ComPETability: Solving Behavior Problems In Your Multi-Cat Household

by Shojai, Amy

  A good rule of “paw” is to have no more pets than you have bedrooms. You can fudge this rule if the cats have extra vertical space (cat trees, window perches, hiding places). Cats prefer the status quo, and must be persuaded to put up with more pets. Not enough space in the house raises stress levels. A “house of plenty” in terms of food, toys, potties and space offers fewer opportunities to argue over who owns what.

  AGE: Age of the pets involved is vital. A kitten threatens a resident cat’s social status less than one of the same age. Older cats may forgive kitten indiscretions more readily, and Sheba can train the baby before the little guy gets too big to buffalo.

  SEXUAL STATUS: Sexual status and gender greatly impact how well cats get along—or won’t. Spaying and neutering all the felines in the household goes a long way toward leveling the playing field. The worst aggressions occur between same-sex pairings, so pick a new cat of the opposite gender.

  HEALTH: Health issues make everything else unimportant. A medical problem automatically lowers the social standing of a cat. An ill or elderly resident feline likely will lose top cat status to the healthy newcomer. Healthy cats commonly pick on a health-challenged pet, and the stress, change in routine, and upset in status may make these pets feel even worse. So when Sheba isn’t healthy, delay introducing a new pet until she feels better or take steps to ensure the safety and quality of life for all the pets involved.

  COMPETABLE TOOL CHEST

  A number of helpful commercial and homemade products are recommended throughout the book. The best ones engage one or more of your cats’ senses to entice them to “do the right thing” without forcing the situation. An overview of some of my favorites follows with a short recap of where they can help you with your cats’ behavior issues.

  Touching Techniques

  Touch can be pleasant or unpleasant, used as a reward (as in petting) or a deterrent that stops unacceptable behaviors.

  · Figure-8 harness or small-size dog H-harness and leash. Beneficial for stress reduction as well as management situations. The leash can be used as a drag line the leashed cat tows behind as she moves around the house. That can entice fearful cats to chase and play with the dragged leash. It can also be used to stop the cat’s aggressive movements toward another feline when the owner steps on the line.

  · Thundershirt for Cats. This is a snug-fitting vest that comes in small, medium and large sizes. The product helps reduce stress.

  · Sticky Paws. The double-sided tape product keeps cats away from forbidden locations such as furniture, countertops and plants, as well as prevents scratching of illegal targets. The stick surface is unpleasant when a cat touches with a furry paw and tender toe fur is pulled.

  · The Scarecrow or Garden Ghost. Commercial product examples of motion-activated sprinklers that can keep unwanted animals out of your yard.

  Sound Help

  Acute hearing can get cats into trouble when the noise from outside critters (or bugs in the walls) drives them crazy. Sound can be used to cover up scary noises. Music works to sooth upset emotions and can be an effective natural tranquilizer. Other sounds can be used to humanely interrupt poor behavior.

  · Harp music has a natural sedative effect; in people it has been shown to relieve pain. Harp music lowers the heart rate and blood pressure, slows respiration, increases the release of natural pain relievers (endorphins) and naturally calms pets.

  · Pet Melodies and similar products are designed specifically for pets. Music can be therapeutic because the heart rhythm and brain waves tend to mimic (entrain) the tempos. Slow and soft music sooths and calms while faster music with a driving rhythm energizes. Music that your cat associates with you also can have a soothing influence.

  · Noise machines create “white noise” that covers up distracting or unpleasant sounds that can be scary to cats. You can make your own white noise machine by tuning your radio to static.

  · The SSSCAT cat-repellent device sprays a hiss of air when motion triggers the built-in detector. The sound startles and interrupts cats away from illegal areas. This booby-trap type product works particularly well since owners do not need to be present for it to work, and therefore the cats don’t blame owners for the interruption.

  · Air horns available in sports supply stores work well for breaking up cat fights without you risking your own injury.

