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Zazie and Kristi chat about easy methods to groom cats, what to do with matted fur, trimming cats’ nails, and easy methods to give meds to cats.
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Watch episode 12 of The Pawsitive Put up in Dialog on Youtube or under, pay attention by way of your favorite podcast app or under, or scroll all the way down to learn a number of the highlights.
Husbandry for cats
On this episode we chat about easy methods to groom your cat and easy methods to take care of mats, in addition to easy methods to trim your cat’s nails. We talk about the various the explanation why it’s essential to not “declaw” your cat and the way it’s actually like an amputation. Scratching is a pure habits for cats and we speak in regards to the form of submit to offer to maintain your cat completely happy.
We additionally talk about the difficult subject of easy methods to give meds to your cats, together with pilling, towel-wrapping, and methods to make meds simpler. Alongside the way in which we share tales about our personal cats and naturally a number of ideas for canines as effectively.
On the finish we chat in regards to the books we’re studying.
Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Blissful by Zazie Todd is accessible from all good bookstores.
The entire books talked about within the episode can be found from my Amazon retailer.
The Paw Mission: Cats’ paws want their claws https://pawproject.org/
BC’s 2018 ban on declawing cats was excellent news for cats, research exhibits
What sort of scratching submit do cats choose?
Caring for a diabetic cat will get simpler with time, research exhibits
give your cat an insulin injection (iCatCare)
practice your cat to make use of an bronchial asthma inhaler
Educate any cat AeroKat (iCatCare)
clip your cat’s claws (iCatCare)
Two individuals giving a cat a capsule (iCatCare)
Medicating ideas and methods (Essentially Feline)
Consolation cats in a towel wrap (Dr. Sophia Yin)
Contemporary and Fearless: Primary Grooming Made Straightforward (Kristi Benson)
The Books
Kristi’s suggestion is Pink, White and Royal Blue: A Novel by Casey McQuiston.
Zazie recommends Unbroken: My Struggle for Survival, Hope, and Justice for Indigenous Girls and Ladies by Angela Sterritt.
The books can be found from all good bookstores and the Companion Animal Psychology Amazon retailer.
Highlights of the dialog on cat husbandry
Z: Let’s begin with speaking about how usually we brush our cats and the way we try this, as a result of one among my cats Harley completely likes to be brushed. And it took me a number of years to find this about him as a result of he is a brief haired cat and he did not actually need brushing. My different cat Melina isn’t very completely happy [about it], she is going to settle for it but it surely’s not one thing that she significantly loves. Harley simply naturally loves it, Melina would not find it irresistible.
However Harley likes to be brushed every single day it seems. And he has a very good inner clock so he is aware of what time it’s when it is time for him to be groomed, which was really simply now, and he’ll come and meow at me and say it is time for me to be groomed. And that meow is a barely totally different meow from when he is meowing as a result of it is time for his supper time. So he needs to be brushed out at this set time within the morning, that is when he expects to be brushed, and he additionally does form of want it as a result of he sheds lots. Despite the fact that he is short-haired he does shed lots. Even when he is simply been brushed he nonetheless sheds lots, and he is getting on a bit as a result of he is 14. Older cats usually want a little bit of grooming even when they did not earlier than. So for him it is every single day.
For Melina, she comes and appears after I’m doing Harley and generally she’s like okay you’ll be able to brush me a little bit bit and I’ve to do actually actually brief strokes with the comb, form of like you understand if a cat was licking one other cat there’d be actually brief licks. In order that they should be actually brief whereas with Harley I can really do fairly a protracted brush and he likes it, however for Melina it needs to be brief after which she’s okay. One other day she’s like no I am going away right now, she would not need it. So how about Apricat? As a result of Apricat is short-haired is not he?
