Scratchings-and-Sniffings

Posted by Animals at 5:38 PM Friday, August 28, 2009

Scratchings-and-Sniffings

The Time Factor: How Do They Know It's Dinnertime?

Posted: 27 Aug 2009 09:33 AM PDT

Pandora The easy answer to how your dog or cat knows it's dinnertime is: training and routine. Most of us have a routine - we get up, eat breakfast, even if it's just coffee, go off to work or whatever, then eat lunch, off again, and at 5 or 6, we eat dinner.

Our pets get used to that routine and know that dinnertime is...5 or 6 (or 7, whatever). My problem with this is that my cat thinks dinnertime is 3:00 in the afternoon. She has never been fed at 3:00 in the afternoon. Dinnertime at our house is between 5-6. I try to feed her at 5, if I'm home. If I'm out at a meeting, I feed her when I get home.

This sudden desire to eat at 3:00 (yesterday she started pacing and wailing around 1:30!), started just a year or so ago. Wabby is 16, going on 17, and I wonder if this is an "old-age" issue. I will have to check with Dr. Larry.

Meantime, I'm left trying to calm her down and -- yes, I know it's crazy -- showing her the clock. "It's not time to eat, Wabby," I coo into her ear. "Look, it's only 2:00."

She gives the clock a very long stare, then looks up at me as if to say, "My tummy doesn't tell time. It's hungry. Why can't you feed me now?"

The hunger thing isn't a problem, really. I do manage to distract her until it's time - but this middle-of-the-night wailing is getting out of hand. She can't be hungry - she has a full bowl of dry food (now that Carmie isn't here to eat it!). I think it's just old-age, and she's wandering around the house lost. Which is pretty sad - in the sense that it means she's declining. Not in health - her recent check-up showed she's in great health for her age, but mentally, how do we know how she is? PandoraDisapproves-face150x181

I love my Wabby. Her little habits that interrupt my sleep, or sometimes my work (I work at home) are endearing. At least so far. As we prepare to move to CO, we have boxes all over, and we're painting walls, and rearranging furniture and even changing rooms into something different, so it's understandable that she would be confused. This picture of her is a pretty standard view - that's how she looks all the time. Even when she's happy!

I'm just wondering how much she "gets" (that something big is up) and how much is just, "What do my humans think they are doing messing around with my house?" It's probably more the latter - after all, she does deign to allow us IN her house.

I can't wait to see what she does when we get her to the new house!

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Band of Cats

Posted by Animals at 5:11 AM

Band of Cats

The Richest Cats in the World

Posted: 27 Aug 2009 03:23 PM PDT

Many people have been leaving their fortunes to their beloved pets ever since the 19th century. Many countries don't allow wealthy people to leave money to their pets. Owners have found a way around this restriction by setting up a charity...

To see and read the rest of this and many other posts then be sure to visit us at www.bandofcats.com
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Scratchings-and-Sniffings

Posted by Animals at 6:08 PM Thursday, August 27, 2009

Scratchings-and-Sniffings

Is Your Pet Lonely? Check These Symptoms

Posted: 26 Aug 2009 10:17 AM PDT

CarmiePortraitSmall I continue to learn so much from writing this blog. Not only from Dr. Larry - who shares his expert vet advice and insight on a regular basis - but from Purina®, itself. Or, rather, the Purina brands who work hard to help us keep our pets healthy and happy. Funny, isn't it - how a "slogan" can be so true? They do work hard to make sure our cats and dogs are not only healthy, but happy.

Here's a case in point - helping pet parents understand separation anxiety in their pets. Yep. Your dog could be suffering from this right now. Why? Because, "Pets that have spent more time with a family during the summer can get separation anxiety as children prepare to go back to school." That from our own Bill Craig, who helps us understand PurinaCare® Pet Health Insurance, over at the pet health insurance blog.

Dr. Craig says, "...dogs and cats suffering from post-summer stress can exhibit a wide range of abnormal behaviors that include: (1) Hyper-salivation or drooling, (2) Soiling the pet owner's belongings, (3) Chewing or scratching at doors, (4) Non-stop howling, barking, meowing, (5) Compulsive grooming or licking, and (6) Tearing up furniture or pushing items off counters."

Ok - Carmie did those things, way back when the last kid left for college. I wonder if she was experiencing separation anxiety and I just didn't see it? That's when she started licking her leg - and the story of her growing lick granuloma has been documented in this blog!

Our friend, Romeo the Cat (who DOES NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM), wrote about this, too. And he included ways to help our pets (especially dogs because dogs are more social than cats) get over this anxiety, with this list taken from the press release:

1. Slowly get your pets used to a post-summer schedule. Practice positive reinforcement with praise and treats for appropriate behavior.

2. Go back to regular walking and leash routines.Sad puppy

3. Make sure your pet doesn't associate you grabbing your keys and coat with their being left alone. Sometimes grab these items even when you're not leaving.

4. Create a place in the house that feels "safe" to your pets - a well lit area where the family usually gets together. Turn on the TV and keep toys and clothes with the family's scent in the room so your pet feels comforted while there.

5. Don't punish bad behavior related to anxiety; it only reinforces the stress.

Kitty-home-alone 6. There are medications available, but they usually need a behavior modification program, so be sure to discuss with your vet.

Now you know that your dog and your cat really do miss you when you're gone. Why, just this week we had to leave the Wabby with the son for two days, and she was delighted to see us when we got back. I don't think she suffered any anxiety - but I do think she was lonely. While the son is very good to her, she loves us best.
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All the Creatures

Posted by Animals at 5:58 PM

All the Creatures

Pets injuring themselves

Posted: 27 Aug 2009 05:01 PM PDT


We have a sliding glass door that separates the dining room from our patio. When we first moved in I would make sure that the door was always sparkling clean to allow us to have a great view of the patio and backyard. Then one day, one of our cats was running from outside and [...]
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