  Smelly Tips

  Cats interact with their world through their noses. Scent can reward good behavior, and it can prevent bad behaviors or teach new ways of interacting.

  · Catnip is a wonderful feline training tool. This harmless herb is a member of the mint family. The volatile oil is released when crushed by the cat biting or rolling on it, and acts like a cat hallucinogen to reduce feline inhibitions and shyness. About one-third of cats do not react to catnip (this is an inherited trait) but for those that do, catnip can be an important trick in the tool chest. For instance, catnip spiked on new cat trees helps teach cats to scratch the right object. Catnip also can calm cats during introductions. Use only once a week or the effect can wear off.

  · Pleasant scents like your perfume or vanilla extract can be applied to all the cats to help them smell more alike. Since cats identify friendly family members by shared scent, this shortcut may help in some situations by dabbing a bit under the chin or back of the neck.

  · Citrus odors tend to be off-putting to cats. Orange or lemon scents sprayed on forbidden furniture help keep cats away. Citrus peels scattered in the garden may shoo away stray cats.

  · Menthol odors like Vicks also can repel pets and can be applied to illegal chew or scratch targets. You also can apply to a cloth and drape over the forbidden target.

  CLEANING POTTY SMELLS

  Cats and dogs can detect minute chemical scents humans can't fathom. Simply mopping up the mess may satisfy your nose, but the smell lures pets back to the scene of the crime to repeat the dirty deed, time after time. Urine soaked into carpet proves particularly difficult to remove. With fresh accidents, pick up the solids and blot up as much liquid as possible. Avoid using ammonia based cleaning products. Since urine has ammonia in it, such products may mimic the smell and make the area even more attractive as a potty spot.

  Once urine dries on carpet or walls, "pee-mail" notes are even more difficult to locate and clean. Turn off all your lights and shine a high-quality black light on suspect areas--that makes urine glow in the dark. Don't forget to check vertical areas such as walls and bedspreads that spraying cats and leg-lifting dogs like to target.

  The best products don't just clean the area or cover up with perfumes, but actually neutralize the chemicals that smell bad. Urine is composed of sticky urea, urochrome (the yellow color), and uric acid. The first two can be washed away, but uric acid is nearly impossible to dissolve and remove from surfaces.

  That's why successful products not only clean away the urea and urochrome, they also neutralize the uric acid with enzymes or encapsulate the urine molecules to contain the odor. Here are a few examples I've found to be successful and/or other professionals and colleagues have recommend to me. Ask for them at pet products stores, your veterinarian, Target, Walmart and similar sources as well as online.

  · Anti-Icky-Poo uses live bacteria to eliminate any organic material left behind by your pets.

  · AtmosKlear Odor Eliminator developed for the automotive industry can be used straight or mixed with other cleaning preparations. It's recommended for pet odors and other household odors (smoke, gym bags, basement mustiness, etc.).

  · Petastic formerly known as Nature's Miracle, has been recommended by pet professionals for years. It employs an enzyme that breaks down and neutralizers the odor.

  · PetroTech Odor Eliminator is made from organic ingredients that "encapsulate" the odors. I saw a demonstration of this product being sprayed into a cup of straight ammonia--and the odor disappeared instantly. This product claims to be safe for use on "skunked" pets, too.

  · Urine-Off employs an enzyme that di
gests the urine molecules. The website also offers quality black lights for aid in finding and cleaning problem spots.

  · Zero Odor is not an enzyme, but is composed of anti-odor molecules that bind with odor molecules and change them from smelly to non-offensive.

  Eye On The Prize

  Cats love to watch movement. Providing them with visual entertainment goes a long way toward keeping them out of trouble.

  · Bird feeders or bird baths positioned directly outside windows keep cats’ attention for hours. That decreases boredom and emotional upset.

  · Video Catnip or other video products offer footage of fluttering birds, swimming fish, chattering squirrels and other critters. Indoor cats are most likely to enjoy watching kitty TV. Cats that have experienced the real thing may be more blasé.

