Behaviour
Good Litter Box Etiquette
- Always locate the litter box away from the food and water dishes.
- If you have a new cat and while it is settling in, have a litter box on every level of your house. It must
be convenient and accessible.
- One litter box per cat is recommended.
- Scoop it every day. Wash the pans regularly with mild soap, rinse and dry.
- Do not switch brands or types of litter suddenly. Do it gradually by slowly mixing the old with the new.
- In multi-cat families, one or two of your cats may prefer specific types of litter and you need
to fulfill the preferences.
- Multi-cat families have a hierarchical nature with lower ranking and higher ranking cats. In order
to accommodate the different personalities, you should have multiple litter box locations so your
lower ranking cats do not have to enter the territory of a more dominant cat.
- Do not skimp on or overfill litter boxes. If there is not enough litter in the box to adequately
cover the urine or feces, the cat may develop an aversion to the box.
- Open boxes are best. Hooded boxes may make the cat feel trapped and they trap the nasty
smells inside.
- Locate the litter box in a quiet secluded place. Do not place it in high traffic areas or near noisy
appliances such as washing machines or dryers.
- Do not change the location of a litter box abruptly. Do it in stages.
- If your cat is having a problem using the litter box, praise your cat and/or give the cat a treat when it
uses the litter box appropriately.
- If your cat is nervous or older, you may need to place the litter pan much closer to the area in
your house where the cat likes to eat or sleep.
- Soft, fluffy bedding such as quilts and duvets may be an attractive alternative to the litter box in
the early weeks of settling in for a new cat. Remove these items or prevent access. Remember, new cats
may be nervous or unfamiliar and kittens may simply forget the location or not have the bladder and
bowel control to make it to the box.
- Scattered dirty laundry may invite your cat to urinate/eliminate inappropriately. Use a laundry hamper.
- Strangers, babies, guests, new roommates, sudden schedule changes or other changes in
the household may cause stress and therefore, inappropriate urination/elimination.
- Soil at the base of potted plants may be very inviting. Cover the base with tinfoil or get rid
of the plants if this is a problem.
- New animals such as puppies/dogs, cats, birds or other species may cause territorial marking.
Even the sight of another cat through the window may cause spraying.
- Have you had previous cats or animals that may have sprayed/marked in your house or on furniture?
The smell remains for years. Consult a pet supply centre for effective cleaning products.
- Ill health such as urinary tract infections may lead to inappropriate bathroom habits.
Consult your veterinarian immediately.
- If it is determined that the inappropriate urination or elimination is behavioural, try ‘Dr. Elsey’s
Cat Attract Litter’ or another brand of cat litter.
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Scratching is Normal
Why Do Cats Scratch?
- To stretch
- To exercise specific shoulder and back muscles
- To mark territory
- To express happiness and play
- It is part of grooming
- It keeps nails trimmed and sheds old sheaths
- It feels good
- It is as natural as breathing air
How To Promote Good Scratching Behaviour
- Cat claws grow just as your fingernails do and need regular trimming. Many cat owners trim the
claws every 4-6 weeks. Only the clear hooked portion of the claw is trimmed.
- Provide at least one scratching post at least one metre in height. The taller the better. It should
be well constructed and placed near a sunny window or near a family focal point.
- A sprinkle of catnip at the base or wiggling a wand toy up the post will encourage use.
- Some cats prefer horizontal surfaces such as a jute door mat or you can purchase a corrugated
cardboard scratcher at a pet supply store.
- Use positive reinforcement. Reward your cat for good scratching behaviour with treats,
affection and attention.
- If your cat is scratching on inappropriate objects, place a scratching post near-by, use 2 way
tape on furniture, limit access, or discipline with a spray water bottle, a loud noise or a firm ‘NO’.
- Another option for problem scratchers is the use of a product called ‘Soft Paws’. Soft paws are
acrylic claw covers that are applied with a non-toxic adhesive. Each application of ‘soft paw’ claw
covers lasts about 2-3 months.
*Young or old, most cats will learn how to use and love their scratching posts. Large, multi-level
scratching posts will become your cat’s playground, bedroom, observation deck, tanning salon,
couch and hiding spot.
Unwanted Behaviours
Many cat owners may be dismayed by a cat’s behaviour whether natural or just unwanted within
the context of your home. These behaviours may range from jumping on counters to scratching
furniture to inappropriate marking or aggression.
- Immediacy is the key. Discipline must be done at the moment or not at all. Use a spray water
bottle, a loud noise, a firm ‘NO’ or remove your cat from the situation. Your cat will not know
what it has done wrong after the inappropriate behaviour has happened.
- Prevent problems – Be pro-active. Cat proof your home and get to know your cat’s natural
or normal patterns and behaviours within your home so you can better understand how to predict
and avoid possible unwanted behaviours.
- Never physically punish your cat. Behaviour modification or discipline is a form of love.
Do it kindly and consistently.
- Do not hesitate to seek veterinary advice or ask for a referral to a certified animal behaviourist.
Professionals can often offer a diagnosis and treatment plan for you pet.
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Declawing - Please Don't
As an animal rescue society and proponent of animal welfare, MEOW believes that declaw and
tendonectomy surgery is without benefit to cats and is inhumane. All species are equal in their
right to be treated with respect and compassion.
Declaw Facts
- A cat’s claw is not like a human fingernail.
- A claw is part of the last bone of the cat’s foot.
- To remove the claw, the bone, nerve, joint capsule, collateral ligaments and the extensor and
flexor tendons must be removed.
- A declaw is an amputation. Declaw surgery is 10 amputations.
- A good comparison would be cutting off a human finger at the last joint.
- Declaw surgeries can have many serious complications such as damage to the radial nerve,
haemorrhage, infection, excruciating phantom pain for their entire life, chronic back, shoulder
and joint pain as previously used muscles weaken and possible behavioural changes such as biting.
Declawing is Illegal in the Following Countries
England
Austria
Ireland
Brazil
Scotland
Switzerland
Denmark
Australia
Wales
Norway
Finland
New Zealand
Italy
Sweden
Slovenia
Yugoslavia
France
Netherlands
Portugal
Japan
Germany
Northern Ireland
Belgium
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How to Safely Trim Claws
- Small commercially produced cat claw clippers can be purchased or human fingernail clippers
are also fine.
- Claws can be trimmed about every 4 to 6 weeks.
- Try to start training your kitten/cat to have its claws trimmed by gently touching and
stroking their paws.
- Always try to trim their claws when they are very relaxed or sleepy.
- Hold the paw and gently press the toe pad to extend the claw.
- Trim the pointed hook end of the claw. Do not cut into the pink area or ‘the quick’ in the
upper half of the claw as this will cause pain and bleeding.
- If the cat becomes impatient or restless, take a break. Sometimes you can only trim one or
two claws per day, but the job will get done.
- Reward your cat with a treat to encourage his cooperation.
- If your cat does not cooperate, seek assistance from your veterinarian or an experienced
cat groomer.
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