Ok: Sure short-haired and we do brush him however kind of when he wants it, and so I would say a number of instances a yr nearly. And perhaps I am it with like a canine particular person’s lens however I see his coat appears a little bit totally different and I am like oh it is time to brush him now and I brush him. However you understand if you’re saying older cats must be brushed extra, that’s fascinating and I am questioning if that is what they’re saying he appears like.
if you requested me to speak about this I checked out him and I believed, oh you understand what it is really it is most likely time to groom him proper now, I believe his coat is wanting a little bit bit like he must be brushed. However usually I believe he takes care of himself in that method fairly you understand, his coat tends to be fairly good so when his coat begins to look not like his stunning Apricat self then I give him a brush and he is okay with it.
However he solely likes it for a brief period of time, similar as kind of most forms of petting he’ll solely put up with it for a little bit bit after which he is similar to “and now I am completed.” However I believe he likes it in that point he would not go away you understand till he is like okay now.
Z: And I believe most cats choose issues to be brief. It is like most cats choose solely to be petted for a short while after which they’ve had sufficient after which they’d prefer it most likely to occur once more fairly quickly with the patting. Whereas that is the bizarre factor about Harley, he fairly likes it to go on for a very long time. After we hadn’t had him for very lengthy, if we have been petting him and we stopped, from his perspective it was too quickly, he would chew us after which he would comply with us meowing like “I would like extra!”. So he is a really cuddly affectionate form of cat in that method despite the fact that he isn’t a lap cat. However I believe short-haired cats do not want it fairly often.
I stated older cats as a result of I believe usually older cats if they’ve a little bit of arthritis or one thing it may be a bit tougher for them to achieve sure areas so perhaps their pants would possibly want grooming a bit extra, like their trousers, the again of their legs for instance. And with Harley I even brush him on the stomach however I’ve to do it when he is standing up and I form of attain spherical below his stomach and brush his stomach and he’ll settle for it if he is standing up. He really likes to rub his head on one thing so now we have a set spot and he has someplace he can rub his head whereas I am brushing him and it is simply ecstasy for him.
I believe longer haired cats, and I’ve had longer haired cats earlier than, they want much more brushing. And I believe a Persian cat would undoubtedly want much more brushing probably every single day, and that form of cat, as a result of they’ve a extra squashed face and a few folds of their faces they most likely would want wiping round their eyes similar to some canines want wiping round their eyes as effectively.
Ok: Yeah after which you should by no means get mats in. Apricat as a result of he is a brief haired okay I do not assume so, I am making an attempt to assume, I do not assume he is ever had something like mats wherever. Yeah no, his hair is fairly constantly brief you understand and he does, he’s fairly straightforward to maintain and he is on us lots. It isn’t like you understand in case you have a canine or a cat or one thing that does not wish to be touched generally I believe mats can creep up you understand after which hastily you are like whoa I assume I have not patted your you understand stomach or no matter for a very long time, or behind your ears or wherever canines often get mats. However as a result of Apricat sits on my lap for like hours a day, he would not need to essentially be patted that complete time however he likes to kind of sit on my lap, I believe as a result of I am kind of touching him on a regular basis I’d really feel it.
Z: Yeah I believe you’ll. And I assume the trousers and perhaps the armpits and there are particular areas perhaps behind the ears maybe as effectively the place mats are extra probably. Possibly they’re frequent throughout cats and canines I do not know.
Ok: Yeah I do not know. In case you have a protracted haired cat it you’ll be able to miss mats in case you’re not cautious as a result of they’ll really feel high-quality if you stroke them on the floor however the mat could be beneath.
Z: Yeah yeah, they are often fairly deep after which that may be actually uncomfortable for the cats. So one factor you are able to do about that’s really simply to form of tease the hairs aside. It takes some time and also you want a affected person cat however you’ll be able to simply form of tease the mat aside. And that is usually higher than making an attempt to chop it, as a result of in case you minimize it you are risking chopping the cat unintentionally and that is not good. And naturally if it is dangerous then it’s essential ask your vet to assist out. And yeah you’ll be able to take them to the vet and have them shaved if needed on the vet and then you definitely get a clear slate to start out once more. However actually it is one thing it is best to do and to start out doing if you’ve bought them once they’re younger, it is a lot a lot simpler. However like canines you’ll be able to train them at any age. Sorry go on.
