Happy Dot Pet Services

18/06/2024

Spending time together in the same space comes when both cats are ready to hang out. How do you work out this time? When both cats are relaxed at seeing each other, when you feel like the door can always be open between both cats and you are ready.

Have a variety of things for the cats to do or engage in when they are both out together. Puzzle toys, interactive play (best if there is a person per cat), scratching posts, cat trees to climb and places to rest. Also prepare for how you might distract each cat if either one becomes scared or aggressive. A toy you can toss to disengage a staring competition, a treat to lure one cat away, another person to help you to keep them from any negative interactions.

Short sessions to start with, finishing on a positive and rewarding each cat once they have been separated. If the new cat is a kitten, it is ideal to have played with the kitten, so their energy level is low. They will be less likely to be too much for the resident cat. Increase the duration and frequency of these sessions until each cat is relaxed around the other cat.

17/06/2024

During the introduction process it is essential to reduce the chance of visual contact between the new cat or kitten and the resident cat. When preparing to have visual inspection you need to create a barrier separating both cats from physical contact. A baby gate or two stacked on top of each other works well for this. Some people use a door stop to restrict the door opening and cardboard as the barrier.

For this example, a baby gate that has been covered with cardboard (use cable ties) will be the first step. To allow visual inspection, tear a small section of cardboard from the top part of the baby gate. Observe the cat's body language and behaviour when being able to see into each other space. Which means this step needs to be supervised, with the door between the cats being closed when you are not actively interacting with the cats. Each time you do this, another piece of cardboard is removed as long as the cats are feeling relaxed.

Some cats will want to jump the baby gate, so placing a second baby gate above the other one can reduce this. Using a blanket or towel, rather than the cardboard will not stop the cats from going under or placing their paws through the gate. Often people will feed both cats, moving the food closer and closer to the gate (and cat). This should be avoided, as it does not allow the cat choice to not eat near the other cat.

It is a good idea to give each cat something to do on their side of the gate, a puzzle toy, interactive wand game or playing their favourite solo toy game. Ideally it would be lovely to have a person with each cat, if this cannot be done then hang out with the cat who may need more reassurance.

Depending on the cats and how they cope, it would be ideal to have each cat be able to see the other (no cardboard left) and engage in a positive way. As with all steps when introducing cats, when the cats are relaxed, we will increase how often they see each other and the length of time they see each other.

16/06/2024

Happy everybun!! We are SO THRILLED to share this labor of love with you! We have been working with the brilliantly talented Drawings by Lili Chin to create a bunny body language poster! We've been wanting this resource for our clients for quite a while, as we just haven't found one that we love-so we reached out to Lili for help! Lili is well-known in the positive training community for helping pet parents better understand their animals. She has also illustrated several positive dog training infographs, and we were very excited to get her help with this project!

Would you like to save this for your reference? Download your own copy here: https://empoweredanimalsbehaviorandtraining.com/resources

16/06/2024

Space swap

It is always best to do a space swap when your resident cat is asleep in a room or space that can be closed off from the new cat entering. Maybe your resident cat sleeps near the window in your bedroom for a few hours in the afternoon. Close the door or have someone spend time with your resident cat. We do not want any visual introductions at this stage.

Let the new cat or kitten have a short period of time (under 1 hour) to explore a new room located near their safe space. Keep access to the safe space always available so if the new cat or kitten needs to feel safe, they can go back. If the new cat is not interested in exploring, do not force them out of the room.

Space swap needs to allow the new cat to explore room by room in the house at their own pace for short periods of time. Increasing the areas they explore and the length of time they do this for will build confidence in the house for your new cat.

It also allows the resident cat to start to exchange scent within the home, slowly adding and building to their group scent. As always, this needs to be done at the pace of the cat that is taking longer to feel relaxed.

Seek support from a cat trainer, consultant or behaviourist if you are unsure how the space swap is going.

16/06/2024

Cat's have a great sense of smell and communicate with scent to avoid conflict between other cats. Rubbing along objects, on their human, using urine, scratching to give information about an individual is important to understand.