  Separate But Equal

  Introductions, training sessions and sometimes daily living require cats to be separated. It’s not necessary to segregate large areas, either.

  · Cat containment systems like Cat Fence-In (www.catfencein.com) attaches fine webbing to existing outdoor fences to keep cats safely inside while allowing them to enjoy the outdoors. Purr…fect Fence (www.purrfectfence.com) also offers a complete backyard fence enclosure. Affordable Cat Fence (www.catfence.com) receives positive marks as well. All three offer do-it-yourself kits.

  · Cat tunnels are great fun for cats and also offer hidden pathways for shy or fearful cats to navigate without the bully cats clobbering them. Tunnels are particularly helpful during introductions.

  · Second story property is anything that allows the cats to get up off the floor level. Cat trees, window perches, and even the backs of tall sofas or an empty bookcase can provide the elevation cats seek. Homemade options might include creating a kitty gym from a wooden ladder decorated with suspended cat toys and a bed on the fold-out paint rack.

  · Baby gates segregate pets during introductions, help retraining and provide boundaries. A variety of styles are available, some designed specifically for pets. Cats often can leap over standard issue gates, but you can stack them in doorways to keep high-altitude cats behind the barrier.

  · Pet doors also offer great options for providing access to specific rooms inside the home, or outdoor availability to a porch or cat-safe back yard. Electronic pet doors can be programmed to only allow specified cats access if they wear the right collar or have the correct microchip. Pets without this “key” cannot pass through.

  Playtime Games

  Toys not only entertain, interactive games teach cats confidence, reduce shyness and helps them associate positive fun things with you and the other cats. Toys also reduce boredom and give cats legal outlets for racing around, clawing and biting.

  · Fishing pole toys and other chase and lure toys build on the predatory instinct for cats to chase and capture. Many commercial versions of these “cat tease” toys are available. You can also find feathers for supervised games from craft stores for less cost than those available at pet products outlets or cat shows.

  · Flashlight beams and laser lights can be great fun for some cats to chase. Be aware that some cats can develop obsessions with the elusive light, so teach Sheba that the light always appears and disappears in the same place (a cabinet drawer or the tip of your shoe). That way they know the game is over and learn to stop pestering you. Avoid shining any light in the cat’s eyes, as that can injure vision.

  · Puzzle toys keep cats occupied and their brains engaged in something productive. They can be filled with a portion of the cats’ regular food or with special treats. Puzzle toys for cats work especially well for bored cats or those suffering from separation anxiety behaviors. A wide range of puzzle toys and interactive feeders are now available specifically for cats. You can also make a puzzle toy by filling an empty water bottle with kibble (lid off) so the cat must knock it around to shake out the food.

  “ComPETability” offers a simple message: You can do more for your cats’ happiness and health—and your own peace of mind—than you think. Pet love is a lifelong adventure, filled with chills, spills, and more than a few furry thrills. So, if you’re ready to double, triple, even quadruple your fun, enjoy the ride! You won’t be sorry.

  Chapter 2: HOW CATS THINK

  Humans have shared their laps with cats since the days of ancient Egypt, and while they command our respect and we cherish their grace, devotion to loved ones, and wild child perspective, we still fall short in understanding how Sheba thinks. Feline behavior “problems” typically reflect a human misunderstanding of normal cat needs, and adding to your kitty quotient increases the potential for problems.

  Cats challenge our patience when they claw the sofa, “water” the potted palm, and throw hissy fits with other cats. People unfamiliar with them perpetuate the myth that cats are untrainable, independent creatures that “walk alone” and prefer solitary lifestyles. While cats are territorial, they are also social animals who enjoy contact with the special people and pets in their lives. But Sheba picks her friends carefully, so owners and other cats and dogs must meet on her terms, to earn full affection and cooperation. Once you learn how to communicate with and understand the feline mind, your relationship will improve by leaps and pounces. Your purrfect pet partnership awaits!