Ok: I used to be gonna say in case you take them, similar because the canine you understand, generally individuals will come as much as me and say oh I noticed that you’ve got like Jane’s grooming course, I’ve a canine that hates to be touched and has matting. And I usually suggest you speak to your vet and let’s have a look at if we are able to do a groom the place the canine is receiving kind of medical help, get all of it groomed and that offers you such as you stated a clean slate to start out training in an effort to begin with out having to be like that stress of being like Oh my God my pet has a mat and it is uncomfortable for them and I want to love work on it. You may simply be like this is a recent begin for me and my cat or my canine. I can begin working. I can begin doing counter conditioning and get the animal actually snug being groomed which I believe is a pleasant it is a good present for you and your animal.
Z: Yeah and also you’re proper in regards to the particular person’s stress as effectively as a result of in case you’re considering oh there is a mat I’ve bought to take care of, you are going to need to get on and take care of that, and on the similar time in case your intention is basically to show the cat or canine to get pleasure from being groomed really you must go at their tempo, which is form of contradictory to checking out the mat. So it is a good suggestion such as you say, in case you get that completed on the vet then you’ll be able to consider doing the coaching correctly and get that completed. Yeah it makes it a lot a lot simpler. And it is so good that you’ve got these this course accessible to assist individuals with that I believe it is good.
Ok: Yeah yeah completely.
Z: Yeah. So many individuals so many individuals need assistance with that. After which nails as effectively. So your course appears at canines’ nails, the one that you’ve got accessible, however cats generally want their nails trimmed too particularly in the event that they’re indoors solely. It is a bit totally different in the event that they’re outdoor cats as a result of they use their nails for lots of issues they most likely climb bushes with them and so forth they usually most likely put on them down a bit extra however how usually do you do Apricat’s nails?
Ok: I do his nails once they begin to hurt me when he sits on my lap. So he takes care of them himself generally a bit he does have a scratching submit that he likes to make use of and generally I believe that the nails get kind of worn down or they shed there, however I do maintain cat nail clippers proper at my desk after which when he is sitting on my lap, it offers me a possibility to trim his nails. So not as a lot as I’ve to do the canine’s nails for positive, as a result of the canines’ nails, I try to do them each week, but it surely finally ends up most likely being as soon as a month simply because it is laborious to try this form of stuff however perhaps as soon as each couple months I would say I’ve to do it so generally. He is excellent right here that is why my arm is doing just like the tram kind of factor.
If he is right here and he is snug I can kind of gently seize one foot, do one nail after which pat him and he is high-quality with it. In order that’s one of many ways in which I love to do it.
The opposite method is I maintain Churu within the closet there and and I am going to put a plate down if he wants all of his nails completed and and I want I need to do them shortly, I am going to simply put a little bit little bit of Churu on the plate and he’ll lick it after which I am going to minimize a nail after which I am going to give him a little bit bit extra. So it is kind of prefer it’s each a distraction and a counter conditioning I believe kind of protocol. It is a little bit sloppy, do not inform Jean {Donaldson]! Nevertheless it works and he goes bananas for the style of that stuff and it takes a complete tube primarily, or you understand two-thirds of the tube after which I get by means of all of his nails and his complete physique and he is snug and completely happy after which it is completed.
In order that’s how I do it once more. I put a little bit bit on the plate to get him oriented to the plate after which I decide up his foot and I clip a nail after which I give him a little bit bit extra so I make it possible for after each nail clip he will get some treats in order that he is making that affiliation.
Z: Yeah and I believe it is one thing individuals do not usually notice they’ll do with cats, and even so far as canines and husbandry behaviors go we want extra consciousness that you should utilize meals to assist your canine get pleasure from this stuff. However for cats we want much more individuals to know that utilizing meals is an effective solution to practice your cat or to make use of this as distraction for one thing. And yeah these these tubes are Churu. I believe each cat appears to like them.