After the new cat or kitten has settled in it is time to introduce the scent of each cat to each other. Use an individual cloth for each cat, such as an old face washer to rub the facial scent glands from your cat. These glands are along the top of their head and on the side of their cheeks.

One cloth is rub on the scent glands of your resident cat and the other cloth on the new cat or kitten. Place the cloth in an individual zip lock bag. Using the cloth from your resident cat, take it into the same room as the new cat or kitten and place in the room. The cat can take their own time to approach or avoid the cloth. Observe the cat or kitten's reaction to the scent. Leave some treats near the area the cloth has been placed. Do the same with your resident cat but offer the new cats or kitten's cloth to the resident cat to check out.

Look for the cats to be relaxed around the other cat's scent, not trying to avoid or hissing or growling at the scent. This process may need to be repeated daily to allow the cats to create a group scent and associate the treats with a positive when the scent is present. Always work at the pace of the cat or kitten who is taking more time to accept signs of a cat in their space.

A cat behaviour trainer, consultant or behaviourist should be contacted if you are unsure of how your introduction process is going.

15/06/2024

When making our home safe for cats we should consider places the cat can get stuck, long cords, stability of things they might climb, power cords, access to toxic chemicals, items they can ingest, essential oils, medications, glow sticks, plastic bags and places they might get burnt.

Toxicity of plant materials are also essential for us to learn and know about. Here is a list some items, but the list is much longer than this. Many parts of a plant may be toxic, the petals, the stamens, the pollen, the stem etc. Even if rubbed along, chewed on and ingested may be ways that cats become unwell. Keep plants away from your cat if you can and understand the symptoms of poisoning.

15/06/2024

Setting up a safe space for the new cat or kitten

The safe space can be a room that the cat or kitten can access at all times without other animals or stressors following them. It may be a temporary safe space until the new cat and resident cat or animals have been introduced. Add a feliway plug in into the safe space and the home.

All cats need to have access to their OWN resources during this time. Place in the room a cat tree or elevated perch e.g. window ledge, table, cardboard scratchers. Food and water bowls that are placed away from each other.

Bedding options within the room such as a cat bed, blankets offer in different spots. Multiple toys for the cat to use in solo play and interactive play with you and your family. At least 2 litter trays placed in different areas of the room. Human interaction is also an important resource to help build trust and confidence.

A safe space will restrict access of other animals to enter and exit the room. The introduction process should not be rushed and the new cat or kitten needs to feel safe.

Set up a routine of entering and exiting the room, feeding, cleaning, playing and hanging out with resident cat and new cat or kitten. The routine should be predictable and consistent to assist with settling in of the new cat. Maintaining a routine with your resident cat also keeps them feeling confident within the home.

14/06/2024

Most calls for help I get asked is when a new cat or kitten has been added to the home and it has not worked out. This series of posts will cover the basics of finding a new cat friend for you cat and then how to slowly introduce them. Most people only give between 3 to 7 days to introduce cats together. My most successful introductions have taken four weeks.

Here are some things to consider before even looking at cats and kittens for adoption:
- cats are generally happy to live with a litter mate or their mother, as they are known to each other.
- kittens that have been raised together can make great friends for life.
- cats live happily with familiar friends, this takes time if they are not already known to each other. A resident cat may think the new cat is a threat to them and vice-versa.
- choose a cat or kitten(s) that are suited in personality, the way they play and how active they are.
- adding 2 kittens that are known to each other is much better than one kitten to your senior cat.
- cats over the age of 2 have reached social maturity and maybe less likely to accept a new friend.
- does your cat WANT a friend? A history of living with other cats can mean the resident cat is happy to have a friend. They may also thrive in a one cat home.
- do you have time, space and patience to introduce the cats slowly to each other?

Once you have consulted with your cat family about adding a new addition it is time to plan. Take the time to list the preferred personality of your resident cat and what do they like to do each day. Once you have an understanding of your cat's likes you are ready to meet some cats.

