meaning, she was fully Trained and wasn’t learning anything new. At least that’s what mommy thought. We’ll come back to this a little later. So, me came to live with mommy and sis Lexi when me was about 2 1/2 – 3 weeks old. Me was very tiny and very sick. Thankfully, me was in the purrfect home with just the right mommy. Me had picked mommy instead of her picking me, so me bonded with her right away. Oh how me loves and adores mommy and me’s then sis Lexi. Me wanted to be just like sissy. Even though she was huge compared to me, me tried to do everything she did.

 

 Baby Dezi her first week at home

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Yep, me was so tiny the only potty box me could reach was a foil bakin’ pan.

 

 

 

 

Mommy remembers one of the first showers she took after me came to live here. When mommy would get in the shower, sis Lexi would automatically jump into the shower with her and stand at the back or on the other side of the shower curtain that was in the tub. This time, mommy had just stepped into the shower accompanied by sis Lexi when she heard a banging echo on the tub. She pulled back the curtain to see little o’l me trying desperately to jump into the bathtub with her and Lexi. Me wasn’t even as tall as mommy’s ankles, so the tub was certainly to tall for me to get into. And, ya’ know what? Those tubs are slippery. There’s nothing for a kitty to grab onto for climbing. But me had watched mommy get into the shower accompanied by sis Lexi for a couple of days, and remember, me wanted to do everything sissy did. Anyways, sis Lexi jumped on the edge of the tub and laid down to comfort me while mommy continued her shower. Mommy says shortly after she got into the shower, she could hear me meowing me’s squeaky meow like crazy. And, when she came to, she found me laying under her wet hair on the floor. Little did mommy know at that time, but me had been trying to tell her that she was going to pass out.

 

 Lexi lays in bathroom sink while Dezi lays on vanity beside her

Me sure did luv me’s sis Lexi.

 

 

 

Mommy says this topic is lengthy, so we need to wrap it up fur today. But, we’ll be pickin’ up where we left off next time. We know you want to know all ‘bout how me learned to help mommy and how long it took, so be sure to click that follow button ifin you haven’t already done so. And don’t furget to submit your questions, whether about us, Training, Health issues or Anything Feline in the comments or via email thru our contact page. Mommy has experience with other animal species as well, so just leave your questions and we’ll try to give you an answer. And, you can ketch up on any post you may have missed or just want to re-read by clickin’ Training Tips and Everything Feline from our menu above. Well, that’s it fur now, see ya’ soon. 

       

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

 

 

 

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses

 

Deztinee and RaenaBelle