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Making You & Your Dog Happier


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Make sure your cat is happy

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Are you a cat person or a dog person? The nice thing is, you don’t need to pick one or the other to love. We love animals, no matter what species. It’s just that dogs are more involved with our lives a lot of the time, and cats come and go as they please. So this means cats are all fine, aren’t they?

The quick answer to this is – no, they aren’t, and we miss the signs because cats don’t make it obvious! Cats do not have the same number of facial muscles as dogs, largely because they probably haven’t needed us to communicate with in quite the same way as dogs. They are a fascinating and lovely species, so let’s learn more about them.

Cats can and do suffer myriad behaviour problems, often without obvious complaint. Their problems appear quietly, with a range of initially annoying but easy to ignore issues such as the occasional spat with a neighbourhood cat, or scratching the furniture now and again. However, these issues can develop into more obvious signals that all is not well; spraying urine indoors, toileting in the bath, or leaving for good.

The saddest thing about stress and behaviour problems in cats is that many problems can be easily resolved by us owners making the right choices for them for toys, companionship and exercise – it goes far beyond them turning their noses up at the bowl of tasty dinner that you presented.

What kinds of things do cats not always cope well with? Well, a key one that people do not realise is that many cats do not like to be in multiple cat households. They do not always like to share their space with other cats (and sometimes aren’t keen on humans being around either). Never feel like your cat needs a companion just because they are an ‘only’ cat. In a multiple cat household, many cats in one home territory cause stress-related issues such as spraying, inappropriate toileting, as well as aggression.

How about cat toys? Well, they need to move in a certain way, and to make sure your hands are out of reach! Fishing rod toys, have a long rod to protect hands and prevent cats learning that human hands are to be grabbed or scratched.

Even for older cats, scratching posts, toys, and boxes can attract them away from testing out their claws and scent marks on furniture and wallpaper. 

To make toys more interesting and to guarantee you know what’s inside, a refill tub of catnip can be obtained separately. Just visit your local pet shop (call first to check their Covid safety regulations!) and you can choose from a wide selection.

Next week we will look at more ways to help your cat, so stay ready to pounce on the next column! 

Yes, cats are known to be inscrutable, but their behaviour tell us more about them than we often think. Did you know that if your cat is wagging her tail at you that is not a good sign? (She’s angry.) Or what it means if her pupils are dilated? (She’s scared.) Or if she’s kneading your leg? (She s showing appreciation.) Getting straight to the point, The Purrfect Guide to Thinking like a Cat doesn’t waste time on lengthy and complicated explanations that you will never finish reading let alone put into practice. Instead, in brief instructions the book explains how to understand your cat s behaviour and how you can adapt your own behaviour to make the most of your relationship. 

What’s new pussycat? What your cat wants you to know.

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We’ve all had time to reconsider our daily lives and routines, our safety and all the other things we probably took for granted, until quite recently. Now we have settled into the new situation, it has changed yet again. Some of us are getting stressed and anxious again since our lives have become unpredictable, over and over.

What does this have to do with cats?

Cats, as do all animals, like to know what is safe, where their next meal is coming from (sometimes twenty times a day), who they can trust and who to stay away from. They want to know where it’s warm and cosy and where they won’t feel like something is going to be risky.

Sounds familiar?

Your cat is probably far better than you at observing all of the routine changes, no matter how minute they are. Cats are very good at this, highly sensitive to it in fact. It isn’t a surprise, since they can be so skittish one moment and completely unbothered, the next. If you’ve ever owned a cat that is hugely confident with absolutely everything and everyone, that is a rarity. Most cats take offence rapidly and won’t hold back from scratching, even if you are trying to pet them for a moment longer than the 1.25 seconds they decided was going to be acceptable.

My point is that your cat wants you to understand that for them, changes can be stressful too. They don’t make a big fuss about things, because that’s not a good survival tactic, but they will show you in plenty of more subtle ways that they aren’t happy. Keeping away from certain people, leaving the room when things happen, grooming themselves frantically, even sleeping ‘propped up’ rather than splayed out. Things can change from moment to moment, so that cat that displayed his fluffy belly to you in the sunshine will suddenly grab your arm and scrabble his back feet in. Us humans have to learn our lessons, don’t we?

Cats can be demonstrative and cuddly sometimes, but not all cats are. Forcing them is not a good idea, since you can be really hurt. Cats do not live under the ‘dominance’ myth, any more than dogs do, and to anyone suggesting this – stop it, it’s harmful and untrue. So, what’s new with your cat? Well, nothing really, but your thoughts about cats could reflect what we know now. Cats are sensitive and intelligent, care about territory and resources and will battle for these. It’s a safety game. Just as our lives are currently.

To keep your cat and yourself occupied during times like these, fun toys such as these will help in keeping them occupied and energetic. Click the image for more info.

Lockdown pets and the new normal

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What’s happening for our pets during lockdown? How are they coping?