Take your time meeting new cats, even though they might be ticking off all your likes about a new cat friend. Are they really the one you cat will choose. When meeting new cat's, it is best to ask some questions. Does the new cat like other cats? Is there a history of living with other cats? How playful is the cat? What do they like to do? Have they been unwell?

13/06/2024

Health checks of your new potential cat or kitten can be done pretty quickly and should not require you to restrain the cat or kitten. As you interact with them start checking for any signs of ill health. Hopefully the adoption staff will be able to give you a summary of any health issues the kitten or cat has had or been identified.

Are the kitten's eyes clean and bright? Discharge from the eyes or any cloudiness can be a sign that the cat or kitten is unwell. Ask the adoption staff, what might be causing this?

Is the kitten or cat's nose and ears clean? Again, any discharge from the nose can indicate that the kitten or cat is unwell.

Have a quick look under the kitten or cat's tail (if they let you), checking that the bottom is free of faeces is a good idea.

Is the kitten or cat active? Let's remember that cats and kittens sleep a lot, so when it seems to be play time in the space does the cat or kitten get involved. Speak with the adoption staff about why the cat may not have been active or willing to engage. An adult cat might fake sleep, so they do not have to interact with other cats. A kitten might be reluctant to play or run, as the other kittens are too big or play too rough. As the cat or kitten move around, check out the way they move. Are they limping? Struggling to hop up onto a chair or bed?

When patting the cat or kitten, as you move over their body just check for any missing fur, a dull coat, lumps and bumps or signs of fleas.

Hopefully the place you choose to adopt from does have a list of any health issues the cat or kitten has had. Along with the treatments and ask what signs might indicate they are unwell again? Knowing the health history of your new cat or kitten is helpful for your vets.

12/06/2024

When you have researched and found a potential new cat or kitten it is time to meet and greet.

You can go to an event such as an adoption day in a pet store, go and visit your local shelter or pound (check hours before going) or contact a rescue to organise a time to meet the cat and kittens in care. Some places will ask you to fill out an application that identifies which cat or kitten you wish to meet. You will then be offered a time to come and meet the cat or kitten. Even if you do not find a kitten or cat to adopt on the day, it is always a great idea to take a carrier ...... just in case.

Today we want to highlight some of the questions you might ask about the cat or kitten. Sitting in a space with the kittens or cats, being calm and observing how they interact with the other cats/kittens/environment. It can take time for cats and kittens to warm up to new people, so be patient and respect the cat or kitten's boundaries.

A play session is a nice way to interact with the cat or kitten without being touched, cuddled or held. Remember first impressions count! Having time in the space the cat or kitten feel comfortable also allows for the ones that are shy or less likely to approach some time to assess what you are like.

Once you have asked all your questions about the cats or kittens in care, it is time to remember which one might best suit you and your lifestyle. Feeling pressured to take a cat or kitten on the day may not give you the time you need to consider which one to adopt. It is ok to say, can I go and think about it?

The first time you do a meet and greet, it might not end with an adoption and that is ok. Take your time to commit to a new cat or kitten.

12/06/2024

What might the initial costs of a cat or kitten be?

We will discuss kittens in this example and compare them to the free kitten you might be given. The outlay for a free kitten is nothing, we can all find a variety of resources for our new addition for very little cost.

Desexing is important for our kittens to reduce the chance of an unwanted litter, roaming kitten, health issues related to not being desexed and dealing with a kitten on heat. Kittens as young as four months old can become pregnant or produce kittens. To reduce the impact on cat overpopulation, it is important to invest in desexing your free kitten. Depending on the kitten's age (usually need to be about 1kg) and where you access your vet care the costs can range between $100 to $400 on average. Adopting a cat or kitten will cover the costs for desexing a cat or kitten.

Microchipping is compulsory for cats and kittens to be registered with our local council in Victoria. There are benefits for microchipping, your lost kitten or cat can be returned to you, a microchip cannot be removed and form a part of the identification of ownership for an animal. Rather than pay to have your free kitten microchipped, why not adopt from a rehoming centre and it will already be done.