  LEARNING TO BE A CAT

  Kittens aren’t born knowing the rules of feline behavior, and instead must learn the proper c’attitudes by both observation and experience. Earliest cat lessons are taught by Sheba’s mom-cat, and she won’t understand human expectations without proper instructions from you. Kittens with the worst genetic roll of the dice can develop a wonderful personality with the proper teachers. Conversely, the ideal kitten personality can turn hissy if she learns the wrong thing. Everything that Sheba experiences influences her behavior—even accidental lessons you never intend to teach. Understanding how kittens and cats learn helps you be the best feline teacher possible, so that they play by your rules and you understand theirs.

  The Feline Family

  Kittens inherit a lot from cat parents, including looks, instincts, and even personality tendencies. Both parent personality and health play a crucial role in determination of a cat’s future behavior. Kittens born of “friendly” fathers tend to inherit “boldness,” a positive response to unfamiliar or novel objects. The bold kitty meets life head on, and has less overall stress-related health issues as compared to shy/fearful cats. Studies also show that kittens of undernourished mothers have less ability to learn, and display more antisocial behavior towards other cats. Even if these kittens are fed enough later in life, some of these deficits will be passed onto the next generation of kittens.

  While there are more similarities among cats, researchers speculate that some differences in behavior may correlate to looks inherited from parents. Coat coloring pigments (melanin) are produced by the same biochemical pathway in the brain as dopamine, a substance that plays an important role in brain activity, and hence, coat color may influence behavior. One study suggested that cats carrying the non-agouti allele—a type of gene that produces solid coat colors (usually black cats)—may be more tolerant of crowding and the conditions of urban life, as well as having a greater amicability. In other words, black cats may adjust more readily to living in groups of felines.

  In the early days of experimental psychology, adult cats often were used as subjects in studies of learning. Felines quickly discovered how to escape from puzzle boxes with novel kinds of fasteners, but couldn’t learn by trial and error the concept of pressing a lever to receive food—something pigeons quickly mastered! In modern experiments, researchers found that kittens who watched mom press a lever to get food quickly learned to perform the trick when they had a role model. Kittens watching their own mom learned more quickly than if they watched a strange female cat, so learning improves if the “mentor” is familiar. This illustrates that cats aren’t well suited to learning monotonous tasks, but like a challenge and model behavior by example. Sheba evolved to out-think smart
prey that hides in ever-changing locations.

  Cats exhibit two major personality types: sociable/confident/trusting, and timid/nervous/shy. The “independent” cats further may be categorized as alert, social and equable (not overly emotional one way or another). While you can’t control what your cat inherited, you can help promote positive nurturing with training. The very smartest cats know they are smarter than you are, and prove to be challenges to train—yet may feign being “slow” simply to get away with murder. Understanding the basics of feline learning better prepares you to stay a step ahead of your cats and enhance your relationship.

  CALMING SIGNALS: TEMPERAMENT TESTS

  Puppies more commonly receive temperament tests to try and predict adult dog personality and tendencies. While this is not an exact science, it can help owners better predict the future so they can choose appropriate matches during adoption. Some of the same puppy temperament test techniques apply to kittens.

  · Pick up the kitten and set on your lap, and pet her. Does she tolerate the touch or seem to enjoy the attention? Or does she immediately struggle to escape, and even scratch, bite or hiss?

  · Test the kitten’s timidity by dropping a book on the floor or jingling keys—something mildly startling. Does it cause her to jump but then settle? Or is she instantly fearful with attempts to escape or hide? How long does it take for her to recover?

  · Offer a smelly, tasty treat right in front of the kitten. Most kittens (except immediately after a meal) should willingly sniff and taste or even munch the treat even in front of strangers. Kittens that refuse a tasty treat may indicate the potential for being more easily stressed or fearful in new circumstances.