Clever Cat Feline Behaviour Solutions

02/26/2024

Your cat HATES using a dirty bathroom.

Almost every cat owner has dealt with a cat urinating outside the litterbox at some point- including me! In fact, one of the reasons I got into cat behavioue was because I had to make the devastating decision to euthanize my very first cat, Jules, because of inappropriate urination. Peeing outside the litterbox is, by far, the number 1 behaviour problem I do consults for. It can be a complex issue with many related factors, but there's always one place to start: cleanliness.

Your cat wants you to scoop their litterbox EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Just like you would be hesitant to use a bathroom that's toilet isn't ever flushed, your cat does not enjoy a dirty litterbox.

I truely wish someone had really enforced this basic information to me as a new cat owner. My best buddy Jules would probably still be with me, and I wouldn't have to live with the fact that I could have changed his life with 2 minutes a day of litterbox maintenance.

02/24/2024

You can lead a cat to water but you can't make them drink.

As carnivores and descendants desert animals, cats would naturally get most of their moisture from live prey, and are not naturally inclined to drink water from a bowl.
Most cats begin to suffer from chronic dehydration as they age. Running water can be a game changer, especially for cats who are elderly, have kidney disease or urinary issues. Most kitties strongly prefer fresh water, and are attracted by the movement a fountain provides.

If you're going to invest in a gadget for your cats long term health, a fountain may be the best money you can spend. If that isn't an option for you, no worries. Providing several bowls of water around the house and refreshing them daily will also encourage your cat to drink more water. 💧

02/22/2024

We silly humans often get testy about our cats demanding a food refill before finishing what's at the bottom of their bowl, but what your cat might be trying to tell communicate something else entirely.

We know cats whiskers are highly sensitive, and that most cat bowls are deep and narrow.
It's actually very uncomfortable for a cat to have their whiskers touch the side of their bowl. Their instincts tell them to stop moving forward if their whiskers touch the edge.

This problem has an easy fix! Wide, shallow bowls are much preferred dish shape for most cats. The change may even mean an extra hour of sleep for you before your cat wakes you up for breakfast. 🍳

02/15/2024

Remember that being at home today with a cat who loves you is way better than having a date with person who doesn't. 😽

02/10/2024

Furniture Scratching: everyone's least favourite part of cat ownership.

Scratching is a biological and behavioral need for cats. Unfortunately, they don't understand why your new couch isn't the ideal place to practice this behaviour.
Old-school training methods encourage punishment of inappropriate scratching with a spray bottle or a sudden, loud noise. The problem is, your cat isn't dumb and you can't be there to catch them 100% of the time.
Your cat will quickly figure out that the punishment only happens when you are present. Instead of learning that scratching the couch is bad, they'll think YOU are bad. This will not only not solve the problem, but will harm your bond with your kitty.

Instead, provide your cat with a few different types of scratching options. Some cats prefer sisal, others cardboard or carpet. Find what texture your cat prefers and ensure they have several options that you approve of. Block their access to the furniture you want to keep safe or adhere plastic scratch guards until your cat falls out of love with your couch, and in love with their new scratch pad.

02/06/2024

Cats are self care experts 💅

If your cat isn't grooming themselves, there's probably something going on. They may be too stressed, have arthritis making their joints stiff, or perhaps are too chunky to reach all their bits and pieces.

It's great to help your cat out by brushing them, but make sure you observe them closely to determine if there are any other health issues underlying.

02/01/2024

Happy Whisker Wednesday!

Whiskers are highly sensitive, specialized hairs that help a cat navigate the world.

Because cats have poor close-up vision, whiskers help them 'see' what their eyes cannot.

Perhaps most interestingly, a cats whisker length is about the width of their ideal body size, to help them determine if they can fit into small spaces.
Long whiskers= wide cat. Short whiskers= narrow cat. Whiskers don't accommodate for excess weight however, which is one reason we sometimes see chubby cats get stuck after miscalculating the size of spaces.

01/28/2024

The slow blink is a cats way of saying "I love you".

By looking at you and and slowly blinking your cat is communicating feelings of calm, safety and affection.
You can slow blink back to your kitties to tell them you love them back in their own language. 😸

01/16/2024

Are your kitties extra cuddly during this cold snap?

