A top reason cats lose their homes is destructive scratching when furniture trumps the cat-owner bond. People bonded with a cat put up with more household damage before resorting to ditching the kitty — but it can still happen. Understanding why a cat scratches — and how easy it is to prevent damage to furniture — helps keep cats in their homes.
Clawing is an instinctive behavior that can’t be stopped. While some felines are claw-maniacs and others are less demanding of scratch-time, all cats claw for physical, emotional and social reasons.
Clawing provides exercise to stretch shoulder and foreleg muscles, and it keeps nails healthy. Scent pads in kitty paws leave invisible smell-cues of ownership. The marks also serve as feline Post-it Notes to warn away other cats from prime feline real estate. That’s why single-cat households may create less claw-trauma than multipet homes, where each cat vies for territory and attention. Cats also claw to comfort themselves during times of stress.
To keep clawing on-target, give your cat legal outlets for this natural behavior. Offer irresistible options while making forbidden objects undesirable. Watch your cat and he’ll tell you his scratch preferences. The surface (wood, sisal, carpet), preferred shape (vertical or horizontal), and location are vital. Spiking the new object with catnip helps promote feline allegiance. (Read more…)
And from Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker:
Cancer deaths in both dogs and humans can be reduced dramatically by a reduction in the consumption of omega-6 fatty acids and in maintaining ideal body weight. The research, by veterinarian Dr. Demian Dressler, was presented at the Institute of Food Technologists annual meeting. Dr. Dressler recommends severely limiting snack foods that contain ingredients rich in omega-6, such as corn oil, vegetable oil and grain-fed red meat. Too much omega-6 fatty acid can lead to inflammation, which creates an environment conducive to the development of cancer. As for weight, obesity cuts the production of a hormone that inhibits the growth of cancerous cells. The findings stress the importance of proper diet and weight for both people and pets.
Read all of this week’s Pet Connection here!
. Oh and what we call a band aid in the US is a plaster in the UK. I got a few funny looks when requesting a band aid), dog handling in shows, Saint Bernards as a breed and the difference between the European and American standards for the Saint Bernard, Labrador and many other breeds. I am already saving my pennies for next year…
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Photo ©Mark Rogers Photography 2011, All Rights Reserved
Dr. Marty Becker’s BIG Bus Tour visits crabcake country as it pulls into beautiful Baltimore today. Dr. Becker is excited to tell Marylanders about the tips to be found in his newest best-seller, “
Is there any way to keep an old dog stress-free during a big move?