Vaccinations are a preventative treatment used to reduce the risk of your cat or kitten becoming unwell from an infectious disease. Cats that have a record of vaccination only need an annual vaccination. Kittens in their first year of life will have 3 vaccinations, usually starting at 6 weeks old, then 10 and 14. Usually the cost of a vaccination ranges from $50 to $100 per injection. If you get a cat for free without any paperwork of current vaccinations, you will need to have more than one to make sure they are covered.

When considering a new cat or kitten, why not reduce the population by adopting a desexed one from a shelter, pound or rescue. One site to use is PetRescue, some rehoming centres use the website to increase the number of people that can access their cats and kittens.

11/06/2024

Cat caregivers can successfully use the Feline Grimace Scale as a tool to spot acute pain in cats, study shows

11/06/2024

Over the next few days, we are going to explore adding a new cat or kitten to your home. Most of the people I help have either found raising a kitten difficult or adding a new cat or kitten to the home not go so well.

There has to be planning for preparing to bring a new addition into the home. When approaching a shelter, pound, rescue to get a cat or kitten you need to find out a bit about the cat or kitten first. More often than not, if you go to a rehoming centre you will fall in love, if you adopt that day, you get so much information, and it can mean the next few days are too busy.

Matching a cat or kitten to your lifestyle is important, rather than their cuteness, breed and coat colours. Think about how might the kitten or cat fit into your home? How much time do you have to settle them in? Do you know what they need to be fed? What litter is used? What does the cat or kitten like doing? All these questions assist with preparing the home.

The history of the cat or kitten is essential to understand if they are best suited to your home. Singleton kittens can have some added behavioral issues, especially when communicating with others as they have not learnt from their siblings. Hand-raised kittens often have a higher attachment to their human. Cats and kittens with unknown histories, mean you will need to be open to learning about them.

The personality of a kitten or cat can not always be determined when they have only lived in a shelter or pounds. These places are stressful and it is best to ask to meet kittens or cats that have been raised in homes through foster. Do you want a cat that greets other people? Does the cat have to like other animals. Has lived with children? Are you an advocate for shy cats? What would be your requirements of the cat? Do you want a kitten? Adult cat? Senior cat? Having a starting point of what sort of cat you would prefer would be ideal.

08/06/2024

❤️🐱 The human-animal bond has many benefits for both us and our cats and can be a very special relationship. Here are a few ways to strengthen the bond between you and your cat ⬇️

🐾 Play together for 5 minutes a day - try a wand toy or puzzle feeding

🫱 Offer them your hand for some stroking and attention, but respect where they like to be touched and respond to their body language

💤 Give them enough comfortable safe places to relax around the house without being disturbed

🐈 Yummy treats as a reward for positive behaviour or training – getting them comfortable with their carrier is a great place to start

Find more care advice and training tips on our website ➡️ https://icatcare.org/

Let us know what you will be doing to show your cat how much you care.

07/06/2024

FUN FACT: The book is titled "Precalculus: A Prelude to Calculus" by Sheldon Axler, who is currently the Dean at San Francisco State University’s College of Science & Engineering. His cat, Max, still forces Axler to write educational textbooks with pictures featuring him at gunpoint 🔫🐈

06/06/2024

06/06/2024

Two visits to these sweet pups this week. It is so cute that they know I always have a small treat for them, so when I leave, Benny gets excited. What an adorable trio ❤️

05/06/2024

⭐️ Thunderstorm season is upon us, and firework season is fast approaching. Keep an eye on this page to learn how to help your pets stay safe and comfortable during this noisy time of year. ⭐️

🐾 All animals need a place where they feel safe and can decompress. A safe zone is a special new area we'll create together for your dog. 🏠

🔇 The important aspects of the safe zone are that it provides a place that:

Avoids sensory overload 🚫🔊
Relatively quiet 🤫
Minimizes smells/odors – if you can smell it (e.g., household cleaners), then it is likely overwhelming for the dog. 🌬️
Not too bright, no flashing lights, no shiny or reflective surfaces 🚫💡
Creates predictability 🔄
This is your dog's space to get away from stressful stimuli 🐶
A place your dog can choose to go to if he or she wants a break from activity 🐾
Gives them quiet time to recover from stress (a key for developing resilience) 💤
Minimizes talking, petting, or training 🙅‍♂️🐕

For more information, email us at
[email protected]

05/06/2024

30/05/2024

It was too rainy and windy to stay outside during our visit, so there were lots of pats on the couch.