If your cats cuddling with each other or other pets, it's a sure sign that they have a great relationship. Cat's only choose to be physically close within their very close social circle, ie; their best friends.

These two pretty gals are a bonded pair of sisters who love to cuddle up together. (They're also avaliable for adoption at the PG Humane Society!)

Drop a pic of your super snugglers here ⬇️

01/07/2024

Do you need a miracle to train a cat? Nope!
All you need is patience and a high value reward.

Every cat will progress at a different pace, George just happens to be a confident guy who's willing to try anything.

Have you ever tried training your cat?

Check out CleverCatSolutions's video.

12/23/2023

A new puzzle for Clever Cat George. He started cheating immediately, but I guess I can't be mad that he's such a good problem solver.

Do you think your clever cat could figure this one out?

12/17/2023

Everyone loves shiney tinsel, delicious snacks and pretty greenery but these are also the most common causes of a holiday vet visit for cats.

Keep your kitties safe and happy over the holidays with a few simple safety measures.

12/07/2023

Have you experienced Torti-Tude?

Calico and tortoiseshell (two different patterns of red/ black/ white) cats are known for their strong personalities.
Often the queen of the house, these beauties are the epitome of cattitude.
The thought is that the more red one of these gals has on her, the spicier she will be. Solid red female cats only make up about 10% of orange cats, but if you ask any vet they are usually muy caliente!

Show me your calico below and give them a spice rating 🌶🌶🌶

11/19/2023

Today I popped by the PG Humane Society to do enrichment with the adoptable kitties.

Enrichment is when we provide "extras" that encourage our cats to use their senses and natural abilities.

This easy game of paper recycling with smelly salmon skin sprinkled through it gave the cats new:
✅ Scent
️✅ Taste
️✅️ Touch
️✅️ A chance to practice foraging skills

Would your cat enjoy this game?

11/05/2023

It's about time I introduce myself, the human behind Clever Cat. My name is Kelsey and I'm a Registered Veterinary Technologist with certification in Advanced Feline Behaviour from the International Society of Feline Medicine.

I wasn't always this into cats, but after a decade of working in a busy veterinary clinic it became clear to me that we, in Northern BC, have a distinct lack of resources and education available for cat owners.
Despite cats being loved family members, a lot of people struggle to understand their cats behaviour. Cats are complicated little creatures and understanding their motivations and struggles can be a real challenge for the average cat owner.

Many people think cats are untrainable and that undesireable behavior can't be changed, but this couldn't be further from the truth.
My goal is to help owners to better understand their cats and to help cats live their best lives while in our care.

Follow along to learn about cat behaviour, training, enrichment and how you can be the very best care giver for your feline friends.

11/02/2023

Do you have more than one cat? Do they get along as well as these two cuties?

We've got 3 adult cats in our family and it took a good 2 years of just cohabitation before they built up the amicable relationships they have now. I've never caught them cuddling, but they do play on occasion.

08/29/2023

Do you play any enrichment games with your cat?

'Enrichment' can be all kinds of things, from bird watching to using problem solving toys. Anything you add to encourage your cat to explore with any of their senses is enriching their lives. We can provide a little extra enrichment to help with overall health and happiness, especially for indoor cats.

07/19/2023

It's been busy in the Clever Cat house as we all adjust to a new little family member- including the cats!
Bringing a baby home can be a really hard transition for some of our more sensitive feline friends. There will be new sights, sounds, smells, change in routines and sometimes even new rules for them follow.
If you have a baby on the way, plan ahead to set your cat up for success. Here's what we did ahead if time to help Stuart, Harriet and George handle this big change:

- Practiced keeping them out of our bedroom at night. Filling enrichment toys before bedtime kept them busy and gave them a fun distraction so they weren't crying at the door.
- Made renovations and furniture changes over time, allowing the cats to investigate new items as they arrived.
-Thoroughly cleaned second hand items to remove the scent of other animals
- Played baby crying and kids toy sounds to desensitized them
- Added Feliway for increased feelings of comfort

So far our cats are adjusting well to the new routine.

How did your cats adjust to kids?