In my book ‘Being a Dog’, I tried to help us all learn how the world appears from the dog’s point of view. It was the same in my book ‘Purrfect Guide to thinking like a Cat’, but of course, for our cat friends instead. Why is it important to get inside their thought processes?

Try saying ‘It’s just a dog’ to anyone who has one in their home these days? Not everyone is lucky enough to own a pet, but dog or cat, they are one of the family. As we know, families are very different in the way that they do things day to day. This means that our pets learn all of our little ways, without even trying hard.

What happens then, when there is a lockdown and things seem to be turned on their heads for most of us? Is it silly to think that the pets might care too?

Of course, they aren’t reading the news or looking at the government statistics, depressing though they are. However, we are affected by all these things. Staying at home, feeling worried, missing our normal routines and being put under huge pressure too. It’s all incredibly different, so it would be naive to imagine that our dogs and cats haven’t noticed.

Does it matter? Well, possibly not. Dogs and cats are hugely adaptable. They cope with all kinds of comings and goings in human life, so why not this? I do think that now we have mostly been forced to slow down our pace, they probably quite like the continuity. Those that are left alone most of the day are probably loving having us around. 

If you are feeling bored, imagine what your dog goes through for the hours and hours you’re at work? 

If you are feeling a bit ‘hemmed in’, perhaps your cat could be considered a little more? Let them have their own space. They need it.

Of course, it isn’t all rainbows. It might be that you are experiencing more problems with your pet because you aren’t leaving them alone as much, especially if you’re seeking extra cuddles or the kids are letting off steam. The good news is that there is still help available if you need it, so feel free to contact me or any properly qualified (ABTC-registered, Clinical Animal Behaviourist) colleagues. We are still running online puppy classes, and they are still filled with well-behaved dogs and puppies wanting to learn. It isn’t a poorer or lesser method, no matter what you hear. Our online class clients are doing exceptionally well, and I think they deserve congratulations because their ‘lockdown pups’ are going to cope with all the changes that will come with our future new normal.

Here are the two of my books I mentioned, click the images for more info.

Karen joins Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians

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I am very pleased and proud to announce that I am now a Certificated Member of the Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians (FABC).

Standards in animal welfare, pet behaviour and training are extremely important where we are close to the hearts and lives of so many. One goal is to make sure we provide everyone with access to properly assessed and qualified practitioners.

If you are a pet owner, we know that we only want the best for them. The FABC clearly state “Sharing our lives with an animal can be a wonderful experience but when their behaviour causes concerns this can be very worrying. By choosing one of our certificated members you can be assured that your behaviourist has met the very highest industry standards both academically and practically.”.

“The Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians is a professional body to forward the interests of Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourists (CCABs) and those training to become Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourists.”.

Along with ensuring you know where to come with your pet problems, Veterinarians and Vet Nurses are also able to feel certain that their clients are being referred to professionals who have been independently assessed.

If you’d like to know more or access the list of FABC members near you, as well as accessing helpful articles and webinars, please visit https://fabclinicians.org/

Is my pet naughty? Or poorly?

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This week has been rather difficult for us as we found out one of our older, beloved dogs is very unwell. Our little terrier has always had her fair share of health problems, coming as she did from a puppy farm and not very understanding home. She was then rescued and we took her in. 

Many rescue dogs are rehomed through no fault of their own. In this case it was hard to tell, but this little scruffy bundle arrived from her foster home with lots of suspicions about humans and their ways. She would bite, not hard, but enough, so we had to work with her for a long time and even now she finds some things difficult to cope with.

Why have I mentioned this in an article about health?

Often, we get so used to our pets behaving as they do that we don’t always notice when they aren’t just being tricky to manage. I don’t like the word ‘naughty’, but people I work with often use it when their pets aren’t doing what they expect. 

What this means is that maybe your dog or cat has learned something you don’t really want them to repeat, but it could be that they actually aren’t feeling very well.

Pain and illness can change any animal’s behaviour. Are you the same person when you’ve got a stomach bug or a headache? What about when you are tired or perhaps a bit run down by life? It’s the same with our pets.

With my terrier, she suddenly started whining and crying for more food. Odd, since she has always been slim and never overate. The whining continued even after she had been fed. All she wanted to do was sit on someone’s knee, again, unusual. Now, we could have just assumed she was being a bit needy and greedy! Instead, we monitored her for a short while and then took her to the Vet, described the changes in her behaviour, and the Vet (Priory, in Stamford), gave her a blood test and called me back that day. Yes, our little dog has kidney problems and is now being treated.

My point is this. If you see your dog or cat change, or if they persistently do something, don’t simply assume that it’s just their personality. Don’t assume it’s ‘just old age’ or that your pet is slowing down somehow. Don’t assume they are ‘naughty’ and then take them to a trainer who doesn’t ask you to have a Vet check first – this is essential for their care. Our pets don’t really show illness like we humans do, so be their best carer ever and get that change checked out!

To read more about how you as an owner can understand your dog better, my book What Your Dog Wants discusses this and more. Click the image for more info.