Ok: Yeah they’re very helpful, very helpful. And so they’re good as a result of they’re shelf secure so I can simply have them in my workplace you understand and pull them out when it is time, they usually’re not terribly costly so throughout good things.
And I believe I have been fortunate as a result of Apricat could be very handleable, so it is all the time been straightforward for me to select up his foot. He would not like his foot being held you understand however he would not, you understand it hasn’t taken a variety of work like a few of my canines have taken a variety of work. Sitka has taken a variety of work to get snug having her nails trimmed. However I assume it is you understand kind of for cat homeowners to understand if their cats are actually uncomfortable having their ft held you’ll be able to speak to a behaviorist you understand or discover a good coaching plan. Is there one in Purr? I am unable to bear in mind.
Z: Not for nails. The 2 coaching plans in Purr are one for a trick referred to as sit fairly and the opposite one is instructing your cat to go within the service. And I solely had area for 2 coaching plans. Nevertheless it tells you a large number about easy methods to practice your cat so it offers you the entire basic ideas that individuals can use.
Ok: Yeah so I imply you possibly can you possibly can give you a coaching plan or work with a cat behaviorist on a coaching plan the place you understand so as a substitute of going proper to grabbing and holding their foot and form of like wrestling them to carry their foot after which minimize their nail. You begin with one thing actually easy and that the cat’s already snug with, perhaps like a agency contact to their shoulder or one thing and then you definitely give them a number of the deal with and over time when your cat is demonstrating that they are snug in anticipating the treats you progress into this like larger and larger kind of nearer and nearer to the precise nail clip. However in the long run then you find yourself clipping their nails and it is all stunning and angels sing!
Z: And yeah so that you begin with the shoulder and transfer all the way down to the paws as a result of they most likely do not prefer it in case you simply seize them by the paw. They don’t seem to be used to that so you must begin with one thing they’re extra used to. After which there’s the implement as effectively. So I am positive that is what you probably did with Apricat of displaying the implements individually and getting them used to the implement. Or perhaps you did not have to as a result of it did not predict something did it?
Ok: I’d, I had to try this with Sitka, construct a separate plan. However with Apricat no, he’s simply that straightforward that he is like oh meals positive I am going to allow you to try this. even when he is kind of like within the I do not love this however I am going to tolerate it, he would not have an issue. I do not assume he is ever had an precise painful expertise having his nails completed as a result of it is fairly straightforward. As a result of nails are white you understand so it is simple sufficient. And Sitka would not match on my lap so it is form of a special state of affairs.
Z: Yeah that’s extra of a problem but when somebody’s canine or cat have beforehand had dangerous experiences then you definitely would separate out the implement and you’ll counter-condition them to seeing the Implement as effectively.
Ok: Yeah and generally canines do not even want a nasty expertise to only discover issues scary. So you understand your canine finest or your cat finest. In the event that they discover one thing scary then you definitely’re gonna should do the coaching for it. For those who’re fortunate sufficient to have an Apricat you’ll be able to transfer a bit extra shortly.
Kristi Benson is an honours graduate of the distinguished
Academy for Canine Trainers, the place she earned her Certificates in Coaching
and Counseling (CTC). She additionally has gained her PCBC-A credential from the
Pet Skilled Accreditation Board. She has not too long ago moved to
stunning northern British Columbia, the place she is going to proceed to assist canine
guardians by means of on-line instructing and consultations. Kristi is on employees
on the Academy for Canine Trainers, serving to to form the subsequent era
of canine professionals. Kristi’s canines are rescue sled canines, largely
retired and totally having fun with a very good snooze in entrance of the
woodstove.
Web site: http://www.kristibenson.com/ Fb Twitter
Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning creator of Wag: The Science of Making Your Canine Blissful and Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Blissful. She is the creator of the favored weblog, Companion Animal Psychology, and likewise has a column at Psychology Immediately. Todd lives in Maple Ridge, BC, along with her husband, one canine, and two cats.
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