Frisky Feline Behavior Counseling

08/18/2024

Would you attend a LIVE FACEBOOK Q & A with us?
Might be in the works!

08/17/2024

It's National Black Cat Appreciation Day!
Today we celebrate all the fantastic house panthers that have stolen our hearts. Drop us your black cat photos below and tell us why you love them so much.❤️🐾

08/16/2024

Q.“How did you get into this field?”
A. “This is where it all started…before Frisky Feline Behavior Counseling was born”👇🐱🙋🏼‍♀️

08/15/2024

Still going til August 22nd, who went? Cat lovers won’t want to miss this!🙋🙋🏼‍♀️

The worlds #1 CAT VIDEO FESTIVAL is back ! This year Real Art Ways is hosting this screening through August 22nd. Come and laugh at the hilarious cat videos while helping Animal Friends of CT who will receive a portion of every ticket sale ! What a PURRFECT way to spend some time this weekend ! see link below for more info. Please share !

https://www.realartways.org/event/catvideofest-2024/?fbclid=IwY2xjawEgvxNleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHeYBQXuXoz-dgWgttPzb-xMKgzZE5rwfzIqr3-C7zDPW_83HeK_hMYn-NA_aem_IWyj9ymE7CpkpWuM-AKIkw

08/15/2024

Oreo you’ve stolen our hearts and your passing came as a shock. We pray you’re without pain and illness, remembering ever special moment with your mom❤️ You will never be forgotten.

08/14/2024

Just 5 more minutes…💤💤💤

08/13/2024

Cats are often misunderstood, and words like "bad" and "spiteful" are sometimes used to describe their behaviors. These behaviors might look like they are "intentional" or "out of nowhere" or "for no reason." But behavior is the most powerful form of communication, and it has a purpose in the eyes of our cats. We just need to learn how to listen and see things from their point of view.

That's where the magic happens! 🪄

08/13/2024

🎉Help us give a round of ap-paws to our buddy Walter for successful completion of his behavior program with us! 🎉

Before we met Walter, he struggled to communicate what he needed and would find himself frustrated and overstimulated. For the last 8 weeks, Walter’s family has been working hard to help teach Walter learn new ways to communicate. We’re happy to hear he has been happy with what we’ve implemented and as a result, his family has seen a huge improvement in him.

Walter is one of our fastest learners, picking up training so fast that he has started some extended exercises. Day one training him on a new skill and he got it! 🥇 We are so proud of you buddy, keep up the great work. You can do anything! 🙌

Big thanks to his family for sharing this update and putting in the time and effort to get him here.

08/12/2024

We do believe our pets feel the loss of close companions, whether it be cat, dog and yes especially human. We are closer at the heart than we think!

A recently published questionnaire- based study looked at how cats respond to the death of a feline or canine companion. They found cats that had closer relationships with their deceased companion, were reported to have reacted strongly to their death 💔😿

412 cat caregivers were questioned about their relationship with the remaining cat and the relationship between the remaining and deceased pet.

Caregivers were asked about any immediate and long-term behavioural changes to the remaining cat after their companion had died.

Factors such as the length of time engaging in activities together, positive relationships between the two animals and the longer the cat lived with their companion seemed to affect the remaining cat’s behaviour.

✍️Caregivers reported cats showing grief-like behaviours, such as a decrease in sleeping, eating and playing. Increases in attention -seeking behaviours and fearfulness were also reported 😿

Higher levels of caregiver attachment seemed to be linked with an increase in attention seeking behaviours, suggesting that caregivers may have been projecting their grief onto the remaining cat 🫂

Caregivers who experienced greater grief were more likely to report their cat was sleeping or hiding more, whereas those with avoidant attachment to the deceased animal reported less grief-like behaviours in the remaining cat, indicating that those without a strong attachment are less likely to believe animals grieve.

🔎This is an interesting study, as it shows that cats might respond to the loss of a companion by displaying certain grief-like behavioural changes. However, the study also highlighted that caregivers may be biased when reporting changes in their cat’s behaviour because they are grieving themselves. Furthermore, a grieving caregiver could also alter their behaviour towards the remaining cat, thus influencing their behaviour.

The study can be accessed here 👇
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016815912400203X

🐈Do you think cats grieve when they lose a companion?

📖Reference:

Greene, B. and Vonk, J. (2024) 'Is companion animal loss cat-astrophic? Responses of domestic cats to the loss of another companion animal,' Applied Animal Behaviour Science, p. 106355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106355.

08/11/2024

Can you imagine walking into a bathroom that had been used a dozen times without the toilet ever being flushed? 🤢 💩 If someone lit a candle would it change your mind? NO THANKS!!
That’s exactly what your cat might be thinking right now.

Scooping your litter box is a necessity, much like flushing a toilet. However did you know scooping alone doesn’t mean your litter box is clean?