30/05/2024

Weigh-in day for Chloe 😻. Being 15 years old with hyperthyroidism, I need to keep an eye on her weight. So a monthly weigh it is. What a privilege it is to care for a senior kitty. She is 3.84kg 🐈

27/05/2024

Family mottos last a lifetime. Let this be yours!

In a world where dogs are misunderstood, be one who understands.

27/05/2024

A frosty morning walk today, Lacey and I start the day crisp, rainy and sunny 🌞

24/05/2024

Today I renewed my business name for another 3 years. Looking back, I could never have arrived at this stage without the support of Simon who understands it takes time to build. Sally and Jenine who designed my logo and helped create my website. The amazingly strong women who I know that started their own business and supported me, Jo Bates, Thelma and Sam.

To all my clients, thank you for trusting me to care for and spend time with your dogs and cats (especially as I struggle find a carer for my own animals). I have learnt a lot about working with pets in their home, how to help others, ways to engage people to care for their pets differently and how to keep going. I have so many animals in my life, that I consider a joy to spend time with. The wonderful opportunities to teach and learn from others about neonatal kitten care, fear free cat handling and cat care. I am truly grateful.

It is not always easy to run your own business, I can't fire myself or always have someone else to discuss my days with. I look for inspiration from other business owners, animal care experts and continue to study to learn more. I am tightening the purse strings, like so many others and I continue to look for new and cheaper ways to work with clients to meet their animal's needs. Thank you to everyone for supporting this small business!

23/05/2024

Another visit with the pups today. Lots of nice chats around and on the couch. 🐕🐕🐕

22/05/2024

Benny ❤️ when I come to feed him. Abbey enjoys a pillow 🗨 about our day. Daisy waits at my feet in case 🧀🥓 falls out of me. I enjoy our little catch ups.

21/05/2024

It would be nice to have a cat specific veterinary clinic in the western regional areas, some have a cat only space in the waiting room which is lovely. Owners need to find ways to help your cat feel safe when they go to their vet appointments. This article offers a few ideas that you can advocate for.

Reducing examination fear for cats starts well before the visit itself. By considering stressor stacking, the exam room environment, and cat friendly handling principles, you’ll be able to signifi…

21/05/2024

Walter is a love that lasts forever ❤️. He has a thing for novel and new beds, it doesn't matter if another cat has slept in it. This winter, to keep him warm, we rotate his beds 🛌 and watch him squish himself into them all.

21/05/2024

Great tips

20/05/2024

I always offer a meet and greet before committing to a pet sitting or dog walking booking. Why?

I want to make sure that your pet is comfortable with me and that I feel safe too. For most cats though a 30 or 60-minute meet and greet may not be enough. So here are some of my tips to help your pet sitter be ready to care for your cat.
- keep your daily routine the same, nothing like upsetting your cat by delaying mealtimes, they most likely won't eat in front of stranger anyway.
- have some of your cat's favourite treats ready, so that when the pet sitter leaves your cat can start to form a positive association with the pet sitter.
- wand toys and play are a good way to become friends, so spending time just sitting and offering play with the pet sitter there is a good way to make your cat feel secure.
- tell and maybe show some of the hiding spots that your cat has, without intruding or forcing your cat to interact.
- let your cat choose if they want to say hi to the pet sitter.
- if your cat is shy, then have a photo handy to show the pet sitter what your cat looks like.

Making sure the first visit from your pet sitter is a positive one, will help your cat feel safe and secure whilst you are away.