Litter enhancing powders, aerosol sprays, scent diffusers, candles and laundry scented cat litters might seem helpful because they mask the smell that is easy to want to avoid. But these things can make your cat avoid wanting to using their litter box and sometimes even contribute to house soiling behaviors.

So what can you do about your stinky litter box?

🧑‍⚕️👩🏻‍⚕️🩺If your cat’s eliminations always smell, have odd color or consistency it may be diet related but be sure to bring this up to your vet.

Clean! 🫧🧽 Scoop daily, multiple times preferred. Dump and clean your litter box with mild detergent 1-2x a month and refill with clean new litter. Be sure to replace litter boxes when you see considerably deep scratches in them that cannot be cleaned - for many this is annually depending on box use.

🤫Aim to have your litter box in a quiet area that allows for air flow so odors are not trapped and as an additional reminder to scoop that box. Avoid cabinets, closets and under stairs where odors lurk.

🗓️⏰ Stick to your routine - clean regularly and avoid the chemicals coverups completely. Both cat and human agree, clean bathrooms are the way to go!

08/11/2024

Yep! Sums it up 😹

08/11/2024

Ooh cat lovers! Take a look at this fun cattastic activity to do in CT🐱

For 73 minutes, patrons of Real Art Ways can enjoy videos of cats playing or otherwise acting adorable during the CatVideoFest, which kicks off on Aug. 9.

08/10/2024

Frisky Feline Fam, meet Rajah! 🎉

We had a wonderful visit with him and his family last month. Rajah loves climbing, running and kitty parkour showing that he’s got energy for days. (Share some of that energy!) Some might think with all this skill he could be a Kitty Olympic gold medalist and we totally agree!🏃🥇

Rajah was ready to show off his super smarts and strong body with massive jumps at wand toys, thinkng his way through a food puzzle and doing some hands on clicker training to end the night.
Phew! What a workout!

We loved hanging with Rajah, can you guess what breed he is? Let us know in the comments!

08/09/2024

💦Does your cat drink enough water? 💦
Likely, the answer to that is “no”. Cats in the wild would naturally gain most of their water needs from eating their prey however in the average house cat, most common commercial diets and feeding routines do not provide the necessary water consumption their body needs.

Water fountains, a source of flowing water, are a great way to increase your cat’s water intake. We reccomend fountains in conjunction with a regular water bowl for every home. Did you know fountains can be especially beneficial for cat families with:
💧seniors
💩constipation
🚽kidney disease
🧻urinary conditions
🍽️a primary dry diet
💊certain medications

Just be sure to clean it regularly and change the filter as reccomended. Your cat will thank you for it! Also be sure to place your fountain away from your cat’s food as most would prefer food and water not to be within close proximity.

Thank you Ritz for showing us your fountain!
💦💧 show off your fountains in the comments

08/08/2024

Happy International Cat Day! Show us your kitties in the comments 👇❤️🐱

08/07/2024

“I just wanted to thank you again and let you know that Dale and Odie are best friends now. Thank you so so much for all of your help! This is them currently 😊🥹”
——
Backstory: Our sweet friend Odie was having a hard time adjusting to life with his doggy brother, resulting in reoccurring accidents in the doggy beds. Despite his families incredible efforts, it was a challenge to understand what he needed to feel like himself again. We created a strategic plan to balance/blend their worlds and make Odie feel confident again. A few months later not only has doggy bed accidents become a thing of the past, Odie is now living his best life and loving his doggy brother. If this doesn’t scream relaxed, we’re not sure what does.

What’s unique about these situations is that there are interspecies needs that must be carefully considered when planning. While we are cat specific professionals, this is where our years of working with dogs comes in. Sadly we don’t train dogs - but we do value them as much as your feline companions. It’s important that when you work a training professional that they see the value in all your pets, just as you do. 🐶🐱More on that later…

🎉Well done boys, happy tails to you!

08/06/2024

🤔What does a cat eat on a hot day?

A “MICE” cream cone 😂🐭🍦

08/06/2024

Because you are all so cat savy we’re calling all our cat people! What does this tail mean in cat language?

Tell us in the comments 👇🤔

08/05/2024

GUESS! Which is the best music choice to decrease cat stress? 🔈🎶🎵

Nice work guys, you all continue to impress us. Few studies have been done on this topic in various settings, classic and cat specific music were shown to make the difference in our feline companions. Check it out!

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30744475/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25824137/

The results suggest that cats under general anaesthesia are likely to perform auditory sensory stimuli processing. The exposure to music induces RR and PD variations modulated by the genre of music and is associated with autonomic nervous system activity. The use of music in the surgical theatre may...

08/05/2024

HIP-HIP-HOORAY🎉
Cash and Cosmo have found their forever home and hit the final stretch in their integration with their siblings. We are just over the moon for them and their family, they put it in a ton of work to make this happen. We hope for many more happy days of sunning in their future! 🙌☀️

08/04/2024

A fun Sunday, taking a local Pet CPR & First Aid course to learn about how to helps pets in an emergency. 🏥🩺🐱🐶

08/03/2024

🙀Let’s talk spraying behaviors, Did you know?

~”Spray” urine contains information including sexual status, health, and other important social points for other cats
~Female cats can engage in spraying behaviors
~Neutered/spayed cats can engage in spraying behaviors, but having them fixed can reduce the behavior by almost 80%
~A cat who started spraying before being spayed/neutered is more likely to engage in the behavior afterwards than a cat who never did
~Spraying is not always in reference to cats outside, it can be the cats in your home
~Spraying behaviors can be challenging, but veterinary prescribed medication, appropriate routine and environmental changes can reduce spraying considerably

Need help with your spraying kitty? Contact us today!👇

08/03/2024

CONGRATULATIONS Paws 4 Life Animal Rescue of CT for being the winners of the enrichment giveaway. Thanks to all who voted!

08/02/2024

A Chance at Life, A True Rescue Cat Story ❤️
How long could you hold onto hope? A week, a month, or perhaps even a year? What about 800 days? That is how long Clarice waited at the shelter for someone to give her a chance. Years passed, being overlooked because she was the scared one. The silent one, the cat who didn’t greet you at the front of her cage.

That all changed on a fall day, when an unexpected visitor drove 3 hours just to meet Clarice after seeing her posted online. The rescue shared that despite time and their best efforts, she didn't progress well in terms of socialization. Her photos showed her looking so scared (take a look🥺). Upon meeting, Clarice looked as photos showed, exactly as she had been for years - shy, avoiding contact but internally shouting “I AM READY PLEASE...….JUST PLEASE....”. Not knowing what the future would hold and no expectations set, it was that very day Clarice was adopted. Finally, it was her turn to know the love of a home.

Months passed, Clarice was cared for so well and adored - but really struggling to adjust. She never left her safe space in the bathroom and if she was not actively eating or using her litter box, she spent her time hiding. She never showed her face and would bury herself deep under a blanket in the presence of anyone. Others had advised the family to give up because Clarice would likely not make progress, however her family was determined. Thus, we came on board to create a plan to help Clarice find her best days.

It has been 9 months that we have worked with her family and we could not be happier with the progress Clarice has made. Clarice is no longer spending her days hiding, she now basks in the sunshine or watches out the window of her very nice penthouse cat tree. She explores her home, plays with the laser light, eats Churu snacks and even finds comfort in spending time near her mom. Every step of the way we let Clarice tell us when she was ready. She was always in control. In a world that once was so unpredictable and so unsteady - we needed to give her that. She has begun to live a life that she once could only dream of… the life she had always deserved. Seeing her eyes was one of the greatest gifts she had given us. They tell us that she is no longer overcome with fear and doubt, but shining with gratitude and love.

We know this outcome would not be possible without her family’s patience and continued dedication to help her live her best life. We could not be more grateful to be a part of her journey and hope that this story helps to inspire others with cats who might be considering adopting a shy, less social or even hissy cat. ALL cats are marvelous and even those who don't show it, have a bigger spirit that lies within them.

“Maybe that’s why life is so precious. No rewind or fast forward… just patience and faith.” —Cristina Marrero

08/02/2024

Cat Allergies? Here is an article you need to read!

A hypoallergenic cat is a bit of a misnomer, but some cats have better luck with allergy sufferers than others. Read on to find out why.

07/31/2024

RIP Alexander! 💔 gone way too soon. You are one of many kitties we have heard that this has happened to. We NEVER reccomend calming collars of any brand because we have heard this story multiple times from owners, twice this year. There are so many other alternatives, please reconsider if you’re using these!👇👇👇

Thank you to Central Hospital for Veterinary Medicine for sharing his story to spread awareness.

07/31/2024

SOUND ON! Calm as a clam is an understatement. We have to give it up to these two for being incredibly brave and calm through some pretty severe thunderstorms. Also, neither are medicated so this is the real deal. Bravo ladies 👏👏👏⛈️🌩️⚡️

07/30/2024

🎶Oh Meow-my dear you know you’re still number one, but cats they want to have fu-un!” 🎶

Rainy days call for Ball-pits☔️🌧️ Have you considered trying one with your cats?
Doja, Cupcake and Chopper love theirs!

07/29/2024

What you feel when losing a pet is indescribable. There are no words to help others understand the hurt. Only you know that the physical pain that is called heartache, it is so real. The tear filled pillows clenched beneath our fists sit quietly alone to dry, just to be the one to catch our tears again and again. A bowl now sits against the silence, a toy tucked under the bed we care not to remove…..reminding us of every moment we were so grateful for. Every moment we can’t forget.

We are so lucky to have made friends with an animal who would change our lives so much. If only we could let them know how deeply they are missed. Please share your rainbow bridge babies with us - let’s cherish them together.🌈🐱